Share 2 - English version

SCANDINAVIAN BUSINESS SEATING COMPANY MAGAZINE. WINTER 2016

MOVING FORWARDOUT WITH SEDENTARY SITTING. IN WITH ACTIVE WORKERS

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THE WORLDS BESTWORKPLACES

24IT HAPPENS IN SPAIN

HEAVY INVESTMENTIN A LIGHTER WORKING DAY FUTURE WORKSPACE

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HIGHLIGHTS:

MOVING FORWARD FROM SCANDINAVIA WITH LOVE

EDITORIAL OFFICE

Scandinavian Business Seating ASFridtjof Nansens vei 12

P.o Box 5055 MajorstuenNO-0301 Oslo, Norway

Tel: +47 22 59 59 00

PUBLISHED BY STYRK PUBLISHWWW.STYRK.NO

PHOTO Werner JuvikPer Gunnarsson

SHARE is published twice a year on behalf of ScandinavianBusiness Seating by Styrk Publish. All material is strictly

copyright and all rights are reserved. No part of thispublication may be reproduced in whole or in part withoutwritten permission of the copyright holder. Opinions ex-

pressed in SHARE are not necessarily those of Scandinavian Business Seating.

EDITOR Eirik Kristensen

SCANDINAVIAN BUSINESS SEATINGCOMPANY MAGAZINE. WINTER 2016



GRØNT PUNKT

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SB SEATING ACQUIRES BMA ERGONOMICS TRAVEL: FUTURE

WAY OF SITTING

DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL!Something worth sharing? A sale you're proud of or quite simply a good idea ?

Do tell ! Share your stories at:

[email protected]

EDITOR’S NOTEBY EIRIK KRISTENSEN

Isn´t it lovely how letters, sound and images can beput together by anyone nowadays. Anyone can bea writer, anyone with a laptop can make music andmost of us can take quality images with a phoneand frame it as a picture. Our ability to play with words, sounds and imagesbecomes a story we can tell. If we want to.

Some time back I met a guy called Frank in a partyat a friends house. Frank told stories. Lots of them.An educated actor telling stories about why weneed to tell stories. The story is everything, he said - and everything is a story. In fact, we are all a story that we share.

Use your phone, he said. Everything you need isthere, right in the palm of your hand. Your phone,Ipad or PC is your arena to tell a story by usingwords, sound and images. OK, but…how do I begin ? He smiled and said, please tell me - why do you do what you do ? When you know that, you should tell people about it.

I love a good story, and I think you do too – butmaybe we all could be better in sharing one ?Share stories about things we do and things wecare about.

So, what is a story? Perhaps the word STORY is a bit difficult to graspbecause in a wider sense, everything is a story. Our vision, our culture, our values, our products,the people around us…. everything. In many ways,it is the stories that creates the world we live in, be-cause everything we see, everything we hear and

everything we smell is a story of what weexperience – and a story that we can tell others – so they can feel it too. What would the world be without the story. We would be nothing.

The magazine you are holding in your hand justnow, is a selection of just that. Printed stories thatwe would like to tell. Stories that we would like toshare with you. Hopefully you will remember some of them, addyour edge to it, and pass it on to people you meet.Either because they are relevant, or funny, or quitesimply an ice breaker. Every time you tell a story, you will have changedthe day of another persons life. Maybe not much, but still… It matters.

A story about colors in a room will give life to theproducts we sell. A story that provides relevantinsights about why you should move, sit andstand during the day will add meaningfulvalue to anyone who cares about theirhealth. If a story sparks a thought or starts aconversation its worth telling it.If you manage to add some inspirationtoo, I wouldn’t think twice about goingfor it.

In SHARE Magazine we tell stories. I hope you will too. Every day. Because it matters.

Eirik

IT’S ALL ABOUT STORIES...

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SMALL TALK

Kamiel Bruins end-user from 'Thuiszorg Het Friese Land' won this beautiful RH Mereo sponsored by SB Seating Benelux duringsustained inspiration day. Congratulations Kamiel Bruins, we wish you lots of fun and success with this chair!

In the picture Jolanda Siemons - KAM SBSeating Benelux, Jan TjerkLoonstra - Health2work - dealer and the winner Kamiel Bruins, end-user.

HAPPYWINNERS!

SITTING DOWN WITH ÅSAJUNGNELIUS ON YOUTUBE

Meet Åsa Jungnelius, an artist represented in the collections ofNationalmuseum and Röshsska museum, as well as several Swedishand international private collections. We’re sitting down with Åsa inorder to talk about design and passion. You can see the program atyoutube.com. Search for the SB Seatings channel.

Scandinavian Business Seating has increased its portfolio onBIMobject Cloud with 32 new products from HÅG, RH and RBM. The new products are created in 4 different file formats and onescript; Revit, ArchiCAD, SketchUp och IFC. It also enables a previewsolution in 3D on the product page. BIMobject Corporation are Europe's largest and fastest growingdigital content management system for BIM objects.

INCREASED PORTFOLIO

SBSOCIALOur colleagues in the UK have launched SB Social event, anexclusive quarterly event where personally invited architects/designers from different practices join in for a bit of fun. This image is from the Q4 event - Flight Club.

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This merger means that SB Seating attains the position of the largest producer in the Benelux countries.

IT’S TWO seasoned players inthe field of office chair designand production who now getthe opportunity to cooperateat what they do best; to makethe world a better place to sit. – The acquisition of BMA iscompletely in line with SB Seating’s strategy and asignificant move to furtherstrengthen our position in the

Benelux countries, in close cooperation with our exten-sive network of retailers. Incombination with BMA, whohas an annual turnover ofaround 17 million euro andmore than 90 employees, wewill be the biggest producer of ergonomic seating in theBenelux countries, says Lars I.Røiri, CEO of ScandinavianBusiness Seating.

