Comments Off on The Tenacity for Large Capacity ~ Large Division 6 and 12 Projects
Inova Loudon Hospital
What does it take to successfully manage the millwork package for a $200M+ healthcare project? There is no single ingredient that defines a successful large millwork project. The overall process has to be complete and well-defined. From initial contract to project completion, there are many steps in between. These steps will define whether the project is successful or not.
Hershey Children’s Hospital
Have you ever received a submittal and asked yourself “is this company looking at the right specifications”? Have you ever received shop drawings and wondered “do these people even know what an AWI standard is”? Every General Contractor has been in a situation where they have received shop drawings for approval and the casework is on the wrong side of a wall or something similar.
Reading Hospital
On every large project, the schedule is one of the most difficult things to control for a project manager. It can be difficult to fabricate when the time between field measuring and installation is compressed. When this is not planned correctly other trades can get pushed as well as occupancy deadlines. What happens when your millworker cannot meet the deadline for completed installation?
United Therapeutics
At ASST, our process for success is well-defined and is continuously reviewed. We have a team of Submittal Coordinators that will push to get approvals back in a timely manner. Our Project Planners have the right tools for field measuring and handle site verification. They handle machine programming and fabrication scheduling. Our Project Managers have decades of experience and the ability to handle dynamic environments. Our shops are set up to handle the most unique custom projects as well as very large high capacity projects. All of our employees have the tenacity to be successful.
Comments Off on Commercial Millwork, Casework and Solid Surfaces are Fomites
Fomites /ˈfōməˌtēz/ are defined as “objects or materials which are likely to carry infection, such as clothes, utensils and furniture.” Casework, millwork and countertops fall into this category. Fomites that are porous provide an easy place for viruses and bacteria to hide. A great example is a laminate countertop with a PVC edge band that has been chipped. The picture below was taken at a hospital Emergency Room behind a Nurse’s Station.
When viruses/bacteria sink into the holes of porous material they become extremely difficult to clean and disinfect. The cavities in porous material become a place for moisture to collect and bacteria need moisture to grow. The picture below shows how viruses and bacteria can fall into the crevices of porous material.
Solid surface millwork, casework and counters are easy to clean, resistant to chemical corrosion, resistant to impact damage and easy to repair. This makes solid surfaces the solid choice for healthcare, education and corporate spaces.
At ASST, we have been fabricating healthcare solid surfaces for 23 years. We have a solid surface fabrication facility in McSherrystown, PA and a quartz fabrication facility in Corry, PA. Whatever your needs, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner and to the finest quality standards you expect. Contact us online or call us at 717-630-1251.
Comments Off on Delivering a Happy Baby with Bacterial Resistant Solid Surfaces
Solid Surface Cradle Baby Bathing Bowl®
Newborns are in a “primary curve” C-shaped fetal position upon birth and for the first few months of life, they do not yet have the muscles to support their head. Research has shown that keeping an infant’s spine straight is not a sound physiological position and in addition to stressing the baby’s spine, it can also negatively influence the development of the baby’s hip joints (Dr. Evelin Kirkilionis, University of Freiburg).
Straightening the baby’s spine immediately after birth is not healthy. Giving birth is stressful for the mother and healthcare providers have made advancements in reducing this stress for mothers. If you do a web search for reducing the stress of child birth you will find most results are geared toward reducing the stress for mothers.
At ASST, we know that reducing the stress of birth for the child is important to every parent and the desire for every parent is to have a happy, healthy baby. We worked with the labor and delivery team at St. Joseph Medical Center in Baltimore to develop our Cradle Baby Bathing Bowl®. Our Cradle Baby Bathing Bowl® is ergonomically designed to support the newborn and reduce the risk of Healthcare Acquired Infection. From Africa to Australia, our Cradle Baby Bathing Bowl® is part of new life around the world.
Comments Off on Solid Surfaces – The Solid Choice For Healthcare
Healthcare Acquired Infections are also known as nosocomial (nōzōˈkōmēəl) infections. The awareness of Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAI) is at an all-time high and prevention or reduction of HAI is crucial to caring for the patient. HAI costs are incurred by the patient and the healthcare provider. Patient costs of HAI include increased length of stay and even death. Healthcare provider costs of HAI are withheld provider compensation and higher insurance rates.
