February 19, 2016

Increasing Demand for Bench Desking

Gone are the days of old fashioned offices with endless maze-like corridors and pokey rooms. In 2016 more and more businesses are opting for bright open plan spaces, and due to this our choice of office furniture is changing. Bench desking is in high demand and its popularity is increasing.

Nowadays companies use flat screen monitors, slim line laptops or tablets, rather than the old bulky monitors traditional radial and wave desks were designed for. Rectangular bench desking is 20% smaller allowing for higher occupancy, offering cost reductions and dedicating extra space to file storage, meeting areas and breakout spaces.

The most expensive cost of a desk is its metal work. The simple design of bench desking allows for shared components such as intermediate legs and accessories, effectively reducing the overall cost. A joint system means cable trays and screens can be shared minimalizing the quantity and cost of items required. A run of benching in a large layout can have significant cost savings.

There are various bench options and designs to pick from. You can improve privacy with screens and accessories or encourage better posture and health with height adjustable versions. Company colours can also be tied in using carefully selected screen fabric, or colourful metal work, promoting a more professional look and feel to the office.

Studies show that it’s not just about saving money and the aesthetic impact bench desking can have on your company. People who feel the love at work perform better and are more driven. Bench desking allows managers to sit among colleagues and clients providing better communication and increasing team morale.  This shows that keeping up with the trend isn’t a bad thing.

February 17, 2016

Benefits Of Choosing Quality Office Furniture

Giving your office an update or starting from scratch with an entire refurbishment?

The thought of carrying out an office revamp can seem daunting to some companies and choosing the right office furniture takes some careful consideration. Of course, you’ll want your office looking stylish and modern, but when it comes to keeping your employees happy and healthy, only the best quality office furniture will do. Here are a few tips:

Boost Productivity

Most office staff spends 8 hours a day at the office and around 70% off this time sitting at their desk. Badly designed workstations and uncomfortable office chairs can be very disruptive, making it difficult to concentrate on everyday tasks. Using quality office furniture to ensure your staff are as comfortable as possible, will help them maintain concentration levels, work more efficiently and produce better quality work.

 

Reduce Health Issues

We touched on a couple of health issues associated with badly designed office chairs in the previous blog. There are numerous others, from back problems to headaches, relating to stationary office work. Choosing the right furniture can help improve employee’s wellbeing and reduce those dreaded sick days. As well as been an effective morale booster and creating a happier and healthier workforce.

 

Create a Good Impression

First Impressions matter! Often the first things clients and visitors notice are your furnishings. Think about the aesthetic impact you want to have when someone walks into your workplace. High quality office furniture can portray a sense of success and leave a positive impression. Not only aesthetically pleasing, but providing comfort and function too.

 

Make it Last

Undoubtedly you want your investment to stand the test of time. Office furniture manufactured from hardwearing, durable material will ensure you won’t be shelling out for new goods a few years down the line.

I’m sure you will agree high quality office furniture is a definite winner!

February 4, 2016

Planning Your Perfect Office?

 3 top tips, to make sure you get the office you’re dreaming of.

 

If you're planning to refresh or create your new office, here are 3 tops tips to making sure your plan becomes reality.

 

 

THINK FUNCTIONAL FIRST

What do you really need? Tables, chairs, and desks. Ok. Of course. But what about meeting rooms, different work zones? How does the office furniture need to work, to make sure it works for your business? All of these questions will help you purchase the correct furniture for your dream office.

COMMUNICATE & CONSULT

Everyone will have their own ideas about what the office should look like, and how they can make their work space wonderful. You can’t please everyone, however there could be something you’ve overlooked that is important to making the office fully functional.

BEAUTIFUL BRANDING

If you’re in the position where you’re inviting clients into the office, or you hold interviews etc. You want your brand to come across to these people in the best possible way, make sure the culture of the design reflects your brand and what you stand for. This way you can sell your products visually, as soon as your client steps through the door.

 

Contact us today to discuss your plans...

February 4, 2016

Hawk – Exhibiting At Orgatec 2016

The industry’s leading international trade fair for modern working environments, ORGATEC presents the whole world of work. And that means it encompasses everything which contributes to the perfect interplay between work environment, work processes and working culture and actually makes creative ideas for the future possible.

To launch the products we are releasing in 2016, Hawk will be exhibiting in Hall 7 from the 25th to the 29th October 2016, at the world famous Koelnmesse in Cologne.

Visit the Orgatec website and book your tickets now! (opens in a new tab)

http://www.orgatec.com/ORGATEC/index-2.php

February 4, 2016

Gravity – Premium Electric Height Adjustable Bench Desking

It's finally here, the new height adjustable bench desk!

After months of development, March 2016 will see the release of the Gravity height adjustable bench desk. No other bench system in the UK offers such a complete package in one desk; from sliding tops to fold-down cable trays, premium digital controllers to anti-collision mechanisms - the Gravity electric height adjustable bench desk is a no-compromise premium solution offering lifestyle benefits to office workers and home users all over the world.

With such a refined piece of furniture we couldn't use just any old mechanism, and that's why we teamed up with LINAK - world-renowned manufacturers of actuators based in Denmark. Offering height adjustment from 680mm to 1280mm with a movement speed of 38mm/s, available with a frame colour of White, Black and Silver (RAL 9006). Single desks also available, all desks available in 1000mm, 1200mm, 1400mm, 1600mm & 1800mm widths.

Information on the LINAK actuators:

The DL17 column sets the standards for inline columns. The compact square shaped column was developed to fulfil the market requirements for a low built-in dimension and at the same time a long stroke length.

From a design perspective, the DL17 lifts a contemporary desk design with its very small steps between the profiles and invisible gliding pads.

