News


Covering All Assets… And Then Some


New player rejoins the rebond foam market, a next-gen seat and how technology is changing the face of school bus seat covers


WRITTEN BY DEBBIE CURTIS


The new Blue Bird NexGen seat by HSM Transportation Solutions.


in Willis, Texas, has been in the seating industry for almost 37 years, back to when it was known as Billings-


A


ley Parts and Equipment. “When we decided to buy our foam, we were getting a quality


product,” said General Manager Branden Smeltzer. “Tat worked for a while, until costs rose and we felt that the foam we were getting wasn’t as good as it should be. So, we went back to making our own.” Smeltzer said that, as of June 15, all HDBP products “easily” pass the FMVSS 222 tests. “We don’t pinch pennies to have our product squeak through the testing process,” he added. “At Heavy Duty Bus Parts, we take our commitment to children’s safety very seriously.” Te company also hired two new salespeople, and Smeltzer said HDBP is planning to add another 20,000 square feet to its facility. Te company currently employs a staff of 20 in the Houston area, and Smeltzer said he is proud that some of their staff have been with the company since the beginning. “We have people who have been with us over 30 years, going back


to the Billingsley Parts and Equipment days, with both our foam and our vinyl products. So, we definitely have a long history in the


22School Transportation News • AUGUST 2017


fter a seven-year hiatus, Heavy Duty Bus Parts is once again manufacturing its own foam for its line of school bus seating products. Te company, based


industry,” he added. “We make sure we’re looking out for the kids more than anything else, and are proud of our commitment to using a denser foam and producing a top-quality seating product.” Meanwhile, in a collaborative effort between HSM Transporta-


tion Solutions and Blue Bird, the appearance of school bus seating is changing for the first time in decades. Te NextGen Blue Bird seat also available for Micro Bird models enables student operators to quickly change a standard bench seat to either a three-point seat belt, three-point with child restraint, lap belts or child restraint-on- ly options. “Tis seat is radical,” commented Tony Everett, president of


HSM, “and it was the hit of the TSD Conference in Dallas. Tis next generation seat not only has improved performance criteria, but also offers lumbar support, head rests, and sculpted covers.” For the bottom of the seat, the company relied on automotive technology. Instead of a piece of plywood with foam on it, Everett explained, HSM uses springs in the seat for added comfort. “With the foam out, we could add a recessed knee area,” he said. Te launch for this product, exclusive to Blue Bird and Micro


Bird, is ramping up for late fall. Everett also offered insights into the foam industry. “Te biggest issue right now, not just in foam, but in bus man- ufacturing in general, is the labor shortage. We can’t get the people to fill the positions, and school bus foam is a very labor intensive product,” he said.


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