Ulrich Seats (Pty) Ltd

Ulrich Seats was founded by Ulrich Swart in 1986. The business started off as the supplier of bus commuter seats for Durabuild, a company that built bus bodies mainly for the old Bophuthatswana Investment Corporation and the business was later supplemented with the supply of luxury bus passenger seats after a deal was stuck with an Italian company for the supply of components for luxury passenger seats. This Italian company later became a minority shareholder in Ulrich Seats, a situation that is still in place today.
The company was joined during 1989 by Charles Brittz as technical and manufacturing director and Corrie Olivier as financial and administration director. During this time the business of the company was expanded with the introduction of driver and operator seats after a deal was negotiated with KAB Seating Ltd, a United Kingdom company, for Ulrich Seats to become the local representative for the KAB Seating range of driver and operator seats in South Africa.
During 1991 a management buy-out was negotiated between the original owner of the business and Charles Brittz and Corrie Olivier who then became the controlling shareholders in the business, the Italian company was retained as a minority shareholder mainly for the transfer of seat technology to Ulrich Seats.
In the meantime the company had outgrown its existing premises in Sebenza on the East Rand and then moved to Clayville in Olifantsfontein during 1995 where it is still today. During the 1990’s the business was grown with the introduction of railway seating for Transnet as well as seats for military vehicles and construction machines being built by a number of specialist companies.
During 2009 a share transfer transaction was concluded between Charles Brittz, Corrie Olivier and Pat Nodada who became the majority shareholder in the company with the Nodada Familty Trust as the ultimate shareholder in the company. The company then became a Level 2 Broad Base Black Economic Empowerment Company.
Both Charles Brittz and Corrie Olivier has retired during the last 18 months after being with the company for more than 32 years. After the retirement of the above two gentlemen a young and energetic new management team took over in the company continuing to build and expand the company in all the areas where it had been the market leader in its field.