Innovative vehicle seating specialists TEK Group officially open new Rearsby factory

TEK Group, whose headquarters are based in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, is made up of three businesses - TEK Seating Ltd, TEK Military Seating LLP and SitSmart.

The original company, TEK Seating, was formed some 45 years ago, mainly as an independent distributor for major vehicle seating companies. Now the UK’s largest distributor, it continues to support the work vehicle sector. Its core product remains suspension driver seating.

TEK Military Seating brings together the group’s vast portfolio of tried and tested seat components, with in-house seat design and manufacture offering defence customers the highest levels of safety and protection.

SitSmart is the office chair, furniture and ergonomic accessories business, offering quality ergonomic chairs for the work place and home office with a focus on personal service.

With the military side growing at a fast pace and more manufacturing capacity required, it was decided that its existing premises in Melton had to give way to a bigger purpose-built facility in the more rural location of Rearsby Industrial Estate, some five miles away.

The new TEK Group factory was officially opened by the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Jennifer, Lady Gretton, JP, on Wednesday (May 25).

Customers and suppliers across all three companies gathered for a drinks reception before chief executive officer Paul Fleming, who owns TEK Group, welcomed everybody, offering some background information on how the company had got to this point and a glimpse into its future plans.

He said: “This new facility marks the next very important stage in the growth of TEK Group and its 45-year history.

“Along with its dedicated staff, it will allow us to reach our full potential, with ample room for planned expansion and additional production in the next 12 months.”

Mr Fleming then passed over to Lady Gretton to officially open the factory with the cutting of a ribbon and revealing a wall plaque to mark the occasion.

She was very impressed and supportive of the new factory, which brings employment into the area, and was pleased to see that small to medium companies (SMEs) were taking the initiative to help boost the local and national economies.

Small escorted groups were shown around the fully operating 15,000sqft facility, followed by lunch and an opportunity to ask questions and network.

The Rearsby factory will greatly increase TEK’s production capacity, enabling it to manage high volume production with increased efficiency for both TEK Seating and TEK Military while expanding its design and development capability.

Mr Fleming said: “This move represents a major investment in our company, allowing us to grow our global business and open new markets while bringing, in-house, some out-sourced production which will enable us to become even more competitive.”