Project description
An office desk that helps workers take a stand
The impacts of today’s sedentary lifestyle may be well-documented (long periods of sitting and elevated risk of illness or injury), but people are not getting up and moving as much as they should. This is especially true for today’s office workers, who spend 75 % of their working day sitting. The EU-funded Archimede project is bringing to market height-adjustable desks with a spring mechanism so that workers can sit and stand while working. These tables are fitted with a special spring precisely designed for this project, micro-regulation mechanisms paired with a hexagonal torsion bar, a unique application of linear rails with ball bearings, and a tilting countertop. The aim of the sit-to-stand desk is to improve the health and well-being of users.
Objective
Recent evidence has shown that a sedentary lifestyle is associated with muscoskeletal disorders, obesity, increased risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease, and cancer. In Europe, 24.5% of the adult population is not physically active, and this is partly caused by sedentary occupations in which workers sit for many hours every day. Around 3 million deaths/year are due to physical inactivity worldwide, and the global cost of sedentary lifestyles is estimated at €43.7 billion in direct health care and €11.3 billion in lost productivity.
Height adjustable desks allow the user to work, write and read on the same desk while sitting or standing. Many studies have shown that these tables are effective at reducing whole body discomfort, plus back and neck pain; they improve productivity and the mood, and also increase blood levels of HDL, while decreasing glucose and triglycerides levels, waist circumference, body mass index, and the risk of heart disease.
Mara is the only European company offering height adjustable desks with a spring mechanism. These tables are based on four key innovations: a bespoke Archimedes spring, micro-regulation mechanisms paired with a hexagonal torsion bar, a unique application of linear rails with ball bearings, and a tilting countertop mechanism. These technical solutions guarantee silent, smooth, and fast movements, imperceptible micro-regulations, and a totally safe use. The exclusive tilting mechanism allows the rotation of the desks’ countertop to a vertical position for easier storage, transport, and repositioning.
Mara’s sit-to-stand desks improve the health and wellbeing of its users, thus reducing the costs and burden of prolonged sitting-related health issues for national health systems, businesses, and society. The company has been on the furniture market since 1960. Since 2010, Mara has focused on the production of a limited number of chairs and tables of very high quality, foldable, and with specialized mechanical part
Fields of science
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsproduction economicsproductivity
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseases
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncology
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencesnutritionobesity
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinenephrologykidney diseases
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1Coordinator
25050 BRESCIA
Italy
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.