ITOKI CORPORATION (President: Kiyotaka Kaneko) announced a new product, an office chair known as “PRAO α CHAIR”, at “ITOKI PRESENTATION 2005”, and it will launch a sale in December 2005.

With regard to recent office interiors, spaces to be designed with a brighter and more natural image have become mainstream, by incorporating as many transmitted lights as possible, through the use of glass, high brightness in colors, and an emphasis on a sense of materials, etc.Office chairs need to be designed while focusing on aspects of the interior.

“PRAO α CHAIR”, to be released by ITOKI, was based on “PRAO CHAIR”, which has been in great demand since its debut in February 2004, and was developed on the concept of adding a top ranked design and sitting experience.

In order to respond to the need to focus on the interior, the chair is based on a simple and smart design, and mesh cloth has been adopted for the backrest.Producing a sense of unity with the interior by using permeable material, a design with a sense of being lightweight has been realized. Also, by framing the backrest with flexible cloth material, the design enhances the sense of a good fit for the back. If more support for the lumbar region is required, there is a type with lumbar support (function supporting the lumber region), which enables adjustment of the position.

The “PRAO α CHAIR” adopts the philosophy of a universal design, and has positioned on all kinds of controls for its mechanisms, within close reach, and displayed pictorially to allow for easy recognition of the relevant operations or directions. Additionally, this chair was designed with environmental issues in mind and products comply with the Green Purchasing Law.

Sales target for the first year is planned at 300 million yen.

A number of high-quality finished functions mounted on “PRAO CHAIR” have been inherited by the “PRAO α CHAIR”.

Ankle-movement synchro-rocking system, in which the backrest tilts in alignment with the ideal angle, and the ankle acts as a fulcrum. The firmness of rocking is adjustable using the knob on the right, below the seat, and it is possible to fix the tilt at the preferred position using a stopper mechanism.

The seat surface is equipped with a “bending sheet” which is unique to our corporate’s chairs, and has developed a good reputation. It provides a comfortable sitting experience for each user.

An adjustment mechanism for seat depth can be adjusted backward to forward, in accordance with body type and the work posture of the person who is seated.

Also, an adjustable armrest (position of armrest is adjustable from right to left or up and down) is available.

Based on the concept of a universal design, it is located in an easy-to-operate position, with visible size.