The History of TS TECH

  • 1960 Established Tokyo Seat Co., Ltd.

    Took over the motorcycle seat business from predecessor Teito Fuhaku Kogyo Corporation

    1963 Began producing automobile seats

    From Producing Work Uniforms to Manufacturing Seats for Motorcycles and Automobiles

    TS TECH’s predecessor, Teito Fuhaku Kogyo Corporation, manufactured work uniforms for Honda, who recognized the quality of our sewing technology and asked us to begin manufacturing motorcycle seats. Honda’s Super Cub scooter became a runaway hit and our production system expanded. We then began to manufacture lightweight seats for racing motorcycles, developing technologies early on to make seats lighter.

    We later made seats for the Honda T360 pickup truck, which marked the start of TS TECH’s full-edged manufacture of seats for automobiles. From then on, the scale of our operations grew steadily.

    • Challenge from sewing work clothes to motorcycle and automobile business
    • Seat for Honda T360
      Honda T360 seat
    • Seat for Honda first generation Super Cub
      Seat for the original Honda Super Cub
  • 1970

    1977 Expanded operations to North America

    Early Establishment of a Manufacturing Base in North America

    TS TECH first expanded its business outside of Japan in 1977, setting up a production subsidiary in Nebraska, U.S.A. to manufacture motorcycle seats locally for Kawasaki.

    We later began production for Honda. A series of orders for automobile seats and leisure vehicle seats came in from American automakers, and the scale of local production was expanded. Today, the Group has production centers in Japan, the Americas, Europe, China, and other parts of Asia.

    Early start of local production in North America

    Assuring Quality

    The seats for the original Honda Civic could be considered the starting point for TS TECH’s manufacture of automobile seats. When the model was launched, however, there were frequent issues involving seam tears in the covering and bent seat frames when used by people with larger body types. The system we established at that time to facilitate the immediate sharing of quality issues among departments and quick improvements is still in place today. We have turned this rough start into a legacy of a strong commitment to the perfection of quality.

    Honda first generation CIVIC seat
    Seat for the original Honda Civic
    Launched 1972
  • 1980

     

  • 1990

    1994 Expanded operations to Asia

    1996 Expanded operations to South America

    1997 Changed company name to TS TECH Co., Ltd.

    1999 Expanded operations to Europe

    Seat Arrangements Created Using Structural Design Technology

    The 1990s saw a minivan boom. The interior was seen as a space to enjoy spending one’s time, generating demand for more comfortable seats. We then began a multi-pronged pursuit of comfort. One result of this pursuit was seat arrangement technology. We employed structural design technologies and a wealth of expertise to develop arrangements with various kinds of usability. TS TECH’s designs have earned a solid reputation among European automakers, who have long been leaders in the industry.

    Honda first generation STEP WGN rotating seat facing mode
    1996 Honda Step WGN swivel seats in face-to-face mode

    The Relentless Quest for Weight Reduction: The Honda (Acura) NSX Aluminum Seat Frame

    Honda’s top-of-the-line sports car, the (Acura) NSX, debuted in 1990. Making the car lighter was essential to achieving its phenomenal performance. We worked to develop a seat frame that only used aluminum instead of steel, the conventional material used for seats. We experimented with processing methods, rustproofing technologies, and more. Our wealth of technical expertise resulted in seats that greatly reduced the weight of the vehicle. The same technology was utilized for the newest NSX seats to develop a frame that blends aluminum with cutting-edge materials.

    First generation Honda NSX seats and new models
    Honda (Acura) NSX seat

    Pursuing Comfort

    TS TECH continues to pursue comfortable seats that prevent fatigue by translating subjective judgments of comfort and fatigue, which vary by person, into quantifiable figures and conducting repeated research based on ergonomics. This approach is reflected in our unique theory of a comfortable posture.

    Honda ODYSSEY seats released in 2013

    Honda Odyssey Seat
    Launched 2013

    The seat bottom tilts upward as the backrest is lowered to close in on the perfect posture for maximum comfort.

    Honda CIVIC Seat 1995

    Honda Civic Seat
    Launched 1995

    The first use of a mechanism to adjust seat height. This seat made it possible for smaller drivers to adjust to a more comfortable driving position.

  • 2000

    2001 Expanded operations to China

    2007 Stock listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange

    Aiming for Incomparable Quality and Achieving World-Class Quality

    In order to compete alongside the world’s mega-suppliers, in the early 2000s, TS TECH first set its goal of achieving world-class quality. Under the slogan at the time, “Incomparable Quality,” we set out to not only improve production efficiency and quality through the installation of facilities such as jig lines but also to change people’s way of thinking about manufacturing. More recently, TS TECH has been a highly ranked supplier by vehicle size class in a seat quality and satisfaction survey conducted by an American research firm.

    Seat production line

    Safety Evaluation Technology Obtained through High-Performance Dynamic Sled Testing

    In 2004, TS TECH introduced a new cutting-edge dynamic sled testing facility to reliably reproduce car crash impacts. The facility was the first of its kind in Japan. Over 1,000 tests are conducted annually, and the safety assessment technologies have led to TS TECH’s seats receiving top-class safety assessments from vehicle safety assessment organizations around the world.

    High performance dynamic sled tester

    Establishing a Strong Profit Structure

    As business has expanded, we have been severely impacted by changes in the external environment, including a global financial crisis and natural disasters in different countries.

    TS TECH has streamlined development and manufacturing through production line automation and other technologies. This has enabled our company to withstand external changes, laying the foundation for the current highly profitable structure of the TS TECH Group.

    automatic welding equipment
    Automated welding equipment
  • 2010 TS TECH’s 50th anniversary

    More Electrical Devices for More Comfortable, Safer Seats

    Seats used to be simple, consisting mainly of a frame and cushion with leather covering. They have since evolved, and today many electrical devices are built into seats to add greater safety, comfort, and appeal. TS TECH has a department dedicated to the research and development of electrical devices. The department is a self-contained entity, handling everything from proposals of new features to control settings and system verification.

    Electrical devices
    Electrical devices
    (Shown in blue)

    Creating New Value for Seating by Fusing the IoT with Sensing Technology

    Sensing technology, which uses sensors attached to seating to obtain a range of biometric data, has evolved significantly in recent years. TS TECH is working on the development of seat systems that are not bound by conventional thinking, including a system that automatically adjusts the seat position and firmness according to the passenger’s physique to provide comfortable seating, and a system that senses passenger movements to enable anyone to enjoy sports while seated.

    • INNOVAGE
    • Scenes from the Aisareru Seat Experience

    Creating New Value

    As the automotive industry enters a period of major transformation, the functions and value demanded of automobiles are also undergoing great change. Against this backdrop, TS TECH will not simply focus on developing seats and doors as single components but also aim to become an interior system supplier that can coordinate an entire automobile cabin space. We will work to create new value by leveraging corporate partnerships and joint development projects.

    Next-generation touch switch jointly developed with Canatu Oy, which has technology for touch sensor films
    Next-generation touch switch jointly developed with Canatu Oy, which has technology for touch sensor films
  • 2020 TS TECH’s 60th anniversary