June 21, 2006—Designed by Marcus Koepke, Allsteel’s Relate family of seating integrates several new proprietary technologies into one adaptive, ergonomic system. According to Koepke, the Relate family accomplished his three-fold goals: create a truly relevant innovation in ergonomic seating; project that innovation across an entire collection of chairs so that the benefits could be experienced everywhere work is accomplished; and design the product with an esthetic that complements and contributes to today’s work environments.
The primary breakthrough of Relate is its Body Adaptive Control system, which integrates the two important ergonomic features of the chair. The Body Adaptive Control is a combination of Relate’s optimally located pivoting back working with the chair’s synchro-tilt mechanism to better support the user’s body. The synchro tilt senses the user’s weight and tensions the control automatically, encouraging the body to “open up.” The pivoting back supports the spine in a variety of positions to then encourage movement. The difference with Relate is the placement of the pivot.
By optimally locating the pivot point, the Relate chair back is able to remain in constant contact with the spine. Allowing more contact, it also supports the back, distributes pressure, and adjusts to each person moving from tasking to reclining, or anywhere in between. Thus back pressure is more evenly distributed, allowing for proper spine curvature.
The system can be adjusted immediately with Allsteel’s new Quick Tension lever. It is easy to reach and even easier to adjust, without any cumbersome or hidden knobs or controls situated in awkward positions. The Quick Tension lever lets users instantly find any of five different levels.
Each Relate chair has a slender silhouette and offers a number of design options, including three back selections: mesh, plastic, upholstered. Seat and back upholstery, arm pads, and overall back assemblies are easily replaceable in minutes with a standard screwdriver.
The environmentally responsible Relate is 88 percent recyclable, and every Relate chair meets of exceeds BIFMA and EN1335 performance and ergonomic standards.
NeoCon’06 also heralded the partnership between Allsteel and Amsterdam-based Ahrend to answer the American interest in “Dutch design,” and a variety of award-winning Ahrend seating solutions and tables were showcased in the Allsteel Merchandise Mart showroom.
For more information on Relate, click here.
