A Made in Italy riser recliner should also be judged by what you cannot see in the photograph: structure, seat, connections, upholstery and the possibility of identifying the components over time. Sollevita is made in Italy by La Castellana. To understand its design, it helps to follow the link between an everyday need and the construction solution that makes it possible. Italian origin is no substitute for trying the chair with the person who will use it, and does not, on its own, mean that every single component is of Italian origin.
In brief
The quality of a chair made in Italy becomes clear when you look at how structure, seat, mechanics and upholstery work together. In Sollevita, the internal finishing, the possibility of removing components and their identification also make the care taken in construction tangible. Images and demonstrations help you understand the product; technical documents, a personal trial and the availability of spare parts complete the assessment, each with a precise role.
From everyday actions to construction choices
When a family member is looking for somewhere to sit for many hours, the first question can be very simple: “How can they be more comfortable?” For those who design the product, the answer has to become concrete: which supports are needed, which parts can be adjusted, how the side of the chair can be reached and what must be possible to clean or replace.
A removable armrest section, for example, is not just an aesthetic detail. It can free up space to bring the chair closer to the table. Completely removing the side panel, by contrast, provides side access. The two solutions belong to the same design, but they perform different tasks. [1]
This is why the quality of a care riser recliner made in Italy becomes clear when factory work is connected with daily life. Every construction choice must have a recognisable purpose: rest, adjustments, looking after the upholstery, daily care or transfers between bed, wheelchair and chair.
What Made in Italy means, without extending it to every part
La Castellana is an Italian company active since 1969, and it manufactures Sollevita. Its experience translates into a design that brings together structure, padding, mechanics and upholstery. The configuration sheet completes this information with the measurements, equipment and characteristics of the product delivered. [1]
The origin of the finished product and the origin of its individual components are different pieces of information. EU rules of origin look at the processing carried out: the manufacturer’s Italian base does not, on its own, imply that every screw, motor or fabric comes from Italy. To know the origin of a component, you need the manufacturer’s reference. [2]
The useful question is therefore a concrete one: which processing steps are carried out, and what information can the manufacturer document? A precise answer is worth more than an “all Italian” promise that comes without evidence. The origin of a specialised component should be verified, not inferred from the chair’s trade name.
Structure and mechanics: more than the sum of the motors
In the construction of a motorised chair, what counts is the relationship between the parts, the connection points and the space the movements require. A list of adjustments does not, on its own, show how seat, backrest, footrest and upholstery behave together.
Sollevita integrates between 5 and 8 independent motors, depending on the weight capacity. The vertical height adjustment changes the height of the whole chair with the person seated or lying down; the rise function, by contrast, assists the person towards a standing position. This distinction describes the design better than an isolated number. [1]
The modular design and the accessible layout of the wiring and control components are also intended for later servicing. They do not mean that the user should reach the motors or control units: accessibility makes the work of qualified personnel easier. [3]
To compare this architecture with another offer, it is useful to read about the differences between a standard riser recliner and Sollevita, always asking which features are documented for the product actually being offered.
The three-layer seat makes the support visible
The upholstery hides most of the seat, but a cross-section lets you understand how it is built. In Sollevita, a sprung seat base, a cushion with individually pocketed springs and a comfort top layer work together: three levels designed to encourage a balanced distribution of weight and to support the body. [1]
Each level contributes to how the seat behaves. The base supports the cushion, the pocketed springs help the seat adapt to the body and the top layer completes the comfort. A photograph of the opened component helps you recognise these parts and link them to the support the person feels during use.
Ask for the image to match the current product. A real cross-section explains more than a decorative drawing; any data on specific materials, durability or performance, however, must be accompanied by the relevant documents. Sollevita favours this distinction in order to describe quality without turning it into generic promises.
The person’s own trial remains complementary to the explanation of the construction. Knowing how a seat is made lets you ask better questions; it does not remove the need to find out whether the supports and proportions are suitable.
Cut, stitching and two removable cover layers: look inside too
A cover for a motorised chair has to follow the product through its different positions. To assess it, looking at the surface while the backrest is upright is not enough: what also matters is how the fabric follows the moving parts and how the intended fastenings are reached.
Sollevita’s covers are fully removable at both levels: both the outer upholstery and the underlying cover can be removed. The edges are finished with stitching to resist fraying, and the separable components make the covers easier to manage. These are features of the design, to be used according to the relevant instructions. [1]
The quality of the upholstery thus becomes a practical matter. Where does the cover open? Which element needs to be removed? How do you tell the right way round when refitting it? The demonstration can answer these questions without asking the family to dismantle technical parts.
Raggio di Sole or Mons fabrics and faux leather require care information for the chosen material. Removable does not mean washable by any method. Composition, labels and instructions should come with the choice of upholstery, not be pieced together after a stain.