BMA ERGONOMICS wasfounded in 1988 purely as aconsultancy company, but after

a few years expanded theirbusiness to produceergonomic office chairs. – Wediscovered that there was agreat market demand for theproduction of high qualitychairs offering ergonomicallysound design. Now, a fewsuccessful decades down theline, a new significant decisionwas taking shape. We realisedthat we had to innovate and improve our products further, in addition to examining theopportunities for more diversitywhich will ensure growth over

time. Following this, we havebeen looking for allianceswhich could supply thecompany with new energy. This we found at ScandinavianBusiness Seating. We’re veryenthusiastic about getting thechance to become part of oneof the world’s leading seatingfurniture companies. Not onlywill we become the new marketleader in the Benelux countries,we will also strengthen ourposition in Europe significantly,stresses Koen van Eig, Manag-ing Director of BMA.

SB SEATING ACQUIRES BMA ERGONOMICS

SCANDINAVIAN BUSINESS SEATING HAS ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT FOR THEACQUISITION OF BMA ERGONOMICS BV, ONE OF THE LEADING MANUFACTURERSOF ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED OFFICE CHAIRS IN THE NETHERLANDS.

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SHAPERS OF TRAVELINVEST IN FUTURE WAY OF SITTING

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A CHAIR IS AN IMPORTANTWORK TOOL. Amadeus GmbH Germany,one of Germany’s largest supp-liers of IT solutions to the travelindustry made that very clear intheir brief. They had been sear-ching for ergonomic solutionsfor a long time that could offertheir employees active sitting. «The chair is supposed to helpyou perform to the best of yourability for hours on end, everyday, all year around. In thesame way that technologyfocuses on people and theirneeds, a HÅG chair is designedto follow the movements of thebody, whether you move for-ward or backwards.»

CONSEQUENTLY, the feedbackfrom employees at Amadeuswas the main considerationwhen it came to finding thebest solution. After a longsearch process, they found it;the chair that satisfied theirrequirements for optimumhealth, ergonomics and activesitting. HÅG Capisco.

– AMADEUSmade clear thatthe main priorities were healthand ergonomics. The chair hadto contribute to movement andvariety at work in a natural way,and make it easy to alternatebetween a seated and a stand-ing work position. Based onthese considerations, theirchoice was the HÅG Capisco,which can be adapted to anyworking position, including an

almost standing positionexplains René Sitter, GeneralManager of SB Seating GmbHin Germany.

AS ONE of Germany’s leadingsuppliers of IT solutions to thetravel industry, Amadeus livesup to its own vision; of «shap-ing the future of travel». Their list of clients includesmany of the world’s leadingcompanies, such as BritishAirways, Qantas, Finnair, Iberia,AMEX and Carlson Wagonlit. In addition, 110 of the world’slargest airlines use theAmadeus e-Commerce AirlineSuite in more than 110 differentmarkets.

– THEmovement and flowfound in SB Seating’s ergo-nomic seating furnitureresemble the seamless andintuitive user-friendliness ofAmadeus’ technologicalsolutions. In the same way thattechnology has focused onpeople and their needs, aHÅG chair is designed followthe movements of the body,whether you move forwards or backwards.Their job is to keep travelers on the move. Our job is to keep their employees moving,concludes René.

HÅG CAPISCO. YOU WON’T FIND ANY OTHER OFFICE CHAIR WHICH IS ASEQUALLY WELL-SUITED TO WORK SURFACES OF DIFFERENT HEIGHTS ORHEIGHT-ADJUSTABLE WORK TABLES.

Amadeus is the preferredsupplier of technologysolutions to a wide range of world-leading companies,including British Airways,Qantas, Finnair, Iberia,AMEX, Carlson Wagonlit,TUI, Siemens, Nestlé,Daimler-Chrysler, IBM, SAPand Lufthansa.

110 of the world’s largestairlines use the Amadeus e-Commerce Airline Suite inmore than 110 differentmarkets.

Source: amadeus.com

«THEIR JOB IS TO KEEPTRAVELLERS ONTHE MOVE. OURJOB IS TO KEEPTHEIR EMPLOYEESMOVING WHILETHEY’RE DOINGTHEIR JOB.»

FACTS:

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5.7, 5.9, 5.7. That’s the length of time that workers in Sweden,Denmark and Norway res-pectively spend sitting stillevery day. We’re talking hours,not minutes. And these are just the numbers from theirworkplace. If we were toinclude the hours spent on thecouch at home, the counterwouldn’t stop until it reachedthe number 9. «Office sapiens»is an endangered species,broken by our own wealth andmodern lifestyle. We’re aboutto sit ourselves to death.

HOWEVER, there is hope.Specific, proven and positivehope which shows that,paradoxically, sitting still can be

good for you. The office chairhas for long been part of theproblem. Now, scientists at oneof Europe’s leading medical in-stitutes have concluded that itis also part of the solution.

ACTIVE SITTING starts with ourfeet. They act as a rudder forthe rest of the body, and steer

you in the right direction. It all happens naturally andintuitively. However, you won’texperience this in just any oldchair. HÅG’s ergonomic philosophy isbased on an understanding ofthe human body and its needto keep moving. This is a price-less insight into the battleagainst sedentary sitting,headed by Erlend Weinholdt,Head Ergonomist at SB Seating. «We’re not built to sit still infront of our PC for hours everyday. We need more movement,support and variety to be ableto work well. The best startingpoint for movement is balance,and the HÅG chairs have a

central tipping point whichkeeps you balanced and incontinuous movement.»

INDUSTRIALISATION is aboutto make movement super-fluous to our lives. The future of physical activity is underincreasing threat fromseductive sedentary activities.Biologically speaking, we’re stillstuck in the past. For millions of years our ancestors lived ashunter/gatherers, with a highlevel of activity. This was es-sential to our survival. In ourtime, this level of activity isoptional at best. You can workout, but you don’t have to. Youget your food from shops. Wehave sedentary jobs, and rarely,


SCIENTISTS FROM KAROLINSKA INSTITUTET IN STOCKHOLM HAVE PROVEN THAT OFFICE CHAIRS FROM HÅG PROMOTE MORE ACTIVITY IN THE WORKPLACE. THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO REDUCE THE NEGATIVE CONSE-QUENCES OF SEDENTARY SITTING.

