Our Best Selling Future Chair Features on InDesignLive.com

Krost’s Future Chair hit the market running in 2008, since then it’s proven to be one of the most versatile and best performing office chairs around – but is that really saying much?

What’s really made the Future so successful are its aesthetics, comfort and functionality. It’s sleek, stylish, slim, has a big family of options with different colour mesh backs and numerous options for seat upholstery (mesh, fabric, leather. vinyl…). But the hidden features like its braille inscribed adjustment controls and advanced synchronised mechanism are the attention to detail touches that are hallmarks of Krost office furniture.

Anyway, see what InDesignLive.com have to say about it here.

Vast and Axis Workstations – 3D Models Now Available

We’ve just uploaded 3D models of our Vast and Axis workstations to our website in Sketchup format. Using different scenes we show how the systems fit together from individual components into all sorts of different configurations.

The models gives a great overview of how versatile the workstation systems are.

You can download the files directly from here:

• Vast 3D Models
• Axis 3D Models

Don’t forget that all our office furniture is available in either 2D CAD blocks or 3D models from the Design section on our website.

What’s the difference between melamine and laminate?

Actually, melamine is a type of laminate and there are a few different variations of laminate.

Direct-pressure laminate, otherwise known as low-pressure laminate is what is commonly referred to as melamine. It is manufactured under 2 to 3.5 meganewtons of pressure per square metre and the final product is a sheet of melamine resin – a highly durable type of thermosetting plastic bonded with a phenolic resin glue and a melamine resin plastic facing.

Whereas the final product with low-pressure laminate is attached to a substrate of board, attaching high-pressure laminate to board is usually an entirely different process.

We have found ‘melamine’ to be the material most suited to the manufacturing of office furniture for most work settings. It is highly durable, extremely cost effective and an excellent surface to work on. We also make sure to use a moisture-resistant substrate board which adds to the durability of the surface.

Sustainable Office Furniture

When you’re purchasing office furniture but want to lessen your impact on the environment it’s important to consider where your furniture is coming from.

Are the materials recycled?

Many of our products use recycled materials in their production, from plastic to steel and wood. This reduces our footprint on the environment, but can actually also be a more cost effective solution when used correctly.

We use veneer and melamine finishes on a substrate made from chipped wood and resin, which can also contain wasted wood and forest trimmings (materials that would otherwise go to waste). These are glued with low formaldehyde glues to comply with Australia’s E0 standard. Wood isn’t the only material that can be recycled though, steel frames, workstation legs and modesty panels are just some of the other parts and products that are over 90% recyclable in the Krost collection.

Recycled (or recyclable) doesn’t mean lesser quality, however. All our products come with a minimum 3 year warranty, but most of our range features 5 year warranties.

Can I reuse the furniture in the future?

As well as being recyclable, the product’s lifespan, reusability and versatility are equally important. If you need to relocate, our workstation systems ensure your office furniture can be moved and refitted with your business. All Krost systems are adaptable and can be disassembled and reused in different configurations.

Is the company using processes that consider the environment?

We are one of the few company’s in our industry to hold the international certifications of  ISO 14001for our environmental management system and ISO 9001 for our quality management system. ISO 14001 details how our products are designed and manufactured with a viewpoint on maximising our environmental efficiencies and also gives us a framework for continual improvement.

Further, products can undergo particular third party certifications, such as GECA or AFRDI reviews, to assure customers of quality, sustainable and environmentally friendly practices. Many of our products feature these certifications. Our raw materials are sourced from suppliers that offer chain of custody over the materials, ensuring that the wood is from well managed sustainable sources.

Wastage is also an important factor in the design and production of office furniture. With our ISO 14001 coupled with our ISO 9001 certifications, we have tangible and realistic management systems to reduce wastage, such as segregation, disposal, environmental reporting and effective record keeping. These measures ensure we can effectively control and minimise impacts to the environment.

Pics from a recent project at Pernod Ricard

We recently completed a highly functional fitout featuring our Vast workstation system with FGR legs and Aim seating. Design and construction was completed by Valmont Interiors.

