Micro management: Dauphin

Who is afraid of the invisible? No one, and yet, somehow, everyone is. The year 2020 has presented us with a significant test of courage. In offices, medical practices and social institutions in particular, where door handles, for example, are in constant use and where face-to-face discussions and working closely together are unavoidable, it has become particularly important to reduce risk factors as much as possible.

German company Dauphin demonstrates how this risk reduction can be achieved in some areas by utilising the selected products from its range that include a MicroSilver finish. This concept – first introduced to the market in 2013 – enables effective prevention against infection by bacteria and microorganisms and is based on a research study by the University of San Diego which showed that bacteria readily accumulate on telephone receivers, keyboards and even on the armrests of office chairs. The concentration is so high in these places because they provide the optimal living conditions for these tiny, uninvited guests, namely warmth and humidity. So what better place to start, to look for a solution to this challenge.

For chairs with an antimicrobial finish, a particularly effective production process is used – one already familiar to the medical-pharmaceutical sector. A MicroSilver base is mixed into the plastic, which spreads evenly and kills bacteria by continuously releasing silver ions during use. Elements that had already been successfully implemented in chair series for industrial workplaces were also considered during the design process for the new universal visitor chair range, Fiore. The design – by Jessica Engelhardt – is available in a number of forms including as a four-legged model, a cantilever, a skid-base chair and as a bench system. These four versions come with a white plastic shell and MicroSilver BG™ finish – the additive responsible for the release of silver ions whose antimicrobial capacity provides effective protection against bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeasts.

The system has been perfected to defy everyday, microscopic dangers. MicroSilver BG™ is evenly distributed in the material in the form of microparticles and can neither be wiped away nor used up. It is precisely this long-lasting perspective that is important with regard to the application of the new Fiore MicroSilver series, as the intention is that it be used, above all, in heavily frequented areas. Places with high customer frequency in particular – as well as areas where the germ levels need to be minimised, such as social spaces, medical facilities and laboratories – only benefit from a well-thought-out furnishing strategy. As a further step to ensure the highest hygiene levels for these specific environments, Fiore, in addition to its interwoven plastic shells, also offers upholstery with a cover material called Silvertex®, which is also antimicrobial.

As elsewhere in the world of design though, it's not only inner values that count, outer ones do also. So, the white seat shell, in all variations, sits on a chrome frame. Armrests have been deliberately omitted as this is where the majority of unwanted transmission of bacteria takes place. For upholstery with the Silvertex® cover – a chemical-resistant, flame-retardant and water-repellent synthetic leather – you can choose between pure white, indigo blue and midnight black. So, in addition to the clear improvements to everyday hygiene offered by the innovative material now being implemented in these models, the Fiore chair collection can boast of being one of the most versatile in its class too.

The design is based on a petal, which also gives the chair series its name. The collection’s fascinating lightness and precision immediately catches the eye, whether on castors or as a folding seminar table, coloured or with a noble, wood finish, as a bar chair, bench or counter chair, upholstered or not. And simultaneously, it offers the timeless seduction of touch – uncompromising and safe, thanks to its invisible secret weapon.

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