• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechRobotics

‘Chairless Chair’ Exoskeleton Makes Life Easier for Factory Workers

By
David Z. Morris
David Z. Morris
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
David Z. Morris
David Z. Morris
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 9, 2017, 2:52 PM ET

The Swiss company Noonee has made a markedly low-tech addition to the growing trend for assistive exoskeleton devices. While other exoskeletons use robotics and motors to help paralyzed users walk or warehouse workers lift with more power, Noonee’s Chairless Chair is just a minimal plastic frame, and it helps with one simple task: sitting.

The Chairless Chair is designed for manufacturing workers, particularly those who have to move frequently and hold awkward postures. Workers wear the device as they move from task to task, and when they need to crouch, squat, or sit, a small switch locks the device at the knees. Small knobs at the heels take weight off of worker’s knees, helping reduce physical strain.

Such relief could lead to fewer missed work days and better long-term worker health.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

According to Noonee cofounder and CEO Keith Gunura, Audi and BMW showed early interest and became testing grounds for the device. Daimler and Airbus have also taken an interest.

The Chairless Chair, created in collaboration with the design firm Sapetti, is Noonee’s first product, and Gunura anticipates demand for tens of thousands of units per year.

About the Author
By David Z. Morris
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

Blue Origin launches New Glenn, suffers issue deploying craft
Innovationspace
Blue Origin launches New Glenn, suffers issue deploying craft
By Sana Pashankar, Edward Ludlow and BloombergApril 19, 2026
2 hours ago
elon musk
Future of WorkElon Musk
Elon Musk bans résumés and cover letters in hiring for his chip team. These are the 3 bullet points he’s looking for instead
By Jake AngeloApril 19, 2026
3 hours ago
Photo of Robert Solow
AIProductivity
Thousands of CEOs admit AI had no impact on employment or productivity—and it has economists resurrecting a paradox from 40 years ago
By Sasha RogelbergApril 19, 2026
3 hours ago
Humanoid robot runs faster than any person ever has in a half marathon during all-bot race in China
AIRobots
Humanoid robot runs faster than any person ever has in a half marathon during all-bot race in China
By The Associated PressApril 19, 2026
3 hours ago
imas
AIdisruption
The economist who was terrified of AI just found a rare reason for hope
By Nick LichtenbergApril 19, 2026
8 hours ago
trump
CommentaryZoom
The U.S. has a $282 billion trade surplus you’ve never heard of — and it’s at risk
By Josh KallmerApril 19, 2026
8 hours ago

Most Popular

'We should absolutely be concerned about non-college-educated men today': higher rents, living at home, falling out of the labor market
Economy
'We should absolutely be concerned about non-college-educated men today': higher rents, living at home, falling out of the labor market
By Catherina GioinoApril 18, 2026
1 day ago
MacKenzie Scott has donated more than $26 billion—but it's barely made a dent in her net worth because of the power of Amazon shares
Success
MacKenzie Scott has donated more than $26 billion—but it's barely made a dent in her net worth because of the power of Amazon shares
By Sydney LakeApril 18, 2026
1 day ago
The record-setting U.S. drought is so bad that 97% of the Southeast and two-thirds of the West are parched
North America
The record-setting U.S. drought is so bad that 97% of the Southeast and two-thirds of the West are parched
By Seth Borenstein and The Associated PressApril 18, 2026
22 hours ago
Putin finally admits Russia's economy is in trouble and grasps for answers, after warnings about a financial crisis have been piling up
Economy
Putin finally admits Russia's economy is in trouble and grasps for answers, after warnings about a financial crisis have been piling up
By Jason MaApril 18, 2026
20 hours ago
The power has swung back to employers—and workers are paying for it in benefits, flexibility, and leverage
Workplace Culture
The power has swung back to employers—and workers are paying for it in benefits, flexibility, and leverage
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezApril 17, 2026
2 days ago
Older millennials are starting to act like boomers in the housing market—and pulling away from the pack
Real Estate
Older millennials are starting to act like boomers in the housing market—and pulling away from the pack
By Nick LichtenbergApril 17, 2026
2 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.