A new approach to wheelchair seating in Aalborg Municipality
Create it REAL is proud to support Aalborg Municipality in testing the next generation of seating for wheelchair users—custom 3D-printed seats designed with our patented Programmable Foam® technology.
At first glance, Thomas’s firm “no thanks” to returning to his regular wheelchair might seem unusual. But the comfort he experiences in the assessment chair—used to gather data for his custom 3D-printed seat—speaks volumes.
Thomas is one of the first individuals in Denmark to test this innovative technology, developed and manufactured by Create it REAL in close collaboration with Orthopedic technician and seating specialist Jan Warkne from the RAS team and Aalborg Municipality’s Team Digital Velfærd. The project explores how 3D-printed seating could improve comfort, hygiene, and quality of life for wheelchair users, while reducing waste and manual labor.
A new perspective on seating technology
The idea for the pilot emerged during a site visit to Create it REAL’s headquarters in Aalborg. Originally expecting to see smaller 3D-printed components, the municipality team instead encountered a full-scale seat, precisely shaped and optimized using body pressure data.
“We thought we were going to see small 3D-printed gadgets. Instead, we were presented with a seat that could completely shift our thinking about wheelchair seating,” says Christian J. Damgaard, strategic project manager in Team Digital Velfærd.
Back to our citizen, Thomas has used a wheelchair since 2023 following a brain injury, and he is now the first citizen in the municipality to trial a fully customized, 3D-printed seat, designed not just for his measurements, but for how his body interacts with the seat throughout the day.
Tailored with technology
The creation of the seat begins with a detailed positioning and pressure map analysis. Thomas sits in a specialized assessment chair equipped with a molding bag and a pressure map while Jan Warnke observes Thomas’s posture, position, and pressure map data in real time. This step allows the seat to be engineered for optimal comfort, pressure relief, and stability, without the need for electronics or complex mechanics.
“It just feels different—better,” says Thomas, sitting in the newly shaped molding bag chair.
The technology has already been adopted in several countries, and we can present user stories and test results to back the message. However, this is an important test for us, as it is the first structured pilot program in Denmark, and our backyard in Aalborg. It makes us extremely proud. We are extremely happy that the potential benefits resonate with the people with the closest contact to the citizens:
- Improved comfort and sitting tolerance
- Effective pressure relief—without mechanical systems
- Reduced need for restraints
- Fire-safe materials that do not burn
- Better hygiene—washable at 60°C
- High natural airflow through the seat, minimizing heat and moisture
- Sustainable production—no material waste
These benefits extend beyond the individual user and align with key priorities in public sector development.
Looking ahead
Thomas has received his final seat, custom-printed to fit his individual needs. The initial feedback from Thomas has been very positive – now we’re awaiting the final report. Several additional users are joining the pilot across different care facilities, with each seat evaluated after two months of use.
At Create it REAL, we believe in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible—especially in areas where tradition has made innovation difficult. This collaboration shows what can happen when public sector innovation meets advanced manufacturing technology. And while change takes time, pilots like these demonstrate that the future of seating is not only possible—it’s already underway.