«THE FEET ARE LIKE A RUDDERFOR THE REST OFTHE BODY»

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if ever, go hunting for food. Theevolution of our bodies has notkept up with the progress ofmodern civilisation. Can anoffice chair – the very symbol ofa sedentary lifestyle – alter this? THE EVIDENCE. In cooperationwith Karolinska Institutet wedecided to put his claim to thetest. HÅG versus conventionaloffice chairs. Could active sittingbe transferred to a workplace?Could the chair you’re sitting inactually make you more active?The results show that the answerto both these questions is yes.

BOX 1: This is hows the claimwas put to the test. 15 subjectswith long experience of usingcomputers in their jobs, werestudied as they carried outrandom dynamic and statictasks. The participants hadscientific monitoring instru-ments attached to them, andwere analysed as they weresitting in a HÅG chair with itscentre tilt mechanism bothopen and locked. Then theywere analysed as they sat in achair with the competitor’s*Synchro mechanism activated,and finally in a standingposition. The tasks they carriedout ranged from light officework, such as opening files andfiling, to retyping Shakespeareon a computer. All data was

assembled from a total of 12 (9 seated and 3 standing)sequences, each lasting four minutes.

THE TRIAL was very extensive,and the conclusion fromKarolinska was as follows:«The study showed that byactivating the HÅG centre tiltmechanism, we observed anincrease in forwards and back-wards movements comparedto an ordinary office chair. Thiscould mean that you canincrease your level of activity to a level which in other stu-dies have been shown to beassociated with better health.When the centre tilt mechanismwas activated, the majority (73 %) found that there was apositive increase in the activitylevel to a level which accordingto standard cut points, hasbeen classified as light physicalactivity. Only 33 % of the sub-jects achieved similar levelsfrom a conventional chair.»

– THE FINDINGS from thisstudy indicate that there areseveral significant differencesbetween different chairs, andthat the HÅG chairs promoteactivity without the user havingto change behaviour. Ourchairs allow movement, whichin turn frees space for moremovement. Backed by solid

research from one of Europe’sleading medical institutes, wecan state more clear today thatyes, our chairs work and canmake a real difference in yourwork environment, says Erlendenthusiastically.

HÅGMovement is natural, necessary, stimulatingand comfortable. Life itself is movement. Ourway of life has changed dramatically, and amoveable sitting pattern has consequently be-come essential for us to stay healthy andenergetic at work. In a HÅG chair the seat andthe back are connected, and this means thatthe front of the seat is lifted when you lean

back, which stimulates movement in yourankles, and it’s lowered when you lean for-ward to work. Small movements will keep youfresh and alert all day.

KAROLINSKA INSTITUTETKarolinska Institutet is one of the world’s lead-ing medical university colleges. In Sweden,Karolinska Institutet accounts for about 40percent of all academic medical research, and

offers the broadest range of medical studies.Since 1901 the Nobel Committee atKarolinska Institutet has chosen the recipientof the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine.

THE OFFICE CHAIRhas become one of themost used work tools of our time, whilst asedentary lifestyle is often put on a par withsmoking in analyses of risks to health.

http://www.sbseating.no/nyheter/nytt-studie-viser-hvordan-du-minimerer-risikoen-ved-stillesitting

FACTS:

*)The functionality of chairs withsynchro mechanism is that when whenleaning backwards in these chairs thechair seat will tilt backwards and thebackrest will recline in a definedrelation to the seat.

!

CONDITIONS

KinematicsReflexbulbsplaced onsubjects-Filmedwith reflexvideocameras

KineticsGroundforceplattforms

AccelerometryFiveaccelerometersplaced on bodyor chair

AccelerometryFiveaccelerometersplaced on bodyor chair

LAB FIELDMETHODS

• 15 healthy subjects with long computer experience were studied during randomized dynamic and static simulated office work.

• Each recorded during four minutes time sequences. In total 12 (three standing) conditions measured

FROM

SCANDINAVIAWITH LOVE

AUTHENTIC. NEUTRAL. DOWN TO EARTH. THE PALETTE AND MATERIALS FEATURED IN THE 2016/2017 COLLECTION DRAW THEIR INSPIRATION FROM THE VERY ESSENCE OF SCANDINAVIA. AHARMONIOUS MIXTURE OF CAREFULLY CHOSEN COLOURS AND MATERIALS,SHAPED BY PEOPLE WITH A PENCHANT FOR DESIGN AND FUNCTIONALITY.

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«Shapes and colours influenceour feelings, thoughts and behaviour. The non-verbalcommunication of ourenvironment both inspires and motivates, and contributessignificantly to human inno-vation and creativity. However,most of us conduct thisconversation at a subconsciouslevel. The challenge is to listento the unspoken, and transferthese impulses to a physicalmanifestation, such as a pieceof furniture, an officeenvironment or a building.»

It would be an understatementto say that Head of Textiles atSB Seating, Pernille Stoltze,

loves her job. In conversationsabout textiles, colours andmaterials, few would be able to radiate as much knowledgeand commitment as Pernille.This is a passion she embodieswhen she, along with the othermembers of the DesignManagement Team, developsSB Seating’s visual identity anddesign philosophy, inspired bytheir roots in the Scandinavianlandscapes and character. – Everything that we can seeand touch communicates withus on an emotional level. Theright choice of colours andmaterials is consequently veryimportant to us when we’replanning new collections.

Colours have the ability toenhance the character anduniqueness of the material,whilst also adding a genuineatmosphere to a room. We arevery particular about creatingharmony in our compositions,but we always add an elementof surprise, of somethingunexpected, as well, Pernilleexplains.

SCANDINAVIAN SKILLSIt was neither surprising norunexpected that the task ofcreating the new collectionsfell to Pernille. She was incharge, but along the waymany other skilled profes-sionals also added to the

process. In line with the nature of the concept, solidScandinavian skills havenaturally been called upon.Amongst the contributors we find designers from theSwedish design agency FormUs With Love. A creative con-stellation which generatednumerous exciting suggestionsand creative initiatives.– We’re always trying to renewourselves and draw inspirationfrom a plethora of sources, butone recurrent theme is positiveencounters with people full ofenergy and ambition, which ishow we perceived our meetingwith SB Seating. Our contri-bution to the new palette is

SHAPES AND COLOURS INFLUENCE OUR FEELINGS, THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIOUR. THE NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT BOTH INSPIRES AND MOTIVATES.

