Product Showcase

 

Library Resources had not had direct experience with Arktura, the manufacturer of this increbible bench; but we saw this piece and took a look at others in the collection - and could not resist. To smooth...

Vintage Industrial is a company that manufactures a wide range of furnishings with an industrial aesthetic. The use of heavy table bases and tube & bar chairs brings to mind the pieces that one might see from companies specializes in "rescuing" pieces from soon to be demolished relics of our productive past (one such company being Urban Remains).

How often do any of us find a product that is not only unique, but is also green?  It happens from time to time, but rare is the product that is, unique, green, and affordable?

One such product is the ECOVATION wall panel from Historic Timber and Plank.  In short, ECOVATION is a unitized wall panel system that utilizes the scraps from the manufacturing of flooring and timber products.  Because the product is essentially scrap (post-industrial) and is scrap from reclaimed wood (post consumer) you can not get greener.

it is also affordable, coming in at $10-12 square foot material cost.  For more information go to the showcase page.

There is a new option for those that want to consider a sustainable wall base.  The ECOLIBRIUM branded wall base from Johnsonite/Tarkett utilizes crushed walnut shells and oyster shells to manufacture the product.           The following are some of the bullet points from the manufacturer.

  • Contains 15% pre-consumer recycled content and 100% natural filler
  • Includes no phthalates, halogens or chlorine
  • Weighs 25% less than traditional base, requiring less energy and cost for transportation
  • NSF-332 Certified Platinum for sustainability
  • Floorscore Certified for good indoor air quality

The SEEYOND system allows for the creation of freestanding walls consisting of modular elements - created at the direction of the design professional specifying the product.  In addition to the wall products, there are also wall mounted and ceiling mounted systems that allow for the creation of high-relief decorative elements.  The product is represented locally by the Carlan Group (Lisa Carter, Margarita Woods Moylan, and Cathy Stripling).

 

Momentum Textiles has been on a role lately with the introduction of sustainable products.  Their newest entry is the INTERMEZZO product which has 58% POST CONSUMER recycled contect along with 34% POST INDUSTRIAL content.  The POST CONSUMER content is truly impressive, and worth a look.

 

MIGHTY-EASY allows your wood floor to be installed up to 50% faster than direct glue.  The elimination of adhesives give it an important sustainability advantage, as well as offering other benefits including excellent STC ratings.

By removing wet adhesives and providing a low cost solution to slab moisture, you have greatly reduced the chance for something to go wrong when installing wood flooring. Some estimate doing this will reduce claims by over 90%! Think of all the extra time you will have with few or no callbacks. Your whole day can be used productively - not putting out fires caused by old technology.

 

    This appears to be a truly new technology that carries the name ESL, which stands for Electron Stimulated Luminescence. According to the manufacturer, ESL uses accelerated electrons to stimulate phosphor - creating light. The technology is suppose to provide the same light quality as incandescent bulbs, but is 70% more efficient. The ESL bulb also does not contain the mercury that has proved to be a disposal problem with compact flourescent bulbs. The downside is that the product does not go into full manufacturing until 2011, and will be manufactured in Europe. For more details on the product, click on the pic.

    For those of you that remember sending deposit slips through pneumatic tubes while at the bank drive-thru (dating ourselves), now its your turn to try the tube! From our evaluation, it appears that this product could prove to be a unique solution to lift requirements where you do not have the space or the money for a traditional lift, and want to avoid the unattractive aesthetic of most ADA lifts. The Pneumatic Elevator does not require a pit, and can be installed quickly. For more information visit the vendors's site by clicking on the pic.