Why Standard Seats Fall Short

January 06 2026

“Sitting is the new smoking,” as the saying goes. But what if your job forces you to spend hours in a crane, forklift, or delivery van? For thousands of machine operators and drivers, the seat is their office.

Unfortunately, the standard seats installed in many of these machines are often little more than a basic cushion. The result: gradually developing back problems and reduced productivity.

With more than fifty years of experience in the seating industry, Trône Seating addresses this problem at its core. They do not believe in a “one-size-fits-all” approach, but in a chair that adapts to the individual. The vision is clear: every employee who performs intensive work deserves a seat that functions as an extension of the body. The core solution lies in the transition from static to dynamic sitting.

How Has 50 Years of Practical Experience Shaped the Vision on Ergonomics?

Trône Seating’s vision is the result of decades of hands-on experience and an early confrontation with the harsh reality of work seating. Founder Frans-Jozef van Seumeren already noticed the enormous difference between a standard seat and their specialized models at a young age.

A look at practice:

“On a shock table, everyone remained still and upright on our seat, while on the original seat they were thrown in all directions.”

That early experience, reinforced by fifty years in the field, taught Trône Seating one crucial lesson: you should not design a seat for the masses, but for the individual. The focus must be on users who perform intensive work for four to eight hours a day in the same position. The goal is to do everything possible to resolve complaints and, more importantly, prevent them.

What Is the Biggest Misconception About Ergonomic Seating in Industry?

The biggest misconception is that the seats installed as standard on machines are truly ergonomic. In practice, this is often far from the truth. Standard seats are installed because they are cheap, not because they are designed to ensure long-term comfort and health.

Standard seats almost always lack essential ergonomic basics:

Seat depth adjustment
Effective lumbar support (lower-back support)
Proper armrests

In many cases, no real ergonomic measures have been taken. Operators are expected to work on these seats for six or seven hours a day. The complaints do not appear immediately; they develop over years, and only then does the search for a solution begin. The conclusion is clear: “sitting is inherently unhealthy.” The goal is therefore to improve sitting by making it different and dynamic, using specialized techniques and chairs, much like the widespread adoption of electrically adjustable desks.

What Fundamentally Sets the Trône Chair Apart from Standard Seating?

Trône Seating chairs are designed entirely around the user. This results in a number of unique technological and structural features that make the difference between a simple seat and a true ergonomic workstation.

1. Electrical Adjustment with Memory Function: The Key to Convenience

This feature is crucial, especially in environments with rotating shifts. Think of a crane in a port or a tram in Madrid, where multiple users share the same seat every day.

Practical Challenge – Trône Seating Solution – Result

Time lost adjusting 7–9 manual levers
→ Fast electrical adjustment
→ Faster start with correct posture and less frustration
Incorrect settings with rotating shifts
→ Memory function for personalized positions
→ Prevents back problems by ensuring correct seating for every user
Lack of movement while sitting
→ Dynamic and alternative sitting at the push of a button
→ More active posture and reduced one-sided spinal load

Every operator or driver can set their perfect, personalized position at the touch of a button. This directly helps prevent back problems, as the chair is always used correctly.

2. Extensive Adjustment Options: A Chair Tailored to the User

A standard chair typically offers only three or four adjustments. The Trône chair is far easier to adapt for different users thanks to a wide range of options.

The chair provides seven to nine adjustment possibilities for each body part (long or short legs, shoulders, back, neck) to guarantee a perfect, supportive posture.

This level of precision ensures that the chair is truly tailored to the individual. It is the best prevention against physical complaints and significantly increases overall comfort.

3. Modern Design and Solid Construction

While the foundation sometimes draws on proven, robust techniques (such as those already used in the United States in the 1950s), Trône Seating presents them in a modern design. The models have a fresh, contemporary appearance, in contrast to the often unchanged designs of many other suppliers. Here, technology serves the user and not the other way around.

How Important Is the User’s Role in Choosing a Chair?

The involvement of the driver or operator is extremely important. The chair is often overlooked. When a new machine is delivered, the operation of the machine is explained in detail, but the seat frequently remains untouched.

Trône Seating makes the choice and adjustment personal and risk-free through a focused approach:

28-Day Trial Period
The chair and the person must determine together whether it is good enough. If not, the chair is adjusted. This guarantees that the chair truly fits the user and the specific tasks.
Clear Adjustment Instructions
Clear manuals and instructions are provided, often via prevention officers. This ensures that all seven to nine adjustment options are used correctly to achieve an optimal, healthy posture.
Personalized, Custom Fit
Thanks to the extensive adjustment options, the chair is always tailored to the individual, offering the best possible protection against physical complaints.

Are you a machine operator or driver? Ask your supervisor or prevention officer for a trial placement. Only by experiencing it yourself will you feel the difference between “just sitting” and dynamic, healthy sitting.

In summary: standard seats in industry are insufficient. A chair like those from Trône Seating, with electrical adjustment, memory functions, and extensive customization, is not a luxury, but a necessary investment in the health, safety, and productivity of your most valuable employees.