Creating the First Office Partitions without Formaldehyde
Working with SoundTech, Inc., has strengthened JM's reputation as an innovator in indoor air quality. In 2004, the two companies launched a new venture with the goal of developing the very first office partition on the market made without formaldehyde. The project began when SoundTech's client, a leading office-furniture manufacturer, identified growing interest and a large potential market for low-emission office products.
What the furniture manufacturer was after was a thin rigid board with a sleek, contemporary look and superior acoustical qualities. Meeting these requirements with a product that does not contain formaldehyde took the team 18 months of continuous development and testing. "Everyone had a vision for completing this project and as a team we made it happen," explains SoundTech president Amy Sparks. "Boundaries were pushed, obstacles were overcome—it was truly a collaborative effort and it created a framework for success that would be repeated many times."
JM's first big breakthrough was producing a workable prototype using a water-based acrylic binder. Next, the JM team worked with SoundTech and its OEM customer to develop the concept and design of the partitions. In the end, the new product the team created did precisely what the furniture manufacturer wanted. It met the same standards for durability and acoustics as other products in the category, plus it eliminated formaldehyde emissions. And because the new product was naturally white, the sheer fabrics covering the board had a truer color with fewer color tone differences.
SoundTech has counted on JM as a development partner for nearly all of its 22 years in business. "The relationship is key with JM," Sparks points out. "They're truly an extension of our business and the free exchange of information we enjoy is critical to our mutual success. When you have a supply chain partner you trust to always work with you and never compete against you, both entities can really open up new opportunities for growth. JM has helped us win a lot of new business with OEMs this way. They step up and really go the extra mile for us."
