Esteve Vergés, CEO of Sillería Vergés: “This strategic project of intelligent furniture for socio-sanitary centers has been viable with the support of CDTI Innovation and FEDER funds”

With more than half a century of experience, Sillería Vergés has built its own identity in the furniture sector based on an unusual combination: artisan tradition, contemporary design and technological innovation. Founded in Tortellà, in the Girona region of Alta Garrotxa, the company was born linked to the natural resources of the environment and to the manufacture of boga chairs. Today, it maintains that roots, but projects it into the future by developing high-value-added solutions that integrate advanced materials, ergonomics and technology.

“We are a family business and that has allowed us to maintain a long-term vision based on quality, sustainability and innovation,” explains its CEO, Esteve Vergés. With a team of 45 people —and a core specialized in R&D that works in collaboration with technology centers such as LEITAT—, the company allocates around 15% of its turnover to research and development activities. This effort translates into advances such as new recyclable materials or the incorporation of sensorics and the Internet of Things (IoT) into furniture.

Its catalog —which ranges from chairs and stools to armchairs, tables or modular systems— is mainly oriented to the channel contract, with presence in sectors such as restaurants, hotels, offices or public and sanitary spaces. Although it maintains a solid national base, the company has strengthened its international projection in European markets, consolidating a phase of expansion supported by innovation.

In this context, Vergés has taken a step further by transferring its industrial and design knowledge to the socio-sanitary field with the development of the Esencor project, an initiative that places the company at the intersection between furniture, technology and care of people.

Innovation versus the demographic challenge

The Esencor project —focused on the development of non-invasive monitoring systems integrated into new generation chairs and armchairs— arises as a response to one of the great challenges of our time: the aging of the population.

“The project was born to respond to a growing social challenge, such as aging and the need to improve care for elderly or dependent people,” says Vergés. In this area, many of the current solutions remain invasive or limiting, which can affect the dignity and quality of life of users.

Faced with this, Esencor proposes a paradigm shift. “We seek to replace solutions such as physical restraints with non-invasive technological alternatives that improve user autonomy,” he explains. The goal is clear: to move toward a more respectful, person-centered, technology-supported care model.

The expected impact is multiple. On the one hand, improving the quality of life of patients; on the other, optimizing the work of caregivers and health professionals. All this without giving up comfort or design, two elements that are part of the DNA of the company.

Monitor without invading

Esencor’s technological proposal is based on the integration of advanced sensoric directly into the furniture structure. It is a system capable of capturing relevant user information without the need for external devices or active intervention.

“The chair incorporates advanced embedded sensoric and IoT technologies that allow continuous data capture,” explains Vergés. Among the parameters that can be monitored are the pulse, temperature changes, movements and posture, as well as events such as urinations, defecations or sudden force losses.

This continuous monitoring capability opens the door to more accurate and personalized attention. “It allows us to obtain key information about the user’s condition in a non-invasive way, which is fundamental in socio-sanitary environments,” he adds.

Description of some of the Vergés products

Artificial intelligence to anticipate risks

Beyond data capture, one of the differential elements of the project is the use of artificial intelligence for its analysis. The data collected by the sensors is processed by deep learning algorithms capable of identifying patterns and detecting anomalies.

“Analysis systems based on deep learning allow us to detect anomalous behaviour and generate alerts in real time”, explains the CEO of Vergés. This translates into the possibility of anticipating critical situations such as falls, fainting or cardiac events.

The value of this technology lies in its predictive ability. “It’s not just about monitoring, it’s about anticipating risks and improving clinical decision making,” he says. In this way, the system contributes to prioritizing care and optimizing the resources available in socio-sanitary centers.

Technological integration without sacrificing comfort

One of the main challenges of the project has been to integrate multiple dimensions — technological, ergonomic and materials — into a single product without compromising the user experience.

“The big challenge has been to combine advanced ergonomics, comfortable and durable materials, embedded sensoric and electronics, all without losing functionality or comfort,” says Vergés.

This balance is key in a product intended for elderly or dependent people, where any invasive or uncomfortable element can have a negative impact. In this sense, the experience accumulated by the company in furniture design and manufacturing has been a determining factor.

Validation in real environments

The development of the project contemplates the validation of prototypes in real conditions, specifically in residences and socio-sanitary centers. These pilot tests will make it possible to evaluate the operation of the system in everyday situations and collect valuable information for its improvement.

“Testing in real environments is key to validating technology and getting feedback from users and caregivers,” says Vergés. The project envisages collaborations with entities such as FIATC or SUARA, which will facilitate this validation process.

The objective is to adjust both the design and the functionalities of the product before its commercialization, ensuring that it responds effectively to the needs of the care environment.

Support for Care Professionals

One of the main beneficiaries of this technology will be the care staff, who will be able to rely on continuous monitoring systems to improve care management.

“The technology allows constant monitoring, automatic prioritization of incidents and a reduction in the operational load,” explains Vergés. This translates into an improvement in the quality of care and greater efficiency in resource management.

In a context of increasing demand for socio-sanitary services, solutions such as Esencor can help relieve pressure on the system, facilitating more agile and personalized attention.

Facilities of the company Vergés

Public momentum and global challenges

The development of Esencor has been supported by public funding through the CDTI Innovation and the European ERDF funds, a support that has been decisive for the company. “This funding has been essential to accelerate strategic projects with a high technological risk that we could hardly tackle with our own resources,” says Vergés.

Thanks to this support, the company has been able to incorporate advanced technologies, collaborate with reference technology centers and reduce the time of arrival on the market of its innovative solutions. “It has allowed us to advance faster in the integration of IoT, sensoric and new materials,” he adds.
From a broader perspective, Vergés highlights the impact of this type of funding on the innovative Spanish ecosystem. “It strengthens industrial competitiveness, boosts skilled employment and facilitates the development of solutions with social impact, especially in sectors such as social health,” he says.

The Esencor project aligns with several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, especially those related to health, well-being and innovation. Specifically, it contributes to SDG 3 (health and welfare) by improving the quality of care for the elderly; and SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), through the development of advanced technology applied to furniture.

Towards smart furniture

For the next few years, Sillería Vergés expects an accelerated evolution of this type of solutions towards increasingly intelligent and connected furniture models.

“We expect a strong evolution towards smart furniture, with full integration in healthcare systems and advanced remote monitoring,” says Vergés. In this scenario, the personalization of care will be one of the vital elements.

The company aspires to position itself as a relevant player in this new field, combining its design and manufacturing experience with advanced technological capabilities. “We want to be a relevant player in the development of intelligent care furniture, integrating design, technology and a human approach,” he concludes.

With projects such as Esencor, Sillería Vergés demonstrates that innovation can also arise from traditional sectors, transforming them and expanding their impact towards such primordial areas as caring for people.

CDTI Innovation

The Center for Technological Development and Innovation, CDTI E.P.E. It is the innovation agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, whose objective is the promotion of technological innovation in the business environment. The mission of the CDTI is to ensure that the Spanish business fabric generates and transforms scientific and technical knowledge into globally competitive, sustainable and inclusive growth. In 2025, within the framework of the Strategic Plan 2024-2027, the CDTI provided more than 2 billion euros of support to Spanish companies and startups.

 
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