Products - October 2007

Scan and UPC
Featured at NeoCon, Bentley Prince Street had one of those ideas that just makes sense: Instead of shipping excess post-production carpet yarn from various lines away for recycling, the manufacturer gathers it up and uses it right there to make first-quality carpet. Scan is a commercial pinstripe broadloom featuring the hues and tones of separate dye lots in subtly variegating colorways. An array of pleasing color combinations are available for almost any interior. UPC is its whimsical, non-repeating, 18x18 carpet tile cousin. Bentley Prince Street; City of Industry, Calif. www.bentleyprince street.com; 800-423-4709.

Surface iQ
Carnegie has added the Surface iQ line of competitively priced polyethylene wallcoverings to their catalogue. In addition to passing California Section 01350 for indoor air emissions, this PVC-free product uses water-based inks without heavy metals and chlorine; nonhalogenated, natural-clay fire retardants; and a non-arsenate antimicrobial. The textured face is backed with cellulose and polyester, and installs with the same adhesives typically used for vinyl products. Surface iQ is available with microperforations to reduce the potential for moisture build-up behind the wallcovering during cooling season in humid climates. Carnegie; Rockville Center, N.Y. www.carnegiefabrics.com; 800-727-6770.

Tahké
New from Jofco in the fourth quarter of 2007, the Tahké Collection of freestanding, modular casegoods is made with a 3-ply bamboo core and bamboo veneer, hand-harvested from an indigenous grove in China. The components are finished with water-based clear coats, protecting and displaying the natural or heat-carmelized (not dyed or stained) bamboo surfaces underneath. Designed for sustainability by Jhane Barnes, who considered everything from glues to hardware, the line includes five desk styles, credenzas, and towers. Jofco; Jasper, Ind. www.jofco.com; 800-235-6326.

Nature Core
HON, the first office furniture manufacturer to achieve certification by Indoor Advantage for low emissions, is taking things up another notch with Nature Core. Available in their Initiate Panel line, Nature Core is made primarily from annually renewable kenaf—a fast-growing, hardy relative of cotton—replacing fiberglass and other synthetics commonly used for tackable surfaces. Natural fire retardants provide a UL Class A fire rating, and the panels provide sound blocking that exceeds BIFMA standards. Used with a low-emitting worksurface, Initiate panels meet the stringent requirements for Indoor Advantage Gold certification.

The HON Company; Muscatine, Iowa. www.hon.com; 800-833-3964.