The First Facility Management Blog

Staples Advantage, the business-to-business (B2B) division of Staples, Inc., has announced the launch of its new Web site (www.StaplesAdvantage.com) to address customers’ growing demands for supplier consolidation and reduced procurement costs.

Now, current and prospective customers—from small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to Fortune 1000 corporations—can view the full scale of Staples Advantage’s products and services, including five newly integrated B2B service offerings. These new services are: Staples Print Solutions; Staples Facility Solutions; Staples Promotional Products; Staples Technology Solutions; and Business Interiors by Staples.

• Staples Print Solutions is a comprehensive document and print management offering, including digital copy and print, custom printing, flexible packaging, and comprehensive label production capabilities.
• Staples Facility Solutions is a national cleaning and maintenance program, offering a wide assortment of janitorial and cleaning supplies and exclusive environmentally preferable cleaners.
• Staples Promotional Products is a full-service corporate branding solution, featuring more than 700,000 customizable items and an in-house design and creative marketing staff.
• Staples Technology Solutions is a complete array of IT services from data center solutions and printer fleet management services to network services and everyday desktop technology products.
• Business Interiors by Staples is a full-scale furniture and interior design service, offering an extensive selection of contract grade business furnishings from one national source and comprehensive project management from design to installation.

Over 65% of Fortune 100 companies are Staples Advantage customers, as well as academic institutions, healthcare and pharmaceutical companies, and state and federal government agencies.

On February 2, the Institution Recycling Network (IRN) shipped its first container of relief supplies to Haiti. The 15,000 pound load included 120 mattresses from Brown University, medical supplies from New England Baptist Hospital, and more than 2,500 liters of bottled water from Max’s Blues Café in Brockton, MA. The supplies were shipped from IRN’s Everett, MA warehouse through the Port of Newark, NJ, and will arrive in Haiti by February 12.

IRN helped these contributors navigate the complicated logistics of moving supplies through the relief pipeline. IRN has long standing relationships with several of the most active relief organizations in Haiti’s recovery, and is able to match contributed furnishings and supplies with agencies that can place them immediately where they are desperately needed. In this case, the shipment is being handled by longtime IRN partner Food for the Poor, which has been on the ground in Haiti for many years.

With port facilities damaged and dozens of organizations competing for limited transportation resources, making this match is the most crucial challenge in Haiti’s recovery effort.

There’s a pattern to recovery initiatives, according to Mark Berry, IRN’s Surplus Program Manager. “In the first weeks the recovery focuses on supplies for survival and stabilization: food, water, shelter, medicine, and medical supplies. Then gradually there will be a shift to supplies for reconstruction, including building materials, furnishings, school and medical equipment. IRN’s role is to help both contributors and our relief partners match the flow into Haiti with the immediate needs on the ground.”

IRN is able to match large and small quantities of surplus. The February 2 load was made up of materials from three different contributors. That’s typical for loads shipped from IRN’s Everett warehouse, where IRN collects small quantities of usable surplus from generators throughout New England. When it has enough to fill one or more containers, IRN reaches out to a network of nonprofit partners, who slot the materials into their relief needs.

Larger quantities of surplus, one or more full containers, are loaded directly from the contributor’s site. IRN arranges labor or works with the generator’s staff to assure that containers are packed full and tight to maximize value and minimize damage in transit. IRN matches the surplus with the most appropriate recipients, and handles the paperwork and connections to get the loads overseas.

“The Haiti earthquake puts a spotlight on the relief community,” says IRN’s Berry. “The fact is that the need for surplus relief supplies is permanent and overwhelming. Even now we can’t promise that every load will go to Haiti. What we can promise is that every load will go where it’s needed desperately by some of the world’s most disadvantaged people.”

This Web Exclusive comes from James Anderson, vertical market manager for Holliston, MA-based Lista International.

Purchasing a workbench or workstation may at first seem like a simple task. Your employees have work to do, and they need an efficient, comfortable, and practical place to do it. But behind that deceptively simple proposition may lurk a number of variables that must be considered to make sure you get what you actually need.

Employee needs vary widely among industries and applications. What’s perfect for an automotive dealership won’t work in a laboratory. What works for manufacturing facilities just won’t fly for a classroom setting. And a configuration that suits one laboratory may not be appropriate for another.

