Decades Of Computer Experience Bolster Hergo’s Furniture & Enclosure Options
Agility
is a valuable trait for any enterprise, but in the IT industry, it’s
generally required to successfully traverse the constantly changing
technology landscape. Companies unable to adjust to this change
inevitably fall by the wayside, but Hergo tapped into its roots to
build a foundation that helped the company become a premier provider of
computer furniture and rackmount enclosures.
Hertz Computer
Corp. launched in 1982 as one of the first companies to sell IBM PC
clones. But as Gateway, Compaq, and Dell seized increasingly larger
shares of the PC market, Hertz grew obsolete as its sister company,
Hergo Ergonomic Support Systems - more commonly known simply as
Hergo - gained momentum. With a history of selling and implementing
hardware and software to Fortune 500 companies, the move toward
designing, building, and selling IT furniture seemed natural.
"As
computers became smaller, there became a need for a type of furniture
that would hold this micro equipment,” says Lisa Cunningham, assistant
vice president of sales for Hergo (888/222-7270; www.hergo.com).
“Remember, prior to that time, there was no need for furniture because
everyone was connected to a huge mainframe. I remember going to the New
York Stock Exchange and [to] many large companies, where I saw that
they were actually starting to put smaller computers on the mainframe
because they didn’t have any other place to put them.”
Before
long, computers, monitors, and keyboards were sitting on floors and
dilapidated tables because ergonomic and space-saving solutions had yet
to make an appearance in the market. Along came Hergo and its
“technical furniture,” which helped to create a booming ergonomic
business that found initial success in the early 1990s and continues
today.
An Eye Toward Quality
Hergo
offers a wide range of furniture options, from open racks, relay racks,
and enclosures to flat-panel arms, computer desks, and cable management
products. According to Cunningham, Hergo’s computer background gives it
the ability to create unique and innovative designs that are
user-friendly.
“When it comes to the 19-inch racks and
enclosures, we put a great deal of focus on the smaller details, such
as the cable and power management options and where the grommets are
placed on the cabinet. We are very conscious of what the buyer needs to
run an efficient system, because we do not just look at it from a
‘furniture’ perspective. We know the technical aspects and understand
the needs of technology-driven businesses,” she explains.
Hergo’s
products are built to withstand the rigors of everyday office use.
According to Cunningham, Hergo assumes that hundreds of people will use
the structures for years to come, and as such, the company performs
regular weight testing and quality-assurance checks to ensure the
products are solid and reliable. Further, all of its steel products are
powder-coated, while its 19-inch mounting rails are zinc-plated. All of
Hergo’s steel products include a lifetime warranty against defects in
materials and workmanship.
The company’s open racking systems
feature a wide range of interchangeable, standard parts that give
companies the ability to tailor their furniture to even the most
complex environments. These system parts include frames, legs,
desktops, shelves (mounting, tilted, monitor track, and book), storage
compartments, modesty panels, casters and gliders, bracket kits,
seismic shock-support brackets, drawers, and file cabinets.
Multiple
choices also exist in Hergo’s selection of flat-panel monitor arms,
which can be pivoted up, down, left, or right; moved up and down posts;
extended in and out; or attached directly to a wall. Arms are available
for desk-secure mount or gas activation or for wall mount, and the
company also offers short-reach wall mounts that tilt/pivot and include
fingertip adjustment.
In addition to high product quality,
customer service is also a priority at Hergo. “The customer is always
right,” Cunningham says. “We never leave an issue unresolved. We don’t
just stop at the sale - the post-sale is just as critical if not more so... Most people these days want their product yesterday. Because we
control the manufacturing, we are able to prioritize customers on a
need basis.”
Those principles have helped Hergo to stock an
impressive stable of customers, including Citibank, Verizon, Google,
the Department of Defense, NASA, Harvard University, The New York Times, CBS, General Motors, and IBM.
Furniture In The Future
The
challenging economy continues to place substantial burdens on IT
companies of every size and scope, but the presence of computers
remains. With those computers comes a need for placement and comfort,
in turn giving Hergo a good chance to weather the rough storm.
"Unfortunately,
the whole economy is downsizing. With the innovation of computers and
increased technology, fewer systems and less manpower are needed. But
computers are here to stay. Computer furniture is a vital need, and it
certainly is not going away. Square footage is at a premium, so the
need for vertical racking is stronger than ever, but budgets are tight.
Therefore, we have to work harder to produce a cost-effective
product/solution, but we are up to the task,” Cunningham says.
In
the future, Hergo plans to introduce additions to its lineup that
include new and improved flat-panel monitor arms, motorized
height-adjustable workstations, trading desks, and technical work
benches. The company also plans to expand its mobile card product line.
“We will keep taking our customer feedback and offering what
we know is needed,” Cunningham says. “The economy is eventually going
to turn around. The first-rate companies with the quality product
solutions that persevere will be here when the budget constraints
loosen and IT spending resumes. As has been the case for close to two
decades, customers can depend on Hergo to be here when the smoke
clears.” 
by Christian Perry for 
.