Ferco Seating Systems Ltd

The tide is turning for educational seating solutions…
…as Ferco’s Collaborative Wave product is launched.

Physical learning environments that enable effective teaching.

The Collaborative Wave, the latest in Ferco’s educational seating solutions is built on the success of the Turn and Learn product range. The product gives decision-makers the option to invest in the highest quality teaching and learning environments available. The Wave offers a flexible solution enabling large ‘single-use’ spaces to be transformed in to versatile ‘multiple-use’ spaces, offering the best use of campus resources.

Recent research shows that a teaching and learning environment designed in respect of a student-centred, active and collaborative pedagogy enhances the learning experience and personal interactions for students and teachers alike. In short, physical learning spaces must continue to adapt to suit a more holistic approach to learning.

Introducing the Wave

The Collaborative Wave features an aesthetically pleasing curved desk with a large writing surface, teamed with individual front-of-class seats which rotate and move away from the desk, creating smaller collaborative student-led learning ‘pods’. The seats offer ergonomic and postural support, height adjustment and will return to the original position when not in use.

This should be a wave that everyone wants to catch!

Innovative research inspired design

A Department of Education study found that students with higher levels of emotional, behavioural and social wellbeing have higher levels of academic achievement and are more engaged in learning.

As Ferco’s Managing Director, Michael Burnett explains ‘We have worked hard to understand the challenges of a modern educational environment. We are offering an innovative solution that allows a space to work both as traditional lecture-led environment and a space where students can work in smaller groups. Design. Aesthetics. Solutions and functionality. This is our passion’

Ferco have a forged strong links with some of the UK’s leading universities and colleges and continue to develop products that provide the foundations for innovative teaching and learning.

About Ferco Seating

Founded in 1983 by current CEO Tim Barr, Ferco Seating has established a reputation for providing high quality customised seating solutions for any venue. From humble beginnings supplying stadium seating we have grown into one of the world’s largest manufacturers of auditorium, cinema, education and sports spectator seating. Today, Ferco Seating is an international company headquartered in the UK with regional operations centres in Singapore, manufacturing facilities in Malaysia, and a network of agents in Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim. Our merger with the Kotobuki group in 2016 confirmed our position as part of the largest seating company in the world.

At Ferco Seating we love to collaborate. We love to talk desi

Founded in 1874 Aston Villa are a football club with a history steeped in tradition. Founder members of the Football League in 1888 and the Premier League in 1992, the Villans are one of only five English clubs to have ever won top-flight European honours.

Prior to 2016, Villa spent an uninterrupted 105 seasons in the top tier of English football – a record only surpassed by Everton. Relegation from the Premier League has not diminished the Birmingham club’s appetite for competition, or their supporter’s enthusiasm, though.

Villa’s commitment to excellence on the pitch also extends to their supporters’ experience - and a range of fine dining restaurants and premium lounges allow sponsors, directors, and fans alike to enjoy a superb hospitality experience.

The team at Aston Villa continuously improve aspects of their corporate hospitality, and with their prestigious restaurant relaunching it was the perfect time to improve the seating within this area of the ground as well. The club understands that the hospitality experience doesn’t end once fans take their seats to view the match.

As one of the UK’s biggest suppliers of premium stadium seating, Ferco were proud to be selected to provide a chair for all areas of the club’s corporate areas. This has initially involved the installation of 56 Ferco ARC VIP seats in the Directors Club Premium and Directors Boardroom areas.

The ARC VIP is a luxurious corporate seat for discerning clientele, and has been installed in some of the most prestigious sports venues in the UK and beyond. Featuring a high back, wide seat and padded side panels; the ARC VIP is as aesthetically pleasing as it is comfortable.

In addition to the standard ARC VIP seat, Aston Villa’s hospitality members will be treated to heated seat and back rests, USB charging points, cup holders, and the club’s crest embroidered in to the chairs rich and distinctive claret material.

With plans to incorporate Ferco’s ARC model in more hospitality areas around Villa Park, the complete VIP matchday experience will allow supporters to sit both patiently and comfortably as their team climb back to the top flight of English football again.

Dubai is a truly unique destination that has captured the world’s attention with the sheer scale of its ambition and imagination. Known for record-breaking construction projects and creating some of the finest buildings in the world, Dubai is seen as the gold-standard for a city that continuously pushes the boundaries of what is possible.

Boasting the world’s tallest building, a seven star hotel, the largest indoor ski slope and the busiest international airport on the planet; Dubai’s desire to embrace bold and energetic design is showing no sign of slowing down.

Reel Cinemas joined a growing number of companies bringing key projects to the city when they launched the first Dolby Cinema in the Middle East at their Dubai Marina Mall venue. Combining spectacular imaging with enthralling audio, the Dolby Cinema experience transforms every customer’s visit into a true adventure.

