gen² Frequently Asked Questions

What is gen²
gen² is a brand of superior quality, high performance furniture that is manufactured, remanufactured and/or assembled by National Office. This includes products that are manufactured at our other locations under the exacting and exclusive specifications of National Office.

gen² is defined as "highest quality at affordable pricing utilizing the latest Eco-Friendly technology".

gen² brand office furniture offers significantly more in style, finish options, features, performance and overall bottom line value compared to our competitors.

gen² is a registered trademark of National Office.

What products are included under the gen² brand?
The gen² brand line of office furniture presently includes hybrid workstations, files, ergonomic seating, freestanding desk systems, prestigious executive furniture, floor-to-ceiling hybrid panel systems, conference and training tables.

Is Steelcase the only brand you use for gen² Hybrid Workstations?
Yes. Historically, Steelcase was the true innovator of the open-plan office furniture system with a sustainable life cycle and superior engineering. Utilizing only Steelcase products in conjunction with exclusive gen² product, extends, expands and elevates the gen² Hybrid workstation to an unequaled level of quality and versatility.

Is the gen² Hybrid only available as a workstation?
Yes. It is generally not economical or practical to remanufacture, for example, a chair, desk or file. National Office can manufacture, under the gen² Office Furniture brand, a higher quality factory original product with more cost efficiency than to refurbish these items individually.

Is the gen² Hybrid Workstation just a fancy word for remanufactured?
No. The National Office gen² Hybrid is the culmination of almost 40 years of office furniture refurbishing technology. It is DEFINITELY NOT the same remanufactured furniture as that produced by the competition. gen² represents the state-of-the-art technology in hybrid office furniture production. It is a premium product that delivers premium performance and value for discriminating office furniture buyers.

Specific areas of differentiation include...

1. We use only select used Steelcase products. Rejected Steelcase products are recycled into new steel.
2. The new gen² parts and products which are used in conjunction with the Steelcase products are manufactured to exacting specifications, which meet or exceed the OEM specifications with regard to quality and Eco-friendly manufacturing processes.
3. The gen² Hybrid is offered in a virtually endless selection of configurations, fabrics, laminates and finishes.

What is a hybrid workstation and panel system?
The gen² Hybrid Workstation is the re-utilization of select Steelcase Avenir* or 9000 Series* workstations that are remanufactured together with new gen² parts, panel trim, pedestals, worksurfaces and finishes.

gen² Hybrid Workstations benefit the environment through recycling and provide the end user with a high quality, functional and sustainable workstation at an affordable price.

(*Avenir and 9000 Series are registered trademarks of Steelcase Corporation.)

How does gen² brand Hybrid furniture differ from factory original?
gen² brand Hybrid workstations are actually better than factory original. We can offer a broader diversity of paint and finish choices, a greater array of fabric and laminate options, and more easily customize a look...and that's just the beginning.

All parts and surfaces are produced from either remanufactured factory original pieces or manufactured new by National Office using state-of-the-art equipment and carefully integrated into the finished piece.

gen² brand Hybrid workstations start with the quality of factory original, then significantly enhances the baseline quality with new elements to produce a finished workstation that is truly synergistically better than factory original.

What is the ecological impact of gen² Hybrid workstations?
The environmental impact is significant. As with the purchase of any product containing some percentage of recycled product or components, the direct and indirect ecological savings are far-reaching.

From a corporate responsibilities standpoint, purchasing gen² brand Hybrid furniture produces numerous tangible environmental benefits...

• It helps reduce air pollution
• It helps reduce raw materials depletion
• It helps reduce intake at solid waste landfills
• It helps reduce energy consumption

In summary, buying gen² brand Hybrid workstations is an eco-sensible and eco-responsible alternative to purchasing new. Beyond the environmental-savings, there is also a significant purchase-price savings to owners versus factory original.

Do older National Office parts fit on gen² brand Hybrid workstations?
In most cases, the newer gen² brand piece will fit perfectly with older National Office produced pieces. The only difference occurs when there has been a model change or similar design alteration introduced by Steelcase.

Is there a warranty difference between gen² and older products?
There is no difference whatsoever in the warranties.

Who sells gen² Office Furniture and Hybrid Workstations?
In Northern Ohio, National Office is the exclusive dealer for gen² brand Office Furniture and Hybrid Workstations. gen² product is also available through authorized dealers located in most markets throughout the United States.