PRESS RELEASES
Elle Lounge Nominated Finalist for Interior Design Magazine’s Best of Year Awards
November 17, 2009
Loewenstein, a division of OFS Brands, a leading North American furniture manufacturer, has been nominated as a finalist in the 2009 Best of Year Awards for Elle Lounge in the Seating: Contract/Lounge category. The Best of Year Winner will be announced at the award ceremony at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City on December 3, 2009. The competition, sponsored by Interior Design Magazine, had over 600 product entries.
The attention to detail and balance through the development of Elle are exemplary of the design philosophy on which Loewenstein was founded. The designer of Elle lounge, John Niero, lives and works in Los Angeles, California at his justnotnormal design studio.
Loewenstein, a division of OFS Brands, Inc. is a family owned corporation, headquartered in Huntingburg, Indiana, and is committed to providing socially responsible furniture and logistic solutions through better design, excellent performance, and innovative products and services. For more information contact Doug Shapiro, Director of Sales, Loewenstein, dshapiro@ofsbrands.com or 800.521.5381x7332.
OFS Brands Announces Grand Opening of New Showroom in Washington D.C.
November 12, 2009
Huntingburg, Indiana – November 2009 – OFS Brands opened its newest showroom at 1602 L Street N.W., in the heart of Washington, D.C. Spanning over 6,000 square feet on the 5th floor of the Farragut Tower, the space provides prominent views of the nation’s capital.
Designed in conjunction with WDG Interiors, the new space features dramatic views with floor to ceiling windows supporting the idea that elements of nature enhance human performance and increase productivity. OFS Brands has rapidly grown its presence in the contract marketplace by expanding its brand portfolio to include OFS, First Office, Carolina, and Loewenstein. The package of brands allows for clear market segmentation for office, healthcare, hospitality, and learning environments; affirming they are a holistic solution provider for all furniture needs.
“We are thrilled to be opening our 4th new corporate showroom in the past 3 years,” indicates Hank Menke, President and CEO, OFS Brands. “Our steadfast commitment to increasing brand presence and wise investment of our resources during this past recession has prepared our business for continued market share expansion,” explains Menke.
To debut the new space, OFS Brands hosted “The Green Scene” Open House Celebration on Thursday, November 12, which emphasized the commitment to environmental initiatives carried out by the company on a daily basis. OFS Brands has submitted the application for the new showroom’s LEED rating and will announce the results of the rating soon.
Loewenstein, a division of OFS Brands, Inc. is a family owned corporation, headquartered in Huntingburg, Indiana, and is committed to providing socially responsible furniture and logistic solutions through better design, excellent performance, and innovative products and services. For more information contact Doug Shapiro, Director of Sales, Loewenstein, dshapiro@ofsbrands.com or 800.521.5381x7332.
OFS Brands Awarded the Best of Competition at NeoCon East
November 4, 2009
Huntingburg, Indiana – November 2009, OFS Brands, the parent company to OFS, First Office, Carolina, and Loewenstein and a leader in the corporate, healthcare, education and hospitality furniture markets, took home top honors in the IIDA/Contract Magazine annual Booth Design Competition held at NeoCon East October 28-29, 2009.
The competition recognizes outstanding creativity in booth design at NeoCon East each year. Design criteria includes the originality of design, visual impact, effective use of materials and the outstanding use of space, color, texture, lighting and graphics. OFS Brands earned this distinction in the category of booths greater than 400 square feet.
"Winning this award is a true milestone for OFS Brands”, explains Mike Wagner, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing, OFS Brands. “It independently recognizes our commitment to innovation and is testimony to the dedication and talent of our company in today’s competitive market."
Returning for its 7th year, NeoCon East has made its trademark as the premier design exposition and conference for commercial interiors for the mid-atlantic design community.
Loewenstein, a division of OFS Brands, Inc. is a family owned corporation, headquartered in Huntingburg, Indiana, and is committed to providing socially responsible furniture and logistic solutions through better design, excellent performance, and innovative products and services. For more information contact Doug Shapiro, Director of Sales, Loewenstein, dshapiro@ofsbrands.com or 800.521.5381x7332.
