The Chair that Defined the Rest – The Herman Miller Aeron

cubeclerk | Blog | March 12, 2013

Certain brands have such quality products that their names have defined entire industries. Qtips, Google, Band-Aid, ChapStick, Jello and many others set the standards for their respective industries. In the realm of office furniture, there is one chair that set the precedent for how office chairs would be created. That chair is the Herman Miller Aeron. The Herman Miller Aeron set the standard for all office chairs with its ergonomic features and sleek style. First created in 1994, the Aeron was the first chair of its kind, an office chair designed for the user’s health and designed for Silicon Valley. The Aeron quickly became the icon for office seating, it was the feature chair in movies, television shows, corporate executive offices, everywhere, leaving every other office chair in its wake.

The Herman Miller Aeron literally sparked an entirely new generation of office chairs. Suddenly ergonomics began to be highlighted and aesthetics that focused on simplistic design were desirable. The Aeron’s adjustments set the standard for office seating. Features such as lumbar support for the user’s back, fully adjustable arms, pneumatic height adjustments, seat depth adjustments, tilt lock and tension adjustments, a state-of-the-art elastic back for optimal breathing and more made the Herman Miller Aeron the ideal ergonomic office chair. The Aeron’s elastic Pellicle material created a futuristic look that has since been unmatched. The Aeron was designed to last. An entire aftermarket of used Herman Miller Aeron chair dealers emerged to offer the luxuries of the Aeron at a discounted rate.

To this day the Herman Miller Aeron is still recognized as the Band-Aid or Jello of office chairs. All the other chairs want to be like it, but no other chairs will ever come close to the iconic status that is the Herman Miller Aeron.

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Reviewing the Haworth Zody Task Chair

cubeclerk | Blog | March 12, 2013

The Zody by Haworth is an award winning ergonomic task chair designed with both user health and office aesthetics in mind. Haworth describes the Zody as “A high-performing task chair that blends science-based wellness and comfort with sustainability and international design.” Zody’s ergonomic design is endorsed by the American Physical Therapy Association, affirming its attention to user health and comfort.

Features

The Haworth Zody task chair is outfitted with cutting edge ergonomic features, some of which are unparalleled. The Zody’s features include: adjustable seat depth with a Technogel® Soft Lite Gel seat, seat height adjustment, 4-D arm rests, and fully adjustable lumbar and pelvic support. The 4-D arms rests have the ability to adjust in 4 directions – up and down, in and out, and front and back. The 4-D arms give the user the ability to adjust the Zody’s arms to the perfect position of comfort. Zody’s differentiating feature from other ergonomic task chairs is its fully adjustable lumbar and pelvic support – the PAL Back System™. The PAL Back System™ consists of a series of circles that intertwine and flex according to the user’s back’s movements, another insert that focuses on the small of the user’s back which can be adjusted to provide more firmness on the left or right side of the back, and a pelvic support pad. The pelvic support pad helps maintain the natural “S” curve of the user’s back. Combining these spinal support features differentiates the Haworth Zody from all other ergonomic task chairs.

Design

The Haworth Zody has a unique aesthetic design that has a sleek and modern feel. The seat can be fabricated with a number of colors and patterns to match perfectly in your office. The mesh back can also be outfitted with a slew of colors to complement the seat.  The unique design of the lumbar support gives the Zody a distinct look.

Awards

The Zody has several awards to its name for its ergonomics, design, and environmental achievements. The Zody is the first task chair to achieve MBDC Cradle to Cradle Gold Certification. Some other awards include: Best on Neocon, International Design Excellence Awards, Interior Design Best of the Year award, and FIRA Ergonomics Excellence.

The Haworth Zody task chair is an excellent choice for users who want both design and ergonomics from their office chair. This mid-priced task chair is a can’t miss.

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Refurbished Office Cubicles are the “New” New Cubicle

cubeclerk | Blog | January 31, 2013

Refurbished Office Cubicles are the “New” New Cubicle

Refurbished office cubicles are a great way for businesses to save on their office furniture purchase, without sacrificing quality. Refurbished cubicles can often be mistaken for new cubicles, as a majority of the cubicle is cleaned, refinished, repainted and more. What you can not mistake between a new office cubicle and a refurbished office cubicle is the price and environmental impact of the two.