How can healthcare providers reduce the risk of HAI? One of the primary methods of reducing HAI, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is environmental cleaning. How can you clean a laminated top with a chip exposing the particle board core? The answer is that you can’t. In most healthcare environments, once a PLAM countertop has been chipped, it will have to be replaced to ensure that the healthcare provider is reducing the risk of HAI and will pass a healthcare inspection.
What if your method of infection control cleaning damages your furnishings? Ethanol, bleach and strong detergents will deteriorate Plastic Laminate (PLAM) exposing the particle wood substrate beneath. This provides a medium for bacteria to grow and another check mark for the health inspector. When PVC edge banding peals, the exposed wood substrate is a prime location for bacterial growth as well.
Solid Surfaces are resistant to chemicals, restistant to bacteria and will not delaminate. This makes solid surfaces desirable for healthcare environments and HAI can be reduced by replacing PLAM with solid surfaces. Every health system should make the replacement of laminate surfaces with solid surfaces part of their Infection Control Plan.
At ASST, we have been fabricating healthcare solid surfaces for 22 years. We have a solid surface
fabrication facility in McSherrystown, PA and a quartz fabrication facility in Corry, PA. Whatever
your needs, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner and to the finest quality
standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
Healthcare professionals learned long ago that being cold will not give you a cold and today we know traditional casework is harboring bacteria. The most important part of healthcare casework is helping people heal. Why are we still using the same casework that is making people sick?
One of the cross-cutting issues of acute healthcare is the cost of preventing Healthcare Acquired Infection (HAI) and the cost of furnishings that are specified. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 31 patients will become sick due to of a HAI. While casework is one of the largest investments that a healthcare facility makes when it comes to healthcare furnishing, it is also a likely place for HAI.
Traditional casework is fabricated using wood particle substrates laminated and trimmed with plastic or PVC. There are many places traditional casework can harbor infectious diseases. The most common places on or in healthcare casework for bacteria to grow and spread are handles, peeling laminate or the seam of edge banding. Why are health systems still using casework that peels apart, ensuring that bacterial will be spread?
Solid surface is the future of healthcare casework. Changes in the design of acute healthcare casework will help prevent disease and even promote healing. Eliminating laminate, banded edges and minimizing seams removes the environment for bacterial growth and transmission. Because the lifespan of casework is substantially extended with solid surfaces, the overall cost of solid surface casework is lower than traditional laminate casework.
At ASST, we have been fabricating solid surfaces for 21 years and we know that the future of casework is solid surface. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to the exact specifications, in a safe manner and to the finest quality standards you expect. We look forward to Going Beyond for your exciting project! Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
Comments Off on Solid Surface Healthcare Casework – Thinking Outside the Square Box
The healthcare industry has long understood the necessity of reducing the spread of bacteria by minimizing the use of porous materials. For years the healthcare industry has utilized Plastic Laminate (PLAM) casework because of the cost effective traits. Solid surfaces such as Corian ®, Durasein ®, Krion ®, LG HI-MACS ®, Wilsonart®, and Avonite ® may cost more upfront; however, this material is virtually future proof.
Casework has traditionally been made of Plastic Laminate clad MDF with PVC glued to the edges. Some of the shortcomings of PLAM casework is the lifespan before adhesives start to fail, the durability of laminate materials and the lack of positive aesthetics. Once the casework is damaged or begins to come apart, it is no longer suitable for healthcare without the risk of harboring bacteria. No health system wants to find out that the loose PVC edging on a piece of casework is spreading bacteria. PLAM is traditionally made using square or rectangular shapes which limits the creativity of design. Today health systems are looking to assist people with ailments as well as being known as a leader in design.
Solid surface material is ideal for the healthcare industry. Solid surfaces are non-porous making it resistant to bacteria growth. Solid surfaces are easy to clean and because there are no layers, it will not separate. Solid surface is easy to repair, long lasting and can be thermoformed into any shape. At ASST, we have 21 years of experience fabricating casework for the healthcare industry. If you want to reduce the risk of spreading bacteria and wow your customers with the design, solid surface is the obvious choice.
