Maispace Systems Revolutionized The Contract Furniture Industry

By Author: Larry Tang
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For smart buyers and facility planners, MAiSPACE has become synonymous with value in systems furniture. MAiSPACE offers high quality and award winning features at up to 40% less than the major manufacturers. Nowhere else can you get exceptional design, technology features, and low cost. No contract furniture manufacturer can match their quality at their price points...It's that simple! This innovative product line was developed with the industry acronym of Modular Architectural Interiors (MAI) as its motivation. When planning your office interior, you have to realize you ARE going to change at some point. says MAiSPACE vice president Mark Bassil, You have to purchase a modular product that can do it easily and still be architecturally sound which is the premise of MAiSPACE. This improves your flexibility moving forward while reducing costly installation and reconfiguration time. It also diminishes the need to buy new parts every time modifications are made.

MAiSPACE systems revolutionized the contract furniture industry by incorporating standards-compliant plug-and-play cable management systems in its superior quality ...
... stackable panel system. Patented, knocked down and ready-to-assemble frames equipped with self-aligning connectors simplify moving elements into and throughout the building reducing installation costs. It can also reduce the number of framing components required. Frames provide unobstructed cable pathways top to bottom. Cable runs are laid in behind lift-off panel segments, not bundled and fished through structural elements like many of our competitors. Off-modular design allows flexibility in workspace size, configuration and in locating bins, shelves, and divider panels. MAiSPACE won a Best of NEOCON award in 2002, the industry's highest honor.

Established in 1993, MAiSPACE has approximately 250 employees worldwide, and a North American installed base of more than $150 million. MAiSPACE combines global sourcing and supply chain management with a streamlined just-in-time manufacturing and distribution system to reduce costs across the board and ensure fast delivery.

As a research driven company they are constantly evaluating and updating product options to enhance their capabilities and keep step with advancing technological, ergonomic and architectural innovations. The basic system is inherently designed to accommodate change, new product enhancements allow your system to transform as your company and space does.

MAiSPACE isn't just about great product! MAiSPACE provides a professional in-house design team to produce the best and most cost effective layout; not only to satisfy your current staffing demands, but also to help you plan ahead. Their designers understand your facility issues and employ the most appropriate product applications and space planning layouts. They can offer suggestions for fabrics and finishes that will make your office beautiful and functional. By using the latest versions of AutoCAD and GIZA specifying software, their furniture plans are virtually fault free. Our computer-aided design programs also provide accurate detailed specifications, product lists and installation drawings. MAiSPACE ensures project time frames are met along with a commitment for quick turnarounds and timely resolutions to your revisions. These services are FREE with a signed purchase order or order placement.

From a construction standpoint, the MAiSPACE product starts with a 3 ½ inch wide frame. The frame which is constructed of 16-gauge cold-rolled steel provides strength and rigidity allowing it to remain distortion-free during moves, adds and changes (MACs). In fact, A MAiSPACE panel configuration composed of 8-foot panel frames stacked 10 feet high and supported by two 24 return panels was rated to 2.5 tons on the worksurface in a test conducted by Underwriters Laboratories; the highest load rating in the industry. That strength also means the load-bearing panel frames can be used to build walls from 30 inches to 14 feet in height. Panel height can be increased without removing existing panel frames or disturbing power, voice and data cabling, which provides savings in terms of product and labor costs. The frame provides unobstructed cable pathways top to bottom. Knockdown and ready-to assemble (RTA) framing components equipped with self-leveling connections simplify moving elements into and throughout the building, reducing assembly costs and the number of framing components required. For example, only two horizontal sub-assemblies plus two shared vertical uprights are required to support panel frames up to 8-feet wide. Frames can easily be added to or removed from runs without disturbing adjacent structures.