Refurbished office cubicles can be completely made-over to “like-new” condition. For example, Herman Miller Ethospace is a cubicle system comprised of a frames and tiles. The underlying steel structure of the Ethospace cubicle is nearly indestructible, which makes it a perfect candidate for refurbishment. The tiles can be stripped of their fabric or laminate and reupholstered with a brand new fabric, thus giving you the look you desire. Refurbished cubicles can also be complemented with new parts. In the case of refurbished Herman Miller Ethospace, customers can opt to furnish the cubicle with new wood laminates and special add-ons to create exactly the cubicle they desire.

Refurbished cubicles are highly economical for businesses that want office cubicles that look like-new but without the new price tag. New cubicles can be a pricey investment. Refurbished cubicles offer businesses a way to still get the bang for their buck by outfitting the cubicle with all the amenities and aesthetics they are after, for a fraction of the price compared to new. Often times by opting to purchase refurbished cubicles the business is able to get more features compared to purchasing new.

There is also an environmental advantage to purchasing refurbished office cubicles. With Herman Miller Ethospace in particular, the steel frame and tiles can be used over and over again without losing value. If you want to update the look of the cubicle, the tiles can simply be reupholstered, the frame reconfigured, and wall-ah! A brand new looking cubicle. By purchasing refurbished cubicles, businesses are preventing the use of extra raw materials required to assemble a new cubicle, as well utilizing cubicle parts that may otherwise be sent to a landfill.

As you can see the benefits of refurbished office cubicles can outweigh purchasing new cubicles. The user isn’t losing any quality, but perhaps gaining it, saving money, and making a “green” choice for the business.

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The Components of an Ergonomic Task Chair

cubeclerk | Blog | January 31, 2013

The Components of an Ergonomic Task Chair

In today’s work environment a majority of workers are spending long hours planted at a desk. Hours on end workers sit in a static position, rarely with proper posture. These hours spent hunched over pounding away at a keyboard can have a lasting effect on your body, which is why employers invest in ergonomic seating options. We all know the benefits of ergonomic task chairs, helping back, joint and neck health, but what parts of a task chair help provide this relief?

Lumbar Support

The lumbar support of a task chair is one of the most important components to supporting the user’s back health. The lumbar support can be found on the back of the backrest, and can be found in a number of shapes. Some lumbar supports are simply a bar, an oval shape or something in-between. The optimal position for the lumbar support is where the back begins to arch. This helps the back posture remain upright and in line with its natural curve.

Pneumatic Height Adjustment

The pneumatic height adjustment is used to change the sitting height of an office chair. This feature is standard on nearly all office seating. The preferred height is where the balls of the user’s feet can rest comfortably on the floor, while sitting in an upright position and the user’s elbows are parallel with the keyboard.

Fully Adjustable Arms

A good ergonomic task chair has fully adjustable arms. Fully adjustable arms have the ability to change the height of the arm rests, the width from the user’s sides and arm-pads that rotate inward and outward. The ideal height of the armrests is parallel with the work surface, with the width set that the user’s arms can rest comfortably.

Tilt Lock and Tension

Every sit in a chair and lean back only to think you are falling freely? I have and it feels like I am on a rollercoaster, only slightly more terrifying because who wants to face plant in front of fellow coworkers? Tilt lock and tilt tension can help avoid this office free fall. The tilt lock does exactly what it implies, locks the tilt of the chairs back into the user’s desires recline. The tilt tension helps create a tension in the recline of the office chair.

Seat Depth 

One last feature that is important to an office chair is the seat depth. Most ergonomic task chair’s seats have the ability to adjust the depth of the seat, which means the user can slide the seat of the chair in or out. This feature helps the user sit properly and comfortably. The best positioning for the seat is  when front of the chair runs into the back of the user’s knees.

Next time you are on the market for an ergonomic task chair be sure to check for these features. Chairs such as the Herman Miller Aeron and the Steelcase Leap chair meet all of the above mentioned criteria.

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Reviewing the Steelcase Criterion

cubeclerk | Blog | January 7, 2013

Steelcase has an extensive line of high-end seating options. Office chairs like the Leap, the Reply, and the Think all feature cutting edge design and functionality, but one chair stands alone with its durability and workhorse design, the Criterion.

The Criterion is one of Steelcase’s most dependable office chairs. Built with a sturdy frame set to handle up to 300 pounds (the Criterion Plus holds up to 500 pounds), the Criterion is sat in by nearly 6 million users. From corporate offices to machine shops the Criterion’s solid core makes it the ideal office chair for nearly any environment.

