History of massage & devices
Early history of massage
Massage itself and its history are many thousands of years old, even the ancient Egyptians depicted it in their hieroglyphics. The beneficial massage was already known in many parts of the world 3,000 BC. It can also be found on old Japanese block prints. The oldest tradition comes from China, and is actually over 5,000 years old. Also, in 2,500 BC, reflexology techniques were depicted on papyri in ancient Egypt. Such drawings were so valuable that they were even considered to be incorporated into tombs of high Egyptian dignitaries.
So people all over the world and independently of each other recognised the benefits of massages. For relaxation, to relieve pain and also of a medical nature, the beneficial treatments were popular and known everywhere. Hippocrates, Aristotle and Socrates also wrote treatises on massage and its benefits. Julius Caesar also used massage therapy to relieve the pain caused by his epileptic seizures and to do something good for the body.
The first mechanical massage chairs
However, the mechanical massage chair first appeared in the 1950s. Many stories surround the massage chair that is so sought after today and its origins. In one of the stories, the father of the massage chair was a gentleman by the name of Nobuo Fujimoto. He came from Osaka, Japan. The basic idea of the brush salesman was to put chairs for relaxation in the changing rooms of bathhouses. After many attempts, he finally constructed the first model out of scrap metal, like old balls. He founded a company called Fujiiryoki to manufacture and distribute his invention. In another story, a father designed and built the massage chair for his young daughter. This gentleman's name was Niichi Kawahara and he was from Sakai, Japan. To better treat his daughter's aching shoulders, he invented the chair to provide relief.
From the original model, which only had balls that performed a kneading function and which had to be cranked, the massage chair quickly evolved. Robotic massage chairs became more and more efficient and better. Not only can different programmes, intensities and speeds be set nowadays. The design has also changed considerably over the years. Instead of bulky and noisy furniture, the modern versions of the massage chair are very comfortable and also aesthetically pleasing.
Overview of massage chair manufacturers
The range of massage chairs, massage chairs and similar products worldwide is constantly increasing. However, some companies and manufacturers have established themselves and are among the leaders in the industry. These include AllgäuTech, Alpha Techno, Comtec, Family Inada, iRest, Luraco, Naipo, Panasonic, Primofit, Sanyo, Synca and Inner Balance.
AllgäuTech
AllgäuTech GmbH stands for innovative and high-quality massage chairs and massage beds, which have been developed for commercial use and meet the highest standards of quality and safety. Made in Germany", of course.
The goal and vision of the company is to offer its customers innovative products that preventively counteract the loss of mobility and health in order to maintain people's well-being and zest for life. The products are used preventively in care facilities, educational institutions and companies.
To the manufacturer: https://www.allgaeutech.com
Alpha Techno
Alpha Techno GmbH has been in existence for over thirty years and inspires with over forty models of different massage chairs. In Europe, Alpha Techno currently offers probably the most extensive range of massage chairs, relax chairs and multifunctional chairs. The company's headquarters are in Tauberbischofsheim and the warehouse and logistics centre is located in Boxberg. Thus, the company is currently the front-runner in Europe. In the distribution and also in the construction of massage chairs, Alpha Techno GmbH is one of the leading companies in Europe.
To the manufacturer: https://www.alpha-techno.com/
Casada
Casada Deutschland GmbH is a growing, lively and determined company. For over 20 years, the company's focus has been on keeping its ever-growing clientele healthy. Our vision is to create an individual resting zone for body, soul and spirit at any time and in any place. We contribute to your own happiness and inner balance and offer the opportunity to escape from everyday life. Relaxation, relief and improved circulation promote well-being and bring the body into its natural balance.
Casada was voted one of the top brands of 2021 by 8500 users in the survey conducted by TESTBILD and the opinion research institute Statista.
To the manufacturer: https://www.casada.com/de/
COMTEC
COMTEC is a brand of Kangtai Industry, which was founded in China in 1984. Since then, the company has been manufacturing massage chairs for the international market. Many well-known and reputable companies have their products manufactured here. These include Fujiiryoki, Panasonic, Osaki and Bodyfriend. Over time, the company has grown and now employs over 1,100 people. Among them are 120 graduate engineers and 80 highly qualified employees who are responsible for quality assurance. Today, the company is leading the way in the industry and even has a milestone in its history. In 2008, the company developed a massage robot that is based on traditional Chinese medicine. In addition to numerous other awards, the company was honoured in 2017 and declared a 5-star dealer by the Chinese province of Shandong.
Family Inada
Family Inada is one of the largest and most relevant massage chair companies in terms of turnover. The considerable turnover generated by Family Inada is over 300 million USD. The company's first automatic massage chair was created in 1962 by Nichimu Inada in Osaka, Japan. With this, he founded the industry that is so widespread today and formed the basis of today's industry. Today, the progressive company is still heavily involved in the world market and also determines the standards that prevail there. The development and production of Family Inada massage chairs takes place in Japan.
