ALU DESIGN OPERATOR CHAIR LANDS STARRING ROLE IN STAR TREK BEYOND

Set faces to stunned. Kristiansand’s Alu Design is once again hitting the silver screens this summer, as its MH OCH 300 operator chair follows up its appearance in the 2014 hit Transformers: Age of Extinction with a new role in Star Trek Beyond . The film, released globally on 22 July, will feature the state-of-the-art moulded aluminium chair in a host of key scenes.

Alu Design created the MH OCH 300 in 2012. It was produced to deliver the best possible working environment for drilling operators working on offshore rigs – combining comfort, durability, ease of installation and maintenance, with an intuitive access to controls.

However, its appeal has since proven much wider than originally intended, as Alu Design CEO Einar Ulrichsen explains:

“We were first contacted by Paramount Pictures, which produces films for both the Transformers and Star Trek franchises, in 2013. They were looking for set furniture with breath-taking, futuristic designs to help bring their stories to life. During an online search the MH OCH 300 caught their eye.”

He continues: “They were so pleased with how it looked on film – and the actors were so happy with how it felt – that it became the natural choice for this new, space age cinematic experience. We are of course somewhat blown away by all this. To have our product in two productions, with such a massive global appeal, is, quite literally, out of this world.”

Alu Design supplied six MH OCH 300s to Paramount Pictures for a duration of 10 weeks. In their time in the States the chairs shared the sets with actors such as Chris Pine, Simon Pegg and Idris Elba.

Frank Robertsen, Alu Design’s Marketing Director, is similarly star struck, but also clear that the film appearances are “a side show rather than the main event.”

“It’s fantastic to have this kind of exposure,” he adds, “but the original purpose of the chair is still our main concern.”

“It was developed to provide an optimum working environment for demanding everyday tasks. With ergonomic standards and a user-friendly nature that is unmatched in the segment – alongside integrated instrumentation, such as touch screen technology and joystick control – it is, quite simply, the best chair for this crucial job.

“That,” he concludes, “is what we’re really proud of.”

Alongside its high-tech operator and pilot chairs for the marine industry, Alu Design also creates advanced seats for on-shore tasks that demand the optimal comfort, durability and working environments. All of its products are, to coin a phrase, designed to live long and prosper.

Alu-Design & Services offers world-class pilot chairs and deck rails to the marine, navy, offshore and commercial industries. Our innovative products are designed with care, manufactured in accordance to stringent quality requirements and marketed with love. Our offerings can be customized to meet individual customer needs.

The company was established in 2008 in Kristiansand, Norway (the first chairs hit the market the following year) and has quickly grown to be recognized as a global leader in its field.