By Mark Lewis, consultant to Colebrook Bosson and Saunders (CBS) Products Ltd as ML Design and production 1987-93
Die cast aluminium, stainless steel, injection moulded plastic and rubber are formed into the engineered components of VDU and screen supports, the then disk drive baskets, keyboard supports, foot rests, screen filters and printer stands: the range of computer and word processor accessories offer their users ergonomic benefits, simplicity of use and durability.
The Bolton Arm and other products in the range were developed in response to the increased awareness of health problems incurred in office environments. These are ailments such as repetitive strain injuries that paralyse arms and hands, and other problems that are a direct result of bad posture at the workstation and the effects of prolonged periods of use of VDU’s
The European Community Council Directive 90/270/EEC insisted on minimum safety requirements for work with display screen equipment. In the early 90’s Colebrook Bosson and Saunders, a partnership of designers and architects, formed themselves into a product-based company, designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing products that would accessorise workstations to facilitate the directive.
Mark had spent previous years working with Project Office Furniture, one of the largest furniture manufacturing companies in Europe, developing its marketing initiatives. He was also involved with the product development there.
Able to bring to CBS his experience and understanding of the specifics of what was required to bolt a VDU arm onto a desk, and understanding that each existing office furniture range in the market place had a different requirement for a fixing bracket design for it to work, Mark was able to implement the research required and determine the variations for each to be applied to the arm component.
It was this that then led CBS to further enhance their offer to the market place. Mark’s involvement with the company was short lived but profound enough to help set their ball rolling for them to become a key player in the theatre of the ergonomic screen and office workplace accessory market.
Colebrook Bosson Saunders is now an international cooperation of designers, manufacturers, and worldwide distributers of award winning ergonomic IT products. They continue to develop new solutions to meet new challenges including an iPod holder and tablet stand, along with a comprehensive range of AV stands.
http://www.lewisdesignlondon.com/1993/06/01/office-environment/