How To Choose The Right Industrial Workbench & Workstation For Your Business
The Buyer’s Guide To Choosing An Industrial Workbench
Industrial workstations and technical workbenches are probably one of the most used pieces of furniture in your business serving for anything from carrying heavy payloads, IT & forensic laboratories and even integrating electrostatic discharge prevention functionalities (ESD). Whatever the application, there’s no denying that industrial workbenches need to be manufactured to last, as they are an essential part of conducting your business operations efficiently. The following article is meant to serve as an investment decision guide for acquiring the right industrial workbench for your organization.
Needs Analysis
The first step before starting to request quotes from manufacturers is to have a clear understanding of the application in which the technical workstation will be used. This will help you create a list of functions and features that need to be included in the technical workbench. The purpose of doing so is to avoid purchasing multiple workstations only to find out later that you are limited in terms of weight loading capacity, power output, cable management and/or system modularity to grow in the future. The following list describes features that can be included on a tech bench and things to consider after the purchase.
Industrial Workstation Features
- Fixed vs Height-Adjustable: The electric height adjustable workbench is useful in cases where technicians need to handle heavy and fragile equipment. The heavy-duty actuators can lift large pieces of equipment with ease with the single touch of a button. The advantages include giving users a more ergonomic working position and reducing accidents in the workplace. Sustema offers fixed, electric and manually adjustable workbenches.
- Power & Data Access (Cable Management): Whether you need to install computers on the workstation or need to have close access to power outlets and data ports, cable management must also be considered in order to reduce clutter in the work area (which are often already full of tools and equipment). Sustema Inc. integrates a cable management system inside the workstation structure to run both power and data cables. Multiple power bars can be integrated into the workbench and are easily accessible by users.
- Lighting: Often a forgotten element, integrating lights to the workstation structure helps reduce cable clutter on the worktop and under the workstation. Lights can be fixed under the shelves or offered in modular versions which can be moved around as needed.
- Storage: A workbench can be more than a simple work surface. It can provide smart storage for tools, packing materials or anything else you need to perform the job efficiently. The Integration workbench system manufactured by Sustema includes storage bins, wire shelves, and heavy-duty top and bottom shelves. Sustema also offers phone and keyboard holders to maximize the space on the worktop.
- Worktop Material (ESD): For industrial and business applications, laminate work surfaces provide a smooth, hard and scratch-resistant worktop that will resist the test of time. Sustema also offers electrostatic discharge prevention functionalities using ESD grounding kits.
- Space Configuration & Design: For certain organizations, the available space in the facility, the design of the room or the type of applications require them to acquire customized workstations. Sustema designs custom workbench configurations based on your specific business needs in terms of size, functionality, and design. Furthermore, the innovative design of Sustema’s Integration workbench enables organizations to easily add more stations as needed. Workstations can be placed side-by-side or back-to-back using the same frame saving space and money to its customers. Worktops can also be customized to create an island style configuration as shown in the image below. These are commonly used in IT & forensic labs. Some manufacturers also offer one size fits all solutions. However, these workbenches offer less customization.
- Installation Service: An important element to consider is the service provided after the sale. You may save costs in acquiring a one size fits all solution on workstations but when calculating installation and shipping costs, the savings may not be enough to justify the purchase. Sustema is a full-service furniture manufacturer doing everything from design, manufacturing and installation.
- Warranty: Sustema offers a highly competitive warranty on all its products. Contact us to request a free quote or if you have any questions about your project.
About Sustema
Sustema Inc. manufactures specialized technical furniture, workstations and consoles for mission-critical work environments. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Sustema has served customers across multiple sectors including public safety, energy & utilities, healthcare, finance, process control and security among others. Visit our website to learn more.