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based on RBM’s motto «Bring-ing Life to Rooms», whichmeans to create products that have a positive effect onpeople. We wanted toenhance the feeling of naturewith a more muted range ofcolours which draw theirenergy from accent colours.Our ambition was also to usealternative materials that addscope to the collection, andoffer architects and interiordesigners more freedom tocreate an even more homelyenvironment in the future. From the very start of thisprocess we wanted to createan opportunity to choose inter-esting material and colour

combinations. We want you tofeel that RBM’s products workjust as well in a five hundredseat lecture hall as they do in amuch smaller and moreintimate dining space, saysJohn Lövgren, founder ofForm Us With Love.

NEW FOLK + SENSEEach in their own way, the newpalettes create a uniqueScandinavian atmosphere.New Folk combines the robustwith strong, clear colours, withemphasis on the the tactile.Sense embraces a feeling ofbalance and peace of mind,and utilises calmer textures tocreate a more low-key

atmosphere. – The idea behind the paletteNew Folk is that it shouldexude authenticity andwarmth. For that reason, wehave for example chosen touse wool, a natural fibre witha lot of texture. Wool recreatesthe cosy, warm and familiarfeeling that you usually get athome or at work. Combinedwith energetic, bold colourswe create a feeling ofsomething genuine andinviting. The other palette,Sense, radiates a more sensoryexperience. Here, associationsof calm mill ponds and soft,elegant shapes meet theexpectations of clean, discreet

surfaces, Pernille elaborates,before adding that there willbe an annual offering of newtrend textiles presented inpalettes firmly rooted in SB Seating’s Scandinaviandesign philosophy.

HOW OUR SURROUNDINGSAFFECT USWhen we know how oursurroundings affects us, it’s interesting to put the spotlighton the effect the two newpalettes will have, for exampleon a workplace. New Folkfacilitates a laid-back, comfor-table environment, perfect formeetings characterised bytense shoulders and forced

THE POWER OF COLOURDid you know that the colour of a wall can changeyour perception of temperature? Warm colourssuch as orange, red and yellow can make you feelthat the temperature in the room is higher than itactually is. Cooler colours, such as blue, green andpale violet can give the opposite effect. Therehave also been some interesting studies thatshow a clear connection between the colourgreen and the ability to think laterally – i.e. to useunconventional methods to find several solutionsto a problem. Green is a colour most people like,probably because of its associations with natureand growth, and in a company context it can beused to increase productivity and wellbeing.

Source: Forbes Magazine, Amy Morin.

COLLECTIVE OPENNESSThe world is leaning towards collectivism and amore nomadic lifestyle. Less focus on the in-dividual and more on building networks andsharing information, knowledge and skills. Aculture which contributes to creating new localeconomies, like Fellesverkstedet in Oslo. Theirconcept is simple; it’s about building an in-frastructure which people will need to get theirideas realised. Production venues and technicalsupport under the same roof, at a reasonableprice. «Co-working spaces» like these have turnedinto a global phenomenon and are something thatwe will definitely be seeing more of in the future.

FACTS:

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smiles. Sense adds calm andbalance to the room. A goodstarting point for tasks demand-ing deep concentration andcontemplation. Pernille be-lieves that more people willopen their eyes to the inter-action between design andcolours in the future, not justbecause this effect has beendocumented, but also becausethe traditional workplace isundergoing change.

POSITIVE TENDENCIES«We’re seeing positivetendencies in the market interms of use of colours. Morepeople are daring to introduce

a more playful combination ofdifferent chairs in variouscolours and textiles. Everythingdoesn’t have to be uniform. Inaddition to that, the traditionalopen office is also undergoingchange. HOLISTIC ANDENVIRONMENTAL Organic, green and holistic.Tomorrow’s trends are rootedin a holistic way of thought,rooted in strategies whichadvocate solutions that areenvironmentally friendly andbeneficial to our health.Emphasis will also be put onthe development of smarter

and more sustainableresources. In real terms, thisentails a review of everythingfrom sensible use ofresources to a better scope forimprovement in the company’sinternal processes. – The environment is and willremain a central theme in theongoing dialogue concerningthe trends of tomorrow. Not justbecause of the climate debate,but in terms of our wellbeing atwork, at home, everywhere. Thedivision between who we are atwork and who we are in ourprivate lives is becomingblurred, something whichcreates brand new working

conditions. We’re going to seeindividualism take a back seat inorder to make room for thecollective effort. The value ofworking together in groups,building networks and exchang-ing cognitive and socialcurrency is already becomingprevalent in the sense that anincreasing number ofcompanies are introducing longtables and sofa groups, Pernillesays, before quoting the famoustrend researcher Li Edelkoort:«Society is now about exchangeand the new economy andworking together in teams andgroups».

EACH IN THEIR OWN WAY, THE NEW PALETTES CREATE A UNIQUE SCANDINAVIAN ATMOSPHERE.

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GABRIELNote – NT60004

K

SVENSSONKhaki – KHA3651

G

KVADRATDivina MD – DMD713

C

GABRIELCrissCross – CRI1103

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S

GABRIELCrissCross – CRI1502

KVADRATDivina MD – DMD613

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KVADRATRime – RIE641

KVADRATTonus 4 – TON664

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G

GABRIELNovo 2 – NV68109

GU*Gandal + – GAN815

GU*Jostedal – JST140

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SVENSSONKhaki – KHA6841

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C

GU*Vadal – VAD830

B

SVENSSONUno – UNO5515


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KVADRATTonus Meadow – TMD916

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GU*Vadal UNI – VAU831

S

Embracing a mood of calmness with serene structures in lightly subdued colours.The sense of clarity and lightness providesa soothing impression.

* Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik

N


S

GU*Setesdal – SSD825

GU*Suldal – SUL435

CAMIRAMain Line Flax – MLF024


G

GU*Sirdal – SRD820

G

SVENSSONRaw – RAW5045

G

GU*Modal – MDL411

BOGESUNDSBreeze – BEZ253

K

GABRIELInterglobe Wool 2 – IN67033

G


G

KVADRATFiord – FID151

G


GABRIELNovo 2 – NV64140


G


G

BOGESUNDSBreeze – BEZ265

S


SVENSSONStep – STP186


G

Brings together the authentic feel through rich multi-coloured structures and woolen surfaces in vivid colours. The sense of warmth givesa homely and genuine feeling.

E

* Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik *

SCANDINAVIAN COLOURS

Trend textiles 2016-2017

SENSENEW

FOLK

– We’re extremely pleased towin this tender. The compe-tition was really tough, and we knew that several ofthe world’s main producerswere involved, says Mr. RamonTarazona, Chief Executive of DE 108.

ALVARO Cunqueiro Hospital inthe city of Vigo is a Spanishprestige project. The hospitalopened in September 2015,but has already become anexciting reference building inthe fields of architecture andinterior design. To ensure thequality of the overall impres-sion, the people behind the im-pressive building naturallywanted to have their say in thechoice of perhaps the most important work tool for the

employees. Ramon points outthat meeting the decisionmakers and explaining theconcept played a large part inthe outcome of the tender. «The chairs will make the working day simpler for the

employees. They satisfy thebody’s need for movement,with movement, and enhancethe performance as well as thewellbeing of the employees.

This is particularly important forhealth personnel, who worklong and demanding shifts»

«WE CONTACTED Mr. AndreuBelenguer, designer andproject manager at the new

hospital, and presented ourchairs. His team, consisting ofarchitects, engineers anddesigners, also attended theviewing. It was essential for us

to have the opportunity todemonstrate the product, aswell as telling them about ourongoing work to preserve theenvironment.»

THE NEW chairs will without adoubt make the working dayeasier for the employees. Theysatisfy the body’s need formovement, with movement,and enhance the performanceas well as the wellbeing of theemployees. This is particularlyimportant for health personnel,who work long and demandingshifts. – No one could match us onperformance, design,ergonomics and enviro-nmentalism, the four corners-tones of SB Seating, concludesRamon with a smile.

SECURING A PRESTIGEOUS TENDER IN SPAIN

PERFORMANCE, DESIGN, ERGONOMICS AND ENVIRON-

MENTALISM. THE VERY CORNERSTONES OF SCANDINA-

VIAN BUSINESS SEATING WERE THE DECISIVE FACTORS IN

THE CONTEST FOR A VALUABLE CONTRACT IN SPAIN.

THE SPANISH DEALER DISEÑOS ERGONÓMICOS 108 WONTHE TENDER FOR SUPPLYING CHAIRS TO ONE OF SPAIN’SLARGEST AND EUROPE’S MOST MODERN HOSPITALS.

FACTS:A total of 1,840 chairs of the models HÅG H09,HÅG Sofi, RH MEREOand RH Activ were supplied to the AlvaroCunqueiro Hospital.

DE 108 is a reputable ambassador forergonomics, cooperatingwith, amongst others, the Spanish Society ofErgonomics, the SpanishChiropractic Association,and with the unit ofergonomics at thePolytechnic University of Catalonia.

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«Anywhere. Of course we haveto be able to work anywhere!».Thus answered a group of 17year-olds from the collegeSjölins Gymnasium in Stock-holm when asked where theywould like to work if it was upto them to choose. The answerfrom our future colleagues wasunequivocal; the times, theyare a-changing. And in a worldwhere office work can becarried out just as easily athome or in a café, will thereeven be a need for thetraditional working place in the years to come? And if so,what function will it have? This made us think; Perhaps it isn’t enough that we offerhome offices, introduce flexibleworking hours, allow workoutswithin office hours and custom-made jobs? Maybe these are just the first signs of anextensive change of the way in

which we work today? Andwhich expectations do theyounger generation have fromthis development?

THE FUTUREWith this in mind, we asked the17 year-olds to describe theworkplace they would like towork at in the future. Whichbasic needs should it fulfill,what kind of manager wouldthey be looking for and whatwould their workplace look like,physically speaking? Thesuggestions we received werevery surprising, but above allinspiring.– I’m thoroughly impressed bythe suggestions the studentscame up with. Without anyknowledge of or insight intoneither ergonomics nor design,they proposed many excitingsolutions to relevant problemswe grapple with on a daily

OFFTHE WALLIN A FEW YEARS THEY’LL BE HERE. THOUSANDS OF COLLEGE AND UNI-VERSITY STUDENTS HUNGRY FOR KNOWLEDGE, HUNGRY FOR A NEW JOB.WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE? WHAT EXPECTATIONS DO THEY HAVE? AND AREWE WHO ARE WORKING TODAY READY TO COPE WITH THE PRESSUREFROM AN ENTIRE GENERATION OF TECHNOLOGICALLY SUPERIOR I’M-GOING-TO-CHANGE-THE-WORLD SMART ALECS?

IN THE STUDENTS’ NEW VERSION OF THE WORKPLACE, THE OPEN OFFICEIS HISTORY, SAYS JESSICA BORGAR, MARKETING & TRADE COORDINATORIN SWEDEN.

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basis. Just like today’s youthand their ability to think withoutany creative restraints, we toohave to make equally bravechoices in terms of which wayto go in our quest for creativityand innovation, remarks EirikKristensen, Vice PresidentDigital of SB Seating.

NEO WORKSPACEIn the students’ new version ofthe workplace, the open officeis history. The floor is void ofdesks, chairs and computers.The boss’ enclosed office at theend of the corridor is no more.In other words, everything we«fossils» associate with amodern workplace. The students’ bold choices fora way forward is precisely whatcharacterises their solutions.Given free reign, they havetransformed our perception ofa traditional workplace, and

come up with a balancedfusion of recreation, work andsocial interaction.

