TEK Seating
TEK Seating is the UK's largest independent distributor of work-vehicle seats, supplying agricultural, construction, commercial, bus/coach, rail, and marine OEMs and aftermarket customers with seats from KAB, Grammer, Isringhausen, and other leading brands, plus trim and repair services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersTunbridge Wells, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What TEK Seating does
TEK Seating Limited, founded in 1969 and headquartered in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, is the UK's largest independent distributor of vehicle seats, serving both OEM manufacturers and the aftermarket across agricultural, construction, commercial vehicle, bus/coach, rail, material handling, and marine applications. The company holds distribution rights for leading seat brands including KAB (worldwide), Grammer and Isringhausen (UK), USSC (UK), and additional brands such as United Seats, Milsco, Be-Ge, FISA, and Pilot. Its product range spans basic pan seats through to full air-suspension ergonomic seats, with multiple adjustment features (lumbar, height, backrest angle, armrests, weight adjustment) designed to mitigate driver fatigue and vibration-related injury across long working hours in rough terrain.
The business operates from two principal sites: a headquarters in Tunbridge Wells and a purpose-built 15,000 sq ft manufacturing and trim facility in Rearsby, Leicestershire (opened May 2016), with group operations now exceeding 50,000 sq ft across three UK locations. TEK Seating runs two service lines beyond seat distribution: a trim shop providing bespoke trimming and re-trimming for OEM bus and coach builders (ADL, Plaxton, Wrightbus, Optare) and specialist vehicle makers, and a seat repair/maintenance service with parts and spares inventory covering all major seat brands. Go-to-market is direct sales via website, phone, and email, supplemented by a heavy trade-show presence across LAMMA, Hillhead, Cereals, CV Show, Plantworx, IMHX, Euro Bus Expo, and related industry events.
The company operates as part of the privately held TEK Group, alongside TEK Military Seating (ProTEK brand) and SitSmart (office/control-room ergonomic seating), under CEO Paul Fleming. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time seat unit sales, supplemented by professional services revenue from trim/repair work and parts/spares. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; distribution is domestic UK with global reach for KAB seats.
TEK Seating firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TEK Seating
- Legal name
- TEK Seating Limited
- Website
- https://tekseating.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- TEK Seating is the UK's largest independent distributor of work-vehicle seats, supplying agricultural, construction, commercial, bus/coach, rail, and marine OEMs and aftermarket customers with seats from KAB, Grammer, Isringhausen, and other leading brands, plus trim and repair services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TEK Seating industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Vehicle Seating Distribution
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing (33636), Motor Vehicle Seating and Interior Trim Manufacturing (336360), Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (33621)
- SIC
- Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Household Furniture (2510), Truck & Bus Bodies (3713)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Automotive Seating Systems Manufacturing (Frames/Mechanisms/Foam/Complete Seats) (IMACAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Bus & Coach Interior Systems Manufacturing (Seating/Flooring/Accessibility) (IMACADAJ), Automotive Interior Comfort & Convenience Components Manufacturing (Armrests/Cupholders/Storage/Interior Hardware) (IMACAKAJ)
Keywords
Where TEK Seating is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tunbridge Wells
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
TEK Seating business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Vehicle Seat Sales: TEK Seating generates revenue primarily through the sale of new vehicle seats from leading manufacturers including KAB, Grammer, Isringhausen, United Seats, Milsco, Be-Ge, FISA, USSC, and Pilot. They serve both OEM (original equipment manufacturers) and aftermarket customers.
- Trim and Repair Services: Quality trim shop services at their Rearsby facility providing first-class trimming and re-trimming services, as well as seat repair and maintenance for fleets.
- Parts and Spares: Sale of service parts and spares for all major seat brands including KAB, Isringhausen, Grammer, United Seats, Milsco, FISA, and Be-Ge.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Wide range from budget to premium seats |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
TEK Seating product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TEK Seating distributes work vehicle driver seats from leading manufacturers (KAB, Grammer, Isringhausen, United Seats, Milsco, Be-Ge, FISA, USSC, Pilot) to OEM manufacturers and aftermarket customers across agricultural, construction, commercial vehicle, bus/coach, material handling, rail, marine, and emergency service sectors. The company complements distribution with in-house trim and re-trim services and seat repair operations at its Rearsby manufacturing facility.