The office has a green and lush outlook which is reflected internally through the colours of the desktop and panel finishes.

Click on the image above to view more photos from the project.

Take a look at some more of our recent projects here.

2D CAD Blocks and 3D Models now live in our new Design Section

We’re super excited to announce the newest addition to our website!

(Drumroll please…)

Please welcome the Design section to www.krost.com.au.

A full library of drawings is available through this section, with features including:

• 2D CAD blocks (in the industry standard .dwg format). All desk shapes and storage shapes/types, all workstation configurations (2Way, 3Way, 4Way etc) and all the niche features of Krost products.
• 3D models (in the universal SketchUp format). Orbit and zoom in on our products, take all sorts of measurements and get a really good feel of the space you’re fitting out.

All will be easily accessible and readily downloadable, waiting for you to create your own design solutions. Whether you are a creative professional, student, experimenter or simply a visionary you now can plan your workspace with all our furniture.

For 3D models, you’ll need SketchUp (free). 2D drawing blocks will require a CAD program, such asDraftSight (also, free) or AutoCad.

Each page has a help function in case you get stuck along the way and we’re always available to help through our office line (+612 9557 3055) or email info@krost.com.au.

What is an activity based office?

For a long time now, corporations and designers have been working together to look at how workspaces can be used more effectively to increase employee productivity and reduce space.

Over the past 5 years, mainly due to advances in IT and developments like cloud computing and smart boards, a firm and relevant move to more open-planned office environments has become more common.

Finally, after a long time in the wilderness and numerous well publicised failures (see ‘Lost in Space’http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.02/chiat_pr.html) ‘hot-desking’ and ‘hoteling’ are forming the basis of viable ideas. Advances in manufacturing and more modular and customisable furniture have aided this trend, allowing employees to reconfigure office furniture to suit their needs.

The activity based setup allows for the diverse range of work that takes place in an individual’s role and attempts to facilitate and support the varying levels of concentration and teamwork required. It provides different work spaces, stimuli and levels of group collaboration. In practical terms, this results in sections of each office floor being tailored to different activities. Some spaces are suitable for meetings and brainstorming other places are more quiet enclosures where personal work and thinking needs to be done. The exact implementation of the idea varies from organisation to organisation and is entirely dependant on the firm’s nature of work.

The cynic would argue that the possible 30% reduction in physical space requirements is the valuable commodity driving this trend. However, the setup has shown marked increases of worker productivity and employee satisfaction. Those who have initiated the change recommend taking it in stages. This allows for employee feedback in design and to facilitate a transition period into this vastly different and new style.

Will activity based working take over in the next 10 years? We believe that for all the benefits that come with job specific working environments and all the great technological improvements that are driving this trend, it’s equally important to allow for the individual’s role and their level of comfort through their own office chair, storage space, physical space and sense of belonging to the organisation. Overall, the answer probably lies somewhere in-between. What do you think?

IMP Project Fitout

An effective furniture solution was created in the Sydney CBD for client IMP. Working within a small area, sales expert Maree used a range of products to maximise the space and allow a high level of productivity.

Subtle and unobtrusive products and finishes were selected, such as green Splash chairs, Benchwork workstations with Framework screens, complimentary coloured Ottomans and custom upholstered cream Duo chairs. The natural colour scheme entailed the whole office including the meeting room and kitchen, complimenting the office’s great views of Sydney’s Hyde Park.

Click the Projects link in the top Menu bar to see more…

A History through Cecil Krost and Photographs

We have a long history in office furniture….

Over 60 years ago, three sheet metal workers Barney, Jack and Isador Krost began a steel manufacturing business. Since then, the business has been incarnated a few times over and visited 4 continents but in Australia has settled into becoming a provider of quality office furniture solutions.

We’ve decided to sit down with Cecil Krost, a person who’s lived through Krost’s 60 year history, to find out more about the company.

