Thanks to the unique design of its aluminium grandstands, a Swedish family business has won a prestigious order to provide the arenas for the Formula One "circus" world wide. "Speed, safety and a practically unlimited field of application mean that we get enquiries from all over the world, and the growth of the business has been record-breaking", says Pär J. Johnsson, International Operations Officer at SitDown. "In three years the company has more than quadrupled its sales".

When the management team of the international Formula One circus saw that a small family company from Sweden could put up a 16 000-seater stand twice as quickly as the competition, their decision was obvious. SitDown of Sweden now supplies grandstands for several Formula One arenas, including the famous tracks at Spa in Belgium and Imola in Italy.
This year SitDown are also providing seating for
37 000 at the Indy Race, but motor sport is not the only area where they have been successful. SitDown has experience of numerous sporting and cultural events, including three Olympic Games.
What lies behind the company's success is a unique grandstand of extruded aluminium. Thanks to its light weight and simple but inspired design, it can quickly be erected and dismantled. At the same time, it meets strict international safety requirements. SitDown grandstands already comply with European safety code CE315, which will come into force in a year or two, and with the strict requirements of German standard DIN 4112, "Fliegende Bauten" (temporary buildings).
"It's horrifying to see how people in some countries ignore safety aspects when building stands", says Pär J. Johnsson, "sometimes with tragic consequences. A stand must be able to handle the "Mexican wave" whatever its height and however many people it holds.
"We build grandstands. Our competitors build scaffolding with seats on it. That, in simple terms, is how we like to describe what makes SitDown different."
SitDown are now hoping to find partners in Europe. In North America they already have a Canadian partner with sole rights to SitDown grandstands.
"Business is exceeding all expectations", says Pär J. Johnsson. "We have just signed contracts with Pan American Games (55 000 seats) and with Disney World (40 000 seats). The fact is that our main competitor in Canada decided to get out of the business."
Great flexibility and attention to customers' needs are what SitDown aims to offer - to them, limits simply don't exist.
"We have built grandstands on trains and in churches. We can build grandstands for standing or seated audiences, fences and stairways. There is no limit on size or height. It's technically possible to build a grandstand 50 metres high at the back, as tall as a 20-storey block", says Pär J. Johnsson.
Now they are looking forward, and the future looks bright. Sales for next year have already reached SEK 55 million (this year's figure is SEK 40 million). A new grandstand version has just been launched and SitDown are hoping for orders for yet another Olympic Games, in Australia in 2000.

Caption, Formula 1:
Grandstands from Swedish company SitDown have been erected at several Formula 1 meetings and at many other major international events, including three Olympic Games

Caption, overview:
Thanks to its unique grandstand in extruded aluminium, which is easy to assembly and light in weight, Swedish company SitDown has achieved great success internationally.

For further information:
Pär J. Johnsson
SitDown AB
Kungstångsgatan 3-5
S-721 85 Västerås
Sweden
Phone: +46 21 30 17 00
Fax: +46 21 30 17 90

Press release images