How Trône Seating Prevents Back Pain in Machine Operators

November 27 2025

man on Trône Seating forklift chair to prevent back problems

"Sitting is the new smoking," is often said. But what if your work forces you to spend hours in a crane, forklift, or delivery van? For thousands of machine operators and drivers, their seat is their office. Unfortunately, the seats that come standard in many of these machines are often no more than a simple cushion. The consequences: chronic back pain and reduced productivity.

Trône Seating, with over fifty years of experience in the seating industry, tackles this problem at its root. They do not believe in the 'one-size-fits-all' model, but in a seat that adapts to the individual. Our founder, Frans-Jozef van Seumeren, who uses instinct and decades of knowledge to combat physical ailments in the workplace, provides additional insights.

How Was the Vision on Ergonomics at Trône Seating Formed?

Trône Seating's vision was shaped by practical experience and an early confrontation with the harsh reality of work seats. As a young boy, I already demonstrated at trade fairs how big the difference was between a normal seat and one of ours. On a shaker table, everyone remained still and upright on our seat, while they were flung in all directions on the original seat.

That experience, complemented by fifty years in the field, taught us that you don't need scientific models for the masses. You have to make the seat for the individual.

My view is that we must do everything possible to alleviate and prevent complaints. We do this by focusing on the user who performs intensive work on the same seat for 4 to 8 hours a day.

What is the Biggest Misconception about Ergonomic Seating in the Industry?

The biggest misconception is that the seats installed as standard on machines are ergonomic. That is often nonsense. They are there because they are cheap.

These standard seats almost always lack the basics: seat depth adjustment, lumbar supports, and the right armrests. No ergonomic measures have been taken whatsoever. People have to work with them for six or seven hours. The complaints do not appear immediately; it takes years, and only then do people start looking for a solution.

My assertion is: "sitting is simply unhealthy." We try to improve this with our seats and techniques. We strive for different seating and dynamic seating. Just as you have an electrically adjustable desk, you should also have an electrically adjustable seat.

What is Different about the Trône Seat?

Our seats are designed with the user in mind, which translates into the following unique features:

Electric Adjustment with Memory Function: This is crucial, especially for seats with varying users, for example, in a tram in Madrid. Every operator or driver can set their perfect, personalized position with the push of a button. This directly contributes to the prevention of back pain because the seat is always used correctly.
Vast Adjustment Possibilities: The seat is easier to adjust for changing users. We offer seven to nine adjustment options for every body part (long or short legs, shoulders, back, neck) to ensure the perfect, supportive posture.
Modern Design and Construction: Although the base sometimes reverts to proven, solid techniques (such as those applied by Americans in the 1950s), we put this in a modern jacket. Our models have a contemporary look, in contrast to the often-unchanged models of other suppliers.

How Important is the Role of the User in Choosing a Seat?

The involvement of the driver or operator is very important. A seat is often forgotten. When a new forklift is delivered, the machine's operation is explained ad nauseam, but the seat is skipped.

We make the choice and the setting personal and risk-free:

Step	Description	Advantage for the User
14-Day Trial Sit	The seat and the person must together determine if it is good enough. If not, we adjust it.	Guarantees that the seat truly fits the user and the work activities.
Adjustment Instructions	We provide clear instructions for use and setting, often through prevention officers.	Ensures that all seven to nine settings are used correctly to adopt a good posture.
Custom-Made	Due to the vast adjustment possibilities, the seat is always custom-made for the individual.	Offers the best prevention against physical complaints and increases comfort.

How Does Technological Innovation Contribute to Practical Applicability?

The balance between technology and practical applicability is the key to prevention. Technology serves the user.

The memory function in an electrically adjustable seat is a perfect example. In a work environment with multiple shifts, you don't want every operator to have to puzzle again with seven or eight levers. They want to get started quickly and correctly.

Table: Advantages of Electric Adjustment with Memory

Challenge in Practice	Solution from Trône Seating	Result
Time loss with manual adjustment.	Fast, electric adjustment.	Quicker to work with the correct posture.
Incorrect setting with changing shifts.	Memory function for personalized position.	Prevents back pain through guaranteed correct sitting posture.
Lack of dynamism in sitting.	Possibility for dynamic and different sitting.	More active working posture and less strain on the spine.

What Trends Does Trône Seating See in the Market around Ergonomics?

The market is changing, and that is good news for machine operators and drivers.

More Attention to Personnel: It is becoming increasingly difficult to find good personnel. This means that companies are taking better care of their employees. The focus on compliance with the Working Conditions Act (Arbowet) and sustainable employability is a direct result of this.
Focus on Vibration Prevention: Especially in vehicles on solid tires and with many bumps (such as forklifts), the amount of vibration you have to filter is terrible. The ergonomics of the seat are vital here. Our seats absorb the vibrations and shocks that would otherwise go straight through the back of the body.
Replacement Demand After Complaints: People only start looking when they have complaints, but the replacement demand is now also coming proactively from the market more often. Companies realize that after three to five years of intensive use, the seat needs replacement or a better solution is required.

By investing in a luxurious, comfortable, and better seat, companies are directly investing in the health of their employees, preventing absenteeism and unnecessary pain. At Trône Seating, the fourteen-day trial period is the ultimate guarantee that you are not just buying a seat, but a long-term solution.