CHICAGO, June 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Steelcase Inc. , a global office environments manufacturer, today announced that the Steelcase family of companies was honored with six Best of NeoCon awards, including three Gold awards. Products recognized include seating, solutions for healthcare and education and new tables and worksurfaces, all of which are on display at this year's NeoCon 2007 World's Trade Fair for Interior Design and Facilities Management in Chicago.
"Once again, we are proud to be recognized with these distinguished industry awards," said James P. Hackett, president and CEO of Steelcase Inc. "At Steelcase, we are committed to the continual goal of combining leading technology with aesthetics to provide best of class products that help organizations work more effectively in sustainable environments."
Best of NeoCon 2007
Sponsored by Contract magazine, the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc. (MMPI) and the McMorrow Report, the Best of NeoCon awards recognize the top new products introduced at NeoCon. Steelcase Inc. received a total of six Best of NeoCon Awards, taking home three Gold awards and three Silver awards.
Among the recipients of the Gold awards is Amia, the latest addition to Steelcase's Alive Seating(TM) portfolio, which won in the seating category. Amia provides state of the art seating technology with clean and simple lines at a mid level price point. Sensing and moving with the individual user, Amia(TM) leverages Steelcase's LiveBack(R) technology through a system of flexors that move up and down the back to provide a comfortable fit. The seat is uniquely constructed and contoured to provide seated comfort for long-term sitting. Like other chairs in the Alive Seating(TM) portfolio, including Think(R), Leap(R), and Siento(R), Amia is composed of materials approved by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) as safe for human and environmental health and will be Indoor Advantage(TM) certified, helping to meet LEED certification criteria.
In addition, Steelcase companies were honored with two Gold and three Silver awards. Nurture was honored with a Gold award in the healthcare furnishings category for its Opus(TM) Overbed table, while Vecta received a Gold award in the tables category for the Akira training table and a Silver award in education solutions for the Akira classroom table. Details' Height Adjustable table for series 7.1 and Turnstone's Tour system were also recognized with Silver awards in the worksurfaces and furniture systems categories.
The Opus(TM) Overbed table by Nurture expands the award-winning Opus(TM) line through observing how healthcare providers, family and patients use overbed tables, and accommodating these activities through the use of two top surfaces. A stationary surface at standing height is ready for use by physicians and nurses, while the other is height adjustable to support patient needs with a concave surface that can be brought much closer to the patient than traditional, rectangular tables. The surface is also supported by an open "cubby" that can hold a chart, or other materials, helping to keep the surface clear and ready for primary work.
The Akira training and classroom tables by Vecta are user-friendly, multipurpose surfaces for active spaces. The flip-top tables' patent-pending, folding mechanism and one-handed release lever make them virtually effortless to set up, adjust, take down and "nest" compactly to minimize required storage space. The tables can be configured in a wide variety of arrangements and can adjust in height to fit the user. Further, the tables contain 83 percent recycled content and are 87 percent recyclable at the end of their lifecycles.
Turnstone's Tour(TM) workspace, a groundbreaking new work station, garnered a Silver award in the furniture systems category. The Tour(TM) system is comprised of seven elements that can be configured into over 80 combinations. It features a series of flexible, modular pieces with clean, stylish lines suitable for administration, executive, reception, general office, small group and library environments, among others. In addition, Tour(TM) is Cradle-to-Cradle certified and offers environmentally friendly solutions, including a PVC-free option.
Rounding out the product awards is Details' height-adjustable Series 7.1 worksurface which also earned a Silver award. Unlike most height-adjustable tables, Series 7.1 can be outfitted to become a full-fledged workstation with the addition of computer support tools, task lighting, organizational worktools and privacy panels. The worksurface design also incorporates integrated cable management as well as a CPU holder that can be placed on the outside of the lifting column to allow a full range of adjustment without being hampered by cord and cable lengths.
The Best of NeoCon 2007 awards were selected from 300 entries in 41 different product categories.
About Steelcase Inc.
Steelcase, the global leader in the office furniture industry, helps people have a better work experience by providing products, services and insights into the ways people work. The company designs and manufactures architecture, furniture and technology products. Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Steelcase serves customers through a network of nearly 900 independent dealers and approximately 13,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2007 revenue was $3.1 billion. Learn more at http://www.steelcase.com/.