So, whether you are looking for technical workstations, height adjustable workstations, assembly workstations, industrial benches, packing and shipping benches, or accessory systems, take the time to perform the necessary research upfront by following this step-by-step self examination that will help you choose the right workbench for all your needs.

The number one consideration – what work are you doing on the bench?
The answer to this question will affect everything from the size of the workbench to the surface material, to storage requirements, to ergonomic considerations.

Once you determine what work will be performed on the bench, conduct an analysis of tasks associated with the work and use it to make a checklist of features needed to perform them. For example, say you’re in the business of assembling and maintaining cell phones, and you need to furnish a workspace for your repair technicians. You want a small workbench, perhaps one that is height adjustable, to bring the detailed repair job up to an optimal work zone and distance. Along with the workbench, you will also need an excellent lighting accessory. You’ll likely also need bins above the work surface to provide direct access to small parts, and an articulating arm that can hold assembly guidelines or diagrams. And depending on the flow of your repair operations, you might want to consider a material transfer work surface, or even a conveyor workstation, both of which can cost effectively expedite material handling.

Or maybe you’re working in a pharmaceutical lab where the work surface material becomes a more important part of the decision. Depending on the liquids and solids you’re handling, you might want either a stainless steel or epoxy resin chemical resistant work surface to ensure long lasting, durable use. If your laboratory is in a clean room environment, your workstation will need to meet certain NSF International public health and safety standards. You might also need to store a combination of small beakers and instruments with large testing equipment—requiring a variety of storage solutions both above and below the work surface.

For example, Bob Smith, production manager for Automated Circuit Design (ACD), said, “All the workstations are electro-static dissipative, so they are an ideal solution for every department. In the kitting area, technicians can safely work with ESD sensitive components. And in the assembly and production departments, every technician can perform the most precise processes effectively. The workstation provides the lighting needed to perform every task with attention to every detail. Additionally, the substantial shelving space offers the area needed to set up stations for testing completed products.”

Sizing up the solution
The size of your workbench is determined by a number of factors. First up is how much space is available in the work environment – how big a footprint will it occupy? With today’s modular workbenches making maximum use of vertical space, you may not need as big a workbench as you think.

Next, how much work surface area does your application demand, both in terms of width (left to right) and depth (front to back)? Does the entire work surface need to be within easy arm’s reach (by, say, an assembly technician)? Can you position needed items above the work surface on a vertical accessory system for easier access? Will you be working with large equipment or parts? If so, you may not only need a larger work surface, but might also need to factor in the weight bearing capacity of your workbench.

Workstation meets workflow
After thinking about size and footprint, you should consider whether your company’s workspace, type of work, and workflow are best served by a group of workstations laid out in a particular configuration. Some companies offer modular workstations that are specifically designed to accommodate different configurations and different types of workflow. Use a design that positions your team for maximum efficiency.

If you’re operating with a progressive workflow, you may want to configure your workbenches to create an integrated, moving production line. Flow racks can then be used to stage and deliver parts using gravity, reducing material handling time, point of use storage, and cost.

If your team functions in cells or groups, it may be served best by different shaped configurations that encourage easy communication. Some workstations are available in modules, so they can easily be combined to create everything from in-line and in-line back-to-back configurations to T, U, X and Y-shaped configurations.

Finally, consider transforming from stationery to mobile workbenches. Effortlessly accomplished with mobility enhancing accessories, mobile workbenches can provide for easy, smooth rolling relocation. This will accommodate both day-to-day and future changes as well as simplify cleaning activities.

Storage – everything in its place and a place for everything
Spend some time doing some careful planning to get a workstation that exactly addresses your storage needs with little or no wasted space. Simplify your storage decisions by reducing the items being stored to only those that directly address your workbench applications. When doing your planning exercise, consider the size, shape, weight, quantity, and fragility of the items to be stored, as well as how accessible they need to be and how much security they demand.

Do you need a home for shipping documents? A bar code scanner? Test equipment? Small parts? Tools? There are plenty of options for storage, both above and below the work surface. From plastic parts bins to a variety of shelving options to every size and configuration of drawer, there’s a lot to consider.

After determining exactly what needs to be stored, zero in on making the workspace more efficient. Create a designated storage location for every item. Modular drawer cabinet interiors are ideal for custom configuring to produce almost infinite layout options. This high level of organization is particularly important if different people are using the same workbench at different times. Time savings are maximized and inventory control becomes a non-issue.

