Haworth's Fern chair earned a HiP at NeoCon 2016 award, during the June 12-15 event in Chicago. Contributed By Justine. McGuire

One of the furniture industry’s largest events took place this week, and attendees felt the presence of Holland-area global manufacturing giants Haworth and Herman Miller.

NeoCon, dubbing itself the most important furniture design show in North America, began in 1969. It takes place at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago.

Holland-based Haworth has participated since at least the early 1970s, said Julie Smith, Haworth public relations manager.

“One of our salespeople has been (there) for 38 straight,” she said.

Herman Miller, based in Zeeland, has been part of NeoCon since its inception, said Nick Butterfield, communication and media specialist for Herman Miller.

“NeoCon continues to be important to Herman Miller as it brings together the highest concentration of clients, architects, interior designers, dealers, facilities managers and workplace-focused media in the U.S.,” said Kimberly Oliver, Herman Miller spokesperson. “Over the course of three days we are able to connect with new and existing customers and share our latest thinking about people, work and the workplace as well as introduce new products for the office, higher-education and healthcare markets.”

Herman Miller’s three showrooms were busy from opening Monday morning, June 13, to closing Wednesday afternoon, June 15, she said.

Some trends that Herman Miller presented at NeoCon are:

— Flexible work points are placing assigned seating

— Group spaces are replacing conference rooms

— Conference rooms are becoming smaller to minimize wasted space

— Centralized plazas are replacing isolated break rooms

— Quiet, private spaces are becoming available to all workers on demand

— There are more spaces for employees to connect

Oliver said that Herman Miller is taking a “human-centered approach” with all of its furniture, from offices to health care.

This year’s Haworth exhibition highlighted a “warming trend” in the workplace, Smith said.

“Offices are starting to look a bit more like homes and vice versa,” she said. “This is a result of work-life balance and technology — we have really blended what we do in those two spaces. For our NeoCon 2016 showroom, we continued to show that warming trend with expressive colors, textures and furniture applications that promote community.”

Workspaces are evolving to serve not only physical needs, but also cognitive and emotional needs, Smith said.

“Haworth has found that the intersection of those three needs is where people thrive,” she said. “They crave this harmony.”

Holland Bar Stool's exhibit at NeoCon 2016 showed off its seating options and customizable furniture. The event took place from June 12-15 in Chicago. Contributed By Justine. McGuire

Haworth was honored with an Best of NeoCon Silver award from Contract Magazine this year. Haworth’s award recognized in the furniture systems enhancements category for its Compose Connections and Active Components.

"NeoCon award programs are an extension of the most important part of this event: our customers,” said Jeff Harrison, business unit director for Haworth Workplace Systems, Storage and Casegoods. “While it can be overwhelming at times, there isn't any other thing like NeoCon. The concentration of architects, designers, experts and customers gives us amazing feedback and energy.”

Haworth picked up two HiP at NeoCon awards. One for its Fern chair in the workplace task seating category, and Drum Collection in the hospitality lounge seating category.

Geiger, a Herman Miller subsidiary, won a Best of NeoCon Gold award in the casegoods category for Geiger Rhythm.

Nemschoff, a Herman Miller company, earned a Best of NeoCon Gold award in the healthcare patient seating category for its Ava Recliner. The recliner also won a HiP award in Health & Wellness Furniture Category.

Ninety Best of NeoCon awards were distributed in the competition of contract furnishing products.

Herman Miller’s Plex Lounge Furniture earned a HiP award in the workplace seating/lounge category and a #MetropolisLikes award. It’s SpotStools won a HiP award in the hospitality seating category.

The two global companies weren’t the only Holland-area players to make the trip to Chicago. Symbiote, Inc., of Zeeland, has been an exhibitor for more than 20 years. Holland Bar Stool, of Holland, has attended for a few years.

Symbiote focuses on “furniture for innovative work,” said Bob Kubasiak, quoting the company’s tagline.

But it’s not office furniture, it’s lab furniture for life sciences, high tech and aerospace work.

Kubasiak said the company develops furniture that’s non-office and non-home.

This year’s NeoCon display focus was a life sciences or high tech lab that introduced the new Ergostat Pro electric height adjustable table, he said.

“NeoCon has always been a main show for us,” Kubasiak said. “There’s no one big thing that you walk out with — it allows you to connect between sales reps, users and distribution dealers. It helps maintain that consistent connection. You need to be there to show that you’re still around. The bottom line is legitimacy in the market.”

Holland Bar Stool has expanded outside of stools since its inception about 20 years ago, said Terry Burns, assistant manager. The company provides customized clocks, canvas art, outdoor seating, pool tables, air hockey and more.

Burns said NeoCon opens doors for the company by giving access to a cross section of distributors, retailers, customers and designers.

NeoCon has more than 1 million square feet of exhibition space between four floors. There are nearly 500 exhibitors and more than 100 seminars.

(Source: hollandsentinel.com)