Panel segments are constructed from 24-gauge steel for exceptional durability and effective sound dampening; allowing us to provide a .80 NRC and a 35 STC, the highest in the industry. Easily removable panel segment options include laminate, Coverseal, veneer, painted metal, embossed steel, brushed stainless steel, airflow, clear glass, frosted glass, or textured glass, fabric, tackable/acoustical, power/data, marker board and paper management. Segments were also designed to facilitate access to the MAiSPACE lay-in cable management system and are available up to 6 feet in length. The MAiSPACE system revolutionized the contract furniture industry by developing and patenting an integrated standards compliant plug-and-play cable management system in our stackable panel system. Our patented zone distribution system includes plug-and-play connectors, lay-in cabling and the largest cable capacity in the industry. With a 4 Circuit, 8-Wire system, it not only supports any network or power requirements you have today, but is designed to grow and change with your business. Managing voice, data, and power cabling is a snap with MAiSPACE because cable runs are laid in behind lift-off panel segments, not bundled and fished through structural elements. Easily allowing reconfiguration of an office in hours instead of days and preventing disruption of the entire network. Savings are immediate and long-term, because moves, adds, and changes can be mastered by in-house personnel with minimal product training.

MAiSPACE conforms to telecommunications industry standards for horizontal cabling systems in open offices. Standard belt line access and easily accessible consolidation-points provide an interconnection between work area outlets and telecommunications closets creating a zone distribution system. Unrestricted cable pathway access simplifies changes to the existing network. Factory-terminated and tested modular cable assembles in copper or fiber support plug and play office reconfigurations. A wide variety of cable types are available to meet specific customer needs; including Category 7 cabling which is available for data-intensive and video applications, surpassing all current industry standards.

Focusing on small and mid size companies, MAiSPACE saw a need to develop a sister product called MORSPACE. MORSPACE is a system designed with greater flexibility and more capacity than a monolithic system but at a lower price. With interchangeable tiles, stacking frames, built in cable pathways and multiple filing and storage options, MORSPACE offers all the features of premium modular office systems, including off-modular capabilities, but at a price that falls within even the tightest of budgets. MORSPACE is also the most environmentally safe system on the market. Unlike most office systems, which are filled with fiberglass that doesn't break down in landfills and is a source of airborne glass, MORSPACE is filled with post consumer PET from ground-up soda bottles. We hope other manufacturers will follow our lead, says Bassil. Due to the large number of containers being discarded, much of this material goes unused. We've found a use for it that makes sense from every perspective.

Seating rounds out the MAiSPACE product offering. MAiCHAIR is the most affordable, fully functional ergonomic seating line on the market today. It incorporates all the comfort, style and adjustment features usually reserved for much more expensive chairs. MAiCHAIR's flexible backrest conforms to the spine and provides critical support in the lumbar region. The contoured seat cushion and waterfall edge improves blood flow, and the syncro-tilt mechanism helps maintain the correct posture through a full range of motion.

MAiCHAIR's adjustable features include a 5 position headrest, an engineered, flexible plastic backrest, adjustable arms, and a lightweight five star base. The state of the art syncro-tilt provides adjustable tension resistance, pneumatic seat height adjustment and multi position tilt-lock control in one easy to adjust mechanism. Unique to this dynamic, cost effective chair, is that the seat and back cushions are designed with special fasteners that allow for quick and easy removal permitting replacement without tools.

It wasn't enough for Maispace to provide clients with a low cost, high quality alternative to high priced office furniture systems. They also invested in a service program that grows with you and at your pace. They meet your needs today. And they keep on meeting them. At MAiSPACE we are proud of what differentiates us says, Bassil. We have a superior level of in-house support services and a team of dedicated professionals. Additionally, we also are able to access our nationwide network of resources to find reputable local contractors for services such as Move Management, Inventory Assessment, Storage and Warehousing and Furniture Removal and Disposal. We want to make your next project easy and effortless. Whether you are a small or mid-size company making a major furniture purchase or a large corporation looking for new global furniture standard, MAiSPACE products and service are second to none.