SMI – Southern Metal Industries

SMI offers products that allow for a highly customized look with incredible flexibility.  The products include the Open Tile Panel System.  According to SMI:

“The name “OPEN” was selected to reflect the freedom of design and configuration flexibility which these products offer.”

Panel tile choices include acoustic tackable tile, fabric covered steel, wood grain, glass, marker board, airflow tiles and raceway tiles for data and power outlet ports.  Additional to this is that each panel has two sides.  The panel walls can be shared by adjoining workstations with different surfaces on each side.

Southern Metal Industries is a third generation family owned business.  The products are totally manufactured in the USA, assuring the consistency of the quality that they are known for.  The steel used in manufacturing all comes from recycling sources. The products come with a lifetime warranty and include:

• Open Tile Panel System for cubicle paneling configuration
• Synerflex Systems Furniture with quality rugged construction which includes panel systems and free standing furniture.
• File Storage Systems including traditional file cabinets and shelving as well as high density mobile storage systems to maximize storage capacity of storage areas while maintaining complete accessibility.

For more information in CT and Western MA, please contact Gary Kazanjian

E-mail: kaz.smi@snet.net

Restaurant’s Atmosphere Killed by Remodeling

There was a restaurant (a.k.a. diner) that was a personal favorite of mine.  It had a mix of booths and table and chair seating.  There were glass partitions on the booth seats as well as a few structural partitions at the entry of the table seating area.  The tables and chairs were the traditional, somewhat colonial style, wooden furniture. The entire dining area was carpeted.  It had a nice atmosphere because you could easily carry on a conversation without being mindful of how many other customers were there.

I can only guess that the carpeting was the original incentive for the remodeling.  It had become darkened over time and, if you really looked at it, was a bit of an eyesore.  How the owner came to his decisions on the remodeling I don’t know, but there has been a critical functional deterioration.  The major problem results from replacing all the carpeting with hard tile flooring.  A second factor is that the newer updated booths have no apparent partition panels.  The dining tables and chairs were replaced with more contemporary, less dense materials that do not have the elegance or sound absorption quality of their predecessors.  The entire interior was repainted and this makes the appearance cleaner, crisper and more spacious looking. The dining areas are now essentially one large area with full visibility of sight and sound from the front door all the way to the last seats in the back.

The result of the remodeling has yielded a diner that has a contemporary crisp look with all the dining charm of a major airport or train terminal.  It is no longer possible to have a quiet personal conversation.  It is wearisome to have to repeat everything (including your order) several times to be heard above the collective roar of the entire dining room.

The point of all this is simply that aesthetics should NEVER be given priority over the functional considerations of the facility.

Submitted by Raquel Creamer

Revolutionary Commercial Sheet Vinyl Flooring

We are pleased to offer flooring with significant benefits:

• Scuff proof
• No waxing, sealing or buffing required
• Anti-microbial and anti-fungal built in
• No harsh or costly chemicals involved in sanitizing and cleaning
• Slip resistant
• Anti-static
• Exceeds HUD/FHA standards for wear layer thickness

These benefits all amount to major savings in cleaning and maintenance costs while providing a more sanitary environment.

For more information on this product please contact us by phone or e-mail.

Available in a variety of colors and textures for many market applications.

Stylish, Sturdy and Green

ERG classroom tables and seating

Raw materials used are recyclable

• Processing using water based and water soluble finishes and adhesives
• Wood from sustainably managed and certifiable forests
• Use of recyclable and biodegradable packaging
• Production wastes from paint powder, wood, steel and foam are recycled.

Multipurpose tables and chairs

To see the ERG International Green Statement click here

ERG Task Chairs, Modular Lounge Seating, Outdoor Furniture

ERG International is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council and has maintained consistent outstanding rating with OSHA.

ERG dining and cafeteria furniture

For more information please call 860-529-6900 and ask for our ERG rep, Gary Kazanjian or e-mail us.

Beam Seating Products