To the manufacturer: http://www.inada-massagechair.com/
Inner Balance
Inner Balance is also a brand of the giant JHT (Johnson Health Tech). So just like Synca, Matrix, Horizon and Vision, it is also not a company, but the brand of one. With over 40 years of experience in the market, the JHT company can score with a lot of experience. Not only the innovative technologies, which are based on traditional massage coasts, convince the company's customers. In addition, great care is taken to use only pleasant and high-quality materials for all massage chairs.
iRest
One of the younger yet successful companies is iRest. The company has already established itself as a technological and scientific developer in over 100 countries. So iRest has a strong international presence in the health industry. In cooperation with several recognised universities, the company is constantly developing. Among other things, iRest paved its way to success through cooperation with leading companies such as Toshiba and LG. Today, the company is one of the leaders in the field of professional massage chairs. Two of the company's industrial parks are the iRest Jiaxing Health Industry Park and the iRest Whenzhou Health Industry Park. Medical expertise and innovative technologies are the hallmarks of this company.
To the manufacturer: https://www.irest.com
LURACO Technologies
Luraco Technologies is a family-owned company based in Texas, USA. More than 10 years ago, the company was actually started as an engineering firm. In the residential, commercial and even military sectors, it has developed innovative and numerous technologies for various projects. Research and development of many products, as well as promoting employment opportunities in the US is among the main tasks that Luraco Technologies has dedicated itself to. The designs and engineering of the USA-based company are internationally renowned for the highest quality. The company's robotic massage systems are used in the medical-therapeutic field. The company has even produced, developed and perfected unique massage technologies. Engineers and scientists belong to the permanent staff of the company, which designs and also produces all massage systems in the USA.
To the manufacturer: https://www.luracochair.com
NAIPO
The company NAIPOoriginates from the German city of Hamburg and employs over 2,000 people. The Chinese shareholder Aukey Shenzhen brought over 120 engineers into the company. They work on the numerous certified and award-winning massage chairs that are produced and distributed by Naipo. The company has made a name for itself not only in Germany and China, but also on the international market. Naipo relies on the combination of traditional massage methods and advanced technology. The company was even awarded the "Blue Planet Certificate" by Naturfreund, because it pays attention to environmental protection and CO² emissions, which are constantly compensated. In this way, Naipo moves with the times and makes a valuable contribution to climate protection.
To the manufacturer: https://www.naipo.de
Panasonic
Panasonic is one of the oldest companies in the field of technology. It was founded in 1918 by the young Konosuke Matushita. The then just 23-year-old was far ahead of his time and did not let himself be dissuaded from his idea despite the headwind. Together with his wife Mumeno and her brother Toshio, he built a workshop on the ground floor of the family home. In fact, all their efforts produced two lampholders for lamps and this built the foundation of the Panasonic company, which is known worldwide today. It was not until 1935 that the company turned its attention to massage technology. Panasonic's electromagnetic massager was considered extremely innovative even then. Finally, in 1969, the company's first massage chair was introduced. In 2010, Panasonic acquired the Sanyo company. The merger of two leading companies in this field not only increases awareness, but also international reach.
To the manufacturer: https://www.panasonic.com/de/consumer/koerperpflege-gesundheit/gesundheit/massagesessel.html
Primofit
Primofit health products, the massage chair professionals from Mindelheim.
To the manufacturer: https://www.primofit.de/
SANYO
The SANYOcompany was founded in Japan in 1947. It was one of the leading companies in the field of electronics, electrical engineering and electrical appliances. In 2004, however, a severe earthquake caused economic difficulties for the company. The company never recovered from this damage. Eventually, Sanyo was taken over by Panasonic and is now a subsidiary of Panasonic. By merging the two companies, both sides gained something and a lot of expertise could be combined.
SYNCA
SYNCA is not a company, but the brand of a company. Johnson Health Tech, or JHT for short, founded this brand in 2017 with the aim and focus of developing innovative, modern and aesthetically sophisticated products in the wellness sector. As early as 2006, a separate wellness department was set up at JHT, which was eventually expanded to include massage chairs. The particularly high-quality workmanship as well as innovative technologies are in the foreground at this company and also its brand Synca. Through constant further development and high standards of quality, the company became increasingly well-known. In 2019, Synca was even awarded for a product. The compact massage chair CirC was named "Best Product of the Year" with the "Plus X Award". Since the company merged with Fujiiryoki in 2020, influences from Taiwan and Japan for Far Eastern relaxation have also been merged. Thus, JHT pursues more than ever the philosophy of Far Eastern relaxation for body and mind.
To the manufacturer: https://www.synca-wellness.eu/
Sources:
https://seniorsmobility.org/living/massage-chairs/who-invented/
https://www.massagechairplanet.com/pages/history-of-the-massage-chair
https://www.massageschoolnotes.com/the-timeline-history-of-massage/
https://www.relaxacare.ca/blogs/news/a-history-of-the-massage-chair
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanyo