Ekornes

Stressless chair number 500,000 was shipped in 1983 and by the time Ekornes had celebrated its 50^th birthday in 1984, the company had 800 employees in several countries and had 75,000 square meters of production premises encompassing eight factories in Norway.

Three other notable dates are etched into the history of the Stressless® recliner:

• In 1991, the Plus^TM system was developed, patented and introduced on the Stressless® models.
• In 1996, Ekornes became the first company to produce chairs in two and three sizes, taking into account that people with different builds need to have different chair sizes in order to sit comfortably.
• And in 2003, the Stressless® chair was endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association, citing the sound ergonomic principles on which the chair is built. 

All Stressless® chairs and seats in Stressless® sofas are built with the Plus^TM System, which allows the headrest to move forward as the chair reclines, thereby keeping the eyes focused on the television, book or magazine in which the occupant may be engaged.  Then, by grasping the headrest for a quick snap, it will like flat to maximize relaxation.   Complementing the Plus^TM system is the lumbar support system that matches the changing contours of one's lumbar area.  As the chair glides to recline, the lumbar area curves outward to offer continual support of the lower back area.  The Glide System is a patented mechanism that enables the Stressless® seat to adjust to one's body weight with a slight turn of the wheel.

Rounding out the Ekornes product line are two- and three-seat sofas carrying either the Ekornes or Stressless® name.  Those with the Ekornes name feature stationary backs that match the reclining chair designs.  Those same two- and three-seat sofas designs are also available with individually reclining seats, and carry the Stressless® brand.