OFS Brands Introduces SilverBan
October 2, 2009
OFS Brands Introduces SilverBan™ the Newest Generation of Anti-Microbial Wood Finish
Huntingburg, Indiana – September 2009, OFS Brands, the parent company to Carolina, OFS, First Office and Loewenstein and a leader in the corporate, healthcare, education and hospitality furniture markets, introduces the newest generation of antimicrobial wood finishes. SilverBan™, an innovative technology, is custom engineered to fight the growth of damaging bacteria on finished wood products.
Carolina, which focuses primarily on the burgeoning healthcare market, has more than a decade of experience in working with anti-microbial wood finishes. Previously, Carolina had utilized FiniGUARD
as their anti-microbial solution to address a wide range of infection control concerns common in healthcare facilities. Over the past six months, engineers and scientists from both OFS Brands and their finish suppliers have collaborated to incorporate an anti-microbial into their patented Euroluxe™ wood finish. Euroluxe™ is a chemically re-engineered Urethane clear coat that allows for much greater performance with chemical and scratch resistance, as well as significantly reduces dangerous formaldehyde emissions. The new SilverBan™ technology uses silver ions infused into the Euroluxe™ wood finish for antimicrobial protection on all exposed wood surfaces. SilverBan™ works continuously by disrupting key cell functions so that microbes can’t grow or reproduce.
“This new technology enables us to provide an anti-microbial solution unique to the contract furniture industry”, explains Mike Wagner, Senior VP of Sales and Marketing, OFS Brands. “The issue of infection control has stretched well beyond the healthcare industry. Corporate, education and hospitality environments also recognize the need to address these concerns.”
In a time when employees’ and patients’ health and safety are key concerns for employers and hospitals, SilverBan™ works 24/7 for an added level of defense. Laboratory tests show that bacteria can double within 20 minutes on unprotected surfaces. Most germs can only be seen by the human eye once they have multiplied to hundreds of thousands. SilverBan™ technology immediately goes to work fighting the spread of germs and bacteria on wood surfaces. SilverBan™ inhibits the growth of mold, mildew, fungus and bacteria on wood surfaces, as well as odors caused by bacterial growth, by 99.99%.
Hank Menke, President and CEO, OFS Brands, stresses the benefits not only for their customers, but for facilities in general. “SilverBan™ technology is a significant leap for our industry,” states Menke. “Its qualities contribute to benefits such as infection control and easy maintenance for the healthcare, education and corporate environments. That is especially beneficial now as the widely anticipated flu season is upon us. Facilities need the reassurance of fighting the spread of infections which can ultimately have a negative impact on attendance and profitability.”
SilverBan™ is available on all exposed wood products from Carolina, OFS, First Office and Loewenstein.
Loewenstein, a division of OFS Brands, Inc. is a family owned corporation, headquartered in Huntingburg, Indiana, and is committed to providing socially responsible furniture and logistic solutions through better design, excellent performance, and innovative products and services. For more information contact Doug Shapiro, Director of Sales, Loewenstein, dshapiro@ofsbrands.com or 800.521.5381x7332.
Loewenstein Awarded Best of Neocon 2009 Gold Winner
June 16, 2009
Loewenstein, a division of OFS Brands, a leading North American office furniture manufacturer, has been awarded the 2009 Best of the NeoCon Gold Award for Elle Lounge in the sofas and lounge category. The competition was sponsored by Contract Magazine, IIDA and IFMA.
Simplicity and symmetry define the sleek, stylish look of Elle. Elegant from every angle, Elle’s balance and slim profile create a dramatic statement in any space.
Loewenstein, a division of OFS Brands, Inc. is a family owned corporation, headquartered in Huntingburg, Indiana, and is committed to providing socially responsible furniture and logistic solutions through better design, excellent performance, and innovative products and services. For more information contact Doug Shapiro, Director of Sales, Loewenstein, dshapiro@ofsbrands.com or 800.521.5381x7332.
