Press Releases from Formaspace (102 total)
12 FUTURE TRENDS FOR FORENSIC TESTING LABS
To misquote Shakespeare, “now is the summer of our discontent.”
By all measures, the summer of 2020 has been a difficult one across the board.
For forensic science professionals, who recognize the importance of maintaining the public’s trust, two issues have moved to the forefront as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The first is a renewed public interest in the important role of laboratory science, no doubt in part due to the…
Reduce Material Handling Cost: Ergonomics to the Rescue!
That’s the finding from Liberty Mutual’s new 2019 Workplace Safety Index, which identified five types of accidents that are responsible for two-thirds of the injuries in Transportation and Warehousing:
Overexertion involving an outside source
Falls to the same level
Roadway incidents
Other exertions or bodily reactions
Falls to a lower level
What can be done to make packing and shipping stations safer for everyone?
The answer may lie in improved ergonomics.
Unlike Canada and the EU, which have…
5 Core Concept to Operate a Museum
When it comes to understanding how to manage a museum effectively, it's helpful to learn more about the roles of five departments that make up the backbone of museum operations. They are (1) the Conservation Department, (2) the Documentation Department, (3) the Research Department, (4) the Exhibition Department and (5) the Educational and Information Services Departments.
In this article, we will look at each of these five museum departments in detail.
1.…
Can Current Soil Testing Labs Meet Growth in the Organic Farming Industry?
Once considered a niche product, organic produce sales are on the march. Today's health-conscious consumers are willing to pay a premium for the perceived quality benefits of organic foods, which are poised to grab additional market share as new industry players, such as Amazon with its acquisition of Whole Foods, enter the retail grocery market. The increasing demand is also driving the need for more organic produce testing by certified…
5 WAYS TO DECREASE YOUR SHIPPING OPERATION COSTS
In a world where customers are expecting faster (and often free) delivery, businesses are finding it more important than ever to closely manage their ground shipping operations. We take a look at how to address the twin challenges of reducing delivery times while decreasing shipping costs.
We'd now like to introduce you to Matt Rundblad, who oversees our Formaspace Customer Service and Shipping Operations. Matt started his career in shipping and…
Formaspace Launches New Website Featuring 3D Workbench Builder Tool
The new website design is centered around the unique real-time virtual workbench builder tool, 3DConfigure. This tool allows visitors to configure standard workbenches Basix™ and Benchmarx™ in under a minute with rendering included. Users can customize the workbench to match their space with different frame colors, worksurface material options, sizes, and accessories.
Formaspace's website offers multiple new features and easy to use tools to get pricing on standard, modified, and custom-built…
Stopping This Habit at The Office is Good For Your Health
Sitting for long periods of time at work is one of several factors that can increase your risk of varicose veins and spider veins. Researchers are increasingly concerned that the presence of varicose veins may be associated with an increased risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), Peripheral Artery Design (PAD) or Pulmonary Embolism (PE). Reduce your risk by following our wellness guidelines for increasing your exercise and activity levels during…
Can Manufacturers Keep up with Mass Customization?
We take a look at how leading-edge manufacturing companies are profiting from increased sales and customer loyalty thanks to sophisticated order management systems, responsive supply chains, and flexible production techniques that allow their consumers to order highly customized products direct from the factory.
THE RISE OF MASS CUSTOMIZATION COMPANIES: BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS TO BE UNIQUE
In today's world of wide-ranging consumer choice, it's hard to wrap your head around the fact that…
HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM OF SO FEW WOMEN IN STEM (PART II)
Here in part two of our series, "Why Do Women Hold Just 24% of STEM Jobs in the USA?" we take a look at how to encourage young women and girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math.
The need for change is great.
At a time when an increasing number of baby boomer workers are retiring, employers are facing a major shortage of talented, high-tech STEM workers, it makes…
10 TRENDS CHANGING THE ELECTRONICS ASSEMBLY MARKET
The North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) market saw significant order growth at the tail end of 2017. What are the key factors affecting the industry's improving outlook? We take a look at 10 trends that are changing the future of the PCB and PCB Assembly (PCB/A) market.
According to statistics released by IPC, the industry association for printed circuit board and electronics manufacturing service companies, new PCB orders in the…
7 Points to Consider When Creating Ideal Office Space Layouts
Is it time to remodel, expand or move into brand new office quarters? Take a scientific approach to office space planning. Each of the seven points in our Formaspace guide to creating an ideal office layout will help you work more productively than ever before, while at the same time, laying the foundation for your business to grow in the future.
