2.8.10 | High Point, NC | Paul Brayton Designs hired Option Creation as its exclusive representative for St. Louis, MO. The partnership will focus on promoting Paul Brayton Designs’ textiles
to interior designers, architects, facility managers, etc. who work in
the contract, healthcare, and hospitality industries in St. Louis and
the surrounding areas.
Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.8.10 | Zeeland, MI | Herman Miller formed a partnership with Trainor Modular Walls. Based in Farmers Branch, TX, Trainor Modular Walls is a division of Trainor Glass Company producing modular full-height walls, door, and hardware, which will be distributed exclusively
through Herman Miller’s North American dealer network beginning February
8, 2010.
Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.5.10 | Green Bay, WI | KI helped to furnish the recently completed Don & Lori Watts Pediatric Center. Part of the Kadlec Regional Medical Center, Richland, WA, the new children’s
department offers a higher level of care to pediatric patients, allowing
local children who have cancer to receive treatment locally. Each of the private rooms feature a KI Daybed Sofa Sleeper that pulls out
into a bed, allowing parents to stay comfortably with their children in
the hospital and KI's Soltice Lounge Furniture also was used for the private family room with kitchen and dining facility.
Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.5.10 | St. Petersburg, FL | Investment
analyst Budd Bugatch of Raymond James &
Associates reaffirmed his company's "Outperform" rating
on Knoll following its Feb. 4 earnings release and
conference call discussing its 4Q09 results. Noting that Knoll is the industry
leader in terms of profitability and describing its financial performance as
"impressive", Mr. Bugatch raised Raymond James' 2010 estimate on
Knoll's earnings per share from $0.61 to $0.67.
Business >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.4.10 | Holland, MI | Haworth, Inc. reported that its 2009 global sales totaled $1.11 billion. This compares with 2008 sales of $1.65 billion. President and CEO Franco Bianchi noted that while the company's results reflect the economic crisis experienced by the entire industry, Haworth made progress in several key areas. It improved North American market share, launched several new products around the world, strengthened its position as a leader in providing fully integrated solutions, and maintained a strong financial position "despite difficult business adjustments and restructurings," Mr. Bianchi said.
Business >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.5.10 | Jasper, IN | Kimball International reported net sales of $275 million for its 2010 fiscal year second quarter, a 16% decrease from second-quarter FY09 sales. The company's Furniture Segment posted sales of $108 million for the quarter, a 33% decrease from year-ago figures, and a net loss of $996,000. Net sales in its Electronic Manufacturing Services Segment equalled last year's second quarter figure of $167 million. CEO and President James C. Thyen noted "encouraging signs of stability" for EMS, but that signs of stability in the Furniture Segment "are not yet evident."
Business >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.5.10 | Chattanooga, TN | SmartFurniture.com announced its Smart
Space Design Contest, a competition to see who can design the best interior
space using Smart Designer.
Smart Designer is a 3D space planner for easily designing, planning, and purchasing rooms online in 3D. The contest, sponsored by Herman Miller will award a $2,500 SmartFurniture.com gift card to one of the five finalists chosen each week during February.
Awards >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.4.10 | Moonachie, NJ | BULBRITE introduced the Purify02
family of Coil and T5 Quad CFLs for odors and damp smelling applications. Ideal for restrooms, closets, gyms, and
other damp-smelling rooms in the home, hospital, hotel, daycare center,
kennel,
pet store and other residential and commercial spaces, the Purify02 line
safely breaks down odors while providing energy efficient
light and a healthy alternative
to traditional chemically based air fresheners.
Mfg. & Distr. >>, Products >>
2.4.10 | Zeeland, MI | Herman Miller partnered with JRuiter + Studio, Grand Rapids, MI, to produce Intent furniture. The concise set of parts can be combined into everything from a single or double pedestal desk to returns, credenzas, and storage and price, application, and aesthetics can be scaled according to choice.
Mfg. & Distr. >>, Products >>
2.4.10 | Easthampton, MA | Chemetal introduced two steel designs: 380 Weathered Steel and 381 Aged Steel. 380 Weathered Steel looks like a piece of steel
soaked with sun, rain, and time until achieving its organic
hue. 380 Weathered Steel and the more linear 381 Aged Steel are produced using water, sea, and salt. Color and tone are closely monitored for manufacturing consistency, and each sheet is lightly top coated to prevent heavy “rust rub off.”
Mfg. & Distr. >>, Products >>
2.4.10 | Marietta, GA | Durkan, the hospitality brand of The Mohawk Group issued a Call for Entries for its first carpet design contest. Supported by HNWH (Network of Executive Women in Hospitality), D*scover aims to exhibit the talent of hospitality designers, while contributing toward the
education of future designers. Submissions are due March 12, 2010.
