How do you tell remanufactured workstations from new?

Fully remanufactured workstations are indistinguishable from new workstations, because all exterior surfaces are cosmetically replaced with brand new materials, using virtually the identical manufacturing processes used by the new furniture manufacturers.  However, customers may choose to accept partially remanufactured workstations with non-structural, minor blemishes on some product in exchange for even greater cost savings. 
We often say the only way you can tell the difference is by the price.  The manufacturers of new workstations must recoup their expenses for design, engineering, metal stamping, plastic-injection, robotics, raw materials and labor—which, of course, are rolled-in to the cost of new furnishings. Like in the automotive world, consumers of new furnishings experience rapid depreciation.  But, remanufacturers purchase fully depreciated workstations and incur no design, engineering, etc., costs.  Thus, our initial outlay for raw materials is low, enabling us to remanufacture and sell at substantial savings to consumers.

When comparing new vs. remanufactured furnishings, be sure to compare “apples for apples.”  Beck Office Systems only remanufactures top-of-the-line, grade A furnishings originally produced by the best new furniture vendors in the United States.  Our competition may try to sell you new grade B or C furniture of a lesser quality.  Their price may compare equitably, but new grade B or C furnishings can never hold up to the normal wear and tear that occurs in a typical office setting.  Remanufactured grade furniture, produced by Beck Office Systems, is a sturdy, durable, well-made product.  We invite you to our showroom for a side-by-side comparison!

Purchasing Power

Whenever companies downsize, remodel, or go out of business, they often have excess workstations that they want to dispose of.  Sometimes, these workstations are only one or two years old and in perfect condition.  Brokers, working nationwide, connect these sellers with companies such as ours who specialize in remanufacturing. We purchase large lots of used workstations, enabling us to procure “inventory” at the lowest cost possible.  We dismantle and inspect them before including them in our stock. Currently, we have over $7 million of formerly owned workstation components and related parts, standing ready for sale.

The Remanufacturing Process:

We are a “custom shop,” meaning we don’t start the remanufacturing process until our customer selects the trims, fabrics and laminates.  We pull from our stock the components needed for a customer’s specific layout. They’re re-inspected and then sent through various manufacturing processes:

• Fabric panels are reworked, with the old fabric being discarded, sound-deadening materials inspected and repaired if necessary, and then the new fabric chosen by the customer reapplied using the identical process employed by the original manufacturer.
• Work surfaces used by another customer are typically unacceptable for refurbishing and resale, so we typically don’t even try!  Instead, our customers receive brand-new, custom fabricated work surfaces, constructed with high-pressure laminate from quality vendors such as Wilsonart, Pionite and Nevamar.
• Trim pieces are cleaned, prepped, and treated to a new baked-on finish using paints specially formulated for the furniture refurbishing industry.  Old vinyl edging (a/k/a T-molding) is replaced with customer’s choice of color.
• Accessories, electrical components and specialty items, such as fabric cabinet fronts, flipper doors, task lighting and tack boards, are inspected, cleaned, repainted (if necessary).  New fabric in customer’s choice of colors is applied where indicated.
• Design details, cut-downs, and conference tables are fabricated in our custom furniture shop, utilizing the skills of our woodworking craftsmen.
• Assembly and installation occurs only after all components have been remanufactured and have met our quality standards.  Components are pre-assembled as much as possible to facilitate the installation process, thereby minimizing our time in your office.

Difference between AS-IS, Recycled and Remanufactured?

AS-IS: Usually this product is your best value option out of the three. This is used furniture that is ready for resale without any cosmetic improvements. This is usually ready to install with very little repair.

Recycled; This is when we add value to the furniture by touching up or painting the used furniture.

Remanufactured; This is product that is "Like-new". The product has been completely disassembled, inspected, cleaned, repaired/replaced, reassembled and refinished.