---
title: H.O. Bostrom | Our History
description: Learn more about H.O. Bostrom’s history, our innovative engineering foundations, and our team of industry and seating experts.
---

Since 1946

# Our History

H.O. Bostrom is a global manufacturer of ergonomic seating systems to leading multi-national original equipment manufacturers and dealers of both on and off-road products.

We engineer innovative seating solutions to meet our customer’s evolving technological, safety, comfort and styling needs.

![Building exterior photo](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Facility%20photos/Building%20exterior%20photo.webp?width=5472&height=3648&name=Building%20exterior%20photo.webp)

![Paul Bostrom, Paige Bostrom, Jared Bostrom, FDIC 2025](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Personnel%20photos/Paul%20Bostrom%2c%20Paige%20Bostrom%2c%20Jared%20Bostrom%2c%20FDIC%202025.png?width=2624&height=2062&name=Paul%20Bostrom%2c%20Paige%20Bostrom%2c%20Jared%20Bostrom%2c%20FDIC%202025.png)

## A multi-generational family business

H.O. Bostrom is a family company founded by Harry and Astrid Bostrom in 1946. They developed the company into a successful business before passing the reins to sons John and Kurt in 1976. In 2022, John's son, Paul, stepped into the role of company president, marking the third generation of leadership. Today, Paul's children, Paige and Jared, have joined the company and represent the fourth generation of the Bostrom family.

Over time, our focus evolved—what began as a automotive and truck fleet cushion upholstery service expanded into a leading manufacturing business of highly engineered seating and related products.

Today, we serve our customers through every phase of their seating journey, from providing reliable seating that sets industry standards, to developing new and customized products that meet customer-specific needs.

## 1946

H.O. Bostrom is founded by Harry and Astrid Bostrom, initially as an upholstery service for automotive and truck fleets.

![Harry and Astrid Bostrom, pre 1971](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Historical%20photos/Harry%20and%20Astrid%20Bostrom%2c%20pre%201971.jpeg?width=976&height=596&name=Harry%20and%20Astrid%20Bostrom%2c%20pre%201971.jpeg)

## 1968

H.O. Bostrom begins developing and manufacturing standard and specialized seating to meet customer-specific requirements.

![Bostrom Auto Upholstering Exterior](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Historical%20photos/Bostrom%20Auto%20Upholstering%20Exterior.jpeg?width=976&height=596&name=Bostrom%20Auto%20Upholstering%20Exterior.jpeg)

## 1971

H.O. Bostrom starts developing configurable product lines, engineering and manufacturing everything from seating and accessories for off-road vehicles to self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) brackets for firefighters and electro-coated pedestal suspensions for marine helm seats.

![Res-Q-Back and Tank-er old advert-1-1](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Historical%20photos/Res-Q-Back%20and%20Tank-er%20old%20advert-1-1.png?width=976&height=596&name=Res-Q-Back%20and%20Tank-er%20old%20advert-1-1.png)

## 1975

H.O. Bostrom Company, Inc. is incorporated in the state of Wisconsin.

![articles of incorporation](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Historical%20photos/articles%20of%20incorporation.jpg?width=976&height=596&name=articles%20of%20incorporation.jpg)

## 1976

John and Kurt Bostrom take over the family business and move the company to the city of New Berlin, WI.

![Kurt and John Bostrom combined 1982](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Historical%20photos/Kurt%20and%20John%20Bostrom%20combined%201982.png?width=976&height=596&name=Kurt%20and%20John%20Bostrom%20combined%201982.png)

## 1990

H.O. Bostrom moves to a 4.5-acre modern manufacturing facility in Waukesha, WI, enabling even further expansion of product lines.

![HobcoFacility](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/HobcoFacility.jpeg?width=976&height=596&name=HobcoFacility.jpeg)

## 1992

Paul Bostrom, third generation, joins H.O. Bostrom.

![Paul Bostrom at HO Bostrom in 1992](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/L2018-HdV-SFWN-D9-F09-12.jpg?width=976&height=596&name=L2018-HdV-SFWN-D9-F09-12.jpg)

## 1994

H.O. Bostrom begins exporting precision-engineered seating to international customers.

![Screenshot 2025-07-23 at 3.38.05 PM](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot%202025-07-23%20at%203.38.05%20PM.png?width=976&height=596&name=Screenshot%202025-07-23%20at%203.38.05%20PM.png)

## 2005

H.O. Bostrom becomes ISO-certified, embodying their dedication to providing customers with high-quality products and services.

![Engineering and manufacturing working together ISO certification](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Upload%20032224%20404%20copy.jpeg?width=976&height=596&name=Upload%20032224%20404%20copy.jpeg)

## 2016

H.O. Bostrom is honored with the Governor's Export Achievement Award, acknowledging their achievements in global business development. This award celebrates businesses that have demonstrated remarkable growth or adopted innovative strategies in exporting.

![2016 WI Governors Export Award Recipients](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Personnel%20photos/2016%20WI%20Governors%20Export%20Award%20Recipients.png?width=976&height=596&name=2016%20WI%20Governors%20Export%20Award%20Recipients.png)

## 2022

Paul Bostrom becomes H.O. Bostrom's third-generation company president, leading the company in the production of highly engineered products while promoting growth and development into new markets.

![Paul Bostrom, President and CEO of H.O. Bostrom Co at FDIC 2023](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/97B0CC47-8B67-460F-B8F0-EBB7A175DCD4.jpeg?width=976&height=596&name=97B0CC47-8B67-460F-B8F0-EBB7A175DCD4.jpeg)

## 2024

Jared Bostrom, fourth generation, joins H.O. Bostrom as the Sales and Business Development Manager.

![Jared and Paul Bostrom](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_0994.jpeg?width=976&height=596&name=IMG_0994.jpeg)

## 2025

Paige Bostrom, fourth generation, joins H.O. Bostrom as Sales and Marketing Manager.

![Paul and Paige Bostrom](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Personnel%20photos/Paul%20and%20Paige%20Bostrom.png?width=976&height=596&name=Paul%20and%20Paige%20Bostrom.png)

## 2026

H.O. Bostrom will celebrate   
it's 80-year anniversary.

![FireFighter Tanker SCBA seat in vehicle](https://hobostrom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Fire%20product%20images/SCBA/FireFighter%20Tanker%20SCBA%20seat%20in%20vehicle.png?width=1142&height=751&name=FireFighter%20Tanker%20SCBA%20seat%20in%20vehicle.png)

## Why choose us for your seating

At H.O. Bostrom, we engineer innovative seating and nurture valuable relationships. Our collaboration with customers results in durable, ergonomic seats that boost performance.

Our service offering is second to none. We focus on your exact requirements before delivering an innovative, single-sourced seating solution.

![Contact Icon Green](https://hobostrom.com/hubfs/Iconography/Green%20Icons/Contact%20Icon%20Green.svg)

#### Get in touch

Want to know more about our innovative seating products? Give us a call.

[ Contact us ](https://hobostrom.com/contact-us?hsLang=en)

![Order Icon Green](https://hobostrom.com/hubfs/Iconography/Green%20Icons/Order%20Icon%20Green.svg)

#### Explore your seating options

Reach out to our team of seating experts to find out what we can do for you.

[ Request a quote ](https://hobostrom.com/contact-us?hsLang=en)

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