What is a remanufactured cubicle?

Remanufactured or refurbished cubicles typically have a combination of new and used components. Typically, you can expect that every thing you can see is new, been repainted or has new fabric. Normally, a fully refurbished cubicle will cost 20 to 30 percent less than used.

Advantages of refurbished cubicles are:

1. Quick lead time - usually 2 to 3 weeks
2. "Green" solution - re-used panels and other components
3. Choice of colors, finishes and fabrics
4. Cost savings from new
5. Similarly priced add-on components for future use
6. Any size and height available

There may be a few disadvantages to refurbished versus new. For instance, the price differential narrows or disappears on larger jobs as the manufacturers of new cubicles get more aggressive with pricing. Also, there are limited choices available for refurbishing. Newer systems are not available in ample quantities to be used as raw materials for refurbishing. The most common systems available include:

1. Herman Miller Action Office
2. Haworth Unigroup
3. Steelcase Avinir
4. Teknion TOS

What components are typically new, used or refurbished?

1. Panels - New fabric.
2. Panel Trim and Top Caps - Repainted or new.
3. Base trim - Repainted, new or occasionally used
4. Overhead Cabinets - New Fabric, Repainted or new
5. Lights - Repainted
6. Pedestals (filing) - Repainted or new
7. Worksurfaces - New or Used
8. Electrical - New or Used

Make sure to ask your refurbisher what items are new, used or refurbished. The more used (or as-is) components there are, the more you will need to see the product before purchasing. Also, the lower the price should be. Some try to just put new fabric on a used cubicle and call it refurbished. I call this a "refabricked" cubicle.

Finally, ask to see an installation before you buy. This can give you a good idea of the quality of the vendor's work.

Scott R. Kline
Smart Interiors, Inc.