When Reel chose to refurbish the seating in their premier cinema they needed to match Dubai’s vibrancy and forward-thinking mentality with something that had never been seen before. Ferco’s brand new Opus Glide cinema seat suited this brief perfectly with its attractive design, unique arrangement, and incredible comfort being brand new to the cinema market.

The Opus Glide is a legitimately peerless cinema recliner from Ferco – not only does the shape of the seat provide full body support, but the smooth glide mechanism moves to a reclined position when required. This innovative design creates a superior seating position at any angle and provides the ultimate cinematic experience without the need for a single electrical motor or control.

Much like the skyscrapers that spring up around the city in record time, the installation at Dubai Marina Mall was required within a tight timescale - which our experienced staff completed expertly. This included a new room layout being designed, additional seat testing and installation being required on site in under two days.

In a land of prestigious construction projects and design excellence – we couldn’t be happier that our first Opus Glide cinema seat installation took place in this glitzy city of pioneers.

Ferco’s education seating collection offers a wide range of chairs to fit every variation of room within a venue – and we’re constantly developing new technologies and products to meet the requirements of modern-day universities.

When working with seating, the comfort of students is important but arguably of more importance is the desk or table which allows the taking of notes throughout the lecture. For this reason, one of our most effective and popular product lines, which has been installed in higher-education establishments around the world, is the Ferco Wrimatic Tablet.

Developed in 1996, the Wrimatic Tablet was conceived to meet the needs of our clients who were frustrated by the inadequacies of writing desks on the market at that time. As the direct result of listening to both students’ and Facility Managers’ requirements a writing tablet that was large, robust and reliable was designed to be held within some of Ferco’s most popular lecture theatre seats.

Since then the Wrimatic Tablet has proved immensely popular with more than 150,000 units having been installed in some of the most prestigious venues in the world - from Stanford University in California to Cambridge University, and Sydney University in Australia.

The Wrimatic’s unique design employs a triangular prismoid swivel joint which permits the stowing or unstowing of the tablet in one single continuous fluid movement. Many writing tablets have weak hinges caused by shortcomings in design and, as a result, the tablets have to be small in order to minimise the stresses in their joints.

By employing aeronautical technology the Wrimatic is the ultimate tablet in size, function and strength. Opening to a large A3 size surface means the Wrimatic is large enough for full size ring binders, course notes and laptops. Additionally, the load capacity of the table has been tested up to 240kg so there’s no danger of breakage.

The Ferco Wrimatic Tablet is an award winning design and has been acknowledged as one of the world’s leading integrated writing tablets. We’re proud to have incorporated the Wrimatic into our lecture theatre seating, including the ARC, FT10 and Riviera seats and to have observed the advantages provided to students when the surface they write on is spacious and secure.

As an additional bonus for Estates Managers, by including the Wrimatic within our robust auditoria seating lecture spaces can double up as conference / seminar rooms and provide an opportunity for additional revenue generation.

Designed by the legendary architect Frank Gehry, the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building at the University of Technology in Sydney is something of a local wonder. Gehry is known for his use of fluid shapes throughout his buildings - which includes the Guggenheim Bilbao - and 320,000 custom-designed bricks were used to create the curving sandstone structure here. Australia's Governor General Peter Cosgrove called the building "the most beautiful squashed brown paper bag I've ever seen" and Gehry himself acknowledged the comparison whilst explaining his need for flexibility and movement within the design.

When fitting out the lecture theatre within this prestigious building Ferco were given a remit to match the flexibility of the architecture; Complimenting the modern aesthetic while also being practical in meeting students and lecturers requirements. With a high-specification executive seat required for this project, the FT10 Wrimatic seat was selected as a perfect solution. Featuring a luxurious high back and contemporary styling, the FT10 Wrimatic delivers a perfect balance of ergonomic and posture support while fitting perfectly within its surroundings. The versatile FT10 seat also includes Ferco's A3 Wrimatic tablet - the most robust writing tablet on the market. Effectively mirroring Gehry's fluid and flexible building design, the Wrimatic tablet operates in a continuous movement to stow away perfectly when not in use.

Ferco Seating are extremely pleased to have been involved with this ambitious project and are proud that the FT10 Wrimatic is enhancing the student experience in one of the most inventive university buildings in the world.

Shrewsbury Town Football Club officially announced today their bid to become the first English side to install safe seating at their ground. This supporter-led initiative would see a section behind the goal in the South Stand replaced with Ferco’s dual-use seats. By allowing seats to be locked away with a secure rail in-between rows, fans remain in complete safety while standing to generate an incredible atmosphere.

The safe standing plan is a great example of a club listening to their fans after the Shrewsbury Town Supporters’ Parliament approached them with the initial proposal. As a locally-based company Ferco Seating have been closely involved in discussions to install the rail seats, and are proud to be associated with what will be a pioneering scheme.

