Industry Analysis of Ergonomic Chairs
In recent years, ergonomic chairs have been known, chosen and purchased by more and more people. In order to solve users’ doubts and misunderstandings about ergonomic chairs, this article will introduce industry knowledge, research and development and production of ergonomic chairs, and how to choose them, so that everyone can better understand ergonomic chairs and solve the problems they actually encounter.
The development and industry status of ergonomic chairs
What is ergonomics? One of the misunderstandings is that ergonomic chairs are equivalent to office chairs. In layman’s terms, using the right chair in the right scene is ergonomic. In addition to the ergonomic chair, there are also ergonomic keyboards and so on. A simple example: the wooden stools placed in the milk tea shop are ergonomic, but if the wooden stools are placed in the office, it is not ergonomic.
The rise and development of ergonomic chairs is not accidental, it is supported by certain market precipitation, theory and practice. The modern office chair industry originated in Europe and the United States, and developed countries such as Italy, Germany, Canada, and the United States are traditionally large producers and exporters of office chairs. Since the mid-to-late 1980s, relying on cost advantages in labor, raw materials, and land, the office chair manufacturing industry began to shift to China, Southeast Asia and other regions.
The characteristics of the ergonomic office chair industry
(1) Labor division in the global industrial chain
Different types of division of labor within the industry have gradually changed from “led by Europe and the United States” to “joint participation of more regions and countries“, forming an interdependent upstream and downstream industrial chain relationship.
(2) R&D and design links
From the perspective of R&D and design links, the creative design and basic research of products are mainly concentrated in developed countries such as the United States, Italy, Germany, and Japan. In recent years, the R&D and design level of office chairs in China has been significantly improved. However, except for some leading enterprises with strong R&D and design capabilities, most enterprises are still in the stage of homogeneous production.
It can be seen from this that research and development is the core of the industry, and only by mastering the initiative of research and development can we break through homogeneity and stand out.
(3) Production link
After decades of development in China’s office chair industry, the overall production and manufacturing capacity has been steadily improved, and the industrial supporting facilities are relatively complete. Coupled with the comparative advantage in production costs, China has become a global office chair manufacturing center.
This is the link of cost control. The above-mentioned transfer of industrial manufacturing from developed countries to developing countries after the 1980s was to control costs.
(4) Sales link
The sales system in developed countries has the characteristics of high concentration and large-scale development, and sales channels are mainly controlled by retailers, importers, system integrators and other enterprises. While the China’s domestic market is still in the early stage of development, and sales channels are relatively scattered. The industry is subject to consolidation to increase concentration.
Why is there such a big gap in the price of ergonomic chairs in the market?
Although China’s domestic market has great potential for development, the price of ergonomic chairs are different.
So how is an ergonomic chair developed to production? Why is there such a big gap in the price of ergonomic chairs in the market?
Research and development is the core of the product, and the research and development process will not be mentioned for the time being. Let’s talk about the production process. Ergonomic chairs have many chair parts. Different parts have different production processes.
The market price gap is large, mainly in the following aspects:
- R&D gap
- Material technology
- Security testing cost
- Brand premium
Product research and development is the core. And with the core competitive advantage, the brand will have the leading right.
At the beginning of the article, we also mentioned that developed countries have transferred their product chains in order to control costs. For China’s domestic brands, they have their own processing plants, and the cost of product materials and labor is controllable.
The two most important factors in choosing a chair: comfort and safety. Comfort can be achieved through research and development. While product safety needs to go through countless repeated tests. Both require manpower and material resources.
The last thing that affects the price difference is the added value provided by the brand, the brand premium. In this way, it is not difficult to understand why the prices of products on the market are uneven.
How to choose an suitable ergonomic office chair
When a person sits on a seat, the main structures that support the human body in a fixed position are the spine, pelvis, and legs and feet.
From the perspective of seat design, the lumbar and sacral vertebrae are the most important, bearing most of the body’s body weight load when sitting. At the same time, people sitting on chairs are not all still, but are constantly making subtle movements to adjust their postures to eliminate abnormal pressure on the spine.
Basic principles of seat design
- The type and size of the seat are related to the purpose or motivation of sitting.
- The dimensions of the seat must match the relative anthropometric measurements.
- The design of the seat must be able to provide sufficient support and stability for the human body sitting on it.
- Seats must be designed to allow the person sitting on them to change their posture.
- The backrest, especially at the lumbar support,must be able to reduce tension on the spine.
- Seat cushions must be adequately padded and firm enough to help distribute the pressure of the body weight around the ischial tuberosities.
Basic parameters of seat design
- Seat height: 38-45cm for rest chairs, 35-50cm for work chairs
- Seat width: 38-48cm
- Seat depth: rest seat 42-45cm, work chair 30-40cm
- Seat angle: 15-20 degrees for rest chairs, less than 5 degrees for work chairs
- Backrest height and width: 46-61cm high, 35-48cm wide
- Backrest angle: 103 degrees -112 degrees
- Armrest height: 21-22cm above the seat surface
- Chair cushion: withtwo important functions
Firstly, it helps to distribute the pressure created by the ischial tuberosity and body weight on the hips.
Secondly, it allows the body to adopt a stable posture, sinking the body into the chair cushion and brace it.
Of course, these parameters are in normal office conditions. The product requirements are different, the realization goals are different, and the product parameter requirements are also different.
In the context of the global epidemic, whether it is office work or home work, the general improvement needs have been greatly reduced. (This is related to the material of the base) and the waist following ability of the lumbar support.
Actual offline store experience
Every chair must go through many experiments from R & D design to production and shipment. After all, when buying a chair, safety is the most basic principle. However, there must be individual differences in chairs. For novices, the most direct way is to experience it offline. This is the most direct and effective way. If no offline store, customers can buy it online. And be sure to combine the detailed parameters of the product with the detailed parameters that can realize the actual comfortable sitting posture of the human body.
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