| Refurbishing,
Recycling, Remanufacturing. These are words that just a few
years ago meant little to facility managers. Today, they are
common words meaning cost savings, aesthetic enhancement and
environmental consciousness. The recycling of office furniture
is an industry, now more than ten years old, that has come
of age. Earlier concerns about quality, long-term cost-benefits
and impact on image have fallen away as more and more companies
choose to refurbish rather than buy new.
 Systems
furniture provides one of the best opportunities to
upgrade office environments while reusing, rather than
discarding, a valuable asset. Whether it be Steelcase,
Haworth, or Herman Miller, this furniture is built to
last, and it does. As one refurbisher has put it, “Quality
furniture manufactures didn’t design obsolescence
into their products. Their systems furniture doesn’t
die, its colors and finishes just become outdated.”
Refurbishing, using new fabrics and finishes to rejuvenate
existing furniture, is an option that should not be
overlooked. Buyers should consider the following financial,
aesthetic and environmental benefits that refurbishing
has to offer. Office
Furniture
Warehouse offers remanufactured workstations from Steelcase,
Herman Miller, and Haworth. These are the three dominant manufacturers
for Grade A workstations. Even though all three companies
produce workstations, there are some subtle difference in
each. Steelcase’s main features are steel work surfaces
covered with laminate, 3 or 4 circuit power system to distribute
power, and the ability for any or all workstations to become
completely freestanding.
 Herman Miller’s
main features are quick assembly/disassembly time for
quick and convenient installations & reconfigurations,
3 circuit power in AO1 and 4 circuit power in AO2, work
surfaces are made out of laminate with either a vinyl
t-edge or self edge finish. Haworth’s main features
are panels with horizontal and vertical trim lines create
an organized & high-tech look, Square edge pedestals
with J-Style drawer pulls, and work surfaces made out
of laminate with vinyl t-edge. Remanufactured workstations
offers a unique blend of high quality product with an
affordable price. What is the cost savings
over new?
 Remanufactured product will have an average savings of 30
– 50% over new product. In fact, refurbishing can often
be achieved out of an annual expense or maintenance budget,
rather than by using capital funds for new product. Even though
it offers an affordable price, it does not compromise the
integrity of the product or the functionality in today’s
high-tech world. The following is typical of the remanufacturing
process. First, we prep the
product to be refinished. We then apply
a quality paint finish to the product to give it a look
and feel of a new product. Next, the panels are re-upholstered
in a fabric of your choice and a new laminate is applied
to work surfaces to complete the design and coordination
of your workstations. All the time you will have an
active role in selecting finishes to match whatever
décor you choose. Last, but not least, buying
remanufactured product helps save the environment. By
taking used product and remanufacturing it, we are recycling
to help keep waste items out of landfills and incinerators.
Also, there is less burning of fossil fuels, which are
the primary cause of global warming, acid rain and smog,
providing a cleaner living
environment. With your purchase of remanufactured product, you
are making a commitment to not only yourself, but to society. Remanufactured
workstations can meet your needs with a nearly limitless amount
of designs and configurations without creating a large dent
in your capital operating budgets. If you currently have remanufactured
workstations, or are looking to match your existing workstations,
please don’t hesitate to call us at (412) 331-6711. |