For Ferco this will be their second significant safe standing project following on from Celtic FC who installed 2,900 seats last year. This has been roundly praised as a great success with safe standing credited with improving the atmosphere, encouraging fans singing, and keeping a safe environment at the same time.

In the last week Celtic have been awarded The Stadium Business Fan Experience Award in recognition of their safe standing section of the ground. Celtic General Manager Robin Buchanan also received the Outstanding Achievement Award for his commitment to fans at the Scottish club. In the judges decision they noted that ‘His efforts have demonstrated that safe standing – if planned and implemented properly – can be implemented safely and can improve the matchday experience of all fans’

Shrewsbury Town are keen to capitalise on the enhanced fan experience seen at Celtic, while ensuring their supporters are kept safe inside the ground. Brian Caldwell, Shrewsbury Town’s chief executive told BBC Sport “Our safety officer has been up to Celtic to see it in action and was very, very pleased with how safe and secure it was.”

An application for a license is currently with Shropshire Council’s safety advisory group which will then need to be forwarded to the national Sports Ground Safety Authority for approval. In anticipation of this the club have started a crowdfunding campaign to fund the project. They are inviting donations from fans in return for rewards from the club and hope to raise the cash for between 400 and 500 dual-use seats.

In being the first English club to apply for safe seating, the process will be closely watched by other clubs who have expressed an interest in similar projects. The success of Celtic FC in this most recent season suggests that safe seating can be a huge boost to fans and their team – and Ferco are looking forward to moving forward with the project in due course.

Designing and installing bespoke projects is something we specialise in here at Ferco Seating. With every product produced specifically for that client there are numerous options that can be added or removed. It doesn’t end with the chair though; Sometimes the venue itself requires the team to adapt their installation accordingly and this was the case in our latest completed project – Dagmar Kino in Copenhagen.

As part of the Nordisk Film group, Dagmar Kino is one of twenty venues in Denmark’s largest cinema chain. With close to six million guests passing through the group’s doors each year, Nordisk Film ensure a premium experience with the best equipment and standards.

Their choice to upgrade to Ferco’s Paragon 755 – one of our most comfortable cinema seats – reflects this commitment to their customers. Featuring a wide backrest, heavy-sprung seat, and silent tip-up mechanism the Paragon 755 is one of our most popular choices for cinema audiences. In addition, for this project we added bespoke chair arms, a full rocker-back and a larger than normal cup holder to meet the requirements of the Danish market.

The real challenge in the Dagmar Kino installation however lay in the dimensions of the existing cinema room. The sloped floor also curved in non-concentric circles which had major implications for fitting seating in rows. The Ferco design & installations team was up to the job though and a combination of frame adjustments and welding saw the job completed to our normal high standards.

With the Dagmar Kino now back in operation, and Danish fans enjoying the latest films, we’re proud to be able to live up to our promise of having a seating solution for any venue.

Ferco Seating Systems share several key business components with our latest client CLC World Resorts & Hotels. Just one year after Ferco Seating was incorporated in 1983, CLC opened their first resort development on the Costa del Sol. From that point CLC have developed a portfolio of fabulous accommodation in some of the world’s most desirable destinations, whilst Ferco have provided innovative seating solutions to some of the world’s most ambitious architectural projects.

By planning, designing and building their own flagship resorts, CLC provide professionally designed living spaces with first class facilities. They pride themselves in constantly engaging with their members in order to improve and evolve, allowing them to offer stylish and luxurious accommodation tailored to people’s desires.

Here at Ferco we take a similar approach to our seating designs. By liaising with our clients at every stage of a project and offering a range of fabric and accessory options we can provide a truly unique tailored experience on every installation.

It was fitting therefore that when CLC needed seating for the new screening room in their Gloucester offices they trusted Ferco to deliver a premium seat to match their own aspirational product.

The requirement for a viewing area where their members are taken on an inspirational journey for their next vacation meant our Premium Glide seat was the natural choice for CLC. Offering total comfort and relaxation for cinema viewing, the Glide is the luxury seat of choice for many of our VIP auditorium clients.

CLC provided specifications requiring the Glide to be static, feature a stitched logo and have a tiered floor system for optimal viewing position. With Ferco having our own in-house designers, state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities across the globe and team of experienced installers we were able to easily accommodate these requirements and ensure that CLC, much like their own holiday customers, received everything that they desired.

Liverpool F.C's brand new Main Stand officially opened on 9th September 2016. The redevelopment transformed this into one of the largest all seater single stands in Europe.

Around 8,500 seats have been added, taking the overall capacity to around 54,000, enabling more fans to experience match day at Anfield.

