Be-Ge Seating UK Ltd

Be-Ge Seating UK Ltd was established in 2006 to strengthen the Be-Ge Group’s presence in the British Isles. Sales, service and maintenance of all the products are provided from the company’s plant in Derbyshire, England.

Be-Ge Seating UK Ltd markets and distributes the Be-Ge Group’s entire range of driver seats, passenger seats and office chairs in the UK market. The company’s customers are primarily in the automotive industry, with deliveries to buses, trains and emergency vehicles, but also in the forestry industry. There are also deliveries to more specialised segments such as aircraft simulators.

The past year

The financial year 2021–22 was a very challenging year in view of the ever-changing pandemic and the Brexit-related problems that have arisen in the UK in connection with the divorce from the EU. In addition, a number of other obstacles have had to be dealt with, such as problems in global supply chains, raw material shortages and general cost inflation.

All the major vehicle manufacturers had problems with material supplies during the year, and in some cases were forced to close their production facilities. This has meant that new vehicles have been in short supply, and lead times for new vehicles have increased, which has had a negative impact on the company’s deliveries of M1 passenger seats.

Sales to the ambulance and police sector continued to grow during the year. During the financial year 2021–22, the company also had success in the market for vehicles adapted for other medical transport and wheelchair transport, construction machinery, etc.

In January 2022, the business moved into larger warehouse premises, increasing warehouse capacity by a third. This has made it possible to stock more seats with a high turnover rate and create flexible buffer stocks for customers. The company is now well positioned to face the expected growth in key markets, as the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic gradually decrease.

In the UK market there are opportunities for a higher market share for bus driver seats. The UK’s unemployment levels are currently at historically low levels, and demand for bus drivers has increased. In order to retain bus drivers and reduce the number of sick days they take, there is now greater interest from bus companies in improving the driver environment. Demand has therefore increased for driver seats with greater comfort and better ergonomics, which favours the seats that the Be-Ge Group manufactures and sells.

Higher fuel costs have accelerated the introduction of zeroemission vehicles to meet the demands of end users who want to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Involvement in customers’ development of new electric and hydrogen buses, ambulances and police vehicles, construction machinery, etc. is therefore of great importance in order not to lose market shares. Thanks to these collaborations, the company is well positioned when it comes to deliveries of seats to the new vehicle segments that have emerged.

The shortage of new vehicles during the financial year has meant that vehicle owners have held onto existing vehicles for longer, which has benefited the spare parts and servicing business. In the future, there is great potential in both refurbishment and replacement of seats, as fleet owners are increasingly inclined to hold onto their old vehicles.

20

Turnover, SEK million

8

Number of employees

ADDRESS: Unit 3 The Fulcrum, Lows lane, Stanton, Ilkeston, Derbyshir DE7 4QU, United Kingdom PH: +44 115 989 8750 EMAIL: sales.uk.seating@be-ge.com WEBSITE: uk.seating.be-ge.com CIN: 06026206 DOMICILE: Derbyshire, UK