Let there be light
Lighting needs of the different workbench tasks is an important consideration. Does each station need separate lighting? Does the room itself have lighting deficiencies? Does the room light cast an unwanted color? And if you decide you need to equip your workbenches with lighting accessories, are your technicians best served by overhead fluorescent lighting or a swing arm that can be easily positioned and/or moved out of the way when not needed? Do you need an accessory that can diffuse the light and reduce glare?

Power to your people
After you weigh your lighting needs and options, you should next move on to your electrical requirements. From clean rooms to quality control departments to research and development functions, a convenient source of power at each workbench can be essential. There are diverse options to consider—from power beams and air beams to air supply brackets and cable management accessories. You can narrow your selections down to the necessary few by asking the right questions:

First consider the applications. Will each workbench be home to a computer monitor and other computer equipment? Do you need a data beam? Will the tasks at hand require compressed air, and what is the source of that air?

How many outlets do you need at each workbench (and how much power)? Where should the outlets be positioned? Do you require a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to provide protection against severe shock and electrocution? Consider cord management, both from an aesthetic point of view, as well as the safety factor. To keep power cords from becoming tripwires, cable trays may be needed.

The right accessories make the space more efficient
Think about the impact that add-on accessories might have in improving the employees’ job functions. No matter what the task, there’s an accessory option to help get the job done more efficiently and conveniently. By taking advantage of the abundant vertical space above the work surface, and the many interchangeable accessory options available, you can create a highly efficient work center that is tailored completely to the needs inherent to jobs being performed in the workspace. Examples include shelving for manuals or instruments, parts bin rails, a monitor bracket, or a keyboard holder.

Pay attention to ergonomics for safety and productivity
It is essential to factor in ergonomics to improve safety and productivity. To minimize stress and strain for seated employees, a 30.5″ work surface height will accommodate 99.5% of all male and 99.9% of all female workers. The optimal work surface height for standing employees depends entirely on the type of work being performed. Precision work usually requires a higher work surface, while heavier work demands a lower work surface.

But what if different shifts are using the same bench? And/or what if different tasks are being performed on the same bench? If so, consider an adjustable height workstation. With such a bench, users can adjust the bench height with the simple turn of a crank or with a motor drive, and the work surface can move between approximately 25 and 41″.

Standardization leads to improved adaptability
Most companies have multiple departments, from manufacturing to testing to shipping. Consider using a common workbench platform throughout the facility to gain such benefits as better utilization of inventory, easier reconfiguration, interchangeability of accessories, and aesthetic appeal.

Standardization allows efficient swapping of accessories among departments, and facilitates adjustments if work tasks change. Colors and designs match, and there are no surprises when employees shift to a different department.

Design standardization (and an attractive price point) is important, but the quality and durability of the workbenches and other furniture was also a key consideration. “Schools are a very hard environment for furniture, especially where students are constantly using the table to perform different tasks,” notes <!– @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } –>Tom Buechele, associate vice president of facilities, operations and planning at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).

Putting it together with design assistance
If this list of considerations poses questions for which you need help to find answers, maybe you’d prefer to have help with your quest for the perfect workbench. Many workbench providers offer design planning assistance to guide you through the process and advise you of the most appropriate choices. Free services such as surveys and CAD drawings can make the process virtually painless.

If you choose a workbench provider who offers maximum breadth of product and flexibility, you’ll be able to view all of your workbenches as part of a complete picture, although each may have been custom built to accomplish a unique task. The end result? Many smart steps for each department and one giant leap for your business.

Casulo, a new concept for mobile living originated in June 2007 as a part of the dissertation of Marcel Krings and Sebastian Mühlhäuser at the Köln International School of Design in Cologne. So what is it? Pictured at left, it’s a complete furniture set which can be set up in less than 10 minutes and later disassembled and repacked like a standard pallet. No tools are needed in the process.

A packed Casulo can be transported and stored at nominal expense by any carrier and shipping agent. Not only can a disassembled Casulo unit be packed with one’s personal items, the Casulo itself is sturdy and thus no additional packaging materials are necessary when it is ready for transport.

The Casulo can then either be sent to a prearranged address or delivered directly. Two people can lift, carry, and assemble each piece of furniture within the Casulo. The unit is constructed of durable, long lasting materials.

