24.10.2006

New furniture for knowledge work

The next revolution will be in the office. That is a widely accepted fact among sociologists and occupational scientists. Whereas industry actively seeks to develop new technologies and materials, as well as optimising processes, when it comes to administration, nothing much has changed for decades, in spite of universal access to computer technology.

Monotonous forms of office work are still all too common today. They are responsible for a lack of movement that has led to "modern" health problems such as back pain, overweight, muscle wasting and eye problems. But lack of movement does not just create physical problems – it also severely impairs mental performance.

Yet the office worker of the future is expected to be extremely mobile, flexible and creative. The importance of workplaces concerned with knowledge is growing all the time in our high-tech society. The major challenge ahead will be to increase the productivity of knowledge workers.

Ideas and innovations are produced in the mind. In most cases, their development demands interdisciplinary teamwork and a stimulating environment which permits unrestrained thinking.

We call this environment "Place 2.5 – the new emotional office culture" – and the formula for achieving it is perfectly simple.

"First place" is the private sphere in the home; "second place" is the office where we work. "Third Places" are the places we go for enjoyment and every person has at least one, which they visit in order to escape their home surroundings and workplace for a while.

The aim is to capture the stimulation of the senses which people find in "third places" and to recreate it in the office. Place 2.5 is a perfect second place which feels just like a third place. In a Place 2.5 people experience more meaning, fun, success and fulfilment in their work.

Further information:
Sedus Stoll AG
Joachim Sparenberg
Brückenstrasse 15
D – 79761 Waldshut
Tel.: +49 (0)7751/ 84276
Fax: +49 (0)7751/ 84285
www.sedus.de

Richard Bachinger Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Richard Bachinger
Oberweg 19
D – 60318 Frankfurt am Main 
Tel.: +49 (0)69/ 9552750
Fax: +49 (0)69/ 55 71 55 
bachinger@bachinger-pr.de

Sedus four connects – furnishes seminar rooms in minutes.
Designed by: Mathias Seiler

High-tech plastics are increasingly becoming the material of choice, for example, in the automobile industry. Sedus has broken with the accepted wisdom that robust seminar and conference tables have to be made with steel or die-cast aluminium frames. Sedus four connects is inspired by state-of-the-art technology and with its unique plastic base, it offers a solution that combines functional and design-oriented advantages.

Sedus four connects is a seminar and conference table system that perfectly meets the demand for flexible furnishing which takes no time at all to assemble and reconfigure. The use of GRP (glassfibre-reinforced plastic) makes the leg frame, in white or anthracite, not just extremely strong, but exceptionally light as well. It connects the cross-rail and the table top with an ingeniously simple combination system. Four small controls allow the leg frames of "four connects" to be simply moved into any position, almost instantly converting individual tables into larger configurations, and vice versa.

The innovative table system has everything that is expected for arranging conference and seminar furnishings. From vertical and horizontal cable routing and modesty panels in various colours through to a choice of 19 different melamine finishes and real wood veneers, "four connects" has it all and is in a class of its own in terms of design quality.

In combination with the folding, stackable seating range "flip flap", for example, flexible furnishing is now quicker and easier than ever. As an individual table combined with the "silent rush" seating range, Sedus "four connects" is transformed into an elegant piece of conference furniture.

Sedus meet chair & table – as unique as the people who own them.
Designed by: Starczewski Design Team & Modus Design

At first glance it may appear to be a normal, but new, chair. Yet closer examination reveals "meet" chair to be one of the most innovative furnishing ideas for canteens, dining halls, cafeterias and break-out areas.

Sedus meet chair is a supremely comfortable, indoor and outdoor, UV-resistant and stackable canteen chair with a gracefully slender stainless-steel frame and flexible shell. But that's not all.

The backrest can be decorated with the motif of your choice and you're free to use your imagination. Your company logo, a portrait, colourful emotional pictures or modern graphic designs – everything is possible. Even a motif that extends over several backrests is perfectly conceivable.

Sedus meet chair is a unique furnishing idea that permits an unprecedented degree of personalisation at a modest price.