The new stand features premium public space with state-of-the-art facilities and can be seen from across the city. Working with Carillion, as the Main Contractor we were asked to install the General Hospitality Seating for the New Main Stand.

The middle tier includes our ARC One stadium seat. The chairs were chosen to have arm rests and upholstered in the clubs well known 'shade of red' to make the seating more personable.

With its ergonomically shaped thickly upholstered seat and back, the ARC One stadium seat sets new standards in spectator comfort.

Incorporating a silent gravity tip-up mechanism, it is extremely robust and low maintenance.

This seat was specifically engineered for longevity and ease of maintenance and available as a higher backed 'plus' model.

ODEON have committed to providing their audiences with the ultimate experience and continue to invest in a luxury proposition for their guest, choosing the luxurious Premium Verona Zero Wall reclining cinema seat with concession tray for their VIP area at Bromborough.

The Verona zero wall saves space and ensures that you maintain audience capacity. Whilst also delivering the luxuriousness and feature options of the Premium Verona model.

Clever design enables the backrest to recline into the space created by moving the seat base forward simultaneously.

As there is no gap left behind the chair, the requirement for safety handrails is negated, resulting in less capital expenditure and a more pleasing aesthetic.

ODEON have chosen several customisable options including concession tables and easy clean feature which lifts the entire chair effortlessly for thorough cleaning.

luxurious reclining cinema seat
easy clean seat lift
concession trays
single and twin models
footrest sensor option
underseat lighting
autoreturn footrest option
embroidery

Installation of Heated VIP seating in the Millennium Suite at Chelsea FC on the hottest day of the year.

Celtic FC and Ferco Seating made history on Thursday as the installation of the first safe standing seating system (RailSeat) in the UK got underway at Celtic Park. An area of the stadium will feature standing on the terraces for the 2016 - 17 season.

With Celtic pushing for this for over 6 years and Ferco supporting both them and the Football Supporters Federation (FSF) for more than 5 years, all eyes will now be on the EPL for their reaction.

Developed in response to fans' demands for a return to standing sections at football matches, the RailSeat is an innovation in stadium seating, enabling spectators to stand safely to watch matches, whilst having the option to revert to seating when regulations require it.

With its design based on barrier technology and its robust seat and high back, the RailSeat forms a strong and continuous handrail to facilitate safe standing. Slim-line and compact, this unique stadium seat has been approved for use by both UEFA and FIFA for Champions League and World Cup matches.

Jon Darch, Chairman of the FSF, has visited numerous UK clubs with the Safe Standing Roadshow, demonstrating the benefits of standing safely at matches for both clubs and supporters alike.

Although widely used in Germany's Bundesliga as standing accommodation for domestic matches, this is the first time RailSeats have been installed commercially in the UK.

The 3,000 seat installation comes after Celtic were able to convince their local Safety Advisory Group and the authorities that these seats provided a safer environment for their fans.

The introduction of RailSeats, which comply with UEFA and FIFA requirements, is an investment in spectator safety by Celtic FC and an historic event for Shrewsbury based Ferco Seating Systems.

Lusail Sports Arena is an indoor sports arena in Lusail, Qatar. It is built to host matches of the 2015 World Men's Handball Championship.

Lusail Sports Arena Lusail Sports Arena, exterior.jpg Location Lusail, Qatar Owner Qatar Olympic Committee Capacity 15,300 Construction Broke ground 2012 Built 2012–2014 Construction cost US$ 318 Million[1] Architect Alastair Richardson Dar Al Handasah Main contractors Consolidated Contractors Company Seats Manufactured by Ferco Seating.

Seats Installed ARC Lite Automatic retractable Seating System for 1,774 seats Total Number of seats: 16,145

Ferco launch their new education Turn and Learn seating that supports collaborative learning pedagogies.

We are in one of the most exciting periods of change in education and fundamental to successful outcomes is the ability to maximise learning opportunities within specifically designed learning spaces.

Ferco Seating has recently provided corporate seats for Leicester City, Chelsea and Manchester United and installed 1,500 FCB-M seats at Derby Arena.

Michael Burnett, MD of Ferco Seating Systems, said:

“We were delighted to be associated with Derby Arena – a venue which demonstrates an innovative and flexible design by architects Faulkner Browns and deservedly won the RICS Project of the Year award. The FCB-M seating chosen for this landmark project was designed with aesthetics and functionality in mind; resulting in a beautiful seat that delivers flexibility, comfort and durability.”

He added:

“Our company vision is ‘seating made better’ and we aim to demonstrate outstanding best practice, while setting standards in spectator seating, in both the design and quality of our seating and also throughout our business. We are environmentally aware, customer focussed and value our people.

This project exemplifies a visionary design by Faulkner Browns and provides an impressive community resource that is both relevant today and future-proofed for success.”