WORK AT THE WALLThe most eye-catching change,and perhaps the most radicalone, is to be found on the wallsof the office. All the way fromfloor to ceiling, the employeessit working at futuristic mobilework stations, integrated in acomplex grid system. All youhave to do is find a free chair,and let the machine transportyou to the right place, severalmetres above ground. If youneed to discuss a project with acolleague, your station is auto-matically moved to the rightperson or group. – The students saw nolimitations when it came totechnology, which shows thatthe next generation don’t seeproblems, only opportunities

for making use of space, saysEirik, full of praise.

SOCIAL ZONESAfter a productive stint ataltitude, new tasks are waiting.Down on the floor the workershave access to a gym, aswimming pool and a library &media centre. Defined areas forrecreation and exercise aresocial privileges which areconducive with the findings ofrecent research; that physicalexercise, both at work and inyour spare time, reduces sickleave and benefits mental andphysical health. Thiscontributes to giving theemployees a higher socialstatus , which leads toincreased self-confidence andan enhanced feeling of belong-ing. This was a significant ele-ment of the students’ design,following their thought that the

most important function of theworkplace is not the work itself,but rather the interaction withand inspiration from theircolleagues. – These are ideas that correlatewell with SB Seating’s vision ofthe office as an active zone, andthey will undoubtedly becomea major factor in therecruitment process of themost attractive job seekers inthe future. The students’ suggestions haveexciting potential. Their ideasprovide a fresh perspectivewhich can and will work as aspringboard for further discus-sions about the workplace ofthe future, and inspire ourinnovation strategies. And bytaking heed to their ideas, wepave the way not only for co-operation with them, but alsofor innovating with them in thefuture, says Eirik.

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THE DESIGNBASED ON THE STUDENTS’ SUGGES-TIONS, SCANDINAVIAN BUSINESSSEATING HAS MADE A SKETCH TO ILLUSTRATE THEIR IDEAS.

DESIGNThe best possible use of space is a priority. Hence, thestudents propose that traditional offices are replaced by newwork stations on the wall, a library, a gym and a swimmingpool. The rooms are adapted for optimal social interactionbetween the employees.

THE WALLSThe entire wall is a massive grid for mobile work stations.Each unit consists of a touchscreen and a HÅG Capisco chair.The system is adapted to enable swift transitions betweenworking individually and working in groups. Safety isensured by an inbuilt safety belt in the chair. That aside, thischair possesses exactly the same ergonomic features as theoriginal.

RECREATIONA focus on health is a central part of the students’ layout.Consequently, the entire floor area has been set aside forrecreation and social interaction, out of which half makes upa library and a media centre. The other half consists of aswimming pool and a gym. The concept has been thoughtthrough down to the last detail. The library, for example, hasbeen fitted with special lights which increase vitamin Dproduction.

TECHNOLOGYAll documents and information will be stored in a local webcloud, and each work station has to be opened usingfingerprints. The performance of the employees is constantlymonitored, measured and evaluated. – This generationdoesn’t seem to mind being under surveillance at all times.Quite the opposite. The students take it for granted thateverything they do is registered and analysed. They’re usedto that from social

Neither the employees nor thecustomers want to hear self-congratulatory speeches aboutvisions and intentions, theywant to see them in reality. Toappear authentic, open andunequivocal will be decisive fora company, because it will bewhat people expect. Thesesame expectations will also apply to the company building.Ideally, what the company saysshould reflect what it appearsas. Companies that are good at this, often use their surrou-ndings to tell stories, andemphasise achievementsthey’re proud of. The walls inyour office can highlight thesestories, writes Glenn Roby, VicePresident and manager ofKahler Slater's BusinessEnvironments Team, in the bloggreatplacetowork.com.hk.

INSPIRATION AS MOTIVATIONEmployees are expected to beinnovative and productive at alltimes, but they will only per-form at their best in a companywith a good working cultureand an inspiring environment,which appears to be authenticand health-promoting andwhich facilitates good coope-ration.

In a blog on greatplace-towork.com.hkGlenn Robywrites about «5 ways toleverage the physical works-pace to address future trends».Research has shown that in anenvironment that appears tobe both interesting and in-spiring, creativity will flourish.The workplaces of the futurewill therefore see a rise in theshape of more investmentin aesthetic design with thepurpose of increasing moti-vation. This could for exampleentail giving skilled designers,architects and artists more free-dom to create a more inspiringwork environment. Roby mentions severalmeasures that in all likelihoodwill become increasinglycommon in the near future.Amongst them separate areasset aside for creativity, work-outs, recreation and socialinteraction. In addition, it willget more important to synch-ronise the employees’ attitudeto the company’s core values.More «us» and less «you and I»,«we» are working togethertowards a common goal. Asthe former CEO of Twitter saidat the 2015 Great Place toWork conference; «It’s not

OPENNESSGENERATESLOYALTYSHOW, DON’T TELL. IN THE FUTURE,A COMPANY’S VALUES AND VISIONSSHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED BYACTIONS NOT WORDS.

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about the perks. It’s aboutconnecting employees to whywe do what we do and how wegot to where we are today».

BREAK WITH THE ESTABLISHEDSee possibilities where otherssee resistance. In other words,do as Leonid Goncharov, thefounder of Anticafé Louvre inParis did. Leonid took thetraditional café concept, turnedit on its head and discovered a market for a brand newbusiness idea; The Anticafé. At the Anticafé, guests don’tpay for food or drink, only forthe time they spend in the café.Coffee, Wi-Fi and healthy foodare all free. The complete op-posite of our establishedperception of a visit to a café,and a combination which hasproved to be like gold dust forthe ever-growing network ofdigital workers who take theirjob with them wherever theygo. Their needs are reflectedperfectly by the basic idea behind the concept; to make a creative oasis where like-minded people can meet toshare information, thoughtsand ideas. Over a cup ofcoffee, naturally.

