Keilhauer Introduces an Office Chair that’s Just Foryu

September 7, 2023 (Toronto) – Keilhauer is excited to announce the launch of Foryu, an ergonomic office chair that is designed to provide custom comfort and support to anyone who takes a seat. Foryu is designed by celebrated German designer Martin Ballendat, his first collaboration with Keilhauer.

“We are thrilled to introduce the Foryu office chair to the North American market,” says Meghan Sherwin, Keilhauer’s President. “This lightweight, ergonomic office chair is incredibly versatile, providing dynamic support and comfort to a wide array of design environments, including home offices.”

Through Foryu, meeting rooms and collaborative spaces can feature more customized comfort than ever. Foryu’s innovative self-weighted mechanism is so integrated into the design of the chair, it is almost as if there is no mechanism at all. The mechanism is constructed from a series of pivot points, and its torsion spring is cleverly located in the arms. On top of being fully integrated, the mechanism is self-weighted, meaning the chair automatically adjusts to and flexes with the user’s unique weight and size. The built-in nature of this mechanism feature means that Foryu is incredibly cost-effective, making it the ideal task chair to configure in spaces where multiple units are required, such as boardrooms, call centers and co-working spaces. Overall, Foryu is a sustainable, multipurpose office chair that can support a variety of workplace activities.

“This design corresponds to contemporary thinking,” says Martin Ballendat. “Less is more… this chair is about lightness, transparency and reduction. People don’t want a complicated mechanism with lots of handles and operating instructions. They just want to sit in it and feel good.”

Foryu’s backrest is ergonomically contoured to support the user’s spine and provide lumbar support, and possesses a tilt angle of 24°, which synchronizes with the seat tilt angle of 5°. The backrest is also perforated for ventilation, keeping the user cool throughout the workday and adding a unique design flourish.

“Foryu possesses an ingeniously simple, almost floating, support structure that gives the chair its visual lightness,” adds Ballendat. “The chair consists of only four main components: seat, backrest, supports, and legs. Everything is open construction – it is elementary and authentic.”

Foryu is available in a black or white nylon frame, both with black casters. Foryu’s seat is an upholstered cushion, available in either standard black or grey textiles, or in any COM textile, allowing this chair to adapt to the needs of the specifier, design environment and user.

A Keilhauer first, Foryu is being offered in two Quick Ship models (96000QS and 96010QS), which have two-week lead times, meaning they can be delivered directly to the consumers’ door, arriving either fully constructed or flat-packed for at-home or at-office assembly. Weighing in at just under 10 kilograms (22 lbs.), Foryu possesses a light footprint, which allows for simple assembly and ease-of-movement around the user’s space.

SUSTAINABILITY

Foryu is a BIFMA Level 2® certified product, and carries an SCS Global Services certification for Indoor Air Quality at the Indoor Advantage™ Gold level. It is shipped from facilities that produce zero waste to landfill, and which offset 100% of electricity use with renewable energy credits.

Foryu is made from the highest quality materials, including recycled plastic. It is designed and manufactured to last for many years, and is supported by Keilhauer’s standard 10-year warranty. Keilhauer manufactures all products in accordance with the BIFMA compliance and ANSI requirements.

Martin Ballendat has been a successful designer for 25 years. Since 1995, he has been running his own design studio in Upper Austria and he has also opened a second studio in Germany. He has designed for well-known brands from over 10 countries, and his projects have been internationally acclaimed – in his career, he has received more than 100 awards, including 17 Red Dot awards. For more information, please visit ballendat.com. 

Founded in 1981, Keilhauer is a privately owned, design-focused contract furniture manufacturer. Keilhauer manufactures seating and tables that makes work more comfortable for all. Keilhauer products are thoughtfully made to support communication and engagement in spaces such as meeting rooms, collaboration areas, lobbies and lunchrooms. Working with world-renowned furniture designers, Keilhauer is internationally recognized for award-winning design, built with extreme craftsmanship, to the highest environmental standards. The company is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. For more information, please visit keilhauer.com.