Each Casulo unit includes all the essential furniture for setting up in a new place: wardrobe, large desk/table with a separate desk cabinet with locking drawers, a revolving, height adjustable desk chair, two stools, a single bed and mattress, and a tall set of shelves. The stools and the drawers of the desk cabinet also serve and double as additional storage containers.

When disassembled and packed, the Casulo becomes a crate. It can even fit in the trunk of a medium sized vehicle.

When the furniture has been disassembled and prepared for transport, the Casulo is safe and sturdy; additional packing materials are not required. An additional feature of the Casulo is that when packed, half of its volume becomes space for storage and at least 440 pounds can be safely placed atop it. See the video below.

A variety of features makes each unit an innovative solution–particularly when temporary living space or student housing is necessary: there are invisible locks on the desk drawers; a magnetised clothes rack system; and safeguards for computer cables and electric wires. The Casulo ideal for those in job training, students, and people in the service industry who have to change their location frequently. People who must move frequently and rent empty rooms need no longer accumulate sets of inexpensive furnishings whose transportation costs are higher than the value of the furniture.

Still in its prototype stage, Casulo’s designers look forward to going into production as soon as possible. For more information, visit this link.

PlanSCAPE® is a service provided by Virco Mfg. Corporation to assist facility professionals in schools with their large scale furniture and equipment acquisitions. Through this free service, PlanSCAPE experts work with facility professionals through the stages of choosing and purchasing furnishings for their new and existing facilities. This process includes: Needs Assessment, Budget Planning, Contract Procurement, and Project Management.

When conducting the Needs Assessment, experienced PlanSCAPE® professionals work with the school to assess specific needs and requirements. And Virco’s vast product inventory provides an added advantage of desirable lead times for thousands of furniture and equipment items.

In the Budget Planning stage, the PlanSCAPE budget analysis compares the features, benefits, and prices of competing products, helping facility professionals target the specific combination of furniture and equipment that makes sense for their school. This serves to maximize financial resources.

Along with the budget analysis, a PlanSCAPE project evaluation generates a summary of all the products the facility professional has targeted for purchase. At the customer’s request, the PlanSCAPE team can also provide a reference list of competing products from other manufacturers.

For Contract Procurement, PlanSCAPE enables facilities to use the state or national contract that best suits their situation. This enables schools to purchase furniture and equipment at advantageous prices. Virco notes that compared to all the aspects involved in the bidding process, contract procurement is an effective way to save time and money.

PlanSCAPE also allows schools to purchase furniture and equipment featured on the U.S. Communities contract. As the most comprehensive, detailed contract—and the only national contract —for use by schools, U.S. Communities has more products than any other contract to address FF&E needs.

During the Project Management phase, Virco professionals work with and communicate with facilities managers to ensure a successful project.

For greater efficiency, the PlanScape professionals can consolidate products from various manufacturers at the Virco warehouse closest to the customer’s school. (These manufacturers include Community, Fleetwood Group Inc., Ghent Manufacturing Inc., High Point Furniture, Invincible, Leonard Peterson & Co., Inc., Library Bureau, Waddell, Media Technologies, Republic Storage Systems Company, Russwood Library, Sandusky-Lee, Shain Shop-Bilt, Smith Systems, Waddell, and Wood Designs.) In addition to minimizing the risk of freight damage, consolidation provides the benefit of fewer deliveries, shortening the time to completion.

Incheon Metropolitan City, Korea, together with designboom recently held a competition (iida) open to international professionals, students, and design enthusiasts. The subject of iida was “Green Life,” which was broken down into the following concepts:

• 21st century design is the philosophy that suggests harmony of humanity and nature.
• 21st century design is the imagination that enables sustained urban life.
• 21st century design is actions that buffer radical changes in society.
• 21st century design is a beautiful link between business activities and consumer activities.
• 21st century design is a tool that expresses beautiful imagination of people.
• the philosophy of the 21st century design is the philosophy of iida.

In the end, 3709 designers from 96 different countries participated. Rochus Jacob was awarded the first prize for his Murakami Chair (along with his thermodynamic cooler), which incorporates nano-dynamo technology into the skids of the chair to run an OLED light—thereby powering an attached reading lamp with energy generated from its own rocking motion. (Note: as one of the competition requirements, the product could not currently be in production.)

