September 23, 2016

Kick & Click – Mid-Range Height Adjustable Desking

Mid-range height adjustable desking offering a cheaper access to a premium desk.

The Kick & Click desk is our brand new mid-range height adjustable desking. Incorporating world renowned LINAK actuators this adjustable desk gives the cheapest access to a premium lifting column. These world renowned actuators ensure the desk is strong and reliable with a 38mm/s movement speed and height adjustment from 705-1205mm.

Reduce installation time by half

So your wondering where it gets its name from? A tool-less design means components are simply mounted together and gently 'kicked' (or pushed) into place. Each component will make a 'click' sound to let you know its ready. Requiring only 6 screws that are used for fixing the desktop in place, this click together design will reduce installation time by half! Take a look at this Kick & Click assembly video .

Available as single desks only starting in widths of 1400-1800mm and depths of 600 or 800mm.

Metalwork on these desks is available in silver only.

• ZERO™ technology. Standby power consumption is reduced from 1-2 watts (typical electric desk) to just 0.1W.
• PVC free. For health reasons and for the sake of the environment the LINAK actuators are PVC-free as standard making them more environmentally friendly than their predecessors.
• Storage and cover for unsightly wires. Clever ducts in the frame allow the wires to be easily tucked into place –no need for fiddly clips and tools.

To show how reliable and trustworthy these desks are we offer a 10 year guarantee on all wooden and metal parts, 5 years on actuator/electrical components.

 

September 21, 2016

Tips for Sit Stand Desk Users

Sit stand desks are at the height of the office furniture industry. Providing health benefits and improving staff productivity, these desks are a vital necessity to the modern day office. Allow yourself to learn more and improve your experience by following helpful tips and guidelines.

Read our own Tips for Sit Stand Desk Users

Adapt the Correct Posture - Don't stand to attention. Allow your body to move when it needs by standing at ease.

Choose Supportive Shoes - The shoes you wear will have a significant effect on how comfortable you are standing for frequent periods. Try to avoid high heeled shoes and choose a pair that gives enough support to get you through your working day.

Set Prompts and Reminders- Some sit stand desks incorporate intelligent software allowing you to programme individual goals and targets. This software will provide prompts when its time to stand. Alternatively, set outlook or desktop reminders to ensure regular adjustment.

Stand and Talk - Stand up to take telephone calls and have discussions with colleagues.

Ensure Correct Desk Height - It is important to ensure you are working at the correct desk height. Your sit stand desk should be at or slightly below elbow level for both sitting and standing.

Anti-fatigue Floor Mats - Most offices are built with hard flooring (even if they are carpet covered), anti-fatigue floor mats are a great addition for comfort. The cushiness of the mat keeps you slightly off balance making you contract your calf and shin muscles.

 

September 9, 2016

What Is A Sit Stand Desk?

Sit stand desks have been around since the 18th and 19th centuries where they were popular in the homes and offices of the rich. In the last few years they have regained their popularity due to their suspected link to health benefits. Everyone's talking about them, but what is a sit stand desk?

A sit stand desk (or height adjustable desk) is a desk that can be adjusted from sitting to standing height.

Most seated desks have a standardized height of around 740mm, whereas sit stand desks can range in height from 680 to 1205mm depending on the manufacture. A range of heights allows the desk to adapt to the individual user - after all we are all different sizes.

There are a number of variations available:

Hand crank- simply wind the desk up and down

Counterbalance system- apply weight to the top allowing it to lower, or lift by pushing a lever

Electronic motor - moves up and down at the push of a button whilst plugged into a power source. They all range in price but with numerous options available from budget to high-end there's no reason to say no.

Height adjustable desks are taking the place of seated desks. Standing instead of sitting prevents issues caused from prolonged sitting and sedentary behaviour. Standing activates fat burning enzymes, engages muscles and accelerates blood circulation aiding towards improved energy levels and productivity.

There's no surprise they are in high demand!

 

August 26, 2016

What Makes A Good Height Adjustable Desk

Height adjustable desks are increasingly popular now more than ever, with hundreds of different designs and ranges in the office furniture industry today. The present office furniture market offers height adjustable desks in all shapes and sizes, from basic designs comprising of just a top and leg frame, to the more advanced versions incorporating wire management, screens and intelligent computer software.