There are two types of base: a classic, stackable four-leg frame and a four-leg frame with swivel central connection offering a very special character – both made of polished or chromed stainless steel.

The one-piece shell comes in the standard single colours, white, black and grey, and the two-tone versions, white/black, white/grey, white/red and white/green (seat/backrest). When combined with a personalised backrest motif, the standard shell is white.

Innovatively designed "meet" tables complete the new range. Your choice is between a square bistro table in a range of sizes or round tables with various sizes and a round standing table, 110 cm high and 70 cm in diameter.

Sedus zenon – clarity of design, clarity of purpose.
Designed by: Sedus Designteam

Sedus "zenon" is a desk system specially developed for the use of fine compact boards. It creates the visual impression that the worktop is floating above its linear frame.

Top view or front view, close-up or from a distance – whichever way you look at it, "zenon" brings clean, geometric architectural shapes into the office world. There are no distractions. A desk stripped of all superfluous detail. Limited to the essential, "zenon" and its matching pedestals offer plenty of space for the creative exchange of ideas and important discussions, but also ample storage. The perfect atmosphere for the modern knowledge worker - simply conducive to efficient working.

The individual desk range adopts the rectangle as its basic shape, but also permits orthogonal desk configurations. All models are height-adjustable, between 680 mm and 820 mm, via a telescope mechanism and can be equipped with a sliding top, desktops made of compact material (12 mm) with arctic white finish, or particle board (25 mm) with melamine finish or real wood veneer.

Of course, Sedus "zenon" incorporates all the requirements of modern cable management and suitable accommodation of PCs and printers.

The mobile and stationary pedestals can also be equipped with compact material, and together with the desk they form an impressively harmonious combination with coordinated materials.

Sedus open mind and open up - more colour and transparency in the office. Designed by: Mathias Seiler

One of the most attractive features of the successful models in the Sedus "open mind" and "open up" families is their lightness and transparency, created by the extremely flexible and light-permeable membrane covering of the one-piece backrest frame.

At Orgatec, you can see the popular chairs in this "open family" with membrane coverings in attractive colours such as green, blue, orange and mid-grey.

The range now also includes an elegant white version. In combination with tastefully coordinated seat upholstery, "open mind" and "open up" offer a whole new scope for creative colour schemes. For all interior designers and office workers who like things a bit more colourful.

Of course, the "open up" cantilever chair, which can be combined with both swivel chair models, is also available in the new membrane colours.

Sedus black dot– ergonomics at its most appealing.
Designed by: Michael Kläsener and Stephan A. Preisig

Rarely has innovative technology been realised with such harmony of form. In the "black dot" swivel chair, Sedus' patented dorsokinetic mechanism, which is the centrepoint on the backrest, is also an eye-catching feature. It maximises freedom of movement in all directions, while its flexible joint provides ideal support for your back during all backwards and even extreme sideways movements of the upper body.

Sedus "black" dot is a family of top-class chairs comprising both swivel chairs and comfortable visitor chairs. The models bring together everything that the Waldshut designers and developers have to offer: top engineering with fresh, enduring design.

A perfect example of successful ergonomics and innovative design, Sedus "black" dot is entering production right on time for Orgatec, the office furniture trade fair. The swivel chair incorporates both tried and trusted technology – such as the "Similar" mechanism, individually adjustable lumbar support, seat-depth springing, sliding seat and armrests with adjustment options up to 3D – and technical innovations, which make office working more enjoyable and less like work.

A breathable and moisture-permeable material resembling a membrane is integrated into the sides of the seat and backrest upholstery to ensure a particularly fresh seat climate. But the most innovative pivotal point is the enhanced dorsokinetic mechanism, which means that "black dot" offers unprecedented sitting quality.

The cantilever and four-leg models for visitors and conferences are designed first and foremost with comfort in mind. They have the same innovative upholstery system as the swivel chairs. The upholstery for each member of the "black dot" family can be chosen from a selection of over 100 different fabrics and leather coverings. Base and frame come in a choice of polished or chromed, and also powder-coated in white aluminium or black.

