The idea of filling sofas and armchairs with air has been around for more than 100 years, but putting the concept into practice has proved a difficult challenge. Some models were on sale back in the 70s. In those days, however, they were made of PVC welded together and then inflated to the shape of the furniture. But the quality was inadequate, the PVC was uncomfortable and - worst of all - the seams were likely to burst. The idea of using air was nothing short of a stroke of genius. A construction which would make it possible to sell sofas and armchairs in flat packages bore the promise of enormous savings for manufacturers, retailers, customers and the environment. But the design and the materials were far from perfect. What was needed was a completely new approach. The industrial designer Mr Jan Dranger has been perfecting his own ideas on this theme for many years, investing a great deal of work in developing materials, adapting production and subjecting his designs to tests for durability, function, fire safety and so on. The aim has always been to create furniture of high quality with little environmental impact, furniture which is suitable for industrial manufacture and can be packed in flat packages. The breakthrough for the new ideas came in 1993 and resulted in a soft, high-tech material known as olefin plastic, and a manufacturing technique in Sweden. Together these form the trademark SoftAir Technology (pat. pend. int.). The plastic used is one of the purest there is and it is 100% recyclable. In the event of fire it gives off very little energy, no toxic fumes and only a small amount of smoke.		The central frame in each item of furniture consists of a number of plastic containers, or 'air cells', manufactured in an industrial process. These are inflated using the air from a hair dryer or that discharged from a vacuum cleaner. Then the appropriate slipcover is turned upside down, the elements are placed inside and the zip is closed. A sofa can be inflated, assembled and ready for use within less than half an hour. The technique means that none of the air cells have any seams which can leak air, and the filling cap has an absolutely air-tight seal. There is no need to refill the cells for at least 3 years. And by varying the amount of air, you can decide yourself exactly how firm or soft you want to make the armchair or sofa. The plastic material and the new design have been carefully tested for both quality and function. The furnishings even meet the Swedish Möbelfakta demands - the durability satisfies the "extra high requirements" for furniture for public areas. All of which goes to prove that SoftAir™ furniture is at least as hard-wearing as conventional upholstered furniture designs.