Toyota Material Handling Australia (TMHA) opened its brand-new state-of-the-art facility in Gepps Cross, South Australia in May 2019. With a strong focus on the environment and sustainability, TMHA specified axona AICHI’s Tipo chair, which has a history of being manufactured with recycled Toyota automobile parts. The Tipo chair provides a durable, comfortable and versatile chair for staff and trainees, used in the lunchrooms, meeting rooms and training rooms.

It’s a great story that ties TMHA and AICHI together. Aware that AICHI’s relationship with Toyota began many years ago, TMHA’s State Manager suggested the Tipo chair. The Tipo chair is an evolution of the previous-generation award-winning Daylight chair and the origins of AICHI’s collaboration with the Toyota plant in the same prefecture in Nagoya, Japan.

Above: axona AICHI'S Daylight Chair (left) and Tipo Chair (right)

AICHI wanted to manufacture a chair using only recycled products and approached the nearby Toyota factory for waste material. Toyota provided resin off-cuts from battery casings, used for the Daylight’s seat and back frames, and seatbelt off-cuts, reprocessed into the mesh material of the seat. These features, and that the chair is 100 per cent recyclable, enabled the Daylight to achieve the Japanese Environment Association’s Eco Mark, which promotes environmental-friendly lifestyles through smart product choices.

AICHI further developed the design of the Daylight chair after it experienced substantial success in the commercial furniture market. Tipo was born as a result with the polypropylene frame and mesh has been carefully engineered from recycled PET, which includes water bottles and food containers. At the end of its lifecycle, the chair can be easily disassembled into each material type for recyclable purposes.

TMHA held an open day to show clients through its new Adelaide facility. “Many clients were very impressed that Toyota took recycling to this level,” says David Drew, Service Manager, TMHA.

The Tipo chair is one of KE-ZU’s most popular and best-selling products. For more information about AICHI’s Tipo chair, drop by the KE-ZU showroom at Alexandria or view the products online.

Image source: Julie Oates, Field Service Controller, Toyota Material Handling Australia Pty Ltd