Office Chair
The English translation of “办公椅” is office chair. It is a chair equipped for convenience in daily work and social activities, with both narrow and broad definitions. Its structure, types, prices, usage, industrial market, and safety are as follows:
Structure: It is usually composed of eight basic components, including wheels, a five-star base, a gas lift, a seat plate, etc. Among them, the gas lift is the core component for adjusting the seat height. Common materials include leather and mesh. Leather models are often made of PU leather or genuine leather and are commonly found in executive chairs and mid-back chairs. Mesh models have good breathability and are commonly used in small office chairs, suitable for summer use.
Types: Taking the Ergotune E3Pro 5th Generation Ergonomic Chair as an example, it features ergonomic design with adequate lumbar support. The headrest height and angle are adjustable, the seat cushion is made of high-density mesh for breathability, the armrests support up-down and front-back adjustments, the gas lift operates smoothly, the base is stable, and it offers three modes—upright, reclining for a nap, and gaming—that can be switched freely. The headrest has a four-dimensional dual-axis design, allowing for relaxation of the shoulders and neck, with adjustments available in all directions—up, down, front, back, left, and right.
Prices: There is a wide range of office chair prices in the market, with products available at different price points such as 100 yuan, 132.1 yuan, and 525.2 yuan.
Usage: Various stretching exercises can be performed on an office chair to relieve discomfort from prolonged sitting, such as hip joint stretching and lower back release. To correct prolonged sitting posture, it is recommended to adjust the seat height to ensure the entire sole of the foot is flat on the ground, with the angle between the thigh and calf being comfortable at around 95° to 100°. Sitting slightly reclined reduces lumbar pressure, and raising the monitor appropriately so that the eyes look directly at the top edge helps keep the spine naturally extended.
Industry and Market: China is the world's largest manufacturer and exporter of office furniture, with office furniture exports amounting to approximately 7 billion US dollars, a cumulative increase of 76% from 2015. China's office chair exports account for as much as 65% of the global total. The United States is the main consumer market for office chairs, accounting for 17.83% of the global market. Over the next 10 years, the global office chair market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 5.1%. Chinese brands FLEXISPOT and Nouhaus are targeting the mid-to-high-end market, and SIHOO has also recorded good monthly sales.
Safety: There are some safety issues with office chairs. For example, on March 2, 2023, the United States and Canada issued a recall of office chairs made in China due to the risk of the backrest breaking and causing falls. On September 30, 2024, the State Administration for Market Regulation found that 15 batches of office chairs failed the national supervision and inspection, with stability issues being prominent.
