by Ann Withanee — June 22, 2011—Humanscale introduces Float, a next-generation, height-adjustable, sit-stand table, named for the way in which it very nearly “floats” into position when it is moved either up or down, providing simple adjustment with minimal and constant force, says the company. In developing Float, Humanscale says it has ventured into, and reset the standards for, what it considers an important product category.
Float was launched during the NeoCon World’s Trade Fair in June, at The Merchandise Mart, Chicago, and it won a Silver award in the Best of NeoCon product competition in the training and work tables category. Humanscale also won two other Silver awards.
Height-adjustable work surfaces such as Float are greatly beneficial to users’ health, as they encourage a combination of sitting and standing, notes the company. Research shows that sitting for a prolonged period of time is a public health risk that cannot be offset by exercise, while standing all day is not considered a perfect solution, either, as it can cause discomfort and swelling in the legs and feet. Alternating between sit and stand positions is therefore considered to be the most effective way to maintain health and comfort, as it allows different body parts to rest in intervals, and at the same time discourages static postures.
Float meets the demands of healthier work environments with an unprecedented combination of height adjustability, weight accommodation, ease of use, and safety, along with streamlined good looks. With a unique counterbalance mechanism, Float enables easy, one-hand counterbalance weight adjustment, and constant-force height adjustment for ergonomic sit-stand usage. Float is also built with safety measures to prevent the possibility of injury, and its innovative safety feature only allows adjustment when the desktop and contents are properly counterbalanced.
Built for ergonomic use, Float provides what Humanscale says is an industry-leading 20 inches of height adjustability. Its unique counterbalance mechanism reportedly handles the widest weight range in the industry—zero to 170 pounds of desktop weight (excluding the tabletop)—without tools, costly maintenance or added parts. Additionally, Float accommodates a range of tabletop widths from 42 inches to 72 inches, to meet unique and common specifications alike, and can be used with any manufacturer’s table tops to ensure aesthetic consistency with any installed or specified systems furniture.
With a 15-year, 24/7 warranty, Float’s sturdy construction meets BIFMA requirements for load and capacity. This is achieved without the clunky cross-beams found on most current-generation height-adjustable tables, which often obstruct leg space and impact the aesthetic, says the company.
Built for a long, serviceable life and limited carbon footprint, Float is made predominantly of recyclable steel and aluminum and is designed with minimal parts and manufacturing processes. It offers White, Silver or Black finish options. With a 15-year, 24/7 warranty, Float’s sturdy construction meets BIFMA requirements for load and capacity. Float will be available for purchase in November 2011 with a U.S. list price starting at $1,999.
For more information visit the Humanscale Web site.
