Based in Iowa, HON is an office furniture company with several manufacturing sites throughout the U.S. The HON cubicles line includes several workstation series including Abound and Simplicity. The Initiate® collection is a higher end HON product that is designed for ease of specification and installation. Think of it as a cubicle collection for first time office furniture buyers – but with the quality an experienced buyer would expect given the price point of the product. Here are some of the features that make Initiate a choice to consider for your next office design project:
Less Assembly = Time Efficiency
Initiate office cubicles are crafted with steel frames that lock together firmly for structural stability. This metal on metal connectivity ensures there are no gaps between the panels and that components will remain in good condition through multiple reconfiguring events. The universal connector from HON permits attachment of panels in X, L, and T right angle options. So, you don’t have to purchase or stock extra connector parts if you want to eventually change the layout of your office space.
The panels arrive with integrated trim already in place and overheads are shipped pre-assembled for swift installation. You can specify as many as 3 different segment styles on each panel from the factory. This is in contrast to cubicles that have tile segments that are slotted into the cubicle panels on-site. Some users may prefer the freedom that comes with being able to switch out the tiles every couple of years; but the Initiate collection is a fine option if you plan to stick with a single color scheme and motif for the foreseeable future.
Sustainability in Material Choices
These HON cubicles offer a number of perks for companies that want “green” office furniture. Here are a few of the ways this manufacturer makes their products eco-friendly:
- Particle board worksurfaces are constructed of 100% post-consumer content
- Adhesives used are low-emitting and don’t pollute the indoor air in your office
- Cradle to Cradle Gold certified panel fabrics are available
- Initiate meets the BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard
- This cubicle collection may qualify for LEED credits
The trend toward miniaturization hasn’t just impacted the computer chip industry over the last 20 years. Modern cubicles have also shrunk as employers seek to make the most out of their office real estate. According to a report from 
Canada’s National Research Council has done quite a bit of experimentation on this topic. Here are some of their findings for ways to increase employee satisfaction in a cubicle-based work environment:
Squeezing as many workers into a space as possible may seem like the best way to make use of expensive office real estate. However, there are other considerations besides square footage that make proper space planning essential from a budgeting and productivity standpoint. For one thing, the way you arrange a cubicle system affects the amount of wiring/cabling required. The orientation of the workstations within the office can increase or decrease the effectiveness of natural lighting and the flow of air. The direction an employee faces inside the cube also impacts the perceived size and privacy of the space provided.
In this example from the Compose line by Haworth, all employees are facing in one direction. Ventilation can be provided from a single angle (say, above and behind) to serve the entire group. Four workstations are combined to create a very stable structure.
These two U-shaped York workstations from Knoll share a central seating area to save space. Since the workers are facing away from each other, there is a greater sense of privacy. Storage can be shared or separate depending on the needs of the employees.
One of the most popular cubicle configurations for efficient electrical and data wiring is the 
The 
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to get a job as a cubicle installer, here’s your chance to find out. A Northern California company is hiring for this position. Their 
Moving to a new office space is a complicated and frustrating process for business owners. There are so many different tasks to be scheduled and supervised; it is easy to make a decision that seems like a timesaver but actually makes things tougher down the road. For example, having workstations broken down and packed by inexperienced movers is a big mistake. Just as the original office 
This is a question many business owners ask when they start shopping around for office furniture. In some cases, the answer is “Yes”. Many manufacturers make it simple for customers to install cubicles without assistance from trained technicians. This applies to straightforward panel systems that interlock with a simple connector or hinge. Such cubes may be attached with brackets to a workstation or remain freestanding depending on the brand and style.
First, they should arrive at your office site at the scheduled time. A delayed installation can cause disruption for your workforce – especially if employees have been moved to temporary workstations in preparation for the setup of the new cubicles. A professional install team knows this and respects your time.
Second, the way the members of the install team dress should let you know who they are. A shirt bearing the vendor’s logo or a clearly displayed ID badge shows you that the dealer is proud to have these employees represent their company. They won’t be wearing suits and ties since this is physical work, but clean blue jeans and a polo shirt are a fairly standard “uniform” that indicate the cubicle installers take their job seriously.
Third, the 
In a busy call center with lots of people sharing workstations in close proximity, creating a quiet atmosphere is out of the question. However, there are a number of ways to effectively address noise and make the volume level tolerable. 
Business owners who are serious about purchasing some of the sturdiest office furniture on the market will be interested in investigating Maxon cubicles. Steel and aluminum are combined to create a panel system that can double as ceiling height walls in the 
Camlocktm couplers connect these metal frames together. Rather than having two or three points of contact, this patented system runs along the full length of the vertical edge of each frame. This allows you to build a solid, sturdy wall. Initial installation and later changes are fast and simple. All metal surfaces are painted, coated, or naturally corrosion resistant for durability and longevity.
With over 600 sizes and shapes to select from including curved and wraparound styles, Maxon work surfaces can be incorporated to suit any layout. Overhead storage is available with an optional “anti-slamming” option that uses a gas assist cylinder to ease the bin door back into place. Employee storage options range from towers to bookcases and shelving.
