Steelcase Showcases New Products Developed With Strategic Partners At Neocon 2003

CHICAGO, June 16 -- Steelcase Inc. , an international work effectiveness company whose offerings enhance the quality of people's lives in work environments, today presented an array of new product offerings developed through its relationships with strategic partners.

By cultivating strategic partnerships with companies in varied industries, Steelcase is impacting new markets and assisting in developing products that ultimately help individuals to be more productive and work more effectively.

"It is intentional that Steelcase leads the industry in research and development spending. We believe it gives us the tools we need to create innovative and sophisticated products that directly impact the individual at work," explained James P. Hackett, president and chief executive officer of Steelcase Inc. "When Steelcase partners with leading companies in other industries, that share our vision and commitment to user-centered design, we can leverage our respective expertise to reach previously untapped markets and new sets of customers."

The Designtex Group

Today Steelcase and its subsidiary, The Designtex Group Inc., officially unveiled an abundant collection of environmentally-responsible textiles. Two years in the making, the Environmental Impact(TM) Collection offers nine products that exceed Association for Contract Textiles (ACT) standards for quality and performance in both seating and panel fabrics. The entire collection addresses "forward recycling," where fabrics enter the manufacturing process uncontaminated and remain so until they can be recycled and reused. A significant breakthrough for the collection is that none of the fabrics require the chemical backing typically used to make the material more durable and suitable for manufacturing. By eliminating the backing, Designtex and Steelcase have eliminated the key hurdle in making contract textiles recyclable in the future. Since an entire office can be outfitted with this fabric line, the Environmental Impact Collection represents a major step toward the environmentally sustainable office.

Johnson Controls, Inc.

In a first-of-its-kind agreement between two leaders in their respective industries, Steelcase and Johnson Controls combined their expertise to create the Leap(R) automotive seat system. The Leap seating technology addresses the comfort and health needs of all drivers by incorporating Steelcase's patented Live Back(TM) and Natural Glide(TM) technology to offer maximum comfort and increased support. Particularly as business and leisure travelers are spending more time on the road than ever before, a vehicle equipped with the Leap seating technology is designed to provide drivers with an increased level of comfort and support.

Coach

The Leap(R) WorkLounge and Ottoman Coach(R) Edition marks the second endeavor between Steelcase and Coach. Coach leather, known for its quality and craftsmanship, adds additional luxury to the Leap WorkLounge, which was developed and designed for people who spend time reclining while working in the home or office. As part of the Leap family of products, the Leap WorkLounge incorporates Steelcase's patented Live Back(TM), which changes shape to mimic the ways the spine moves while seated, and provides separate upper and lower back controls to accommodate the different amounts of support that the spine requires. The product also features the Natural Glide System(TM), a technology that enables the seat to glide forward as users recline. The Ottoman allows people to elevate their legs while reclining and also converts into a work surface for those needing space to place materials such as laptops, notebooks or writing utensils. The Leap WorkLounge Coach Edition is available in eleven leather colors.

Turnstone

Turnstone's Let's B(R) desk chair allows users to tailor their chair for personal comfort by using a flexing upper back, unique malleable lumbar, intuitive adjustments and an integrated personalization label. Furthermore, the flexible, two-piece backrest conforms to natural movements, allowing the upper body complete freedom. The lumbar region has soft, flexible foam covered by a stretch performance fabric providing its user with a cushioned support that fits the natural curve of the lower back. Additionally, the intuitive adjustments and carefully shaped controls of the Let's B chair simplify user operation, enabling one to personalize for optimum comfort and support.

About Steelcase Inc.

Steelcase Inc., a Fortune 500 company, helps individuals and organizations around the world to work more effectively by providing knowledge, products and services that enable customers and their consultants to create work environments that integrate architecture, furniture and technology. Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the company has led the global office furniture industry in sales every year since 1974. Its product portfolio includes interior architectural products, furniture systems, technology products, seating, lighting, storage and related products and services. Fiscal 2003 revenue was approximately $2.6 billion. Steelcase Inc. and its subsidiaries have dealers in more than 900 locations, manufacturing facilities in over 50 locations and approximately 16,000 employees around the world. The company's Class A Common Stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol SCS. For more information, visit www.steelcase.com.

About The Designtex Group

Designtex has been an innovator in contract upholstery, panel, drapery fabrics and wallcoverings since its founding in 1961. Designtex is a design and product development firm that celebrates inquiry and collaboration and strives to build intelligence into each of its products. Since 1993, Designtex has investigated concepts of sustainable product development, embracing McDonough and Braungart's "Cradle to Cradle" protocol as a model for intelligent product design. A Steelcase company, Designtex maintains sales and customer service offices in 35 U.S. cities and international locations. For more information, visit www.dtex.com.

About Johnson Controls Inc.

Johnson Controls is a global market leader in automotive systems and facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major supplier of integrated seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-residential facilities, Johnson Controls provides control systems and services including comfort, energy and security management. Johnson Controls , founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

About Coach

Coach, with headquarters in New York, is a leading American marketer of fine accessories and gifts for women and men, including handbags, women's and men's small leathergoods, business cases, weekend and travel accessories, footwear, watches, outerwear, jewelry, sunwear, furniture and related accessories. Coach is sold worldwide through Coach stores, select department stores and specialty stores, through the Coach catalogue in the U.S. by calling 1-800-223-8647 and through Coach's website at www.coach.com. Coach's shares are traded on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol COH.

About Turnstone

Turnstone, a Steelcase company, combines smart design and good value in furniture for people at work. Relying on its own design and development staff, or partnering with renowned independent designers such as Brian Kane, Charles Perry, and IDEO, Turnstone has launched more than 40 new products in the last four years, and won thirteen individual awards for furniture design during that time. With over $100 million in annual sales, Turnstone continues to expand its portfolio of systems, desks, storage, seating, accessories and group work products, all available through Steelcase dealers. Turnstone offers delivery of its products in just 15 business days, and backs its products with a North America Lifetime Warranty (see warranty for details). For more information about Turnstone, call 1-800-TURNSTONE, or visit www.turnstonefurniture.com.