OFS Brands First in Industry to Achieve GREENGUARD Certification Across all Brands
June 15, 2009
Huntingburg, Indiana - June 2009, OFS Brands, the parent company to Carolina, OFS, First Office and Loewenstein and a leader in the corporate, healthcare, education and hospitality furniture markets, was recently awarded GREENGUARD Certification by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI), an industry renowned expert in the areas of indoor air quality, public and environmental health, building design, and construction.
All OFS Brands products within wood veneer casegoods, laminate casegoods, conference and seating in OFS, First Office, Carolina and Loewenstein, have achieved this certification. This is an extremely important achievement for OFS Brands and its customers as a continuous commitment to being responsible stewards of the environment. “This comprehensive achievement is indicative of OFS Brand’s global approach to creating a holistic sustainable practice for the entire enterprise,” states Hank Menke, President and CEO.
As an industry-independent, non-profit organization, GEI develops rigorous, consensus-based standards for indoor air quality (IAQ) following globally recognized scientific methods. Only products achieving these high standards are approved to bear the GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified mark.
“GREENGUARD Certification offers purchasers of our product the independent assurance that this product has minimal impact on air quality. Ongoing tests by GREENGUARD ensure that the level of emissions from substances used in the manufacturing process are well within recommendations set by the WHO, OSHA, the USEPA and other respected health organizations,” explains Vanessa Hartke, OFS Brands Director of Environmental and Sustainable Resources. “The issue of indoor air quality is increasingly important to architects and designers as more is learned about the effect of residual chemicals in the workplace. The use of GREENGUARD Certified products attacks indoor air pollution at the source and can significantly reduce the level of pollutants in indoor air,” indicates Hartke.
*Seating products will always be restricted based upon selection of a Greenguard certified upholstery
Loewenstein, a division of OFS Brands, Inc. is a family owned corporation, headquartered in Huntingburg, Indiana, and is committed to providing socially responsible furniture and logistic solutions through better design, excellent performance, and innovative products and services. For more information contact Doug Shapiro, Director of Sales, Loewenstein, dshapiro@ofsbrands.com or 800.521.5381x7332.
OFS Brands Unveils Latest Innovation in Wood Finishing Technology
June 15, 2009
Huntingburg, Indiana - June 2009, OFS Brands, the parent company to Carolina, OFS, First Office and Loewenstein and a leader in the corporate, healthcare, education and hospitality furniture markets, has invested millions of dollars and spent multiple years working with European and American scientists to develop Euroluxe™, the state of the art finishing system.
Euroluxe™ is a chemically re-engineered Urethane clear coat that preserves the beautiful depth and clarity of OFS Brands’ finishes, allowing for much greater performance with chemical, heat and scratch resistance, while achieving indoor air quality standards set by LEED and BIFMA furniture emission standards. This feature enables OFS Brands to GREENGUARD certify all products across the board in all brands. The Euroluxe™ finish is applied with a premium patented spray process which requires nano technology to precisely regulate the timing and mixture of the sensitive materials. Because the process catalyzation with Euroluxe™ finish has been designed to bond differently to the wood fiber, Euroluxe™ is field repairable.
Hank Menke, President and CEO states, “Investing in innovation and technology during an economic period where most businesses have eliminated innovative initiatives is essential to our continued commitment to growth, innovation and sustainability.” Menke also added, “We feel the Euroluxe™ finish system has raised the bar within the wood furniture industry, but more importantly, will allow OFS Brands to deliver higher value product to our customers in a time where cost cutting and devaluation is the trend with many other companies.”
Loewenstein, a division of OFS Brands, Inc. is a family owned corporation, headquartered in Huntingburg, Indiana, and is committed to providing socially responsible furniture and logistic solutions through better design, excellent performance, and innovative products and services. For more information contact Doug Shapiro, Director of Sales, Loewenstein, dshapiro@ofsbrands.com or 800.521.5381x7332.