Office space planning is in a state of rapid change,…
How Can We Rethink Classroom Design?
More and more classroom designs are moving away from traditional, teacher-focused classrooms (with desks lined up neatly in a row) toward open, flexible layouts with furniture designs that support technology-enhanced learning and student-led group projects. If you've kept up with the latest changes in modern office design, you'll see many similarities to the way that new workspaces have moved away from regimented office cubicles toward more open, collaborative environments. Let's…
How Can You Build A Better Culture in Your Manufacturing Facility?
Looking for ways to jump-start your manufacturing facility to make it more innovative and competitive? Process improvement alone is not enough. The key lies in creating a manufacturing company culture that's engaged, empowered, and ready to take on the world — to win.
At a time when American manufacturing is poised to make a major comeback, there remains a sticking point — a looming labor shortage as many high-paid, high-tech manufacturing…
Is your Office Furniture Smart Enough to Keep Up?
According to one analyst, as many as 26 billion Internet of Things (IoT) devices will be connected to smart furniture products by the year 2024. On the week after the CES 2018 consumer electronics show in Las Vegas, we take a look at the way smart office products are making offices a healthier, more convenient, and productive place to work than ever before.
The technology analyst firm Research Nestor predicts that…
What are the Key Aspects of Sustainable Lab Design?
In a world focused on making sustainable design choices, many laboratories are falling behind: traditional lab designs can use five times more energy than standard office buildings. But with careful planning, lab architects and facilities managers can create efficient "green labs," based on sustainable lab design practices that can help close the gap.
Traditional Laboratories Consume High Rates of Energy and Other Resources: Green Lab Design Can Help
Are you concerned about…
How Manufacturing Companies Get Younger Generations Interested in Manufacturing …
At a time when the manufacturing industry is on the cusp of radical change driven by tech advances ranging from 3D printing to artificial intelligence powered robotics, there is a major problem. As Baby Boomers working in the manufacturing industry retire in droves, it turns out that younger people aren't very interested in taking their place. We take a look at what is being done to make manufacturing careers…
Why do Women Hold Just 24% of STEM Jobs in the U.S.A.?
Are American women achieving their full potential as educated participants in the job market? By some measures, the answer is increasingly "yes." For example, the number of male and female undergraduate degree holders is now roughly equal, and the number of college-educated women in the job market has just recently surpassed the number of college-educated male workers. However, when it comes to degrees and jobs in the fields of science,…
8 Ways to Reduce Noise in Your Workplace
Many employees find that a lively, open-office workplace brimming with the sounds of enthusiastic colleagues working together makes for a positive, invigorating place to collaborate on work projects. Yet others strenuously disagree; they find that unwanted office noise interferes with their ability to get productive work done. What to do? We offer eight practical tips on how to establish an office noise reduction program at your workplace that will help…
Is Your Laboratory Smart?
Today’s laboratories are moving beyond point automation solutions, such as LIMS, ELNs, and robot-based HTS systems, to create “smart environments” that not only embrace the comfort and convenience needs of lab technicians but also help improve the consistency and reproducibility of experimental results.
If you asked laboratory professionals 15 years ago to describe their ideal modern “smart” laboratory, they would have mentioned some of the then cutting-edge data collection and automation…
Why Offices are Starting to Look and Feel Like Home
Close your eyes and imagine the setting: On the left are inviting overstuffed sofas that practically beg you to sit down for a spell to read your weekly reports. Behind you is a brass-trimmed bar with an impressive Italian espresso machine that makes the perfect flat whites to fuel those impromptu afternoon get-togethers. A few steps down the hall is an exercise room, kitted out with colorful yoga mats on…
Is Edutainment Positively Effecting Our Learning?
If you are a parent or teacher, no doubt you've become overwhelmed at times by the increasing number of entertainment choices that claim to deliver bone fide educational benefits — ranging from character-based television series to YouTube how-to videos, to interactive video learning games. No wonder: sales in the "game-based learning products" slice of the entertainment-education market is simply exploding right now. One industry analyst, Ambient Insight, estimates sales will…
Need Help Moving Beyond the Lab Bench?