It's easy to get flustered and confused when faced with hundreds of height adjustable desks to pick through, whether you're looking for a basic or premium adjustable desk here's a few features to consider:

Reliable Mechanism

This is the most important part of your desk and should be one of the first things you look at. The mechanism is responsible for lifting and lowering the desktop surface and all the components upon it. Therefore, it should be reliable, stable and strong- providing a decent load capacity.

 

Movement Speed

Your adjustable desk should move quickly and quietly from standing height to sitting height, helping you complete regular important standing intervals.

 

Large Range Of Adjustment

To accommodate as many people as possible your desk should be available in a range of all different sizes. Having a large variation of heights and widths will provide comfortable work spaces suitable for the individual, as well as aiding towards accommodating small office spaces or large desk hungry layouts.

 

Intelligent Technology

To help improve your health and well-being some ranges offer desktop and mobile app control software. The most intelligent software will store your personal goals and height settings allowing you to switch from sitting to standing at the click of a button. Regular prompts to stand will not only improve health but will help shift stubborn calories.

 

Cable Management

Whether these are supplied as part of the desk or optional extras, cable trays and wire management are important to help hide, disguise and store important computer wires.

 

August 18, 2016

Don’t Replace Prolonged Sitting With Prolonged Standing

Height adjustable desks have resulted in confusion among some people. They are not intended for prolonged sitting nor standing all day. Misconceptions have lead to people believing you should replace sitting with standing, this is not the case.

The aim is to gradually transform your inactivity at work by including regular intervals of standing into your daily routine. The process from sitting to standing should be made gradually, allowing your body to adapt to the posture change. It is recommended that desk users should progress towards 2 hours of standing per day. Divided into sections this is only 15 minute intervals per hour.

The effects of prolonged standing can be just as harmful as sitting at your office desk all day, which is why sit stand desks need to be used correctly. Prolonged standing can lead to aching muscles, feet problems, varicose veins and lower limb swelling, among many more.

Sit stand desks are there to improve health and productivity in the work force. Used correctly they can have a huge benefit on your health and well-being. Standing forces your body to work against gravity and keeps those skeletal muscle's strong. The enzymes in your body will work harder to help break down fat, meaning you will burn up to 50 more calories per hour. Move a little, lose a lot!

 

 

 

 

August 12, 2016

What Happens When We Sit Too Much?

Office staff are found among the highest to be prone to health risks such as back pain, muscle fatigue and high blood pressure, due to the amount of time they spend sitting down. 8-10 hours per day spent sat at your office desk, along with time spent travelling and leisure time can add up to a shocking amount, but not everyone is aware of the risks sedentary behaviour can cause.

We all like to take the load off our feet on a busy day at work, but spending too much time inactive can have a negative affect on our muscles. Reduced movement can cause muscles to cramp up, pull or strain, resulting in muscle fatigue and aches and pains. Prolonged sitting also causes a steady compression on the spinal discs resulting in unwanted and painful back complaints.

When we sit the enzymes responsible for burning fat shut down. The metabolic rate is reduced causing an increase in fat retention, BMI scores and unhealthy cholesterol and blood pressure results. Amazingly standing can burn up to 50 more calories per hour!

Sedentary behaviour is the 4th leading risk factor for global mortality. Help prevent this by breaking up the amount of time you spend sat at your desk. The height adjustability of a sit stand desk allows you to comfortably set the right sitting and standing height for you, making regular standing intervals easy, convenient and positively impacting your health.

Choose an ergonomic approach! Height adjustable desks are an indispensable resource for achieving better health, productivity, and reducing staff sick days.

 

August 1, 2016

Height Adjustable Desks Can Benefit Your Health

The question of “How can I stay active when I’m sat behind a desk every day?” May finally have an answer. An answer that makes perfect sense, an answer which makes you wonder why this wasn’t invented sooner, the answer is height adjustable desks.

Hawk Furniture are selling an idea that every person sitting behind a desk for many hours a day has been subconsciously been screaming out for. People have lost the realisation of how long they actually sit down per day, and that if they think about it, in a normal office job the majority of people are stood up for only a small amount of time per day.

This is largely due to the rise in technology, as many office jobs involve staring at a computer. Especially due to the fact that work notices can be provided via email, some people don’t have to stand up during their whole shift.

