General Info

American Seating Company was founded in 1886 as Grand Rapids School Furniture manufacturing the combined student desk and chair unit. The company concentrates on five major markets: education, transportation, office, sports and entertainment. In 1936 the company expanded into the transportation industry with the motor coach sector, developing the cantilevered bus seat in the 1950s. By the 1960s, it emerged in heavy-duty bus seating where American Seating maintains its position. It established presence in the sports and entertainment market, beginning with the Tabor Opera House in Colorado in 1889 that led to its design of the tilt-back opera chair in 1893. Today the company defines seating technology with seating designs for applications ranging from outdoor sports stadiums, indoor arena and convention seating to performing arts centers, lecture halls and auditoriums.