ITOKI CORPORATION Central Research Laboratory (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Koji Minato) has announced its vision for offices and manufacturing 10 years into the future. In collaboration with the Keio University KGRI Kan Design & Digital Manufacturing Creativity Center, the company also unveiled a prototype model of sustainable next-generation office furniture using 3D printers to realize the vision.

This is a new organization established within Itoki in January 2023 to tackle future challenges in the creation of offices and office furniture from a long-term perspective. Its members include specialists in spatial design, product design, development design, resin materials, 3D CAD, etc., and are conducting research on the state of offices and office furniture, materials, design methods, and production technologies with an eye toward how people will work 10 years from now.

As work styles become more diverse and the business environment rapidly changes, many companies are exploring how their offices should be and how to optimize them, and it has become clear that a better office environment contributes to improving employee engagement and securing talent. Constantly improving the office environment in line with a company's growth will likely be a key point in creating offices in the future. At the same time, frequent relocations and renovations must be considered in terms of costs and environmental impacts such as waste issues, and these are expected to become even more complex and important as management issues in the future.
Meanwhile, offices are also changing in terms of design, with a wide variety of items now being used. There are also increasing cases of office furniture being supplied in small quantities and with a wide variety of items, so it is necessary to find options other than production that relies on quantity.
At the Central Research Institute, we set issues and seek solutions from two perspectives: office and manufacturing.

The Central Research Institute will explore the following five themes from a long-term perspective in relation to the ever-changing nature of offices and the office furniture used there.

1) Fluid offices
Assuming that the office will be constantly changing, we will explore methods for creating a rational office environment.

2) Plastic recycling
Exploring unique material recycling methods that can be used for office furniture

3) Parametric Design
Exploring computer-aided methods for creating innovative designs

4) Additive manufacturing*
Exploring the application of 3D printing to office furniture
* A method of manufacturing products of various shapes by "stacking" or "adding" materials.

5) Visualization of usage status
Using IoT technology to understand the usage status of office furniture and create a circular user experience

We aim to weave the above five research themes together into a single vision rather than treating them individually, and to establish an entirely new circulation model.

Specifically, to accommodate more flexible office environments, we will utilize computer-aided design and 3D printers to achieve production that does not rely on quantity. In addition, by visualizing the usage status of plastic parts, we will collect them in short cycles and establish a unique recycling method to contribute to the problem of plastic waste.

To realize this vision, we have produced a prototype model of next-generation office furniture with the participation of Hiroya Tanaka, Director of Keio University KGRI Center for Digital Manufacturing Creation and Professor at the Faculty of Environment and Information Studies, who are leaders in Japan's digital fabrication industry, and Ryohei Yuasa, Specially Appointed Lecturer at Keio University Graduate School of Media and Governance (SFC). This prototype model was created using a large 3D printer at the RecyCreation Keio Kamakura Lab, the base of the center in Kamakura, and was completed as a work table for fluid offices with the following features:

Feature 1: Approximately 50% lighter than conventional models, making it easier to move
The standard specifications for the tabletop of conventional office furniture are a melamine laminate attached to a wooden core, with resin wrapped around the edges. This specification is extremely versatile, but we thought it was too heavy for frequently changing the layout and transforming the room. With this work table, we reduced the weight by about 50%, making it easier for even a weak person to move it by themselves.

Feature 2: Mono-material tabletop
The specifications of the wooden core, melamine laminate, and resin edge are not easy to disassemble. In this work table, the table top is made entirely of a single plastic material (polypropylene), making it dramatically easier to disassemble after use.

Feature 3: Modeling using a 3D printer
The edges and frame of the tabletop are printed directly on a 3D printer using a commercially available polypropylene board. We developed a unique recipe for the resin material, which is easy to shape and can be made in a variety of colors.

Feature 4: Computer-generated shapes
The reinforcement parts on the underside of the tabletop are printed using a 3D printer. When considering the shape, we used generative design (generating the optimal shape using a computer) using the latest 3D CAD.

Feature 5: Measures load and visualizes usage status
A sensor chip is installed on the underside of the tabletop to constantly measure the pressure on the tabletop. By sending the data to the cloud, the usage status can be understood and the time for replacement or regeneration can be clearly indicated.

The ITOKI Central Research Laboratory will continue to conduct research and development with the aim of establishing technology for practical application by 2030, and will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society through offices and manufacturing.