Active support for a moving workplace from Actiforce

Workplace design is in the midst of a revolution that has been accelerated by the pandemic. It’s a revolution resulting in better awareness of health and wellbeing at work, and more flexibility for workers in every way – from sit-stand desks, to co-working and remote working.

As a sector of design that always seems to be in flux, when it comes to workplace design, there’s no time to wait for the cards to fall. Today’s workplace design culture is about adapting to hybridity – finding products that serve multiple scenarios from office to home, offer solutions to movement within the workplace and even anticipate the in-between spaces.

'While some headlines suggest the office will go away as people embrace working from home almost exclusively, our research identifies a more nuanced, hybrid future. Most people expect to work in the office most of the time, but they also expect greater flexibility from their organisations going forward,' says Michael Woedd, global marketing director at Actiforce.

Embracing the ‘flux’ by designing for healthy movement and flexibility in the workplace, Actiforce entered the height-adjustable workstation market in 2004, and have since expanded with new products in response to the challenges of hybrid working. Combining German engineering with Dutch and Danish design, Actiforce takes ergonomics seriously, combining design with sophisticated engineering, technology and communications for customisable systems appropriate for workplace sectors from care, hospitality, office, home, education and more.

Healthy movement

'Our solutions are not only created for function, but for healthier living,' says Woedd. For example, Actiforce's classic sit-stand tables are based on medical research that outlines the health risks of sitting all day long, including poor circulation, heart risks, inactive muscles and posture problems. Hybrid working is offering a new set of challenges for healthy workplaces – while it offers workers a better work-life balance, it also means that people are constantly on the move between workplaces, remote workspaces and home offices. This can take a physical and mental toll when workstations have to be transported, unpacked, plugged in, packed up, unplugged and transported.

Actiforce’s award-winning sit-stand Elements Desk combines technology and design to enable smooth movement throughout the day. The desk’s CABLETOP® technology features neat wire management for easy workstation set-up, integrated wireless charging – reducing the need for workers to constantly plug in and electrical height adjustment, so users can customise their desk to their own physical needs. The desk has an integrated control box with hand switch and cable management, both operating the desk and concealing its functions.

'There is no other competitive product on the market,' says Woedd. 'Our CABLETOP® is unique, because all technology and cables are integrated in the worktop, and devices can be powered through the wireless charging integration. That means no more cable clutter. In collaboration with our designers, we create the IoT (Internet of Things) technology that the users need.'

Designing freedom

Anticipating the need for movement between stations and spaces associated with hybrid working, Actiforce has created a product line for workstation transportation. Launched in 2020, the ActiCase range offers a neat solution for any workstation to be packed up and transported safely, with flexibility, ease and style.

The business case features two key locks, double reinforced aluminium corners, interior organisation and an over-the-handle strap. It is available in three different sizes – backpack, telescopic handle and four-wheeled for stability, all designed to be lightweight and agile to support the hybrid workers of today. 'The ActiCase range gives users freedom, without compromising on ergonomics,' says Woedd.

Riding the wave of the workplace revolution, Actiforce's goal is to bring more movement to the work day – whether it's through a healthy sit-stand desk or a hybrid working day that enables a healthier work-life balance. 'Creating a movement that provides ergonomic solutions with constant focus and improvement on the processes for more sustainable manufacturing, ensures that we live up to people’s expectations and demands of a good partner for a better lifestyle,' says Woedd.

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