Ergotron Expands Education Initiative for Better Student Health and Development

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 31, 2016  /PRNewswire/ -- Despite a growing awareness of the importance of physical activity to both brain development and physical health, the traditional classroom setting has been slow to change and is not conducive to helping children remain active throughout the day. Determined in its mission to bridge the gap, Ergotron, Inc., a Nortek Company (NASDAQ: NTK), and global leader in the sit-stand workplace revolution and collaborative standing classrooms, is making significant strides to transform schools across the U.S. with a series of award-winning classroom products and an initiative aimed at increasing in-class physical activity to help improve students' overall health and academic performance.

"We view standing desks as the most effective and practical way of introducing movement into a student's day, and this is increasingly important as many schools are phasing out physical education programs and recess." explained Pete Segar, Ergotron CEO. "Furthermore, global research has shown height adjustable standing desks provide a collaborative and active classroom environment that can improve student attentiveness and concentration.  Standing desks are proven to not only promote greater metabolic health but also help create more engaged and on-task students."

Recently featured on The TODAY Show and CNN, Ergotron continues to help a growing number schools, including 360 High School (Providence, RI) convert classrooms into active learning environments where students stay more engaged. In February, Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo visited the high school alongside Ergotron and Nortek CEO Michael Clarke. Raimondo and Clarke addressed students and faculty about the importance of building a healthier generation of students. Nortek, a Providence-based company, is aligned with the Governor's belief that healthy students will play a key role in fueling Rhode Island's future economy.

Ergotron has also recently added additional classrooms to its roster of schools piloting standing desks:  Alexandria Country Day School (Alexandria, VA), West Broadway Middle School (Providence, RI), Hialeah Gardens Middle School (Hialeah Gardens, Fla.) and M.S. 328 Manhattan Middle School for Scientific Inquiry (New York, NY), to expand upon the original list of schools equipped with Ergotron award-winning LearnFit^® Adjustable Standing Desks since 2014. To learn more and hear firsthand from teachers and students about their experience, visit Ergotron.com/spotlight or follow #schoolsthatmove on Twitter.

Ergotron's LearnFit Adjustable Standing Desks were recently endorsed by the Global Educator Institute, an organization dedicated to helping teachers and administrators choose the best-designed, most effective classroom products available. To earn the GEI seal of endorsement, the LearnFit desk was tested by five schools for six weeks, measuring its durability, effectiveness, value and ease of use and received strong, positive feedback from the educators involved.

"The traditional classroom that we commonly see today is ripe for innovation," said Bob Hill, Ergotron education manager. "We're excited to be leading the charge to transform the education market and learning spaces, and take great pride in schools, teachers and students who are forging new ground as we speak, breaking down barriers that inhibit student performance and health!"

Ergotron continues to grow its diverse suite of ergonomic technology furniture and equipment for the classroom. In 2015, Ergotron launched the Zip Charging Carts, wall mount and desktop charging systems to give schools a truly flexible approach to device management for iPads®, ChromeBooks™, Ultrabooks™, tablets or laptops. Additionally, Ergotron introduced the space-saving YES® charging cabinets with Anthro DNA, following the acquisition of Anthro Corporation in 2015, providing schools' access to the broadest line of charging products available from one manufacturer. Flexible and scalable for future classroom and IT needs, the YES® series of slim and secure carts, wall mounts and cabinets are designed to host and charge a wide range of manufacturers' laptops or tablets, while also helping save valuable floor space in cramped classrooms.

Learn how a school or district can turn its standing-desk wishes into reality for more active classrooms by accessing grants for K-12 programs. Visit Education.ergotron.com  to find information to get started, along with additional resources for creating a stand up classroom. For information about Ergotron's entire line of education solutions visit Ergotron.com or call 800-888-8458.

About Ergotron
Ergotron, Inc. is a global manufacturer of leading digital display mounting, furniture, and mobility products that have been improving the human interface with digital displays for over 35 years. This history of innovation and passion for differentiation is evidenced in over 192 patents and a growing portfolio of award winning brands—OmniMount®, LearnFit®, StyleView®, TeachWell®, WorkFit®, Anthro, Neo-Flex® and ErgotronHome™—for computer monitors, notebooks, tablets, flat panel displays and TVs. Ergotron's products incorporate patented CF™ lift and pivot motion technology to achieve less effort and more ergonomic motion for a healthier and more interactive user experience when viewing any digital display. Whether to enhance computing wellness or entertainment excitement improve workplace productivity or create business process efficiencies, Ergotron's products are positioning your digital world. Ergotron is headquartered in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with sales efforts in Phoenix, Amersfoort, London, Tokyo, and Singapore. Ergotron is a subsidiary of Nortek, Inc. (Nasdaq: NTK), a global, diversified company whose many market-leading brands deliver broad capabilities and a wide array of innovative, technology-driven products and solutions for lifestyle improvement at home and at work. Please visit www.nortek.com for more information.

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SOURCE Ergotron, Inc.

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