In 1947 a group of technicians, Aldo Bai, Pio Reggiani, Aldo Barassi, from Pirelli and a young architect named Marco Zanuso began to experiment with the use of foam rubber and elastic tapes for the furniture industry. Inspirer of this operation was Marco Zanuso, one of the first architects involved with upholstery industrialisation, from application of new materials to new technologies. Arflex company was presented to the public for the first time in 1951, at the IX Triennale in Milan after several years of experimentation.