If you want your next project to stand the test of time and “wow” your customer, let ASST help you out. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to your exact specifications, in a safe manner, and
to the finest quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
Comments Off on Newborn Ergonomics – Solid Surface Cradle Baby Bowl
At some point in your childhood your parents probably told you “to sit up straight” or “don’t slouch”. Although these are well-intentioned instructions, our spines are anything but straight even at birth. Newborns are in a “Primary Curve” C-shaped fetal position upon birth and for the first few months of life, they do not yet have the muscles to support their head. Research has shown that keeping an infant’s spine straight is not a sound physiological position and in addition to stressing the baby’s spine, it can negatively influence the development of a baby’s hip joints. (Dr. Evelin Kirkilionis, University of Freiburg, 2002).
Although there has been much written about adult ergonomics, there has been little innovation and/or product development addressing ergonomic solutions for newborns. ASST first became aware of the need for an innovative baby bathing bowl solution while working with the labor & delivery team at St. Joseph Medical Center in Baltimore. The nursing staff had become frustrated with the bathing bowl that had been recommended for a new project at the hospital. In response to the St. Joseph nursing team’s request, ASST began the design development for an ergonomic baby bowl. The new bowl design needed both a sloped bottom that conformed to the C-shaped spinal curvature of a newborn’s body as well as be fabricated in seamless solid surface.
With the creation of several baby sink mockups, the teams collaboratively worked to test and analyze the final design. The result was the Cradle Baby Bowl ® that supports both a newborn’s head and back during bathing. The seamless connection between the bowl and the adjacent solid surface counter also eliminated corners that could pose an infection risk during bathing. A design that is a true blend of both form and function, the Cradle Baby Bowl ® has to date been installed in hundreds of leading edge health facilities and daycare centers throughout North America, Australia and Africa.
ASST is uniquely positioned to fulfill all aspects of your project. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to your exact specifications, in a safe manner, and to the quality standards you expect. Even our EMR safety rating is outstanding at .793! Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
Comments Off on Solid Surface Healthcare Casework – Thinking Outside the Square Box
The healthcare industry has long understood the necessity of reducing the spread of bacteria by minimizing the use of porous materials. For years the healthcare industry has utilized Plastic Laminate (PLAM) casework because of the cost effective traits. Solid surfaces such as Corian ®, Durasein ®, Krion ®, LG HI-MACS ® and Avonite ® may cost more upfront; however, this material is virtually future proof.
Casework has traditionally been made of Plastic Laminate clad MDF with PVC glued to the edges. Some of the shortcomings of PLAM casework is the lifespan before adhesives start to fail, the durability of laminate materials and the lack of positive aesthetics. Once the casework is damaged or begins to come apart, it is no longer suitable for healthcare without the risk of harboring bacteria. No health system wants to find out that the loose PVC edging on a piece of casework is spreading bacteria. PLAM is traditionally made using square or rectangular shapes which limits the creativity of design. Today health systems are looking to assist people with ailments as well as being known as a leader in design.
Solid surface material is ideal for the healthcare industry. Solid surfaces are non-porous making it resistant to bacteria growth. Solid surfaces are easy to clean and because there are no layers, it will not separate. Solid surface is easy to repair, long lasting and can be thermoformed into any shape. At ASST, we have 20 years of experience fabricating casework for the healthcare industry. If you want to reduce the risk of spreading bacteria and wow your customers with the design, solid surface is the obvious choice.
If you want your next project to stand the test of time and “wow” your customer, let ASST help you out. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to your exact specifications, in a safe manner, and to the quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
Comments Off on Everything Including the Bathroom Sink: Solid Surface Elegance and ADA Compliance Are Unlikely Friends
Vanities are the fundamental piece of every bathroom. They not only are functional but create a style for the space. Solid surface vanity systems are the perfect combination of function and chic. Vanity systems can be made out of almost any solid surface material and used to create a practical layout for the space. Vanity Systems in public places face a considerable amount of use and abuse from the people using them. Vanity systems need to be pleasant to look at, but also serve their purpose as a tool.