Product overview
TEK Seating is the UK's largest independent vehicle seat distributor serving the OEM and aftermarket, offering a comprehensive portfolio of driver seats across seven product categories: Bus/Coach/Fire & Rail Seating, Construction Vehicle Seating, Agricultural Seating, Commercial Vehicle Seating, Material Handling & Crane Seating, Marine Seating, and Seat Belts. The company distributes seats from leading manufacturers including KAB Seating, Grammer, Isringhausen, United Seats, Milsco, Be-Ge, FISA, Pilot, and ProTEK brands. Complementing the seat portfolio, TEK Seating provides two service offerings: a Trim Shop for custom trimming/re-trimming and bespoke seat designs, and a Seat Repair Service for maintenance and fleet management. The company stocks parts and spares from all major brands and operates from facilities in Tunbridge Wells, Kent and Rearsby, Leicestershire (a 15,000 sq ft purpose-built manufacturing facility).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ProTEK: Military seating brand offering defence customers high levels of safety and protection with modular design and new technologies.
- SitSmart
Products and services
- Bus, Coach, Fire & Rail Seating Driver seats designed for buses, coaches, fire service vehicles, and trains, featuring ergonomic designs, suspension systems, and adjustable lumbar support for long hours of driving. Supplied to OEMs including ADL, Plaxton, Wrightbus, and Optare.
- Construction Vehicle Seating Heavy-duty driver seats for construction vehicles including forklifts, dumpers, skid-steer loaders, excavators, and other plant machinery, designed to withstand rough terrain and protect drivers from vibrations. Includes OEM fitments such as United Seats MGV35 on Altrad Belle DX1000 HT 1 Tonne Dumper.
- Agricultural Seating Driver seats for tractors, sprayers, combines, and agricultural machinery, featuring suspension systems, adjustable lumbar support, and ergonomic designs for extended field work. Includes Grammer Actimo seats fitted to Sands Agricultural Machinery hydrostatic sprayers.
- Commercial Vehicle Seating Truck and commercial vehicle driver seats with air or mechanical suspension, adjustable features, and seat belt integration for long-distance and local delivery driving. Suitable for HGVs, port vehicles, and freight fleets.
- Material Handling & Crane Seating Seats designed for forklifts, warehouse vehicles, cranes, and material handling equipment, featuring compact designs with mechanical or pneumatic suspension for operator comfort across various flooring and terrain types.
- Marine Seating Seats suitable for boats and marine vessels, designed for durability and operator comfort in marine environments.
- Seat Belts Safety restraints and seat belts for vehicle seats, including 3-point belts and retractable options, supplied alongside the seat portfolio.
- Trim Shop Service Professional trimming and re-trimming service for vehicle seats, including bespoke trimming for branding and custom design requirements, provided at the Rearsby manufacturing facility. Serves OEMs such as ADL, Plaxton, Wrightbus, and Optare.
- Seat Repair Service Seat repair and maintenance service for extending the working life of existing seats, including routine maintenance and full fleet audits, available at both Tunbridge Wells and Rearsby facilities. Serves fleets such as Felixstowe Docks and DB Cargo.
- Service Parts & Spares Complete range of replacement parts and spares for vehicle seats from multiple manufacturers including KAB, Isringhausen, Grammer, United Seats, Milsco, FISA, and Be-Ge.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduces driver fatigue and back issues from vibration exposure
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use TEK Seating
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
TEK Seating technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
TEK Seating partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and standard.
- KAB SeatingcoreTEK Seating is the largest distributor of KAB vehicle seats worldwide and in the UK. KAB is one of the leading manufacturers of driver seats for work vehicles, providing seats for agricultural, construction, commercial, and material handling applications.
- Grammer SeatingcoreTEK Seating is a major distributor for Grammer seats in the UK. Grammer provides high-performance seats including Primo, Actimo, and Maximo ranges for heavy-duty applications.
- IsringhausencoreTEK Seating is the largest UK distributor for Isringhausen seats, including the ISRI range. Isringhausen supplies seats for trucks, construction vehicles, and material handling equipment.
- United SeatsmajorTEK Seating distributes United Seats products including the Rancher, CS85, LGV90, and MGV series seats for agricultural, construction, and material handling applications.
- MilscomajorTEK Seating distributes Milsco seats including the CE200, XB180, XH110, and XB200 series for various work vehicle applications.
- Be-Ge SeatingstandardTEK Seating distributes Be-Ge seats as part of their multi-brand offering for work vehicle seating solutions.
- FISAstandardTEK Seating distributes FISA seats as part of their product portfolio for commercial vehicle seating.
- USSCmajorTEK Seating is the appointed UK distributor for USSC seats, including the 9000 series driver seats for bus and coach applications.