In a time of limited government funding for basic research and a reduced number of tenure-track positions offered by universities, many of today’s young lab bench scientists face a stark career choice. Do they continue efforts to move up the traditional academic lab career ladder? Or do they choose to move out — to pursue rewarding scientific or management-oriented careers outside of academia?
The Incredible Shrinking Budget for Basic Scientific Research…
Will the Internet of Things Change the Future of the Healthcare Industry?
As the 30th annual Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo gets underway here in Austin, Texas, we take a look at the intersection of technology and healthcare to ask some tough questions: Are digital health solutions reaching their full potential? Is virtual reality in healthcare just hype? Will the Internet of Things (IoT) advance the delivery of quality care?
In an era when the Internet is upending industries, from hotel accommodations to…
Why Drafting Tables are Still Important Today
Has the widespread adoption of computer-aided design (CAD) technology made drafting tables obsolete? The answer is a resounding NO! While many designers and drafters rely on CAD software tools for their production work, more and more creative individuals are rediscovering the spontaneous creativity that comes from drawing by hand. As a result, drafting tables are once again experiencing a resurgent "moment" that's reminiscent of the recent rebirth of the vinyl…
13 Tips for Your Ultimate Warehouse Design & Layout
While warehouse operators work hard every day to make sure products flow efficiently in and out of their facilities, some warehouse operations are more productive than others. We share our top tips for optimizing your warehouse design, warehouse storage, and warehouse layout to achieve peak performance at your facility.
We recently spoke to Cody Adams, Formaspace (https://formaspace.com/)'s Production Manager, to get his recommendations on how to improve warehousing operations at your…
Should Robots Replace Humans in Your Industrial Facility?
In an era where "reshoring" overseas manufacturing jobs back home to the USA is on the rise, there's increasing debate on the role of robots in our economy. Will we see a net increase or decrease in overall manufacturing jobs due to robots replacing humans on the factory floor? We take a look at ways you can decide for yourself if investing in industrial automation solutions is the right decision…
Why the Future of Libraries Looks Bright
In a world where we can connect our smart phones and tablets to the information superhighway, what is the way forward for libraries? Will our local library be unable to compete with online books and close down like so many shuttered brick-and-mortar bookstores before it? Or will library designs evolve (and flourish) to meet the 21st Century needs of the communities they serve?
"What's dangerous is not to evolve."
…
How You Can Prevent the Flu at Your Office
Fever, coughing, aches and pains: coming down with the flu is no fun. But what if your entire office came down with influenza at the same time? Learn how to prevent a costly flu outbreak that could cripple productivity in your workplace.
Why is This Year's Flu Season so Severe?
The seasonal flu season of 2017-2018 appears to be on track to be one of the worst outbreaks in recent decades. On…
What Were the Popular Office Design Trends of 2017
Corporate office design trends in 2017 led us to greener, more sustainable office environments while accelerating the move toward healthier, more mobile-friendly, open workspaces. This was also the year that two office furniture trends combined, as the prevailing "authenticity-oriented" design aesthetic began to incorporate clearly identifiable residential design elements, resulting in a new crossover mix (dubbed "resimertial") that introduces casual home comforts into formal office environments.
Are Your Office Designs Green,…
5 Benefits of Ergonomics in the Workplace
At its core, the field of ergonomics is the study of how to help people perform better — at work, home and play. Today we'll look at some of the ways you can use ergonomics in the workplace to improve the performance and well-being of your employees in the office.
Have you ever really looked at people? Really studied them in detail?
The industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss did, starting back in the…
Is Biophilic Design What’s Missing in Your Office Project?
In order to increase our happiness and productivity at work, architects, interior designers, and space planners are increasingly turning to designs inspired by nature — as part of an emerging design philosophy called biophilic architecture.
In today's fast-paced, highly productive (and in many cases, highly stressed!) work environments, many of us like to personalize our working spaces with a natural element or two, such as a leafy green potted plant, or…
How Process Mining Can Help Manufacturing and Assembly Lines
As industrial manufacturing companies implement a variety of business software tools, each of these systems generates a historical record of data and error reports that are proving to be a boon for manufacturing analytics professionals. Using an approach known as Process Mining, operations analysts can collect and analyze the massive amount of big data in manufacturing systems to gain insight into existing business processes, identify problems such as bottlenecks, and…
Will Laboratories Embrace Medical Cannabis as Marijuana Legalization Takes Hold?
