Ergotron Unveils Second Generation of LearnFit Standing Desks for Healthier Classrooms and More Engaged Students

ST. PAUL, Minn., June 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Ergotron, Inc., a Nortek Company (NASDAQ: NTK), and global leader in the sit-stand workplace revolution and connected classroom, announces the second generation of its LearnFit™ Adjustable Standing Desk. The new iteration, and latest addition to Ergotron's suite of ergonomic digital technology equipment for the classroom, incorporates student and teacher feedback following the company's "spotlight classroom" pilot program – an initiative aimed at increasing in-class physical activity to help improve students' overall health and academic performance.

"Using the LearnFit desks, our first of its kind spotlight classroom initiative created an opportunity for teachers to not only introduce standing into their classrooms in a practical way," explained Bob Hill, education manager of Ergotron, "but also witness, firsthand, what researchers and academia have observed around introducing low-impact physical activity throughout the day: greater student engagement, better on-task behavior and greater academic performance, in addition to the metabolic, musculoskeletal and psychosocial benefits."

The five schools and corresponding classrooms across the United States participating in this program and equipped with Ergotron's donated LearnFit adjustable standing desks, include: Deer Creek Middle School of Jefferson County School (Littleton, CO), Montera Middle School of Oakland Unified School District (Oakland, CA), Robert C. Fisler School of Fullerton School District (Fullerton, CA), Belle Terre Elementary School of Flagler School District (Palm Coast, FL) and Dr. Kirk Lewis Career & Technical High School of Pasadena Independent School District (Houston, TX).

"Of equal importance during this program," Hill continued, "were the tangible and invaluable feedback we received in order to make this next iteration of standing desks meet more of the teacher and student's needs."

Along with a generous and durability-tested worksurface, the LearnFit Desk includes many new student-friendly features: a tablet slot, backpack hook, water bottle holder and pencil tray, as well as an optional storage bin for books and class supplies. Each student can instantly and intuitively personalize the desk to his or her preferred height with the simple use of a hand lever, and each desk, when paired with a counter-height stool, allows students to choose when to sit or stand throughout the day without interrupting sight lines of other students.

"At Ergotron, we are looking to contribute to the global concerns about childhood obesity by providing means to introduce activity in the classroom," said Pete Segar, CEO of Ergotron. "Standing desks allow students to move, thus helping to increase students' blood circulation, burn more calories and help maintain muscle tone. And studies are also showing improvements in student behavior and attentiveness, which we expect will soon be proven to aid in learning outcomes.  Our LearnFit Desks are a new tool for addressing the childhood obesity puzzle."

In addition to the student benefits, the implementation of standing desks can transform classrooms into active learning environments. Having the desks on casters allows the teacher to reconfigure the room easily based on the lesson plans. Units can be rolled together for small group breakouts and quickly returned to the original classroom configuration when done. This helps teachers reclaim precious class time and allows for more class instruction.

Ergotron's new LearnFit Adjustable Standing Desk will be on display at ISTE 2015, booth 1921, from June 28 to July 1 in Philadelphia, PA, and will be available mid-July MSRP US $549, through Ergotron's global distribution channels. For more information about Ergotron's education products visit education.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 30 years. This history of innovation and passion for differentiation is evidenced in over 70 patents and a growing portfolio of award winning brands—OmniMount®, LearnFit™, StyleView®, TeachWell®, WorkFit™ and Neo-Flex®—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.nortekinc.com for more information.

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SOURCE Ergotron, Inc.