A six-step map to understand how the product is made
The following map brings together six aspects to explore with the manufacturer. It links what you can ask to see with its practical value for the person who will use the chair; it is a guide for the consultation, not a test report.
| Step | What to ask to see | What it clarifies |
|---|---|---|
| Needs and configuration | Record of the agreed measurements and activities | How the chair’s preparation matches its intended use |
| Structure and movements | Demonstration of the current configuration | Which parts move and which access points remain available |
| Seat | Identified cross-section or demonstration component | How the three levels are organised |
| Upholstery | The intended cover, edge and removal system | How cleaning and replacement are managed |
| Preparation for delivery | Information on the checks and on the product shipped | What has been checked and what needs to be checked on site |
| Identification and support | The chair’s references and the service contact | How to request support over time |
A video can make this process clearer by showing the manufacturing steps or the components of the current version. It is useful to know whether it shows the same chair or demonstration stages: in either case, the value lies in recognising what is being shown and how it contributes to the finished product.
Factory checks, demonstrations and trial use are different things
A technical check concerns the product and the applicable procedures. A demonstration explains a function. Trial use relates the chair to a person and to the intended activities. Confusing these three levels leads to conclusions that are too broad.
For example, seeing the 180° lie-flat position in a video lets you understand the extended configuration. It does not prove that a person can use it all night or that any side transfer is possible. Other requirements come into play for those decisions.
If tests, standards or certifications are mentioned, ask for the up-to-date reference and its scope. An expression such as “tested” does not say which test was carried out, on which version and with what result. There is no need to turn the choice into an industrial inspection: it is enough to distinguish what is shown from what is documented.
Reading a technical statement only takes precise questions: what was checked, which configuration does it refer to and where is the document? This way, quality remains understandable even to people who do not know the language of manufacturing.
Identifying the chair lets you follow it over time
Keeping the order, the manual and the identification references helps describe the configuration delivered. When a doubt arises about a component, the request does not start merely from “a chair similar to the one in the photo”, but from a recognisable product.
Sollevita is the name to use when contacting customer support. The codes shown on the identification plate and in the documents then make it possible to identify the correct configuration and components. Keep these references together with the order and the manual: they will also be useful for future requests.
Original Sollevita spare parts are always available, and the Sollevita Team offers tutorials, video calls and targeted interventions when needed. The warranty and long-term after-sales support complete the construction design: being able to identify a component makes it possible to follow it up and replace it correctly. [3]
Verifiable quality, without choosing on origin alone
Recognisable manufacturing, a clearly explained seat and direct service are important elements. However, the choice must also take in proportions, controls, space and the ways the chair will be used. A carefully built chair may still not meet a particular need.
Avoid two extremes: thinking that the flag is enough to prove everything, or ignoring the construction work because the product looks good in its seated position. Asking to see materials, components and instructions allows a more concrete assessment, one that respects the work of those who make the product.
The final criterion is simple: being able to link each feature to a practical purpose and to evidence. Not every detail requires a certification, but every promise should be understandable and proportionate to the information available.
FAQ
Common questions
Who makes Sollevita?
Sollevita is made in Italy by La Castellana, a company active since 1969. When assessing the individual product, the configuration, the measurements and the accompanying documents matter as well as the manufacturer’s history. [1]
Does Made in Italy mean that every component is Italian?
Not necessarily. The origin of the finished product should not be confused with that of every material or component. More specific claims must be documented by the manufacturer, not inferred from where the company is based.
What can I ask to be shown about the seat?
A cross-section or demonstration component referring to the current version, with the sprung seat base, individually pocketed springs and top layer. It helps you understand the construction; it does not replace checking comfort and support with the person actually seated.
Does a video of the movements prove that the chair is right for me?
No. It explains what the product can do, but it does not confirm measurements, tolerance of the positions or compatibility with other aids. The consultation must link what you see to the real situation.
Does the modular design mean I can repair it myself?
No. It makes the designated parts easier to manage and makes technical access easier. Motors, control units and safety components remain the job of qualified personnel; anything the user does should follow the manual and the instructions of the Sollevita Team.
Which documents should I keep?
The order, the manual, the service conditions and the chair’s identification references. They are useful for clarifying the configuration and future requests. Any technical declarations should be kept in the version actually delivered, not replaced with documents for other products.
Reference sources
[1] Sollevita / La Castellana — Care riser recliner: functions, construction and technical data
[2] European Commission — DG TAXUD — Non-Preferential Rules of Origin
[3] Sollevita / La Castellana — Warranty & Service
Link the construction to your needs
Find out more about how Sollevita is built and which functions it integrates. Bring your questions about the seat, components and preparation to the Sollevita Team: the discussion is valuable when it connects the product shown to the person’s activities.
