What Borcad does

Borcad cz a.s. is a Czech-based designer and manufacturer of passenger train seats, founded in 1990 by Ivan Boruta and headquartered in Fryčovice, Czech Republic. The company operates a single-site production facility with annual capacity of up to 70,000 seats and employs approximately 205 people. Borcad serves as a tier-1 OEM seat supplier to European train manufacturers (Škoda, Stadler, Siemens Mobility, Alstom, CAF, Pesa) and sells directly to railway operators (ÖBB, Czech Railways, Norske tog, Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, Rocky Mountaineer, TALGO) for refurbishment and premium-class upgrade projects.

The product portfolio spans five categories: COMMUTER (FLEXIO REGIONAL, REGIO S-BAHN), REGIONAL (VISIO, GENIO, REGIO+), LONG DISTANCE & HIGH SPEED (FLEXIO, COMFORT), TAILOR MADE/PREMIUM (EXCELLENT NG, Rocky Mountaineer), and SPECIAL SEATS (tip-up, folding, bistro, lounge, bed walls). Underlying technology is mechanical and ergonomic — proprietary recline mechanisms, slim cantilever assemblies, vandalism-resistant upholstery, and lightweight construction. All products are developed in-house in partnership with designer Jiří Španihel (DESCENT studio) and the IDEA AIR development center. The company holds Red Dot Design Awards (2012, 2014) and an EcoVadis Silver (2025).

Borcad's business model is project-based B2B hardware sales: revenue is generated from OEM new-build contracts and operator refurbishment/upgrade projects, with pricing negotiated per project under INCOTERMS DAP Fryčovice deliveries. In 2016, Borcad divested its medical division (Borcad Medical) to Linet Group to focus exclusively on rail seating. In 2022, after 32 years under founder Ivan Boruta, the company was acquired by private equity funds Genesis Capital (Czech Republic) and Integral Venture Partners (Hungary); leadership now consists of co-CEOs Manfred Lerch and Helena Radkovská.

Name

Borcad

Legal name

BORCAD cz a.s.

Website

https://borcad.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Borcad cz a.s. is a Czech manufacturer of passenger train seats, supplying OEMs (Škoda, Stadler, Siemens, Alstom, CAF) and railway operators (ÖBB, Czech Railways, Norske tog) with proprietary ergonomic seat platforms across commuter, regional, long-distance, and premium train categories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Railway Vehicle Seating

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing (33636)

SIC

Railroad Equipment (3743)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive Seating Systems Manufacturing (Frames/Mechanisms/Foam/Complete Seats) (IMACAKAA)

Keywords

• Railway seating
• Passenger train seats
• Transit furniture
• Rail vehicle interiors
• Locomotive seating

Headquarters

HQ city

Frycovice

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Revenue model

1. Train seat sales: Borcad generates revenue through the design, development, and manufacturing of seats for passenger trains. Revenue comes from original equipment orders for new train builds and refurbishment projects for existing rolling stock.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Borcad is a Czech manufacturer that designs, develops, and produces seats for passenger rail vehicles. The company supplies train manufacturers and passenger rail operators with seating solutions intended for installation in passenger rail transport.

Product overview

Borcad is an innovative Czech manufacturer of seats for passenger rail vehicles, founded in 1990. The product portfolio is organized into five main categories: COMMUTER (for suburban trains including REGIO S-BAHN and FLEXIO REGIONAL), REGIONAL (for regional transport including VISIO, GENIO, FLEXIO REGIONAL, and REGIO+), LONG DISTANCE AND HIGH SPEED (including FLEXIO and COMFORT models for high-speed trains), TAILOR MADE/PREMIUM (including EXCELLENT NG and ROCKY MOUNTAINEER luxury seats), and SPECIAL SEATS (including TIP-UP SEATS, FOLDING SEATS, BISTRO, LOUNGE, and BED WALLS). The company operates its own development team and production facilities, with approximately 205 employees and annual production capacity of up to 70,000 seats. Key customers include major railway operators and train manufacturers such as Škoda, Stadler, Siemens, Alstom, ÖBB, and others worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Borcad Medical (former division): Medical technology division that was sold to Linet Group in 2016. Produced birthing beds and gynaecological chairs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 70,000 seats produced annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and former.

• Jiří Španihel / DESCENT StudiocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term design partnership with designer Jiří Španihel and his studio DESCENT. Key element in product differentiation combining functional design with aesthetics.
• Linet GroupformerOthersAcquired Borcad Medical (the healthcare division) in 2016 after 25 years of operation under Borcad. Healthcare know-how in safety and electrical engineering continues to influence VIP train seat development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Grammer AG: German-headquartered manufacturer of seating systems for commercial vehicles including rail, buses, and trucks. Closest direct peer given overlapping rail seat product lines and OEM-driven B2B model serving major European train builders.
• Compin: French designer and manufacturer of seats and interior equipment specifically for rail vehicles (trams, metros, intercity, high-speed). Direct competitor to Borcad in ergonomic rail seating for European OEM platforms.
• Freedman Seating Company: US-based manufacturer of seating for buses, paratransit, and rail. Directly comparable in product scope (passenger transit seats), with similar OEM-embedded B2B model though predominantly serving North American customers.
• ISRINGHAUSEN: German rail and commercial-vehicle seating manufacturer (part of Aunde Group). Competes with Borcad on rail seat programs and brings a similar in-house design-and-manufacture approach to OEM customers.

Broad incumbents

• Adient: Global automotive seating leader with selective rail and commercial-vehicle exposure. Larger, publicly-listed incumbent whose breadth and capital access could pressure niche players like Borcad on volume tenders.
• FORVIA (Faurecia): Large global automotive and mobility seating group with rail exposure. Competes with Borcad on selected rail programs but operates at much larger scale across many vehicle categories, giving it broader pricing power and OEM relationships.

Regional players

• Kustom Seating Unlimited: US manufacturer of transit, paratransit, and rail passenger seats. Comparable product category but primarily serves North American operators, making it a regional rather than direct competitor to Borcad's European base.

Emerging players

• Recaro (Recaro Rail): German seating brand with rail and high-end commercial-vehicle programs. Comparable premium positioning and design-led differentiation, with overlapping but smaller rail seat footprint than Borcad.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/borcad
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/borcad

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Borcad