- PilotstandardTEK Seating distributes Pilot seats including the P1098/M80 mechanical suspension seat for various vehicle applications.
- ADL (Alexander Dennis Limited)majorTEK Seating provides first-class trimming/re-trimming services for original equipment manufacturers including bus and coach builder ADL.
- PlaxtonmajorTEK Seating provides trim services for Plaxton bus and coach manufacturers as part of their OEM support services.
- WrightbusmajorTEK Seating provides trimming and re-trimming services for Wrightbus OEM manufacturers.
- OptaremajorTEK Seating provides trim services for Optare bus builders as part of their OEM seating support.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
TEK Seating competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sears Seating: US-based independent manufacturer of off-road and agricultural vehicle seats. Comparable niche focus on agricultural, construction, and material handling seating with similar size and specialty positioning.
- Be-Ge Seating: Scandinavian manufacturer of commercial vehicle and truck seats — distributed by TEK. Comparable mid-sized specialty seat manufacturer with overlap in commercial vehicle and bus segments.
- Milsco (a Unitrak brand): US-based manufacturer of vehicle seats for agricultural, construction, powersports, and material handling applications — distributed by TEK. Comparable mid-sized specialty seat manufacturer with overlapping verticals.
- United Seats (Cobo Group): European manufacturer of agricultural, construction, and material handling seats (Rancher, CS85, MGV series) — distributed by TEK. Directly comparable mid-sized manufacturer with overlapping vertical focus.
Broad incumbents
- Commercial Vehicle Group (CVG): US-listed global supplier of seating and systems for commercial vehicles, including agricultural and construction applications. Operates at significantly larger scale with broader portfolio, but directly comparable product offering and customer segments.
- Grammer AG: German-listed global manufacturer of commercial vehicle, agricultural, and construction seats — including the Primo, Actimo, and Maximo ranges that TEK distributes in the UK. Directly overlapping product offering across all TEK segments.
- KAB Seating: KAB Seating is one of the world's leading manufacturers of commercial vehicle, agricultural, and material handling seats — and TEK's largest distribution partner globally. Directly comparable product portfolio across all of TEK's core verticals.
- Faurecia (FORVIA): Global automotive technology group with significant seating operations across passenger and commercial vehicles. While not a direct UK commercial-vehicle-seat distributor, competes with TEK's principals and shapes the broader competitive landscape.
- Adient: Global leader in automotive seating spun out from Johnson Controls, with presence in commercial vehicle segments. Operates at vastly greater scale but is a broad incumbent in the broader motor vehicle seating category that competes with TEK's principals.
- Isringhausen (ISRINGHAUSEN GmbH): German manufacturer of truck, construction, and material handling seats under the ISRI brand — distributed by TEK as the largest UK partner. Closely overlapping product portfolio and customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TEK Seating social profiles
Digital presenceTEK Seating financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TEK Seating leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
TEK Seating funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TEK Seating M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TEK Seating
What does TEK Seating do?
TEK Seating distributes work vehicle driver seats from leading manufacturers (KAB, Grammer, Isringhausen, United Seats, Milsco, Be-Ge, FISA, USSC, Pilot) to OEM manufacturers and aftermarket customers across agricultural, construction, commercial vehicle, bus/coach, material handling, rail, marine, and emergency service sectors. The company complements distribution with in-house trim and re-trim services and seat repair operations at its Rearsby manufacturing facility.
Is TEK Seating a public or private company?
TEK Seating is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was TEK Seating founded?
TEK Seating was founded in 1969. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TEK Seating based?
TEK Seating is headquartered in Tunbridge Wells, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does TEK Seating make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Vehicle Seat Sales are the primary driver. The others are trim and Repair Services and parts and Spares.
Who are TEK Seating's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sears Seating, Be-Ge Seating, Milsco (a Unitrak brand) and United Seats (Cobo Group). Broad incumbents are Commercial Vehicle Group (CVG), Grammer AG, KAB Seating, Faurecia (FORVIA), Adient and Isringhausen (ISRINGHAUSEN GmbH).
Does TEK Seating have an API?
No public API is recorded for TEK Seating.
What industry is TEK Seating in?
TEK Seating's product category is Commercial Vehicle Seating Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAKAA, Automotive Seating Systems Manufacturing (Frames/Mechanisms/Foam/Complete Seats), with a secondary code of IMACADAJ, Bus & Coach Interior Systems Manufacturing (Seating/Flooring/Accessibility). Its NAICS code is 33636 and its SIC code is 3714.