Cecil has worked, managed and directed various Krost companies from when he was 22 years old. There might not be a better person on the planet to give insights into how the office furniture industry has evolved over the last 60 years.

What has been the biggest change to office furniture during your career?
It used to be about selling the ‘bread and butter’ of office furniture – things like cabinets, filing systems and cupboards. Now, there is much more of a focus on design, desking and acoustics – overall providing a customised offering. The funny thing is that the framework of a workstation is almost the same as it’s always been, with steel frame structures. Our FGR leg has been around for 15 or more years and looks about as good as ever. Other leg profile designs have also been around for as long as I have – but materials now vary a lot and you can add details that you never used to be able to. Things like cable management systems were also never even thought about till 20 years ago.

How has the way you marketed your products in the 50’s changed compared to now?
When we didn’t have things like the internet, our marketing was focussed mainly on our showroom floor. Every year there was a big exhibition where us and our competitors would display all our products. It was widely attended and reported and we were a frequent gold medal winner (over 20) and recipient of trophies for having the best display stands on show. Similar to now, we produced catalogues a couple times a year, but did more things like printed calendars and a lot more advertising in the press.

How has manufacturing changed?
Methods of manufacturing have shifted due to the change in materials that have occurred. When Krost started we made everything from steel because it was cheap, strong and easy to work with. But over time with advances in technology and manufacturing processes it’s become more about finding the right materials to suit the aesthetics of the design. We gradually increased our range of materials from just steel to include, lino, laminate and wood. Even now there’s new types of reconstructed woods so there are definitely much more options now than ever before.

What do you think the biggest changes in the future will be?
Office design always will always rotate around the organisational structures of businesses and what fits that best. I think we will see a re-emergence of hot desking, mobile offices, activity based work spaces and more open-planned areas. But that will all depend on which way technology goes and what structures suit those technologies best.

Top 5 things to consider when choosing New Office Furniture

1. Budget
The amount you want to spend will have a big impact on what choices you have. At Krost, we have a lot of advantages that allow us to pass through great price savings. Our vertically integrated supply chain and strong history in the marketplace enable us to supply high quality products at very competitive prices.

2. Layout/Space
Workspace requirements will change with different organisational structures. Employees should have enough space to organise themselves and work neatly. Cramped workspaces can lead to low motivation, low morale and ultimately decreased efficiency. Our sales consultants are space planning experts and can provide a furniture solution tailored to your company. It’s also important to take into account additional needs such as types of computers, telephones, and the amount of power and data access points required.

3. Aesthetics
How do you want to represent your company? Aesthetics should not be underestimated as they can portray a certain message to staff and customers about the companies positioning and professionalism. Different moods can also be created by changing the colours and choosing different chairs, desks, or screens.

4. Comfort/Ergonomics
Ergonomically designed office furniture will give two main benefits:
1. Increased Health
2. Increased Productivity
Ergonomic furniture is probably the best investment a business owner can make in their employees. Recent scientific studies showing a statistically significant correlation between workplace ergonomics and job performance, satisfaction and employee wellbeing.

5. Materials
Choosing materials that are durable and robust is crucial. They must be able to withstand commercial levels of traffic. Krost offers table tops and fabric upholstery in a wide range of finishes and material compositions so that we can provide a custom-fit for your organisation.

Eftpos Project Fitout

An outstanding office furniture fitout was recently completed by the Krost team for Eftpos in the Sydney CBD. A functional hot seating layout was used by the client and they brought a number of contemporary designs into the project.

Krost’s executive sales consultant, Joseph, worked in conjunction with Innova Design to provide the solution over the project’s 4 week lead time.

A variety of products were selected, including a wide range of seating, to furnish a number of different spaces. A contemporary feel was created with custom upholstered Duo chairs and white leather Sax seating. White powder-coated Vast screens with matching monitor arms and Mint legs gave a clean look to the main offices, whilst planters on top of Tambour storage brought a fresh and vibrant feel.

Check out the Projects Page on our website to see more of our projects.

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