The versatility of the height adjustable desks means that they can be installed in any office, and that they can be used from the smallest to the tallest of workers. There have been years of work put into this product which means that only the highest quality height adjustable desk will be supplied. As well as this, there have been tests on the resulting health of people who spend all day sat down, and scientific studies show that these people are likely to live for two years less than people who are stood up for most of the day.

This doesn’t even have to be walking around all day, the fact that you are stood up means that you are more alert to your surroundings, as you are not lounged on a chair and too comfortable. You are responsive to any jobs you may get called to, and you are more focused on the work that you have to do. Standing up could also improve your mental state, if you are more prone to movement, it keeps the blood in your body pumping at a steady rate, which means that you will have a more positive mind-set as a result.

Upon reflection, there are no clear disadvantages of the height adjustable desk, as it will help you get more active, even if it is only on a small scale, and allow you to relax at home without the need of worrying about your fitness levels.

So, join Hawk Furniture in our quest to get Britain standing!

June 10, 2016

Burn Calories with Adjustable Sit Stand Desking

Is all that time spent in the gym really worth it? Recent surveys show we spend up to a remarkable 19 hours per day been sedentary. Sedentary behaviour means ‘too much sitting’ and this means less or little physical exercise. Whether you are sat at home watching TV, at work looking at a computer screen, travelling or sleeping, all these add up to a staggering harmful amount.

Burn calories at work with adjustable sit stand desking

This article by Medical Today demonstrates that a study conducted by Dr David Alter at the University of Toronto shows that 30-60 minutes of exercise per day simply won’t combat the amount of time spent sitting. Regular exercise just isn’t enough! We need to spend less time sitting.

Office workers should aim to decrease their sitting time by 2-3 hours per day. Not only will this aid towards reducing health problems such as back pain and muscle fatigue but will reduce the chances of developing diseases such as diabetes, and amazingly burn twice as many calories as sitting.

Technology today is great and with life expectancy and health to bear in mind, sit stand desks are a great invention. It’s time to invest in one today.

May 20, 2016

What To Consider With Your Sit Stand Desk

Sitting has been labelled as the new smoking but standing all day can be just as bad for you if you aren’t doing it correctly. Reports show that sit stand desking is on the up with more and more companies introducing them into the workplace. Here are a few tips on what to consider and how to get the most out of your sit stand desk.

Don’t Jump In

Allow your body and muscles to gradually adapt to the new motion and posture over time by increasing your standing periods incrementally, week by week.

Harmful Leaning

Your sit stand desk should effectively change your posture. Preventing you from been slouched forward in a chair to stood in a better upright spinal position. A common bad habit with some people and these desks is leaning. Standing with your arms leant on the desk, crossed legs or buckling your hip puts more pressure on the joints in your spine and neck. Feet should be hip width apart and for extra exercise try to avoid locking your knees and make your leg muscles work harder.

Control Software

Some of the more advanced sit stand desks offer optional extras such as software for your PC or mobile phone. This software allows you to programme a sitting and standing height that is suitable and comfortable for the individual. It will also memorise these, making it easy to switch from sitting to standing height at the click of a button. This is so simple to do and saves so much time in trying to get it to the correct height.

Commands & Prompts

Although PC software is an optional extra it is considered a no brainer for some people as it helps burn calories by sending prompts on when to stand up and how long to do it. Enter a few details such as your height, weight and how many calories you want to burn and away you go.

May 12, 2016

Transform Your Office With Screen Dividers

Office screen dividers are a clever way to transform your office space. Many people nowadays opt for large open plan office spaces as they are believed to encourage team work and collaboration. However, we all need privacy from time to time.

Adding screen dividers to your office desk will help create an individual space, for those times when you need a little bit of privacy,or simply just to concentrate on the task at hand. They create a private environment giving you the option to collaborate with colleagues or take some time away at your desk.

Floor standing screens partitions are a cost effective way to transform large spaces without modifying the building structure. They can cleverly separate and distinguish departments and offices whilst blocking out noise distractions and visual stimuli. Configurations can be easily adapted and changed to suit fit outs over time, saving time and effort.

Office screens have a dual purpose as different options can aid towards them been used as pin boards for important reminders or storage for stationery and documents. The toolbar system allows accessories to be mounted from them in the form of paper trays, stationery trays, and monitor arms, leaving your office desk clear and spacious.

Various fabric choices add colour to the office and selected carefully can incorporate and complement your company logo and design .Take a look at our previous blog where we touched on the benefits in more detail.