Awards >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.4.10 | Passaic, NJ | Bendheim's Spirit Collection safety laminated glass is now available in a variety of colors based on customer requests. The Color Collection features a combination of
transparent and translucent color interlayers together with various
glass surface options. The interlayers come in several degrees of opacity to
accommodate privacy and aesthetic requirements and can be enriched with a white pigment for a more translucent,
opalescent effect.
Mfg. & Distr. >>, Products >>
2.3.10 | St. Petersburg, FL | Budd Bugatch of Raymond James & Associates provided commentary on December office furniture order and shipment statistics released by BIFMA. He noted that stabilizing economic conditions combined with easier prior year growth comparisons drove moderating percentage declines in December. Orders of $630 million for the month were down 12% compared with last year but up modestly from $620 million in November. December shipments decreased 20% year-over-year to $720 million, up from $640 million in November.
Business >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.4.10 | Buffalo, NY | Garrett Leather Corporation is a proud supplier to Super Bowl XLIV. Over 6,000 sq. ft. of Caressa Pewter was installed for seating in the suites at Sun Life Stadium in Opa Locka, FL, for this year’s Super Bowl.
Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.4.10 | Grand
Rapids, MI | True Textiles Inc. became the first commercial textile manufacturer in North America
to be awarded CarbonNeutral electricity certification. The company measured and reduced the carbon emissions
produced by the electricity used in the production of Terratex products
to net zero.
Environment >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.2.10 | Garden City, NY | WAC Lighting raised more than $30,000 for Haiti relief efforts. The company is working closely with the American Red Cross to consolidate funds and get help immediately.
Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.2.10 | High Point, NC | Davis Furniture will be represented by J.Aristy & Associates for
Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Puerto Rico and Bermuda are not included. Juan Aristy is a 13-year industry veteran, working for
manufacturers in both casegoods and
seating.
Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.2.10 | Grand Rapids, MI | Steelcase will reinstate employee pay to what it was a year ago. Last March, company
executives saw cuts of 10-12%, while all
salaried workers took a 5% pay cut.
Wages
for hourly workers were not cut. The cuts were to last for one
year. Beginning March 1, employees will see
their pay returned to what it was a year ago.
Business >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
2.1.10 | Chicago, IL | Interior Investments, will host its Aeron Office Chair Hockey Tournament on March 4, 2010, 6 pm.
More than 600 chair hockey players and spectators from the Architectural,
Interior Design, Construction and Commercial Real Estate communities will go “chair
to chair” in floor hockey rinks made from cubicle panels at Chicago’s Navy Pier,
all to benefit Special Olympics Illinois. Funds raised will be earmarked for the Special
Olympics Illinois State Floor Hockey Tournament held every November in Chicago.
Event >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
1.29.10 | Grand Rapids, MI | Steelcase
will host symposiums in seven U.S. cities throughout 2010 as part of its
year-long celebration of the 100th anniversary of Frank Lloyd
Wright's Meyer May house. The first symposium will be in March 2010
at the Steelcase WorkLife Center, 4 Columbus Circle, Manhattan, NY, followed by events in Washington
D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, and San Francisco.
Videos of the
initial Meyer May symposium, co-hosted in September 2009 by Steelcase and
Metropolis magazine, are now available on the Steelcase
website.
Event >>, Mfg. & Distr. >>
1.29.10 | Kalamazoo, MI | Landscape Forms redesigned its
Carousel
3-seat table to comply with the
American Disabilities Act guidelines for fixed seating. The guidelines specify an unobstructed knee space of at least 27" high, 30" wide and 19" deep. The Carousel 3-seat table is offered with backed or backless seats in
wire grid or perforated metal.
Mfg. & Distr. >>
1.29.10 | Green Bay, WI | KI ranked number one in educational solutions in a reader preference survey conducted by Contract magazine. Readers also preferred KI's stacking/ganging seating and training table solutions.
Mfg. & Distr. >>
1.29.10 | Spring Lake, MI | Herman Miller received renewal of its MVPP Star Award for its Spring Lake 171st facility. It is the state's highest
workplace safety and health award, from the Michigan Occupational Safety
and Health Administration. The Spring Lake 171st facility employs 450 workers, and manufactures
Herman Miller's filing and storage products. During the review, the team conducted four formal and 26
informal interviews. The team found their safety and health management
system effectively addresses the scope and complexity of the hazards at
the site.
Mfg. & Distr. >>
1.29.10 | Fountain, MN | Valley Design's new Boomerang table leg is a "piece of cake." It
consists of a boomerang-shaped mounting bracket and a 2" diameter
post leg. No tools, no stripped out screw holes, just a simple insert, slide, and
turn. It passes BIFMA testing when installed properly on a
typical laminate top, and can be chromed or finished with a Dyecoalt process that simulates wood grains.
Mfg. & Distr. >>, Products >>