Ergonomic features are at the forefront of every Steelcase task chair, the Criterion is no different. The Criterion is equipped with the full gambit of adjustments to provide the ultimate sitting experience for its user. The adjustments include; a variable backstop, adjustable back tension, seat angle adjustment, pneumatic seat height, adjustable back height, and arms that can change height, width, and pivot. Aesthetically, the Criterion can be fabricated with your choice of color and is available as a stool as well.

Overall, the Steelcase Criterion is a highly functional, extremely durable, long-lasting task chair that is a perfect fit for any working environment. It’s price point and ease of use make it a popular choice for your business.

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Selecting an Ergonomic Task Chair

cubeclerk | Blog | December 31, 2012

Selecting an Ergonomic Task Chair 

How often do you sit in a chair throughout the day, 8, 9, or even 10 hours? That is more hours then you spend standing. Now imagine that the chair you are sitting in is extremely uncomfortable and even hurts your body. Suddenly, 50 or 60 hours a week sitting is nearly unbearable. Selecting the right ergonomic task chair is imperative to your health and overall comfort in the workplace. There are several ergonomic task chairs in the industry that are fully loaded with adjustments designed to keep the user healthier. The following are some of the industry’s leaders in ergonomic design.

Herman Miller Aeron

At the forefront of all task chair discussions lies the Herman Miller Aeron. The Aeron’s industry leading sleek design is complemented by an array of adjustments aimed at creating the ultimate sitting experience. Gold winner of the “Designs of the Decade” in the office furniture category, the Aeron set the standard for office seating.  Some of the Herman Miller Aeron’s adjustments include; seat height, tilt tension, arm height and angle, front tilt, lumbar support, PostureFit and more.

Steelcase Leap Chair

Also atop the discussions for best ergonomic task chair is the Steelcase Leap chair. The Leap chair is known for its comfort and slew of adjustments. Winner of the Red Dot Design Award, the Leap chair boasts on the company’s website that “In a year-long study, people who received Leap chairs and office ergonomics training achieved a 17.8% increase in productivity. It shows how it reduces lower back pain, discomfort and musculo-skeletal disorders.” Some of the Leap chair’s adjustments include; seat height and depth, tilt tension and limiter, lumbar support, flexible seat edge and more. One feature in particular that sticks out in the Leap is the live action back support. The back of the chair contours your back and adjusts automatically as you move.

Humanscale Freedom 

The Humanscale Freedom task chair is also a highly ergonomic task chair. Winner of the ID Design Review 2000 competition, the Freedom task chair is well known for its ergonomic design. Some of its features include; weight-sensitive recline, height adjustment, dual arm adjustments and more.

There are a number of other ergonomic task chairs available in the market. The previously named task chairs are just among the industry’s leaders in design and functionality. Be sure to keep in mind when the time comes for your next office chair purchase that you have ergonomic features as a necessity.

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Reviewing the Steelcase Leap Chair

cubeclerk | Blog | December 27, 2012

Reviewing the Steelcase Leap Chair

Study after study has been released in regards to employee health in the workplace. On the forefront of these studies is the importance of ergonomic seating. Steelcase, one of the leading designers in ergonomic seating, recognizes the importance of a good office chair that complements the user’s body type. Introduce the Steelcase Leap chair.

The Steelcase Leap task chair is stuffed full of ergonomic features designed specifically with the user’s health in mind. The full gambit of adjustments include; responsive LiveBack technology, seat depth adjustment, adjustable lumbar, upper back force adjustment, lower back firmness adjustment, seat glide, and adjustable arms. The LiveBack technology is a padded seatback that flexes with the user’s movements. The upper back force adjustment controls the amount of force needed to recline in the chair. The seat glide allows the seat to adjust as the back reclines, this helps maintain proper posture. The Leap chair is fabricated with a mesh that allows for maximum air flow to the user’s body.

The beauty of the Steelcase Leap chair is its ability to adjust to any user body type. Every movement made by the user warrants a purposeful movement by the Leap chair to ensure complete comfort and usability.

The Leap chair also has an award winning aesthetic design. Its sleek design and slew of fabric choices make it a must have for businesses looking for a cutting edge design.

Learn more about the Steelcase Leap chair http://www.steelcase.com/en/products/category/seating/task/leap/pages/overview.aspx

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