TECHNOLOGY WILLREVOLUTIONISE THEWORKPLACEAccording to Qube, a leadingmagazine within facilitymanagement, new technologywill revolutionise the way inwhich efficiency is measured in the workplace. The intro-duction of digital tools whichanalyse human behaviour willimprove companies’ ability tooptimise the employees’ work-flow and efficiency, and perfectthe functions of the workplace.For example, an analysis of theareas in a company which areused for private phone calls,may show that the sound levelin the room is too high or thatthere is a lack of rooms for suchpurposes. The introduction of aquiet room may be a potentialsolution.

There are many advantages toknowing exactly how well aworkplace functions and whythe possibility to measure, ana-lyse and understand humanbehaviour at work can make itsimpler to introduce measuresand implement positive strategicchanges.All of it fact-based.

GLENN ROBY, Vice President and Principal, Kahler Slater, hasdiverse experience in leadership, management and design of thebuilt environment. As an expert in commercial office design, GlennRoby has become sought out for his insights on workplacestrategies, design trends and commercial real estate activities.

PICTURE FROM THE ANTICAFÉ LOUVRE IN PARIS

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Where is the best place in theworld to work? If you askworkers at GlaxoSmithKline inEngland, Unilever in Brazil orLån Spar Bank in Denmark,chances are they’ll arguestrongly in favour of theiremployers. With good reason.The three companies all came

out on top in their respectivecategories at the GlobalHealthy Workplace Awards, a competition for whichcompany is the best place to work.

SO, WHAT IS it that thesecompanies are doing

differently? An importantcommon denominator is the fact that they take on responsibility and show good leadership. The workenvironment of the employeesis taken seriously, and long-term strategies for facilitatingbetter work conditions

undergo constant develop-ment and evaluation. Thewinner in the category for smalland medium companies, theDanish Lån Spar Bank, is a shin-ing example of how much youcan benefit from small, butsmart implementations. In2009, the bank launched the

THE WORLD’S BESTWORKPLACESTHE GLOBAL CENTRE FOR HEALTHY WORKPLACES BRINGS TOGETHER MANAGERS,DIRECTORS AND PROFESSIONALS FROM THE HEALTH PROFESSION, WITH ONEGOAL IN MIND; TO CREATE THE WORLD’S BEST WORKPLACES.

SINCE LAUNCHING THEIR "BANK IN MOTION" PROGRAM IN 2009, THEIR REVENUEHAS MORE THAN TRIPLED, CUSTOMERSATISFACTION HAS IMPROVED, ANDEMPLOYEE SICK LEAVE HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM 8 TO 4 DAYS PER YEAR.

WWW.GLOBALHEALTHYWORKPLACE.ORG/

WINNERS-2015-LAN-SPAR-BANK.HTML

GLAXOSMITHKLINE HQ IN ENGLAND

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PHOTOS FROM UNILEVERS HEADQUARTERS IN SAO PAULO IN BRAZIL

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The Global Centre forHealthy Workplacessupports organisations and companies whichsafeguards and promoteshealth and wellbeing in the workplace.

http://www.globalhealthy-workplace.org

Global Centre for HealthyWorkplaces is the result of aproductive working relationshipbetween the organisationsTommy Hutchinson (i-genius) and Wolf Kirsten (InternationalHealth Consulting), who organisethe annual award ceremonyGlobal Healthy WorkplaceAwards. GCHW works closelywith a whole range of influentialpartners from The InternationalAssociation for Worksite HealthPromotion (IAWHP).

project «Bank in Motion», withthe aim of increasing produ-ctivity and satisfaction at workand reducing sick leave. Onemeasure the bank initiated wasto enhance the physical andmental health condition of theiremployees. The result? Sincethe project was launched,their revenue has tripled, cus-tomer satisfaction has im-proved and employee sickleave has been reduced from

8 to 4 days per year. And thisis just the beginning.

MAKE THE WORLD A BETTERPLACE TO WORKResearch shows that stress atwork, little physical activity andan unhealthy diet representedthe biggest global threatsagainst a health-promotingwork environment. GlobalHealthy Workplace Awards &Summit is the first global

nomination of companies thatwant to counter the increase oflong-term sick leave and mentalhealth conditions amongst theiremployees. More than 300 directors, investors, academics and healthprofessionals came together for this year’s Global HealthyWorkplace conference in SantaCatarina, Brazil. Here they learntabout the challenges oftomorrow and how to handle

them without it being at theexpense of the most importantresource of all; the humanworkforce.

WINNERS 2015:Multi-national: GlaxoSmithKline (UK)Large Employers: Unilever (Brazil)Small & Medium: Lan Spar Bank (Denmark)

FACTS:

RESULT OF A WORKINGRELATIONSHIP

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HEAVY INVESTMENT IN A LIGHTER WORKING DAYSCANDINAVIAN BUSINESS SEATING HAVE INVESTED SIX MILLION KRONER IN NEWMACHINERY AT THE FACTORY IN NÄSSJÖ, WITH THE PURPOSE OF CREATING ASEAMLESS AND EASY WORKFLOW, AND STREAMLINE PRODUCTION.

Ergonomics is one of thecorner stones in ScandinavianBusiness Seating. Perhaps the most important one.Ergonomics influence absolutely all stages of theproduction of our chairs, says Lars-Erik Alfredsson,production manager atScandinavian Business Seating.From the conception of an ideaall the way to the developmentof the first prototype. From thefactory where they’re built tothe office where they are used.

– INNOVATION at both ends ofproduction is important to us.We want the people who makethe chairs to have as equallygood working conditions asthe people using them, but onour premises. Consequently, aninvestment in new machinerywhich will reduce sick leaveand heavy lifting at work whilstalso increasing efficiency andwellbeing, is right on target forus, explains Lars-Erik.

THE NEW system carries textilematerials on data-guided railsin the ceiling and is developedto optimise the workflow be-tween the various departments.Previously, the workers had tofill baskets with heavy materialand personally make sure thatthey were transported onto thenext stage of production. Now,everything is automatic. Thismeans that when the basket isfull of materials, it’s transportedto for example the upholstereras soon as he is ready. Then theproduct is sent further on in thesystem. This process follows thesame pattern until the chair isready for delivery.

