Young Windows adopts mobile, height-adjustable workbenches

The products constructed by Conshohocken, Pa.-based Young Windows are always on the move. The company is a leading manufacturer of custom aluminum windows for specialized on-highway, off-highway, transit and marine vehicles—everything from public buses to heavy-duty excavating equipment.

Ironically, for a long time, the company’s assembly department was being held back by immobility. This department is where aluminum frames and locks, glass subcomponents and the glass plates themselves are brought together to produce the company’s final window product.

Until recently, the technicians responsible for assembling the windows were stationed at—literally—homemade benches that had been cobbled together out of large chunks of wood.

“[They were] the kind of benches you’d work on in your basement at home,” says Joseph Lepo, vice president of Young Windows. “Our old benches were far from user-friendly. And, they were extremely immobile. If we wanted to shift a workbench to another part of the department, we needed three men and a forklift to get the job done.”

The decision to replace the department’s antiquated wooden workbenches was simple. After seeing a sample Ergo-Line ergonomic workbench the purchasing decision was also simple.

“There were a number of key variables that guided our workbench decision-making process,” Lepo explains. “These included flexibility, mobility, ergonomic ease of use, improved lighting, aesthetics and rugged durability. We met with a regional distributor that specialized in this type of workstation, and they showed us a fully assembled Ergo-Line workbench that could meet all our needs.”

He continues, “We ended up purchasing 15 of these heavy-duty benches, each of was custom configured for our unique needs.”

The manufacturer took its traditional Ergo-Line bench and outfitted it for Young Windows with wheel casters for complete mobility. The length of the workbenches was increased from 6 feet to 8 feet, so they could be used with 36-inch-deep work surfaces to accommodate the large window assemblies, some of which are as large as 3 feet high by 6 feet long.

Ergonomic concerns were also at the forefront of Young Windows’ choice of the height-adjustable Ergo-Line workbenches. The company’s assembly department is home to 23 people over two shifts, with different sized people switching off on the same bench. Given the large dimensions of the window assemblies, keeping the entire job within easy reach of each person—while also eliminating potential stress and strain—was an essential goal.

Since reducing eye strain was also important to Lepo, each bench came equipped with the a conveniently located lighting accessory. In the previous manufacturing department, overhead lighting was suspended from the ceiling, producing inconsistent and often ineffective light. However, the workbench manufacturer’s lighting casts a uniform light that is positioned at a level above the work surface that makes it extremely unobtrusive.

“A uniform look was essential for us to convey a cohesive, high-quality image,” Lepo says. “The new workbenches in the assembly area allow us to maintain a cleaner, neater [and] more attractive shop, which creates a better corporate image, as well as a better work environment for our employees.”

He adds, “Since we’ve switched to the [manufacturer’s] workbenches, we’ve seen a clear increase in productivity, as well as improved product quality.”

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