Oakworks supplies some of the world’s top spas including Miraval (pictured) and those by Starwood Resorts
A massage table may host up to 50 bodies a week and it’s a therapist’s most important tool besides their hands. If it does its job well, the table will remain unnoticed under the layers of bedding. However, if it’s uncomfortable, squeaks or wiggles, you’ll have an unhappy client. But you could probably count the things you know about massage tables on one hand.
A husband and wife team who know considerably more are Jeff and Linda Riach who started the Oakworks plant in New Freedom, Pennsylvania in 1977. The couple learned about wood-working and how to make massage tables while living in a commune which hosted wellbeing retreats. Today, their 90,000sq ft-plus factory and office employs more than 100 people and turns out around 30,000 tables a year.
RAW MATERIAL The 60 different models of spa, medical and portable tables all start out in the raw materials storage area which houses eco-friendly wood from around the world and, if possible, locally. Then in the mill section, the table tops and frames are cut to size, drilled, glued, sanded and lasers are used to custom cut logos. T-nut bolts are used rather than screws which can become loose over time.
Jeff says: “Running the cutting machines is the most intellectually challenging job. It can take up to two years to master the skills which include operating computer control programs, picking up exactly the right materials and lining up the table, fixtures and jigs.”
In the upholstery department foam and fabric are applied to the top part, which Jeff says is the most physically challenging part of production. But first the quality of foam is tested for its density and Indentation Force Deflection (IFD) – the amount of force needed to make a dent. Ideally, says Jeff, high density/low IFD foam is desirable for comfort and durability. AeroCel foam, which is lightweight, contains no fibres and absorbs sound well, is preferred. Similarly, 100 per cent polyurethane fabrics are designed to be longer-lasting and have fewer off-gases.
THE END PRODUCT Next stop is the finishing department where motors and other parts that move the table top and lift it are installed. This is also where cabinetry is added, the wood is stained, the top is married to the frame and accessories are added – there are 70 extras including the therapist-designed Boiance face rest (pictured), featuring water spheres embedded into the foam for added comfort.
If the table passes the 20 quality tests, it’s boxed for shipment to a possible 34 different countries around the world.
The factory staff works as a close-knit team and all are cross-trained in different aspects of production to prevent repetitive stress injuries, and to keep their jobs interesting – the double production line for portable tables can crank out 160 units a day. Jeff says: “There can be up to 600 parts in a single table, and everything must work, look good, and not make noise. It’s quite a change from our days on the commune, but our goal is still the same – to make the best products we can .”
A key player in the wellness industry since 1954, Yon-Ka Paris has dedicated its expertise to
developing exceptional, naturally rejuvenating and high-performance products which suit
modern lifestyles. [more...]
Living Earth Crafts (LEC) has re-launched its best-selling multipurpose spa treatment table
the Century City™, redesigned to include both the ultra-luxurious Strata Cloudfill™
replaceable SpaMattress™ and the only Thermasoft™ Dual-Zone Embedded Table Warmer on the
market. [more...]
Oakworks supplies some of the world’s top spas including Miraval (pictured) and those by Starwood Resorts
A massage table may host up to 50 bodies a week and it’s a therapist’s most important tool besides their hands. If it does its job well, the table will remain unnoticed under the layers of bedding. However, if it’s uncomfortable, squeaks or wiggles, you’ll have an unhappy client. But you could probably count the things you know about massage tables on one hand.
A husband and wife team who know considerably more are Jeff and Linda Riach who started the Oakworks plant in New Freedom, Pennsylvania in 1977. The couple learned about wood-working and how to make massage tables while living in a commune which hosted wellbeing retreats. Today, their 90,000sq ft-plus factory and office employs more than 100 people and turns out around 30,000 tables a year.
RAW MATERIAL The 60 different models of spa, medical and portable tables all start out in the raw materials storage area which houses eco-friendly wood from around the world and, if possible, locally. Then in the mill section, the table tops and frames are cut to size, drilled, glued, sanded and lasers are used to custom cut logos. T-nut bolts are used rather than screws which can become loose over time.
Jeff says: “Running the cutting machines is the most intellectually challenging job. It can take up to two years to master the skills which include operating computer control programs, picking up exactly the right materials and lining up the table, fixtures and jigs.”
In the upholstery department foam and fabric are applied to the top part, which Jeff says is the most physically challenging part of production. But first the quality of foam is tested for its density and Indentation Force Deflection (IFD) – the amount of force needed to make a dent. Ideally, says Jeff, high density/low IFD foam is desirable for comfort and durability. AeroCel foam, which is lightweight, contains no fibres and absorbs sound well, is preferred. Similarly, 100 per cent polyurethane fabrics are designed to be longer-lasting and have fewer off-gases.
THE END PRODUCT Next stop is the finishing department where motors and other parts that move the table top and lift it are installed. This is also where cabinetry is added, the wood is stained, the top is married to the frame and accessories are added – there are 70 extras including the therapist-designed Boiance face rest (pictured), featuring water spheres embedded into the foam for added comfort.
If the table passes the 20 quality tests, it’s boxed for shipment to a possible 34 different countries around the world.
The factory staff works as a close-knit team and all are cross-trained in different aspects of production to prevent repetitive stress injuries, and to keep their jobs interesting – the double production line for portable tables can crank out 160 units a day. Jeff says: “There can be up to 600 parts in a single table, and everything must work, look good, and not make noise. It’s quite a change from our days on the commune, but our goal is still the same – to make the best products we can .”
Swiss medical wellness and longevity brand Clinique La Prairie has unveiled its highly-
anticipated health resort in Anji, China. The opening marks the brand's debut in China and its
first international Health Resort outside of Switzerland.
The Asia Pacific Spa & Wellness Coalition (APSWC) recently marked another year of industry
achievement with a prestigious awards ceremony held during the 2024 APSWC Round Table
event in Bangkok, Thailand.
Luxury health and wellness brand The Ranch is gearing up to open its first East Coast
destination in the Hudson Valley near Tuxedo Park, New York, on 18 April.
Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is the latest brand to join the collection of luxury hospitality
partners at Saudi Arabia's upcoming regenerative tourism destination Amaala.
The Covery, a lifestyle optimisation wellness brand, has announced a new licensing partnership
with Aura Spa, solidifying its commitment to broadening access to recovery and wellness
therapies throughout the US.
Egym, which raised €207 million last year in new investment, continues to build its top team
with the appointment of former Technogym MD, Steve Barton, as country director for the UK.
The International Spa Association (ISPA) Foundation has released the 2024 edition of its
Consumer Snapshot research initiative, shedding light on the behaviours and preferences of
regular spa-goers in the US.
The team behind TRIB3 has launched a reformer Pilates studio concept called PILAT3S, which
will be available either as a standalone franchise, or as a club-in-club concept, aiming to take
the exercise modality into the mainstream.
A key player in the wellness industry since 1954, Yon-Ka Paris has dedicated its expertise to
developing exceptional, naturally rejuvenating and high-performance products which suit
modern lifestyles. [more...]
Living Earth Crafts (LEC) has re-launched its best-selling multipurpose spa treatment table
the Century City™, redesigned to include both the ultra-luxurious Strata Cloudfill™
replaceable SpaMattress™ and the only Thermasoft™ Dual-Zone Embedded Table Warmer on the
market. [more...]