Jacobs explains his thoughts behind the design process:

I was looking for opportunities to generate energy through activities we naturally do. The final result is a rocking chair that enables the user to experience production and consumption of electricity in a gentle and rewarding way. An abstract process becomes tangible and eventually cultivates natural awareness. Complexity is covered by simplicity. During daylight, the energy gets stored in a battery pack. The construction of the flat and bendable organic light emitting diodes allows new form factors such as using the traditional shape of a lamp but instead of having a light bulb the lampshade himself turns out to be the light source. To have a drastic reduction of consumption the big challenge will be to make consuming less feel like getting more.

The jury, composed of Julien de Smedt, JDS, architect, Karim Rashid, industrial designer, Jerszy Seymour, industrial designer, Martin Videgård Hansson + Bolle Tham, Tham & Videgård Hansson Architects, Birgit Lohmann, designboom, Sang-Soo Ahn, Hongik University visual communication design professor, Soon-Jong Lee, Seoul National University design major professor, Joo-Yun Kim, Hongik University industrial design professor, Chul-Bae Lee, LG eletronics vice president, and Heung-Soo Jeon, Incheon Metropolitan City design manager awarded designs and concepts that were deemed innovative in terms of their formal/technological aspects as well as their social relevance.

The competition was hosted by Incheon Metropolitan City and organized by Incheon Business Agency.
Sponsors of this competition are: Ministry of Knowledge Economy of Korea, Korea Institute of Design Promotion, LG electronics, designflux, Incheon Industrial Design Association, and Incheon Design Company Association.

Michael A. Dunlap & Associates, LLC announces the results of the 21st edition of its quarterly MADA/OFI Trends Survey, a tool that designed to measure the current business activity of the office furniture industry and its suppliers. This survey was completed during the month of July 2009.

The survey focuses upon 10 key business activities, with respondents rating each area on a scale of 10 (the highest) to ONE (the lowest). The business activities are Gross Shipments, Order Backlog/Incoming Orders, Employment Levels, Manufacturing Hours (Overtime vs. Reduced Hours), Capital Investment, Tooling Expenditures, New Product Development Activity, Raw Material Costs, Employee Costs, and the respondents’ Personal Outlook on the industry.

An Industry Index Number quantifies where the industry is currently performing. For example, an index of 100 means that things “couldn’t be better,” an index of ONE is “absolutely the worst” it can be, and an index of 50 means it is neutral; no change “up” or “down.”

The July 2009 Overall Survey Index is 48.30. The January 2009 and April 2009 Overall Survey Index values were 46.17 and 41.45, respectively. The highest recorded Index was 59.72 in July 2005. The average is 54.34 since the survey started in August 2004.

Gross Shipments, Order Backlog, Employment Levels, Hours Worked, Capital Expenditures, Tooling Expenditures, and Personal Outlook all improved significantly compared to April 2009, but remained below 50.00.

Dunlap commented, “I am pleased to see the improvements, but they still indicate that the industry is still in the doldrums. I expect to see more improvements during the 3rd and 4th quarters of 2009.”

Personal Outlook Index improved to 45.85 after falling to 37.04 in January and 41.38 in April 2009. “It’s been below 50.00 since January 2008, so even though it is low, there is some improvement during the past three months,” Dunlap commented. “More than 34% reported they are optimistic about the future. It was only 25% in April.”

The majority of respondents continue to cite the economic conditions, healthcare costs, and energy
costs as the “largest threats to the industry.”

Dunlap stated, “[This year] has been an exceptionally difficult [one] for this industry, but I see brighter days ahead. There are enough indicators that tell us that the current industry recession has probably bottomed out. The modest increases in shipments and orders during the second quarter suggest this.”

The July 2009 MADA/OFI Trends survey was sent to more than 630 individuals involved with office furniture manufacturing and suppliers from Asia, Europe, North and South America and from companies ranging from more than $1 billion in sales to less than $10 million in sales. The survey repeats in October 2009.

Several months before President Obama proposed a Happy Hour Summit to resolve racial issues stemming from the arrest of Henry Louis Gates, a local furniture store in High Point, NC area embraced the concept as a way to drum up business during the down economy. The Red House Furniture Store has developed a marketing campaign that illustrates the company’s philosophy: “Where black people and white people buy furniture.”

Here’s the video:

Yes, I checked. It’s real.

“For a while, we couldn’t do anything but answer the phone. ‘Yes, we’re a real store. Yes, that’s a real ad,’” said Vice President and Manager Steve Patalano.