As legal cannabis markets take root in individual US states and across Canada, laboratory testing companies have the opportunity to provide new quality control, testing and certification services for a wide range of botanical, edible, and infused cannabis products — for both medicinal and recreational uses.
Analysts Project Legal Cannabis Market Will Grow to $50B in Annual Sales Within Ten Years
Times are indeed changing when a 99-year-old Wall Street Brokerage firm…
5 Ways Custom Conference Tables Can Help You Make Better Decisions
We take a look at how business leaders can use custom conference tables to influence the decision-making process during face-to-face meetings with employees and clients.
In a world where opinions and (mis)information can spin out of control, what can be done to regain trust and take back control of the decision-making process? The answer is to get people together IRL (in real life). It's time to set aside the instant messaging…
Need Help Moving Beyond the Lab Bench?
In a time of limited government funding for basic research and a reduced number of tenure-track positions offered by universities, many of today's wet and tech (https://formaspace.com/laboratory-furniture/tech-lab-furniture/) lab (https://formaspace.com/laboratory-furniture/tech-lab-furniture/) scientists face a stark career choice. Do they continue efforts to move up the traditional academic lab career ladder? Or do they choose to move out — to pursue rewarding scientific or management-oriented careers outside of academia?
The Incredible Shrinking Budget for…
When to Buy New vs. Used Lab Furniture
Whether you're building a brand new laboratory facility or updating your current lab, you are making a major investment. We take a deep dive into the pros and cons of searching for used laboratory furniture versus purchasing new laboratory furniture (https://formaspace.com/laboratory-furniture/) custom-made for your facility.
Laboratories these days come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the traditional "old school" designs that feature built-in casework (https://formaspace.com/laboratory-furniture/laboratory-casework/) to the newer generation of…
How Office Cafeterias Can Step Up Your Culture Game
As a company manager or business owner, you're constantly challenged to find ways to lead your organization to "work smarter, not harder (https://formaspace.com/articles/office-furniture/15-ways-to-work-smarter-not-harder/)." This week we take a look at why leading-edge companies, like Google, Twitter, and Spotify, have introduced dedicated spaces to increase social interaction at work — ranging from modern reincarnations of traditional office cafeterias to active office lounge spaces kitted out with custom break room furniture —…
How to Build a Custom Shipping Crate
Behold the custom shipping crate — an often-overlooked cog in the fast-moving wheels of commerce. Well-designed custom crates can save you time and money — especially when you make them out of low cost recycled materials — so if you're in the business of shipping (https://formaspace.com/industrial-workbenches/packing-shipping/) large items safely and securely (as we are here at Formaspace), you might want to learn how to build your own customized, reusable…
How the Maker Movement Will Influence the Future of America
Have you tended to dismiss the maker movement as a flash in the pan, a triumph of marketing sizzle over substance? You might want to think again. Like previous technology waves that started out small but ended up big — ranging from personal computers to online commerce, the maker movement is rapidly becoming a mainstream phenomenon with major implications for industry. Makers are poised to transform hardware development and product…
Why We Need More Women in Management Roles
While the number of women in the workplace has steadily increased overall, the percentage of women in management at the upper levels – such as female C-Suite executives and corporate board members – continues to lag behind. Does this type of gender discrimination represent a missed opportunity for Corporate America?
A Short History of Women in the Workplace and Gender Discrimination
While the recorded history of women in Western society working in…
10 Skills You Need to Become a Successful Lab Manager
As a provider of unique furniture solutions to laboratory facilities at major Fortune 500 companies for over 35 years, Formaspace has developed unique insights into the best practices used in today’s modern lab facilities. One key observation is the increasingly important (and diverse) role of laboratory managers.
Over the past 35 years that Formaspace has been working directly with Lab Managers, we’ve seen a lot of changes in the industry. Indeed,…
What Can Manufacturers do to Help Solve the Energy Crisis?
Among the many potential threats affecting manufacturers, disruptions caused by climate change brought about by carbon-based energy sources are already impacting sectors like food and beverage manufacturing. With global temperatures projected to rise as much as 4.7 to 8.6 °F this century*, all manufacturing sectors need to plan ways to mitigate risk — ranging from hardening infrastructure and securing global supply chains to seeking ways to conserve fossil-fuel derived energy…
Formaspace Officially Names New Lab Services Bench "Triton™"
After the 2017 Pittcon Conference & Expo, leading lab furniture solutions designer and manufacturer, Formaspace, has announced the name of their newest integrated lab services bench – Triton™ (https://formaspace.com/laboratory-furniture/triton-integrated-lab-services-bench/). Based on contest submissions from attendees of the Pittcon '17, the world's leading laboratory science conference and expo, the product has officially been named Triton™.
