Steelcase Sees Productivity and Environmental Benefits from OptiLedge

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Steelcase, Inc., one of the nation’s leading providers of office environment solutions, is deploying the OptiLedge from OptiLogistics, Inc., marketer of innovative transport packaging systems, to ship selected furniture products to dealers and direct customers from its plant here. The move to the OptiLedge, which was tested for several months, is providing Steelcase with improved shipping efficiency and reducing the company’s impact on the environment.

Steelcase previously used 10 different wooden pallets to ship office desk tops and tables, and dealers or end users typically discarded these pallets after the furniture was unpacked. In addition to the cost of disposal shouldered by the dealer or the customer, the prior system required extra space at the Steelcase facility to store the pallets and caused cleanliness issues throughout the supply chain.

“We see the OptiLedge system as a solution to many of our unit load challenges, giving us increased productivity at our plant and greater efficiency through our supply chain. As a result of the move we have been able to reduce the types of pallets we use from 10 to three, which in itself saves us in procurement costs, warehouse space and maintenance resources,” said Dennis Carlson, Logistics Manager, Technical Distribution and Operations, Steelcase. “We are also pleased that the OptiLedge enables us to reduce out environmental footprint, which is one of Steelcase’s corporate goals.”

Carlson added that Steelcase is now evaluating the use of the OptiLedge for several other product lines, and is considering using the solution in additional plants both domestically and abroad.

The OptiLedge solution features a unique “L”-shaped unit load platform alternative, machines for manufacturing the OptiLedge; machines for assembling unit-loads and the technology for the efficient handling, transport and storage of unitized product. The OptiLedge team is working with Steelcase and its partners to optimize the transport of the unitized furniture loads through to the end users, including the deployment of packaging experts to help engineer the assembly and transportation processes.

“Steelcase is a premier company in the important office furniture industry, so the fact they are relying on the OptiLedge solution to move their products to dealers and direct customers speaks volumes about the impact our system is having for users. We are also committed to working with retailers to ensure the OptiLedge solution provides them with the transport tools they need,” said Jeff Lamb, Vice President of Business Development at OptiLogistics.

About Steelcase
Steelcase, the global leader in the office furniture industry, helps people have a better work experience by providing products, services and insights into the ways people work. The company designs and manufactures architecture, furniture and technology products. Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Steelcase (NYSE:SCS) serves customers through approximately 13,000 employees and dealers at over 550 locations worldwide. Fiscal 2007 revenue was $3.1 billion.

About OptiLogistics, Inc.
OptiLogistics, Inc. is a marketer of the OptiLedge unit load shipping system applicable in a variety of industries including furniture, home improvement, consumer and business electronics, appliances and a wide range of other consumer and industrial product markets. The OptiLedge solution is comprised of unit load devices and systems for efficient unitization that facilitates transport and storage to significantly reduce cost and waste throughout the supply chain. OptiLogistics, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Inter IKEA Systems Holding B.V. in The Netherlands, which is the mother company of Inter IKEA Systems B.V., owner and franchiser of the IKEA concept worldwide.

Media Contact:
Jeff Lamb
OptiLogistics
214.597.5042
jeff.lamb@optilogistics.com