Martha Waggoner of the AP writes:

The ad, which debuted April 20, 2009 and is only available online, has the grainy feel of a homemade late-night TV spot. Employees and customers haltingly read lines off cue cards, occasionally attempting to gesture as they talk.

The Red House, in business for about 50 years, hooked up with the singers, Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal (owners of a video production company) after a company it uses to extend credit to customers offered to pay for a free Internet ad. Patalano accepted and Neal and McLaughlin showed up.

“We thought the idea was hilarious to use race and racial reconciliation as a marketing angle,” Neal said. “We also knew it would raise eyebrows and spark discussion.”

The way the creators explain it, every edit was made and every line written with the intent of making the ad popular online.

Hill and Pina — who have been asked for their autographs — say the theme didn’t pose a problem.

“The way we did it, it didn’t seem like nothing bad,” said Hill, 43. “We’re just like family around here. And the customers are like family to us. I just didn’t see anything wrong with it.”

Patalano says complaints have been few and far between, and the ad has brought more than page views. A couple from Georgia who bought furniture at the store Saturday told workers they were there because of the ad. Patalano has received e-mails from people as far away as Australia. One woman from Tennessee wrote to say she was thankful once-divisive race relations now can be treated in a lighthearted way.

Pina, 50, said he likes the ad because he “knew it was real.”

“We deal with all characters, a mixture of people,” he said. “We are blessed to have this customer base because some stores are shutting down.”

Hmmm…I wonder what beer they drink?

Kimball Office has earned level™ certification for nearly all of its products. A LEED-like program for the contract furniture market, level verifies conformance to BIFMA’s e3 sustainability standard through a recognized third-party certifier (For Kimball Office, it is Scientific Certification Systems). With the exception of Bingo seating and Aspire tables, all of Kimball Office’s current products are certified to level 1.

Products can be awarded a level 1, level 2, or level 3 compliance mark based on their contribution and points achieved. level 3 is the highest award a product can achieve and is similar to a platinum ranking in  the LEED rating system.

Fluent™ from Kimball Office uses an adaptive platform of worksurfaces, tables, storage options, and privacy screens. Fluent can be configured and reconfigured for various applications, including accounting, sales, customer service, marketing, and executive suites, as well as breakout sessions and the like.

In addition to achieving certification, Kimball Office played a leading role within the diverse group involved in developing e3 with BIFMA. The e3 standard ensures a comprehensive and impartial assessment of a product’s environmental and social impact. It also serves as a tool for end users to understand how products contribute to their organization’s sustainability goals.

The new standard applies to all business and institutional furniture, including movable walls, systems furniture, desking systems, casegoods, tables, seating and accessories, and materials and components manufactured by suppliers to furniture manufacturers.

“No other sustainability standard is as all encompassing for office furniture as e3 is,” said Jeff Fenwick, vice president/general manager, Kimball Office. “Unlike many standards, e3 assesses the entire manufacturing process from beginning to end and across a broad spectrum of attributes, both internally and with our suppliers. That’s a real breakthrough for our customers, their workplace environments and the natural environment.”

As part of its organization-wide sustainability commitment, Kimball Office is dedicated to eliminating pollution generated at the source, use of renewable materials, and reclamation and recycling of materials to minimize adverse impact on the environment. The company’s environmental accomplishments include developing PURA™, a proprietary UV wood finishing process; registering its manufacturing facilities to ISO 14001:2004 standards achieving SmartWay certification for its transport/shipping fleet; and certifying its showrooms and corporate offices to LEED-CI standards.

Italy is known for its distinct sense of design. Furniture manufacturer Tagliabue, founded in 1879, has introduced it Emmemobili collection, which is an excellent example of this unusual design sensibility.

The Emmemobili collection offers custom furniture solutions for businesses in the form of shaped, multi-layer woods in one of a kind products. In particular, “Evolution” (pictured below) was made to be recognized and handed down. So what is it?

Described as “a unique, precious masterpiece, Evolution (designed by Ferruccio Laviani) is characterized by the combination of the hand-carved solid oak (natural or tinted) with the contrast of contemporary style. The look is enriched by handles in burnished brass.”

Ok, so let’s see it from another angle…

Nope, I still don’t get it. Maybe this angle will help….

OH, I get it now… (no I don’t)…but I’m sure it’s beautiful, whatever it is.