"Selecting the name from attendee submissions at Pittcon was really unique for us," said Jodi Gaines, Creative…
10 Tips for Successfully Managing Millennials in Your Organization
Millennials have a reputation for being different (if not difficult) in the workplace. We take a look at how savvy managers can leverage the characteristic strengths of Millennials to help them achieve optimal results while avoiding the pitfalls and conflicts that can arise due to generational differences.
Meet the Millennials – the World's Most Populous Generation
They are the children of the Baby Boomers.
We've called them Gen Y, Echo Boomers, Generation Next,…
Makerspace 101: Building a Makerspace for Library and Education Professionals
Libraries and universities are taking an increasingly prominent role in establishing Makerspaces (http://formaspace.com/makerspace/) to encourage hands-on learning. We take a look at the key points library and education professionals need to consider when creating or expanding Makerspace facilities.
Maker Space Labs in Libraries and Universities support STEM and STEAM Educational Programs
In a world where preparation for compulsory testing has dominated the student curriculum landscape for decades, many leading educators are seeking…
How to Make Your Office a Greener Place to Work
With all the rapid changes in renewable energy systems, building automation technology, and earth-friendly interior designs, it's hard to keep up with the latest developments that are transforming today's office environments. Here's a quick guide to help you keep up-to-date with the latest eco-friendly tips that will make your office a more pleasant and green-friendly place to work.
Trend 1: Energy Independence is increasingly seen as an achievable design goal for…
How to Clean Workbench Countertops
At Formaspace, we take product longevity seriously, and we're sure you do too.
We've created a useful quick reference guide below that outlines the recommended cleaning techniques for keeping your workspace and desk countertops looking like new.
• Phenolic Resin Countertop (https://formaspace.com/articles/technology-innovations/how-to-clean-workbench-countertops/#phenolic)
• Epoxy Resin Countertop (https://formaspace.com/articles/technology-innovations/how-to-clean-workbench-countertops/#epoxy)
• Plastic Laminate Top (https://formaspace.com/articles/technology-innovations/how-to-clean-workbench-countertops/#plastic)
• ESD Laminate Top (https://formaspace.com/articles/technology-innovations/how-to-clean-workbench-countertops/#esd)
• Chemical Resistant Laminate Top (https://formaspace.com/articles/technology-innovations/how-to-clean-workbench-countertops/#chemical)
• Solid Wood Countertop (https://formaspace.com/articles/technology-innovations/how-to-clean-workbench-countertops/#solid)
• Stainless Steel Countertop (https://formaspace.com/articles/technology-innovations/ho...)
• Powder Coasted Steel Top (https://formaspace.com/articles/technology-innovations/ho...)
•…
Which Model is Best for Your Facility, Six Sigma, Kaizen or Lean?
Do you have questions about the leading methods for improving factory productivity, quality, and efficiency — Kaizen, Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or Lean Six Sigma? We take a look at how each of these models came to be, which principles they use to solve problems, and which ones are best suited for your factory operations.
The sheer volume and variety of high-quality consumer and industrial products we enjoy every day —…
5 of the Coolest Office Design Trends Seen at NeoCon 2017
The new Formaspace Office (https://formaspaceoffice.com/) commercial interiors division made its worldwide debut at the 2017 NeoCon contract furniture show held in Chicago's Merchandise Mart. Attendees had a chance to test drive our new Revolution™ line of desks (https://formaspaceoffice.com/products/#office-desks), benches, and conference tables (https://formaspaceoffice.com/products/#conference-tables) for the commercial design market, including an industrial multi-functional Ping Pong conference table made from solid African Mahogany – which converts into two independently height-adjustable tables for…
Calculate Recommended Office Space with the Formaspace Open Office Calculator
Hard charging venture capital funded tech startups and high-growth software companies have helped firmly establish the trend toward open offices. Is an open office design the right approach for you and your employees? What do you need to know to perform proper spacing planning for open office designs? Take advantage of our free online open office space calculator (https://formaspace.com/office-workspace-calculator/) to find out how much space you could save with an…