Public Bathrooms are facing redesign. Standing in line while you have to use the restroom is a nuisance, and soon to be an issue of the past. As public restrooms expand to become more efficient and suitable for the volume of people using them, the need for a practical vanity systems increases. These systems are complex and need to be designed specifically for their space. How can public vanity systems be appealing, ADA compliant, easy to clean, and guaranteed to last a long time?
ASST is able to manufacture solid surface vanity systems that serve a variety of purposes in public buildings. Each ADA compliant vanity system made by ASST comes in a variety of size and colors. The designs are simple with no external fasteners which makes the vanity easy to clean. The solid surface material that ASST uses is bacteria and stain resistant. These durable vanities are made to last and easy to maintain.
Functionality is just as important as style. Whatever you need, ASST can build it to your exact specifications, in a safe manner, and to the finest quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
Comments Off on Real Healthcare Casework Solutions – Comparing “Apples to Apples” in the Marketplace Today
Specifying a reliable resource for healthcare casework is of prime importance. With everyone in the construction industry being stretched, specifying the right casework system that adheres to project specifications is critical. From sustainable construction and solid surface materials to acquiring LEED points, the pressure is on to specify the right choice for end users.
It is difficult to sort through the variety of options for healthcare casework brands in the marketplace today. Few manufacturers provide the transparency to allow an “apples to apples” comparison of product. This creates confusion in the marketplace and presents challenges to specifiers and contractors who want to recommend the right product for an end user. This market confusion has necessitated the creation of extensive casework mockup evaluations for projects adding additional time for evaluating potential casework product.
To minimize the above issues and provide a more comprehensive solution, ASST has now partnered with TMI Systems as a dealer for their line of healthcare casework. Based in North Dakota, TMI is a leader in high quality laminate modular casework fabrication. Their sustainable modular casework products feature railmounted overhead cabinets and forward-thinking reconfigurable base cabinets. With Autodesk 3D BIM software, design professionals are able to thoroughly document planning decisions in drawings used in the approval process. With cutting edge computer 3D renderings, end users can understand the proposed designs even better. With the new ASST/TMI alliance, design professionals are providing solutions that can truly evolve with end user needs.
Let us assist you with your next healthcare casework project! Whatever you need, ASST can build it to your exact specifications, in a safe manner, and to the quality standards you expect. Contact us now online or call us at 717-630-1251.
The healthcare industry has long understood the necessity of reducing the spread of bacteria by minimizing the use of porous materials. For years the healthcare industry has utilized Plastic Laminate (PLAM) casework because of the cost effective traits. Solid surfaces such as Corian ®, Durasein ®, Krion ®, LG HI-MACS ®, Wilsonart®, and Avonite ® may cost more upfront; however, this material is virtually future proof.
At some point in your childhood your parents probably told you “to sit up straight” or “don’t slouch”. Although these are well-intentioned instructions, our spines are anything but straight even at birth. Newborns are in a “Primary Curve” C-shaped fetal position upon birth and for the first few months of life, they do not yet have the muscles to support their head. Research has shown that keeping an infant’s spine straight is not a sound physiological position and in addition to stressing the baby’s spine, it can negatively influence the development of a baby’s hip joints. (Dr. Evelin Kirkilionis, University of Freiburg, 2002).
The healthcare industry has long understood the necessity of reducing the spread of bacteria by minimizing the use of porous materials. For years the healthcare industry has utilized Plastic Laminate (PLAM) casework because of the cost effective traits. Solid surfaces such as Corian ®, Durasein ®, Krion ®, LG HI-MACS ® and Avonite ® may cost more upfront; however, this material is virtually future proof.
Vanities are the fundamental piece of every bathroom. They not only are functional but create a style for the space. Solid surface vanity systems are the perfect combination of function and chic. Vanity systems can be made out of almost any solid surface material and used to create a practical layout for the space. Vanity Systems in public places face a considerable amount of use and abuse from the people using them. Vanity systems need to be pleasant to look at, but also serve their purpose as a tool.
Specifying a reliable resource for healthcare casework is of prime importance. With everyone in the construction industry being stretched, specifying the right casework system that adheres to project specifications is critical. From sustainable construction and solid surface materials to acquiring LEED points, the pressure is on to specify the right choice for end users.
