Height-adjustable desks (HAT) have been confirmed as one of the fastest growing segments in the global office furniture business, with growth outpacing that of office desks and the office furniture sector as a whole.
Originating in Scandinavia several years ago,
height- adjustable desks began to expand in Central Europe during the last
decade. But it's only in recent years that HAT has made its presence felt in
North America. Almost all the major players in the industry worldwide have
introduced sit- stand desk collections, and these products are also becoming
visible at the retail level (including e-commerce and large retailing
surfaces).
According to CSIL estimates, global
consumption of HAT amounted to US$3.5 billion in 2023, with double-digit
cumulative growth over the last five years. This strong evolution has led these
desks to account for more than a quarter of global office desk consumption, and
market forecasts are expected to remain positive for 2024 and 2025. Sales of
height-adjustable furniture continue to grow in North America, but the share of
total desks sold is lower than in Europe, with its stronger worker protection
laws, which often require height-adjustable options. In the vast majority of
Asia- Pacific countries, the use of HAT is quite limited, with the exception of
South Korea and Australia.
The global supply of HAT bases and mechanisms
is driven by a limited number of manufacturers with a global presence. Leading
companies are mainly based in Europe and China, but also have manufacturing and
assembly facilities in North America. A large proportion of the suppliers of
height-adjustable desk components in North America are from outside the
continent, mainly European and Asian companies that have set up warehouses and
factories in the US to supply the industry.
It is worth noting that companies are
introducing HAT desks not only in workstations, but also in common areas where
people can eat, take a break or even hold short meetings. Usually, this type of
combination consists of several small desks that are independently connected
and have a single motor per position. Recent trends show that HAT collections
are increasingly moving outside the traditional office domain, especially in
education and home offices.
Courtesy of
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