Selecting industrial office furniture may seem like a daunting task. When you have a long list of “to-do’s” during an office remodel, checking this one off the list doesn’t have to be stressful.
Yet selecting the right industrial office furniture requires considerations that go beyond simply looking at a picture and reading a quick description of the product. If your office has special needs, from fabric material to storage considerations, it’s important that you choose the right pieces that meet the needs of your office.
With these top 5 tips, the planning and selection process will be smooth sailing:
When you start thinking about furniture for your industrial environment, begin by identifying your essential requirements.
By making a detailed list of your basic needs, you lay a solid foundation for creating a functional and efficient industrial office space. This proactive approach not only enhances the day-to-day operations but also contributes to a more organized, comfortable and productive work environment.
Beyond office supplies, your working space may need additional storage areas.
For example, consider these questions:
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may require additional storage, such as stainless steel cabinets or shelving units. You can often customize these storage solutions to include accessories like locks or are made with special materials that can withstand harsh chemicals.
Will your industrial office space be in a newly constructed building or an existing facility? Existing structures may need to
On the other hand, new construction offers more flexibility when planning for new furnishing and equipment.
Another concern with older facilities is access. Does the building have a freight elevator and doorways wide enough to accommodate your new industrial office furniture?
In addition to assessing the facility as a whole, take a look at the space you plan to accommodate. Is there any natural light? Will your new work spaces face the north or the south? This is an often-overlooked planning consideration.
South-facing windows can cause glare and fluctuations in interior temperature. Window treatments or architectural additions may be necessary to facilitate employee productivity and comfort.
Office spaces with poor lighting may require looking into additional accessories like lighting fixtures, desk lamps and ambient lighting solutions.
This may be the most important consideration when selecting new industrial office furniture. The type of work you and your employees will be doing in your new workspace will determine what furniture you need.
If you’re conducting chemical testing or working with higher temperatures, you must select lab countertops that prevent any damage or contamination.
If you’re putting together heavy equipment, the size of the workbench and the required accessories will change. If the equipment is heavy, a heavy-duty industrial workbench may be required. These benches will have up to a 5,000 lb. weight load capacity.
If your business is growing at a rapid pace, modular workstations are an ideal solution to the growing need for additional workers. The modular approach allows for workstations to be easily added, removed or reconfigured as business needs change.
Other accessories such as work surfaces, shelving, overhead cabinets and lighting can be added to workstations in a variety of materials and sizes to accommodate different work styles and employee needs.
Just because industrial office furniture has to withstand more extreme wear and tear than standard office furniture, it doesn't mean it has to look lackluster. Industrial workstations come in a variety of materials and colors and can be customized with accessories like open shelving, adjustable height surfaces, keyboard trays or even footrests.
Choose something that reflects your company brand and stays consistent throughout the facility. Not only does this create a uniform look and feel in the work environment, but it allows for easier reconfiguring and adding on in the future.