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With a frame made completely of anodized aluminum – one of the most sought-after materials these days in sophisticated architecture: The alite sets new standards in design, handling and sustainability.
The Brunner Group development team is used to taking on new challenges, after all each new product has its own requirements. But with alite, moving from the first design to final production proved particularly demanding. “There was little experience available for working with aluminum”, Managing Partner Marc Brunner explains. “We have broken new ground here, and that meant a lot of research and development, but also experimenting, which was fun.” Now Brunner can claim to be the first company to present a chair with a frame made from anodized aluminum. It looks great, that much is obvious – but what else speaks for alite?
Setting the trend: alite can be sorted into its components and is thus 100% recyclable
The most striking innovation of the alite: All parts are bolted together – nothing is welded or glued. Hence this perfect anodized surface, so alite doesn’t need any further finish, no environmentally noxious chromium coating nor any powder coating. And this means that each part can be exchanged during the long life of the chair if needed. So the entire chair can be separated and sorted into its components, being 100% recyclable at the end of its life – a rarity on the market, for only very few products can do this. At Brunner, this is part of our corporate philosophy: Sustainability is an important point, especially when designing a new product..
Handling: alite is lightweight and multifunctional
A welcome side-effect of the innovative material: At just eleven pounds in its lightest version, alite is really lightweight. It also combines some sophisticated features that make for easy handling, e.g. the integrated row connection that allows easy aligning without the need for a further handle. The cohesion is outstanding as well: alite can be linked together in rows with and without armrests, even alternating between the two. And it is a genuine high riser, stackable frame upon frame, with clearly defined stacks up to 12 chairs high. Stacks which can be transported safely. And which stand securely.
Comfort: pleasant and state-of-the-art
The alite’s seat and back are shaped to offer the highest levels of ergonomic comfort. The top edge of the back rest gives way to ensure comfort. Comfort is also ensured by the knee roll, both during sitting and when standing up. The development team’s solution as to how to link the backrest required quite some time and sophistication – but now that it’s done, the researchers have had it patented. Equally unusual: the alite is also available in four extravagantly trendy colors. Brunner GmbH offers this “Colour Collection” in all quantities, starting with only one chair – without any minimum order quantity.
Design: quality for high demands
Martin Ballendat, who designed the alite, is renowned as a demanding designer. A visionary with very concrete ideas – for the developers this was a great incentive. “For us, this means: Go the extra mile, invest even more time”, Michael Hauser from the development team relates. What proved particularly time intensive with the alite was the required accuracy of fit: all bolt connections have to fit precisely, which is quite different from gluing. “It was not easy to find a supplier who was able to offer drill holes in the frame at the required degree of accuracy. Here, mere millimeters make the difference”, explains Hauser, who is also Head of Technology. “After all, constant quality is the prerequisite for such a high-quality piece of furniture. In order to ensure accuracy of fit, the frame is now treated in two steps – first it is shaped, then it is stamped. The team also had to look for a long time before they found an adequate supplier for the plastic seat. But the effort was worth it: now the alite can be presented as the first chair of its kind.
Safety: new standards in terms of weight and stability
“Despite being so lightweight, the alite offers comprehensive functionality and above all: complete stability”, Michael Hauser explains. Of course, this stability is GS-certified for both versions, with and without armrests. And the feedback to alite proves that this care gives a good return. The most recent order comes from Gütersloh – there, 2,000 alite chairs will bring new seating comfort to the culture halls.