Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm 616-532-0500 Request A Quote

Softcare (Steelcase), Outlook Nikko

April 12th, 2017 by Ima Admin

Our client had difficulty sanitizing this piece due to exposed wood grain, seating structure, and ripped material. We restored it to better-than-new condition for about half the cost of new.

Problems to Solve

  • Infection prevention problem with exposed wood grain
  • Very difficult to clean in between seats
  • Material worn and ripped in several places
  • Parts missing or broken

Our Solutions

  • Wood arms were replaced with new foam and PVC-free vinyl
  • Seat cushions were steamed to revive the foam for better patient comfort
  • Every nut and bolt was tightened and / or replaced, and all nut inserts were replaced with a pronged t-nut for greater strength
  • MSRP on this piece is $3,998. R3S revived this piece for under $1,100.
  • Nurses were thrilled about the new aesthetic and PVC-free vinyl material
  • Each piece is given a product tag that supplies manufacturer, part number, R3S part number, material used, and date of remanufacture.

Steelcase Health, Mineral Recliner

April 12th, 2017 by Ima Admin

This faded, chipped chair posed comfort, sanitization, and aesthetic issues. We “renewed and improved”  it with new foam, powder-coating, and PVC-free vinyl.

Problems

  • Nurses complaining about the aesthetics
  • Infection prevention problem with exposed wood grain
  • Difficult to clean
  • Seat cushion was failing and causing patients discomfort
  • Material was worn and ripped in several places
  • Paint was chipped or faded
  • Parts were missing or broken

 Our Solutions

  • Wood arms were recovered with new foam and PVC-free vinyl
  • Seat cushion was replaced with new foam for better patient comfort
  • Old foam was recycled
  • Faded paint was powder-coated for longer durability
  • Every nut and bolt was tightened and / or replaced if missing
  • This customer saved $1,175 on this chair
  • Long-term plan is to revive this piece at at least one more cycle, resulting in almost $470,000 in total lifetime savings for all recliners in the hospital
  • Nurses were ecstatic about the new aesthetic and PVC-free vinyl material
  • Each piece is given a product tag that supplies manufacturer, part number, R3 part number, material used, and date of remanufacture

Local Dental Office

April 11th, 2017 by Ima Admin

This dental chair makeover saved the client 70% over new, included a new foam core, and featured Silica material for longevity and capacity to withstand sanitization.

Cost savings: Greater than a 70% savings over purchasing a new chair and that includes the purchase of a new seat core (foam and plastic).

Quick turnaround: One week turnaround on the complete office (10) chairs and (9) stools.

Longevity of the material

  • Silica, 365,000 double rubs
  • bleach cleanable with a 4:1 ratio compared to typical 10:1
  • Ink and stain resistant

Upgrades to original manufacturers design

  • Lock nuts to prevent loose seats after years of vibration
  • Plastic welding in some areas where plasic mold has cracked
  • Reduced seams for better cleaniliness and new/updated look

Learn about LEED credit for reupholstery projects

March 23rd, 2017 by Ima Admin

PostImg_1_750x500R-3 Solutions can help your commercial or medical facility meet green interior standards and earn LEED credit through material selection. Many of our reupholstery fabrics are certified with GreenGuard, which has established performance-based standards to define products and processes with low chemical and particle emissions for use indoors. The standards are primarily for building materials, finishes, interior furnishings, and furniture. The standards establish certification procedures including test methods, allowable emission levels, product sample collection and handling, testing type and frequency as well as program application processes, toxicity limits and acceptance.

LEED credit is designated by the US Green Building Council, and can apply to indoor renovations, especially where R-3 Solutions is engaged in recycling the spent components. Reuse, materials with recycled content that meet GreenGuard standards, and localization of source all go toward acheivement of LEED credit. Read more from the US Green Building Council on Furniture and Medical Furnishing credit.
Read the rest of this entry »


What’s the Secret to Antimicrobial Materials?

December 22nd, 2015 by Ima Admin

PostImg_2_750x500According to the “textbook” definition, antimicrobial fabrics and textiles are fiber-based substrates to which antimicrobial agents have been applied at the surface, or incorporated into the fibers, rendering a product that kills or inhibits the growth of microorganisms.

Several formulations available in a wide range of woven textiles and vinyls or polyurethane alternatives to vinyl are based on the bactericidal nature of silver. Examples include CF Stinson’s popular Agion line for healthcare settings.

Nano Technology Applied:

Another silver-based antimicrobial product is called Nanocide, and uses a treatment process whereby nanoscale silver particles are embedded into the material. The smaller the silver particles, the more silver ions they emit and the more unwelcome microbes are eliminated. Silver-enhanced antimicrobial products actively inhibit bacterial growth and show a 99.9% reduction in test microbes and common bacteria. Nanocide can be found in fabrics such as Nanotex, with similar technology applied to Crypton’s Green institutional and health care coverings.

Hi Ho Silver:

Another popular silver-based antimicrobial covering suited for use in healthcare settings, is SilverTex vinyl, coated with Silverguard topcoat, and available locally at our favorite textile supplier. Silver ions engineered into the unique chemistry of Silverguard are highly effective against bacteria because they destroy microorganisms through multiple paths. Silverguard attacks the bacteria cell wall, disrupts protein metabolism within the cell, and forms complexes with other biomolecules in the cell to alter cell functions. These ions are slowly released out of their inorganic matrix in the presence of moisture. Silverguard is released as needed to effectively control bacterial growth while leaving sufficient quantities of Silverguard to retain antibacterial protection.

So, there’s no shortage of silver-impregnated textiles and vinyls to choose from for any commercial, institutional or healthcare setting. But how do you know which one to use? Contact us to discuss the architectural characteristics of each fabric type. In the healthcare and commercial environment, durability goes a long way to offering protection.

 

 


Recycling Foam: Reducing waste one job at a time!

December 22nd, 2015 by Ima Admin

PostImg_3_750x500500 – 5,000 years! How Much Have You Thrown Away?

R3 Solutions is pleased to be in partnership with Comfort Research, a Grand Rapids soft furnishing manufacturer, to recycle foam from our reupholstery and remanufacturing work. That’s because each seat cushion that gets thrown away is the equivalent of 3 cubic feet of foam, and can take hundreds of years to degrade in the landfill. Through our partnership, we’re diverting a literal mountain of foam from landfills across West Michigan.

Comfort Research – Innovators of the “Fuf”

So what happens to your recycled foam when we part ways in the shop? Sterilization and shredding are in its future to fill a line of “funtastic” soft products that utilize 100% post-consumer shredded polyethene foam, including Comfort Research’s hallmark product, the Fuf.

Comfort ResearchComfort Research's "Believe in Yourself" ottoman is an item from it's Sunshine on a Rainy Day line of charity chairs. believes that making an earth friendly product is not just the sustainable thing to do, it’s the right thing to do. To that end, they’ve developed long lasting UltimaX beans from 80% post-consumer recycled content, UltimaX fiber from recycled soda bottles in pet bed lines, and use 100% post-consumer shredded polyethene foam in the Fuf seating line – All which are 100% recyclable!

The company produces a full line of soft furnishings beyond the Fuf, including the “Big Joe” alternative bean bag chair, to “Sunshine on a Rainy Day” motivational ottomons, cube chairs and flip chairs. Check out their product line here to go green: https://buybigjoe.com

Read more to learn about the backstory of the company founded by two Hope College students. Read the rest of this entry »