“We currently make the most agile and stable product on the market,” says Marketing Manager Steve Bonesz of Screenflex Portable Room Dividers, which began creating portable walls for churches and schools in the late 1980s. Since then, the family-owned company has expanded its base to restaurants, beauty salons, museums, chiropractic offices, and more.
“We are seeing more and more hotels, casinos and convention centers buying our portable walls for large room use,” notes Bonesz. “I think the most unique use I've seen has been Guam Airport dividing the entire length of their concourse after upgrading their gate security protocols. On the other end of the spectrum, many small size facilities are purchasing for fitness clubs, blood donation centers, ballet and dance studios, pharmacies and the like.”
The current popularity of portable dividers is so widespread, architects and designers now allow space for them in their initial layouts. “A multi-purpose area or a large classroom or auditorium will not build in restrictive floor-to-ceiling dividers, but plan the portable route instead,” explains Bonesz.
“This alternative gives the facility more flexibility of that space and at a fraction of the cost. Portable dividers cost way less than permanent fixed divider systems which require serious installation. Not only that, but you can move a portable unit from one building to another or take it with you when you relocate.”
Regarding this mobility, Bonesz adds, “Screenflex Portable Room Dividers glide easily on their locking floor casters. They can be set up by any average person. Connecting two or more together is as simple as turning the latch. They fold back up just as easily, and their width is narrow enough that they'll roll through any standard door opening. Portability is key today.”
The versatile nature of the product is due to its design created by architect Paul Maas, the company’s co-founder and owner. Once a client presents a rough room sketch, Maas ensures the Screenflex team converts it into a 3D floorplan that is laid out to his standards. From there, customized advice on aesthetic, practical, and cost-saving options are offered.
Those options include adding doors or windows to any divider as well as selecting specific surfaces, from dry erase boards to a life-size mural. “Our most popular recent addition has been to add bright primary colors to our fabric lineup,” says Bonesz. “These make for stunning and cheerful additions to any space where you might want to see bright walls.”
Wall mounted room dividers, display towers, portable classrooms and acoustic wall panels can also be added to maximize a room's use. After all, “Space is at a premium, Bonesz observes. “Dividing that space makes good fiscal sense.”