Sedus netwin – a good feeling and flexibility.
Designed by: Michael Kläsener

The comfortable office and conference chairs from the "netwin" family meet the highest demands in terms of aesthetics, ergonomics and craftsmanship - and at modest prices. The outstanding value for money offered by "netwin" puts it in the entry-level category of Sedus quality, alongside the "concept one" and "yeah!" product lines.

The design of "netwin" invites you to feel good. The double membrane which spans the slender backrest lends this chair its own unique character and, at the same time, gives a soft, springy feel. The generously dimensioned seat features soft upholstery and is a guarantee of sitting comfort. The membrane is made of the patented high-tech fabric "Wovenit" and, in combination with the integrated lumbar support, ensures optimal pressure distribution. The patented quick adjustment feature for the backrest pressure makes it extremely easy to find the ideal setting for the user's height and weight intuitively.

The "netwin" backrest comes in a choice of seven colours. There is virtually no limit to the number of possible colour schemes that can be created by combining them with the many different seat coverings.

Apart from the task chairs and conference chairs, "netwin" is also available in the form of comfortable visitor chairs, with both four-leg and cantilever models to choose from.

Sedus mr. 24 – ideal for use right round the clock.
Designed by: Michael Kläsener

Control room chairs don’t have it easy. At the end of each eight-hour shift in continuous use, the chair gets a new "owner" who not only readjusts the height of the chair and armrests, but often changes the backrest pressure and seat depth to suit his personal preferences as well.

Sedus "mr. 24" has been developed with the toughest working conditions in mind, namely round-the-clock use. It knows "no fear", taking weights of up to 200 kg in its stride.

The mechanism and upholstery of "mr. 24" are of the highest quality and extremely robust. The perfectly balanced force distribution, achieved by the use of mechanical springs, and the large opening angle of 32 degrees guarantee maximum sitting comfort.

The extremely resilient Tec fabric is ideal for the upholstery and comes in eight colours. In addition, ten shades of leather and twelve choices from the new crêpe collection are available.

The height and depth of the lumbar support can be quickly adjusted to suit your height and weight using the newly developed controls. The comfortable leather-covered headrest and the multifunctional headrest with easy-care, textured imitation leather are also adjustable, while the height, width and depth of the robust armrests can be easily adapted without tools.

Sedus relations – because good relations are everything.
Designed by: Andreas Struppler Design

With its unique furnishing concept, "relations" offers an integral solution that combines function, design and ergonomics to create a new emotional office culture and the optimal environment for efficient knowledge work.

Sedus "relations" is a furnishing system whose transparent and inspiring design integrates elements such as desk, storage unit, pedestal and accessories in both form and function. It is suitable for furnishing not only the most varied types of office, but also seminar, meeting and teamwork rooms.

The most important innovations at a glance:

Desk system: Two diagonal base sections allow the working height to be adjusted between 620 mm and 850 mm without the need for any tools. Linear desktop formats, with a choice of depths and free-form desktops, allow countless different configurations and are, of course, optimally designed for accommodating the power supply to your equipment. Depending on the particular function, the materials used range from die-cast aluminium and steel to plastics. The desk is also available on castors for mobility.

Team desks: Square desktops with 1400 mm or 1600 mm edge length are specially designed for team meetings. A cable box allows perfect integration of power and network connections.

Folding tables: Also available in the distinctive design of the "relations" family are practical folding tables, which can be stacked to save space. Storage unit system: Based on the extendable carcass design, 800 mm wide units in 2, 3, 4 and 5 binder height can be combined to produce the exact overall width and height you require. A new feature is that the resulting module widths of 1,600, 2,400, 3,200 mm etc. can be fitted with large sliding doors, which move across the full width. The front design can be selected from a range of eye-catching textures and colours.

Mobile screens and multifunctional panels: The perfect solution for combining interior design and functional requirements is provided by textiles or rigid panels, which double up as a projection screen, for example.

Creative accessories: To assist efficient knowledge work, there are suitable accessories such as mobile pedestals, flipcharts, media connectors and projection panels. Screens with a grass design and flower vases give "relations" an additional emotional component.