The column was designed for desks without crossbar ensuring more leg space and more design possibilities.

As standard, the DL17 features PIEZO™ – an integrated sensor minimising the risk for damages on a desk caused by squeezing or blocking of obstacles in up or down direction.

The DL17 is developed without PVC, which is an environmental advantage. The column comes standard with black, silver-grey or white profiles or simply in a customised colour (optional).

The DL17 is compatible with all DESKLINE® control boxes and controls – simply just plug & play.

  • Stroke length: 660 mm
  • Built-in dim.: 518 mm or 545 mm
  • PVC-free as standard
  • PIEZO™ as standard

December 22, 2015

The Importance Of Your Office Chair

Sitting for hours at a time? It’s time to invest in a solid office chair.
DOCTORS BELIEVE SITTING TO BE THE NEXT CANCER AND CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES.
Look around you, everyone has their heads down! The human head weighs on average 10 pounds and bent forward this can be double. Working like this adds pressure to the neck and spine but a well designed, ergonomic office chair can help offset any damage to your working day.

 

The British Chiropracter's Association (BCA) highlighted that 56% of office workers are more likely to suffer from back pain. So what can we do? Here are some of the key features to look for when choosing your office chair:

ARMRESTS
Arms rests should always be adjustable. Having a correctly adjusted arm rest allows you to rest your arms, elbows and shoulders comfortably.

BACK & LUMBAR SUPPORT
Backrests should be adjustable allowing for ease of movement forwards and backwards.
Having lumbar support on your office chair will help support the natural curvature of the spine. This can be easily changed to suit the user’s weight and height.
Lumbar support should be flush against the small of your back which will help keep everything in line.

WIDTH & DEPTH
Office chairs should be wide and deep enough to accommodate all shapes and sizes. Consider a smaller chair if you have a smaller body shape, and a larger seat if you have a larger stature.

SWIVEL
Allowing you to move around your area freely.
Provide the benefit of reaching nearby cabinets, drawers and table tops with ease.
Having a swivel base on your office chair will help establish the distinction between clientele and office worker.

HEIGHT
Easy adjustment.
Feet should be flat to the floor, thighs parallel to the ground.

 

With all these in mind, I think you will agree investing in the right office chair will pay dividends to your health and well being.

December 22, 2015

Are You Standing Comfortably? Sit Stand Desks

Recent press articles have highlighted that height adjustable desks might not be living up to the hype, yet with so many studies conducted - all of which highlight the benefits - how could this be possible? We went to investigate and the outcome may surprise you.

In 2015, sitting has been described as the new smoking and thousands of offices around the UK are now changing to height adjustable desking. Whether you're looking at manual (crank) or electric height adjustable desks, both options suffer the same issue that if they're not used properly they may actually be causing more harm than good.

The last thing any employee wants - or any employer for that matter - is to be distracted while trying to concentrate. Whilst there's not much we can do about the office idiot bouncing around on a Friday afternoon, we can do something about the pain you might be feeling in your legs, shoulder and arms from using your height adjustable desk incorrectly. "How can you use a desk wrong?!" I hear you say... well it's easier than you think. Keep reading and see how many of these you're guilty of.

 

1. Standing all day

 

Don't make the mistake of thinking you should replace sitting all day with standing all day. Standing for extended periods of time can cause just as many problems for the body as sitting. Standing for too long compresses the spine leading to lower back problems over time, not to mention the increased risk of varicose veins and deep vein thrombosis. Using a combination of sitting and standing eliminates the risks associated with both sitting and standing.

 

2. Standing or sitting still

 

Your body wasn't designed to remain static for long periods of time. Not moving can be the biggest cause of issues whether you're sitting or standing; your body needs movement to help with circulation and flexibility.

 

When standing, try shifting your weight from one foot to the other, and whilst sitting you should recline your legs and body to form a 135 degree angle, which has been identified as the healthiest seated position. So now you have an excuse when your boss says you're sitting like a slob!

 

3. Using the wrong product

 

Don't mistake a standing desk for a sit-stand desk, they are massively different. Standing only desks are static and don't allow you to sit down unless your office chair extends half way to the ceiling. Standing in one position all day leads to blood pooling in the feet (and no one wants cankles!), it really isn't healthy for you. Using a proper adjustable desk, one that can be adjusted from sitting to standing in a matter of seconds, is the correct product for you - for everyone, in fact.

 

Also don't get confused with height settable desks. These have the adjustment however unless you plan on getting underneath your desk 10 times a day to adjust each leg, they're not at all feasible. Height settable desks are only really suitable for tall or small people that need a sitting desk and a standard 740mm height doesn't fit.

 

4. Spending too much money

 

Yes, height adjustable desks are expensive. They're always going to be more expensive than a traditional desk because of the nature of them. That's not to say you should go crazy spending hundreds and hundreds on every desk - costs would rack up into the tens of thousands if you run a decent-sized office. Electric adjustable desks have traditionally been around twice the price of manual desks however Hawk offers an electric version - see here - that competes with most manual prices, and don't be fooled into thinking this is a budget product because the quality often beats competitors' products that are twice the price. Shop smarter, the benefits should be obvious.

 

In summary, make sure you have a sit-stand desk rather than just a standing desk; they may be slightly more expensive but they're well worth the money - you'll thank us in a few years' time when you're not walking with aches and pains like someone that is 20 years older. Keep moving! Fidget, wriggle...do whatever you want to do and ignore the parents and teachers that told you to sit still when you were younger. Try to stand up and sit down every hour and your body will thank you for it. Get in touch with one of our sales team if you need any more information, we're here to help!