Story
Is STARKVIND a table or an air purifier? Both! At IKEA, we like to think differently to get as much as possible out of every space. One way to do it, is to integrate two functions in one product.
The idea of STARKVIND first came up when Paul Larsson, who is one of our most experienced engineers working with air purifiers, brainstormed ideas with his colleagues.
“With our knowledge in furniture, we have a unique opportunity to integrate tech in the home and combine materials like plastic, metal, textiles and wood in a safe way.”
It’s OK to spill
But, what happens if the coffee cup you put on the table tips over and the coffee comes near the air purifier?
It was, of course, a scenario Paul and the team had thought of.
“It’s about stopping drip before it reaches the fan in the air purifier. First, we thought about putting a rubber strip under the tabletop but then realised we could remove instead of add.”
Underneath the tabletop, you can feel thin grooves in the wood.
“The liquid gathers in the grooves and drips on the floor instead of trickling down in the air purifier. It was an idea that proved so good that we have patented it.”
Tough quality tests
Combining an air purifier and a table meant new, strict quality tests.
“To live up to our standards, STARKVIND had to be able to withstand a pressure of 100 kilos from above in 10-second intervals and pressure from the sides 10,000 times. These are tests we always do for tables, but nothing we normally expose an air purifier to.”
Paul says that all product development is a balance between practical and aesthetic solutions, and STARKVIND felt extra important to get just right.
“It feels good to be able to contribute to cleaner indoor air by something that blends in and becomes a natural part of the home.”
