GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Steelcase Inc. , a global office environments manufacturer whose offerings help individuals to work more effectively and organizations to use space more efficiently, today debuted the Think(TM) chair - a smart, simple and environmentally sustainable seating product that addresses the growing need for mid-priced ergonomic seating.
Created in collaboration with designer Glen Oliver Low, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry and the Institute of Product Development in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Think chair conforms to the highest environmental standards and raises the bar in cradle-to-cradle design and life-cycle thinking.
According to the American Chiropractic Association, half of all working Americans suffer from back pain. Research has also demonstrated a direct connection between pain and productivity. According to research featured in WebMD Medical News, back pain is attributed to 3.2% of lost work time. This results in medical costs of $50 billion annually. The Think chair's design aims to address this growing concern by incorporating new technologies that support the user's changing postures throughout the day.
A Chair with a Brain - The Ergonomic Principles of Think
After three years of extensive research and development, Steelcase developed three elements that work together as the "brain" of the Think chair to anticipate user needs and react to them as they change postures and sit for long periods of time.
The first element is the Your Profile(TM) seat and back system. Research has shown that in order to remain healthy, the spine must move and adjust throughout the day. As users change postures, the chair's back flexors dynamically and independently follow the movement of the user's back and encourage natural spinal motion. It also provides distributed support and guards against the user settling into a hunched posture. The flexors in the seat provide a dynamic comfort pocket that adapts to the user's movements as they change postures.
The second element, the Your Power(TM) mechanism, interacts with the user in three distinct ways. First, it passively creates resistance as users recline that is proportional to the user's individual weight. Second, the mechanism's limb-like structure provides a more fluid, flexing motion than the robotic, prescribed movements created by the mechanical pivots, axles and stops within most traditional chairs. Finally, the mechanism helps users stay closer to their work when reclining. This enables users to change postures- which is healthier for the body-while remaining oriented to their monitors or work surface.
The third element is the Your Preference(TM) back selector, which allows users to choose between three recline positions. One selection provides 20% more resistance when reclining than an individual's body weight might dictate.
"Think's smart, intuitive seating system built on the breakthroughs we achieved developing the Leap(R) seating technologies. This provides users the primary benefit of avoiding the type of discomfort that is typically associated with long periods of sitting," said Ken Tameling, Steelcase seating manager.
Think also provides adjustments for seat height, seat depth, lumbar height, an adjustable headrest, and 3-way adjustable arms. The 3-way adjustable arms provide a retraction feature that moves the arms back and out of the way when they come into contact with a worksurface. This allows users to get as close as they desire to their work. The passive seat edge flex alleviates pressure under the user's thighs without compromising pelvic support.
A Chair With a Conscience - The Environmental Principles Behind Think
Steelcase worked with McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), a leading environmental consultant, to assess and choose the most environmentally responsible materials in developing the Think chair. Steelcase also worked with the Institute of Product Development in Copenhagen, Denmark to analyze the impact of Think on the environment throughout its entire lifecycle, from its raw material state to its end of life. This process also evaluated the environmental impacts of shipping and eventual recycling.
Utilizing MBDC's materials classification protocol, the Think chair uses only materials deemed by MBDC as safe to the environment. The Think chair is comprised of 99% recyclable content and is made of up to 41% recycled material. Think was designed for easy disassembly and can be disassembled for recycling with common hand tools in 5 minutes. Think is also Greenguard(TM) certified and can help contribute towards LEED(TM) certification.
In addition, the newly-launched Steelcase Environmental Partnership can help users determine the most environmentally responsible way to handle any Steelcase furniture, including Think, at the end of its useful life. Possibilities include reselling, refurbishing, donating or recycling. Steelcase and its dealers can help customers extend the useful life of their furniture through refurbishing the furniture; by facilitating its sale or donation to another organization that can still use the furniture; or by helping customers recycle the furniture, with the goal of minimizing the amount put in a landfill.
"Steelcase applied its Design for the Environment process to the development of the Think chair, and the end result is an industry-leading sustainable and environmentally sensitive product. We are committed to making a concerted effort to continuously examine and reduce the impact of our products on the environment during every step of the development process - from material selection to the end of the product's useful life," adds Tameling.
For more information on the Think chair, please visit http://www.steelcase.com/.
About Steelcase Inc.
Steelcase Inc. helps individuals and organizations around the world to work more effectively by providing knowledge, products and services that enable customers and their consultants to create work environments that integrate architecture, furniture and technology. Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the company has led the global office furniture industry in sales every year since 1974. Its product portfolio includes interior architectural products, furniture systems, technology products, seating, lighting, storage and related products and services. Fiscal 2004 revenue was approximately $2.3 billion. Steelcase Inc. and its subsidiaries have dealers in more than 900 locations, manufacturing facilities in over 35 locations and approximately 14,000 employees around the world. The company's Class A Common Stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol SCS.
Steelcase Inc.
Created in collaboration with designer Glen Oliver Low, McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry and the Institute of Product Development in Copenhagen, Denmark, the Think chair conforms to the highest environmental standards and raises the bar in cradle-to-cradle design and life-cycle thinking.
According to the American Chiropractic Association, half of all working Americans suffer from back pain. Research has also demonstrated a direct connection between pain and productivity. According to research featured in WebMD Medical News, back pain is attributed to 3.2% of lost work time. This results in medical costs of $50 billion annually. The Think chair's design aims to address this growing concern by incorporating new technologies that support the user's changing postures throughout the day.
A Chair with a Brain - The Ergonomic Principles of Think
After three years of extensive research and development, Steelcase developed three elements that work together as the "brain" of the Think chair to anticipate user needs and react to them as they change postures and sit for long periods of time.
The first element is the Your Profile(TM) seat and back system. Research has shown that in order to remain healthy, the spine must move and adjust throughout the day. As users change postures, the chair's back flexors dynamically and independently follow the movement of the user's back and encourage natural spinal motion. It also provides distributed support and guards against the user settling into a hunched posture. The flexors in the seat provide a dynamic comfort pocket that adapts to the user's movements as they change postures.
The second element, the Your Power(TM) mechanism, interacts with the user in three distinct ways. First, it passively creates resistance as users recline that is proportional to the user's individual weight. Second, the mechanism's limb-like structure provides a more fluid, flexing motion than the robotic, prescribed movements created by the mechanical pivots, axles and stops within most traditional chairs. Finally, the mechanism helps users stay closer to their work when reclining. This enables users to change postures- which is healthier for the body-while remaining oriented to their monitors or work surface.
The third element is the Your Preference(TM) back selector, which allows users to choose between three recline positions. One selection provides 20% more resistance when reclining than an individual's body weight might dictate.
"Think's smart, intuitive seating system built on the breakthroughs we achieved developing the Leap(R) seating technologies. This provides users the primary benefit of avoiding the type of discomfort that is typically associated with long periods of sitting," said Ken Tameling, Steelcase seating manager.
Think also provides adjustments for seat height, seat depth, lumbar height, an adjustable headrest, and 3-way adjustable arms. The 3-way adjustable arms provide a retraction feature that moves the arms back and out of the way when they come into contact with a worksurface. This allows users to get as close as they desire to their work. The passive seat edge flex alleviates pressure under the user's thighs without compromising pelvic support.
A Chair With a Conscience - The Environmental Principles Behind Think
Steelcase worked with McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), a leading environmental consultant, to assess and choose the most environmentally responsible materials in developing the Think chair. Steelcase also worked with the Institute of Product Development in Copenhagen, Denmark to analyze the impact of Think on the environment throughout its entire lifecycle, from its raw material state to its end of life. This process also evaluated the environmental impacts of shipping and eventual recycling.
Utilizing MBDC's materials classification protocol, the Think chair uses only materials deemed by MBDC as safe to the environment. The Think chair is comprised of 99% recyclable content and is made of up to 41% recycled material. Think was designed for easy disassembly and can be disassembled for recycling with common hand tools in 5 minutes. Think is also Greenguard(TM) certified and can help contribute towards LEED(TM) certification.
In addition, the newly-launched Steelcase Environmental Partnership can help users determine the most environmentally responsible way to handle any Steelcase furniture, including Think, at the end of its useful life. Possibilities include reselling, refurbishing, donating or recycling. Steelcase and its dealers can help customers extend the useful life of their furniture through refurbishing the furniture; by facilitating its sale or donation to another organization that can still use the furniture; or by helping customers recycle the furniture, with the goal of minimizing the amount put in a landfill.
"Steelcase applied its Design for the Environment process to the development of the Think chair, and the end result is an industry-leading sustainable and environmentally sensitive product. We are committed to making a concerted effort to continuously examine and reduce the impact of our products on the environment during every step of the development process - from material selection to the end of the product's useful life," adds Tameling.
For more information on the Think chair, please visit http://www.steelcase.com/.
About Steelcase Inc.
Steelcase Inc. helps individuals and organizations around the world to work more effectively by providing knowledge, products and services that enable customers and their consultants to create work environments that integrate architecture, furniture and technology. Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the company has led the global office furniture industry in sales every year since 1974. Its product portfolio includes interior architectural products, furniture systems, technology products, seating, lighting, storage and related products and services. Fiscal 2004 revenue was approximately $2.3 billion. Steelcase Inc. and its subsidiaries have dealers in more than 900 locations, manufacturing facilities in over 35 locations and approximately 14,000 employees around the world. The company's Class A Common Stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol SCS.
Steelcase Inc.
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