BRETFORD LAUNCHES EDU 2.0TM EDUCATION FURNITURE SYSTEM FOR CONNECTED LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
System Addresses Mobile Technology and Power Needs for Staying Connected; Shipping in March; First Line to Achieve CarbonNeutralA® Product Certification; Shown at TCEA 2012
CHICAGO — February 8, 2012 — The classroom experience is no longer passive — and there’s more than one way to learn. Because technology used in education is constantly changing, it is critical for schools to be able to accommodate these changes. For this reason, Bretford Manufacturing, Inc., today announced its EDU 2.0â„¢ system of smart, flexible furniture that supports technology for 21st century learning, is available for order starting February 20 and will begin shipping within 20 business days. The complete line, which is comprised of tables, desks, presenters, and seating products with countless power and design options, is among the first in the contract furniture industry to achieve CarbonNeutralA® product certification for a greener school supply chain and healthier learning environment. Bretford will show many of the EDU 2.0 furniture products in its 30′ x 30′ booth (#2365) during TCEA, February 8-10 in Austin, Texas.
“Technology keeps changing the way ideas are shared — it allows for learning to happen anywhere,” explained Chris Petrick, CEO for Bretford Manufacturing, Inc. “The integration of mobility devices into schools has evolved the way teaching and learning occurs, but many schools haven’t been updated to accommodate this technology. EDU 2.0 furniture provides the necessary connection.”
“Bretford has been at the forefront of recognizing the paradigm shift in education and how the support for technology-enabled learning requires new ways of designing and furnishing learning spaces,” explained Dr. Tim Springer, president and founder of Human Environmental Research Organization — HERO, Inc. “Bretford uses evidence-based practices, and absorbs and integrates the latest thinking and relevant research into its process better than any manufacturer. The grand result is the first of its kind: the EDU 2.0 furniture line for education.” In the Bretford booth during TCEA, Springer will present mini sessions on mobile learning based on a new, collaborative iPaper entitled “Mobility & Learning in the Digital Age.”
CarbonNeutralA® Product Certification/Sustainability
As part of its dedication to taking care of the environment, the complete EDU 2.0 line is among the first in the contract furniture industry to receive CarbonNeutralA® product certification. As a result, Bretford is working towards reducing its carbon footprint to net zero through a combination of internal efficiencies and external carbon offsets. This means that choosing the EDU 2.0 products allows educators to have healthier learning environments with furniture that is made using low-carbon production processes that help green their supply chain. Bretford has also earned CarbonNeutralA® Company Certification. And many of the products in the EDU 2.0 line are pending GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) certification and Children & SchoolsSM product certification for low-emitting products.
EDU 2.0’s New Finish Offering
Bretford is using new manufacturing processes and techniques in its U.S.-based production facilities to not only offer the updated aesthetics shown in the design of the EDU 2.0 line, but also to streamline production. Bretford has expanded its standard finish palette offering to include a comprehensive selection of standard laminate, veneer, paint, and trim options that can be mixed and matched to achieve a look that fits in perfectly with the school space.
PowermatA® Technologies Preferred Partner
Bretford has been selected as a preferred Powermat Technologies partner for the education market. The wireless power technology transforms the EDU 2.0 furnishings into readily accessible, invisible power stations. Powermat’s inductive coupling model for energy transfer eliminates wires, cords and hassle. It senses when a device is fully charged and halts power delivery effectively eliminating energy waste. And, it is backed by a one-year warranty. It is convenient and universal for students and educators and gives them technology at their fingertips so the focus is on learning instead of worrying about the battery life of the electronic components.
EDU 2.0 Products
Products in the new EDU 2.0 line include:
• EXPLOREâ„¢ T-Leg Computer and Collaborative Laptop Tables
• EXPLOREâ„¢ Flip and Nest Table
• EXPLOREâ„¢ 4-Leg SCALE-UP Active Learning, Voltea Computer Tables and Activity Tables
• EXPLOREâ„¢ Pedestal Base Café and MOTIVâ„¢ Occasional Tables
• EXPLOREâ„¢ Chair and Stool
• Instructor Tech Desk
• Mobile File Storage Ped
• Presentation Shuttle
• Mobile Interactive Whiteboard
• MOTIVâ„¢ Modular Soft Seating
• MOTIVâ„¢ Freestanding Soft Seating
For more information on Bretford’s EDU 2.0 line of products and to uncover new learning resources, please visit
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About Bretford Manufacturing, Inc.
Bretford is a manufacturer of furniture for both classroom and work environments. Founded in 1948 and headquartered in Franklin Park, Ill., Bretford Manufacturing, Inc. holds more than six decades of expertise dedicated solely to the design and manufacture of sustainable furniture solutions that are made in the U.S.A. With nearly 350 employees and 450,000 square feet of production space, the company offers smart furniture designs that support evolving technology, enabling institutions, organizations and corporations to increase productivity and efficiency. Bretford’s superior workmanship and environmentally-compliant manufacturing and operation practices ensure dependable products, many of which are GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality CertifiedA®. Bretford is a CarbonNeutralA® certified company and its EDU 2.0 line is among the first in the contract furniture industry to achieve CarbonNeutralA® product certification. Bretford products are backed by a 12-year standard warranty and the industry’s best 20-year standard warranty on library furniture.
