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Automotive

Seat Heating

Printed heating foils as high-performance alternative to wire-based seat heaters — more uniform, more efficient, with occupancy sensing.

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Seat Heating

Challenge

Over 60% of passenger cars are equipped with seat heating — a trend that continues to grow, with first, second and even third row seating being equipped. Conventional wire-based seat heaters act as line heaters requiring high core temperatures, resulting in uneven heat distribution and reduced efficiency. With the paradigm shift towards fully electrified vehicles, every watt spent on auxiliary systems such as seat heating is a watt that reduces driving range. A significant focus must be placed on making seat heating more efficient whilst keeping passenger comfort at the same level.

Our Solution

ATT's printed silver and carbon-based PTC heating foils are seamlessly integrable into any seat, respecting geometry and customer-specific demands. As area heaters (not line heaters), they deliver heat across a much larger surface fraction — allowing lower core temperatures while achieving a more uniform, safer and more comfortable temperature profile. The printed conductor path transfers heat into adjacent materials more effectively than wire alternatives. The PTC variant minimizes heat-up time through initially higher power output, then self-regulates to a customer-specifiable target temperature.

How It Works

1

Requirements & Concept

We discuss your seat geometry, thermal comfort targets and integration constraints. ATT prefers early involvement to bring in our deep understanding of thermal management — we are more than just another supplier of heating systems.

2

Heater Design & Engineering

Custom heater layout designed to match your seat geometry. Silver or PTC ink is screen-printed with optimized conductor paths for uniform heat distribution across the entire seat surface.

3

Prototype & Validation

Functional prototypes manufactured for thermal comfort evaluation. Testing covers heat-up time, temperature uniformity, power consumption and integration fit with your seat foam and cover materials.

4

Series Production

Full series production with consistent in-house quality control. Each unit undergoes electrical verification. ATT supports the complete lifecycle from pre-development through serial delivery.

Application Areas

Front Row Seats

Primary seat heating application with the highest market penetration. ATT's area heaters deliver faster, more uniform heating at lower energy consumption than conventional wire-based systems.

Second & Third Row

Growing demand for rear-seat heating, especially in premium and family vehicles. ATT's lightweight, thin foil design adds minimal package height — critical for rear bench configurations.

Commercial & Utility Vehicles

Truck, bus and utility vehicle seats benefit from efficient heating in demanding environments. The robust print technology withstands high duty cycles and variable operating conditions.

Rail & Aerospace Seating

ATT seat heating technology transfers directly to rail carriages and aircraft seating. Weight savings and efficiency gains are particularly valued in aerospace applications.

Technical Data

Heater Type Printed Silver / Carbon PTC
Integration Direct into fabric/leather
Heated Area Large fraction (area, not line)
PTC Max Temp Customer-specifiable
Occupancy Sensing Optional (capacitive)
Form Factor Fully customizable geometry
Thickness Ultra-thin foil

Key Advantages

  • Area heater: more uniform temperature distribution than wire heaters
  • Lower core temperature needed → improved efficiency and safety
  • PTC self-regulation: fast heat-up, stable target temperature, no overshoot
  • Capacitive seat occupancy sensing function can be integrated
  • Customer-specific geometry, size and heating performance
  • Cost-effective: printed heaters scale better than wire for larger areas
  • 15+ years of passenger thermal comfort engineering
  • Not limited to automotive — applicable in rail and aerospace
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Frequently Asked Questions

How do printed heaters compare to wire-based seat heaters?
Wire-based heaters are line heaters — they heat along narrow strips, requiring high core temperatures to achieve adequate surface warmth. ATT's printed heaters are area heaters, covering a much larger fraction of the seat surface. This means lower core temperatures, more uniform heat distribution, improved safety (no hot spots), and reduced energy consumption. Printed heaters are also significantly cheaper than wire equivalents at larger surface areas.
What is the advantage of PTC over conventional seat heaters?
PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) carbon-based elements increase their resistance as they heat up. This provides two key benefits: faster initial heat-up (high power at cold state) and automatic temperature self-regulation without external sensors or control circuits. The maximum temperature is physically determined by the material — making PTC heaters inherently safe against overheating.
Can seat occupancy sensing be integrated into the heater?
Yes. A capacitive resistance measurement function can be implemented directly into the heating element, combining heating and occupancy detection in a single component. This eliminates the need for a separate occupancy sensor mat, reducing weight, cost and integration complexity.
How does ATT seat heating benefit EV driving range?
In electric vehicles, every watt used for auxiliaries directly reduces driving range. ATT's area heaters achieve the same or better thermal comfort at lower power consumption than wire heaters — thanks to the larger heated fraction and lower core temperature. Combined with radiant cabin surface heating, ATT seat heaters are a key element of range-optimized thermal comfort strategies.
At what stage should ATT be involved in the development process?
ATT prefers early involvement — ideally during the concept phase. With 15+ years of passenger thermal comfort engineering experience, we bring deep understanding of thermal management that goes beyond just supplying a heating element. Early collaboration allows us to optimize the solution for your specific seat design, materials and comfort targets.
Can ATT supply seat heaters for non-automotive applications?
Yes. ATT seat heating technology is applicable in rail vehicles, aircraft and any other seating application where efficient, lightweight radiant heating is required. The core technology adapts readily to different geometries, voltage requirements and certification standards.

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