SCHWABE Die Cutting Vacuum System favored by Leading Automotive Seating company for High Volume / Mass Production parts manufacturing.
“The automotive seating market is a highly consolidated market dominated by major companies such as Adient, Lear Corporation, Faurecia and Grupo Antolin…together hold more than 66% of the global market.” Mordor intelligence.com
Global Auto Interior Trims and Seat Cover Industry
Lear Corporation profile
LEAR Corporation is a global manufacture of seating and has 96,000 seating employees across 31 countries, with 23% market share of seating globally. Revenue of seating surface materials is $4.1 Bn, and the company is leader in leather and cut & sew.
LEAR Corporation is the world leader in luxury & performance automotive seating.
“Lear Corporation fully integrated manufacturer of the entire seat, we have a proven track record in delivering quality seating systems to the auto industry at competitive prices. At Lear, we work with every major automaker the world over, supplying completed seats for programs ranging from the highest-volume platforms to specialty applications, covering every segment from small car to full-size sport utilities”.(Ref: Lear Website)
Seat Cover Manufacturing
LEAR Corporation is the most vertically integrated seat cover supplier in the Automotive Interior industry, and has 257 seating & component manufacturing facilities across the world, producing from niche quantity products to high volume / mass production of seating parts and the finished seats.
Different Machines & Technology to Optimize Different Production Manufacturing Needs
LEAR Corporation uses different machinery and technology to optimize its different production and manufacturing needs i.e. automated cutting machines for smaller niche production, and SCHWABE USA large format die cutting systems for its high volume / mass production parts manufacture. Most leading automotive interior trim and seating companies optimize their lean manufacturing in this way.

SCHWABE USA Straight Ram Hydraulic Beam Press with die vacuum cutting system.
Seating Innovation
LEAR Corporation is a leading innovator and is “uniquely positioned for innovation and growth with electronics and software expertise”
Lear Investor Day Presentation June 2018
Lear is focused on the CONVERGENCE of MOBILITY, CONNECTIVITY and ELECTRIFICATION in line with the auto seating industry mega trends of:
- configurability
- convenience
- safety
- personal network
- light weight
- personalization
- shared mobility
- comfort
- health and wellness
- sustainability
- electrified products
LEAR Manufacturing – Best Practices
LEAR Corporation uses best practices in it’s efficient seat cover manufacturing to ensure the best quality performance and integration of the trim and seat assemblies
“…manufacturing cells offer cutting-edge technologies and premium surface enhancements to deliver distinct designs for brand differentiation”.
An example of an efficient seating manufacturing cell is the embossing of seat covers using SCHWABE USA – Straight Ram Hydraulic Beam Presses Made in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
Schwabe Model SR470 Straight Ram Hydraulic Beam Press With Single Sided Die Vacuum System
SCHWABE Straight Ram Hydraulic Beam Press with Die Vacuum System – High volume manufacture of automotive interior trim components is achieved with great precision and excellent material efficiency using Ontario Die International’s Die Vacuum System on a SCHWABE progressive feed straight ram hydraulic beam press.
This system of diecutting is used for cutting both rolled and sheeted laminated fabrics and vinyl in multiple layers in widths up to 2m wide.
The Die Vacuum System is used to precompress laminated materials prior to cutting on SCHWABE Straight Ram Hydraulic Beam Press therefore eliminating material movement and insuring accurately cut parts. Excellent material efficiency is achieved through tight nest spacing thereby reducing scrap material.