Product Watch: Self-Stabilising Table with FLAT® Inside
Taking the wobble out of wood – and bringing stability to British pubs
UK-based FLAT Technologies Ltd and Carlick Contract Furniture Ltd are pleased to announce the launch – and inaugural installations – of the world’s first wooden, self-stabilising table base with alignment technology: the ‘Wellington’. Utilising FLAT’s award-winning technology, located in the table base, the Wellington doesn’t wobble on uneven surfaces and it allows users to perfectly align multiple table tops. The table provides a solution to two major problems that pubs, bars and restaurants worldwide all suffer – table stability and alignment.
The launch of the new table bases has made an immediate impact. One of the UK’s largest pub chains has recently had the technology installed at a number of locations, with more planned.
Patrons at these establishments can expect to not have their drinks spill due to wobbly tables, meaning the chain benefits from improved customer satisfaction and their staff no longer have to waste time propping up tables with unsightly beer mats or dealing with related customer complaints.
Neil Harrison, Carlick Managing Director, commented: “Carlick has always pioneered the use of innovative technologies, designs, materials and finishes, and in many cases we have been ‘first to market’ with them. Our customers expect us to deliver quality, problem-solving products at affordable prices. The collaboration with FLAT has been exciting and we’re now able to manufacture quality wood tables that don’t wobble on uneven surfaces, which has been a real problem for not only pubs but also restaurants everywhere.”
FLAT has been selling their self-stabilising cast iron, stainless steel and aluminium table bases worldwide, providing a unique alternative to regular wobbly tables. Their collaboration with Carlick has resulted in their technology being integrated into wooden table bases for the first time bringing traditional base design and 21st century technology together.
The launch of Carlick’s Wellington table base has been equally as ground-breaking for FLAT. “Working with Carlick has opened up a host of new opportunities for both companies. Wooden table bases suffer from the same issues as their metal counterparts; they wobble,” said Mike Drake, Managing Director at FLAT. “We have been able to integrate our solution into other manufacturers’ base styles and materials via a licencing agreement. This adds tremendous value to our partners’ products and provides a tried and tested solution for their customers.”
Carlick were able to integrate FLAT’s technology into their wooden table base by working closely with FLAT’s engineering team. Ozcan Ozagir, Chief Operating Officer at FLAT, explained: “We provided Carlick with a patented clip called a PUK (Patented Undercarriage Key), which is fixed underneath the table base. The PAD (FLAT’s stabilising technology) then easily connects with the PUK and stays secure. The process was very straight forward and demonstrates that FLAT can be retro-fitted into some types of wooden table bases.”
Carlick’s self-stabilising table base is available in both dining and poseur heights. Bases can be made in different sizes and customers can even have their own custom design to suit their needs and style. Initial interest has come from the pub industry but the company is also receiving interest from restaurants and other eateries with uneven floors.
Contact Carlick Contract Furniture