A COMPLETELY automatizedsystem like this has manyadvantages. Particularly for theworkers, thinks Lars-Erik, whostates that it will result in lesssick leave, more orderly work-ing conditions and a greaterdiversity in working practices.However, the new machinery

also makes ScandinavianBusiness Seating betterequipped to meet the ever-increasing market demands.

«TODAY’Smarket requires anever shorter delivery time.Following the investment in thenew machinery we have beenable to increase productioncapacity from 750 to 1,000chairs a day, whilst simul-taneously reducing productiontime from four to three days forthe same product. This enablesus to produce more in shortertime, and manage a widerproduct portfolio.».

LARS-ERIK thinks it’s positivethat Scandinavian BusinessSeating is committing evenmore to safeguarding theirown employees and living upto their own sales pitch, whichis to create good, safe andhealth-promoting workplaces. «It goes without saying that we practise what we preach.

Ergonomics at work is one ofseveral basic prerequisites forincreased wellbeing, which will definitely contribute toa healthier workplace».

– FORTUNATELY I have yet tohear any of our employeescomplaining about bad officechairs at work, chuckles KjerstiKildal. As Vice President Qualityat Scandinavian BusinessSeating she is in charge of

Health and Safety and to acertain extent her colleagues’wellbeing in the workplace.She wants the employees to gohome from work just as well aswhen they arrived, and haswell-practised routines for

“THE ABILITY TOBE FLEXIBLE WILLBE CRUCIAL”

spotting and solving problemsas they occur. «The work to create anincreasingly better workplacefor everybody never stops.Anything from Health andSafety improvements toseparate quiet rooms forpersonal phone calls to socialactivities after work. We doour very best to meet theneeds of our employees, andencourage them to show initiative in that respect themselves. For example, ourpremises are located right next to the world-famous Frognerpark, and no one willbe turned down if they want tohold an internal meeting at thefoot of the Monolith sculpture,or if they just need some spaceto think and reflect».

NEW MACHINERY contributesto creating a better environ-ment for the employees at Nässjö. When asked what she thinks will be the most

significant factor to officeworkers in the years to come,Kjersti answers «flexibility», before elaborating: «I think the ability to be flexible will be crucial over time, andScandinavian Business Seatingregards flexibility as an im-portant long-term feature. You have to facilitate a workingculture which wants andaccepts this. If someone wantsto work in their home officeone day and attend a meetingby web link, I see nothingnegative about that. The worldis undergoing change, and wehave to adapt. Getting your jobdone on requirement is moreimportant than being physicallypresent. That’s why I think thatbeing flexible is a central abilitywhen facing tomorrow’schallenges. To find a goodexample of that, you need tolook no further than to ourchairs: they adapt seamlesslyand facilitate positive progress».

6 ADVANTAGES WITH THE NEW MACHINERY:

Improved ergonomics willreduce sick leave over time.

Better order in theworkplace increases well-being and contributes to asafer workplace.

Dead time in production isreduced by 25 % as a

consequence of the new machinery, and results infaster delivery to customersand lower production cost.

Increased efficiency reducesthe need for externalresources.

Reduced volume of trans-port at the work facility.

Enables greater productionand management of a moreextensive product portfolio.

FACTS:

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Four key themes emergedduring the workshop – health,the environment, technology,and innovative workspaces.Innovative ideas include hang-ing pods to work in, hologramson walls to change your work-ing environment, interactive

tablet desks which turn intobeds, virtual reality rooms andcommunal vegetable allot-ments to provide ingredientsfor a healthy lunch.The future office would alsohave a health centre and gym –including a doctor’s surgery

where you could book appoint-ments at work. Allotmentswould be provided where youcould make your lunch fromfresh produce and colleagueswould have a ‘Bake Off ‘stylekitchen to cook together.

INTERESTINGLY, the youngs-ters didn’t share the currenttrend of shared workspaces butwanted a mix of collaborativeareas combined with isolatedworking pods that they couldcustomise for their ownrequirements and mood. Whenemployees need to focus ontheir work in peace and quietthey would climb into theirhanging pod where they would

FUTURE WORKSPACEPART 2:

NORWEGIAN FURNITURE BRAND HÅG HAS COMMISSIONED A WORKSHOP WITH 15-18 YEAR OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM LONDON. THE OBJECTIVE WASTO DISCOVER HOW GENERATION Z IMAGINES THEIR FUTURE WORKPLACE.

YOUNG LONDONERS PROPOSE RADICAL IDEASTO DESIGN THEIR FUTURE WORKPLACE

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work alone on an interactivedesk. They saw a high ceiling as wasted space and decidedthat these hanging pods couldbe placed there, creating moreroom for socialising and leisure.

IF YOU couldn’t get eight hours at home, why not sleepat work? One young pupildesigned a desk that can beflipped round to provide a bed, equipped with a built-inalarm clock to make sure youwouldn’t oversleep.

ONE OF the studentsparticipating, Basma Elbous-saki, 17, said: «It was a greatexperience - opening up yourideas. It was amazing to seehow diverse our ideas wereand how optimistic we areabout the future. We want toinclude things you do at home- being active and energetic.We are concerned with natureand the environment - we areaware of how we should sus-tain our future. I am now moreinterested in interior designand furniture as well as ar-chitecture as a career. It is important to look at the smalldetails as well as the bigpicture.»

FOLLOWING a similar works-hop carried out in Oslo, JorgenJosefsson, Managing Director,SB Seating UK said: «It’s beenreally exciting to see how theyouth of London and Oslocompare, both groups showenthusiasm for good designand appreciate the importanceof a good work-life balance. It is also clear to see thatGeneration Z expect theiremployers to look after theirwellbeing by designing spacesthat enhance this and provideareas suitable for a variety ofdifferent tasks. This is in keep-ing with our whole ethos - theHÅG philosophy is based onthe fact that the human body isnot made for sitting still but formovement and variation. Westrongly believe in gooddesign and ergonomics whereever you are working.»


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