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New product for fire stations, camps and shelters offers superior durability and versatility at an affordable price.
West Chicago, IL–– Norix Group, a leading provider of heavy-duty commercial furniture, has developed a new model of steel bed to expand its Protégé line of steel dorm furniture. The Protégé ™ NextGen steel bed is ideal for fire stations, camps and shelters because of its robust steel construction, tool-less assembly, long service life and stylish design. Available as a single unit or bunkable, the all-steel Protégé™ NextGen model features an integrated headboard and footboard with graceful curved lines, and comes in a black powder-coated finish.
Steel beds are gaining in popularity over wood furniture in numerous types of dormitory-style living quarters because of the overwhelming threat of bedbug infestations. Identified as a “pest of significant public health importance” by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), bedbugs most often hide in the cracks and crevices of wood bed frames and standard mattresses. Norix steel beds, with no open seams or crevices, thwart bedbug infestations – which can be a costly problem for shelters and camps to manage. In addition, Norix offers an institutional-grade mattress to use in conjunction with the steel beds. The mattress features an antimicrobial nylon cover and bed bug-resistant inverted-seam construction.
With enhanced structural integrity, the Protégé™ NextGen steel bed can support loads up to 500 lbs with its fully welded end frames and mattress deck. The bed can be free standing or be anchored to the wall or floor with an optional attachment kit. The single units can be converted to bunk beds using the optional bunking kit that includes safety rails for both long sides, a ladder, tool-less connectors, wall anchoring bracket and instructions. The Protégé™ NextGen bunk bed system meets current guidelines established by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for bunk beds. As with other Norix steel beds, the Protégé™ Next Gen allows for the attachment of an optional under-bed store chest for secure storage of personal items.
“The Protégé™ NextGen line of steel beds was developed to respond to a growing need in the shelter market for a product that would provide long term value, easy maintenance, and be impervious to bedbugs,” said Ron Schram , Manager of Special Markets for Norix Group. “With most shelters strapped for development and operational monies, Protégé ™ NextGen provides a low cost product that will hold up for years and years of continuous use with minimal maintenance. And, with the proper institutional mattresses designed and manufactured to keep out bedbugs, extermination costs are virtually eliminated.”
The Protégé™ NextGen steel bed will be available as of Monday, April 15, with its official trade show debut in June at both the Salvation Army 2013 Congress for the Central Territory and the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions (AGRM) annual convention. Specifications and images for downloading can be found at: http://www.norix.com/protege-nextgen.asp.
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About Norix
Norix offers the most complete line of high-quality, durable furniture for challenging environments. For more than 25 years Norix has specialized in providing secure furnishings and fixtures for corrections, behavioral healthcare, transportation, educational institutions, fire/police stations, commercial facilities, shelters and military installations. The privately held company is headquartered in West Chicago, IL, with sales representatives and dealers throughout the U.S. In 2012, Norix launched Safe Environments a news and information blog serving architects, designers, administrators and facility managers involved in the design, construction and operation of challenging environments. For more information, call 630.957.4433 or visit: www.norix.com.
