FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact – Lectra Headquarters / Press Dept.: Nathalie Fournier-Christol
Email: n.fournier-christol@lectra.com
Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 64 42 37 – Fax: +33 (0)1 53 64 43 40
Lectra helps Freedman Seating meet growing demand for seating products
The US seat manufacturer will double its production capacity with Lectra’s software and cutting solutions for plain and patterned fabric.
Paris, May 17, 2016 – Lectra, the world leader in integrated technology solutions dedicated to industries using fabrics, leather, technical textiles and composite materials, is pleased to announce that Chicago-based Freedman Seating, a vehicle seat manufacturer, has chosen Lectra to expand its production capacity so as to meet the growing demand for upholstered seating products.
Freedman Seating manufactures seats and seating-related products for a variety of transportation means, including buses, trains, boats, delivery trucks, specialty and commercial vehicles. Consistent growth and expansion have earned the family-owned company recognition as the leading manufacturer of transportation seating solutions in the US. A Lectra customer for more than 20 years, Freedman Seating has created 240 jobs since 2011 and today employs close to 750 people.
“Our business is growing rapidly, and our production needs to keep pace with that growth,” explains Craig Freedman, President, Freedman Seating. “We would have trusted no one else other than Lectra to help us deliver high-quality, well-matched transportation upholstery fast.”
We would have trusted no one else other than Lectra to help us deliver high-quality, well-matched transportation upholstery fast. -Craig Freedman
Lectra worked closely with Freedman Seating to understand the company’s needs before recommending a solution. Lectra experts visited the manufacturing facility to assess customer requirements, existing production processes, and working methods. Freedman Seating was already equipped with one Vector®, Lectra’s fabric cutting solution. This study enabled Lectra to recommend a solution combining a second Vector cutter and Mosaic software. Mosaic automatically compensates for any distortion and adjusts the cutting path, ensuring that patterned pieces match perfectly when assembled. This saves time and gives manufacturers the flexibility to better manage the diversity of patterned fabrics.
“Over the years, we have developed a deep understanding of our customer’s business, and that experience has made us a reliable, trusted business partner,” says Jason Adams, President, Lectra North America. “The resulting solution of two Vector cutters, coupled with Mosaic, not only doubles Freedman Seating’s production capacity, but it also gives the company the ability to scale its cutting room as demand continues to increase.”
About Freedman Seating Company
Freedman Seating is a seat manufacturer in Chicago, Ill., designing, engineering, and manufacturing seat-related products for many different markets, including small bus, mid-size coach, heavy-duty transit, rail, marine, delivery truck, and paratransit. Freedman Seating is an ISO 9001 registered company with an on-site A2LA Accredited Mechanical Testing Lab. For more information, please visit www.freedmanseating.com.
About Lectra
Lectra is the world leader in integrated technology solutions (software, automated cutting equipment, and associated services) specifically designed for industries using fabrics, leather, technical textiles, and composite materials to manufacture their products. It serves major world markets: fashion and apparel, automotive, and furniture as well as a broad array of other industries. Lectra’s solutions, specific to each market, enable customers to automate and optimize product design, development, and manufacturing. With more than 1,500 employees, Lectra has developed privileged relationships with prestigious customers in more than 100 countries, contributing to their operational excellence. Lectra registered revenues of $264 million in 2015 and is listed on Euronext. For more information, please http://www.lectra.com”>visithttp://www.lectra.com.
® Vector is a registered trademark of Lectra.