As Manufacturing Month kicks off this October, Freedman Seating Company is marking a significant milestone — 130 years of innovation and craftsmanship.
From its humble 19th-century beginnings as an upholstery shop, Freedman has evolved into a leading manufacturer of seating solutions for buses, trains, boats, and commercial vehicles.
The Augusta Boulevard company’s products are familiar to many. Chances are many residents have sat in one of their seats during their daily commute or travel without even knowing it. Freedman Seating Company is the company behind the seats on CTA buses, Pace shuttles, hotel and airport shuttles, FedEx, the U.S. Postal Service and UPS trucks.
Now a fifth-generation family company, Freedman Seating said it continues to innovate in seating solutions for transportation markets. With nearly 800 employees across two facilities, the company recently expanded its manufacturing space to more than 500,000 square feet.
Once Motorola’s headquarters, this factory now houses Freedman Seating Company, blending the site’s manufacturing legacy with a commitment to high-quality seating solutions for the community’s evolving needs.
One of Freedman Seating Company’s core values is community connection, a priority the owners have maintained for the past 25 years. They collaborate with dozens of nonprofits, supporting programs that help individuals return to work or pursue careers in manufacturing.
“It has been important for the company’s owners, and for the past 25 years, maintaining these connections has been crucial. We work with dozens of nonprofits, whether they are programs to help people return to work or enter manufacturing careers,” Freedman Seating Company’s Marketing Manager John-Paul Paonessa said.
Manufacturing Renaissance is one of the many nonprofits Freedman Seating Company collaborates with. Manufacturing Renaissance works with manufacturers, youth, schools, social services, labor and communities to develop inclusive manufacturing ecosystems and foster thriving communities.
A few of the other nonprofits Freedman Seating Company collaborates with are Albany Park Community Center, A Safe Haven and Chicago Cares.
Freedman Seating Company, founded on June 26, 1894 by Hyman Freedman, gained a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship.
It was over 125 years ago when Hyman Freedman and Columbia Cab Company showcased at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, serving as a monumental event spanning 690 acres and drawing over 27 million visitors, symbolizing the rise of American exceptionalism.
As new industries emerged, such as delivery trucks during the Great Depression, Freedman Seating Company adapted from upholstery to designing driving seats. This adaptability led to expansions into trains, buses, boats and other commercial vehicles. The company’s ability to meet customer demands with cost-effective, customizable products has set it apart from competitors.
“We have always been able to meet the demands of our customers because we can produce cost-effective products. Our adaptability and ability to customize our offerings are what keep us ahead of our competitors,” Paonessa said.
Seating for the future
Amid the challenges of the pandemic, as public transportation faced significant reductions in service, the company adapted by creating a new product to enhance safety and comfort for bus passengers.
“During the pandemic, with fewer buses and trains in operation, business took a hit. However, we were able to develop a product for our seats that helped provide added safety and comfort for passengers on buses. But we were able to build a product that attaches to seats, kind of like a sneeze guard. This allowed us to help during the pandemic
by enabling buses to install barriers between passengers,” Paonessa said.
Freedman Seating Company’s key priorities for the next 5 to 10 years include advancing manufacturing technology, such as robotic welding and cobots, or collaborative robots, and investing in infrastructure and building expansion. A cobot, or collaborative robot, is an industrial robot designed to work safely alongside humans in the same workspace. Unlike traditional robots, cobots are built to be more flexible, secure, and adaptable.
“One goal is to explore more advanced manufacturing methods, including robotic welding and cobots,” Paonessa said. Investing in our infrastructure and expanding our facilities is another key objective. We have the capacity to meet various industry demands and will continue to adapt and grow.”
Paonessa added that the use of robotics is closely linked to maintaining quality.
“In competitive labor areas like welding and machining, we’ve integrated more robotics into our processes. We now have four cobots—robotic arms that handle welding tasks. These cobots are easier and safer to program, and while they require human oversight, they enhance job quality rather than replace jobs,” Paonessa said. The introduction of robotic welding stations has allowed us to improve weld quality and the overall standard of our products.”
Paonessa stated that this approach not only enables the company to maintain quality standards but also transforms the skill set required for its workforce. He noted that while previous methods relied heavily on manual labor, the current focus on automation reflects a broader industry shift towards enhanced efficiency and innovation.
The company also uses about five, flat laser machines for cutting metal sheets and has introduced tube lasers for cutting, shaping and drilling metal tubes. These advanced machines enhance product quality and consistency, enabling operators to concentrate on more skilled tasks.
“Employees now use their critical thinking skills to maintain these machines, moving away from labor-intensive roles and learning new skills. This shift provides opportunities for younger workers to engage with advanced technologies and develop a range of new competencies,” Paonessa said.
Although the company is primarily recognized for its bus seats, it has recently ventured into the train market. Over the next five years, Freedman Seating aims to increase its market share in the rail industry. In the marine sector- encompassing ferries, workboats and vessels—where many competitors are based overseas, the company is strategically positioned to offer domestic solutions.
Building on its recent expansion into the train market and its strategic positioning in the marine sector, the company’s growth in manufacturing space and job creation further reinforces its commitment to both industry advancement and local economic development.
The expansion of the company’s manufacturing space allows the company to grow its business, with around 40 open positions currently and the potential to increase from 800 to 850 employees by next year. These new jobs help boost the local economy by supporting businesses and hiring locally.
Freedman Seating Company is positioning itself to adapt to future trends in the transportation and seating industries, such as electric vehicles or autonomous transportation by actively responding to the rise of electric buses by focusing on making its seats as lightweight as possible.
“We are adapting to the demand for electric buses by making our seats as lightweight as possible. This is crucial for vehicles with heavy batteries. Our seats are designed to be versatile and accommodate various passengers, including those with walkers, service pets, and pregnant women,” Paonessa said.