Many factors can lead to an unacceptable dining experience. The usual suspects, poor service and low quality food, are the most obvious. However, there are others that are far more subtle and potentially even more damaging in the long run.
The most insidious and unnecessary of these, that every diner has experienced at least once, is the dreaded wobbly table. Whether leading to spilled drinks, sullied napkins, or just the sheer frustration of having to hold the table down for an entire meal, wobbly tables have soured many experiences. Fortunately, FLAT Tech Inc., a relatively new Australian company, has developed new hydraulic technology to deliver us from this evil.
“A lot of operators invested all their time and money into the front of the house,” noticed Nils Hughes, Vice President of Sales at FLAT Tech. “They agonized over flatware, dinnerware, menus, menu presentation, food and drink presentation. They spent so much time on these aspects that they neglected to realize that at the end of the day, nearly every dining experience in every establishment would take place at a table. Many restaurateurs fail to address the ergonomics of the dining experience. What goes on beneath the tabletop is just as important as what happens on the plate. Playing a game of Twister underneath the table to keep your wine from spilling is just as unpleasant as receiving undercooked food. A complaint leads to the same consequences regardless of the cause. Often the cause of lost inventory and disgruntled customers, wobbly tables should be dealt with just as a priority.”
FLAT offers two distinct products which can be used to remedy this widespread issue. The first line of products offered are FLAT Table Bases, these robust table bases utilize FLAT’s PAD stabilization technology. These innovative tables stabilize automatically and also let operators align adjoining tabletops.
“We also understand that in many cases, the restaurant operator has made a major investment in tables,” Hughes added. Therefore, FLAT Equalizers are retrofittable stabilizers that easily replace a table’s existing screw-in glides. These reinforced plastic feet each contain a steel thread that activates FLAT’s hydraulic technology when compressed, allowing for perfect stabilization and table alignment.
FLAT also offers varying degrees of customization. “One of the latest trends we’ve seen is restaurants each trying to establish their own very unique look and atmosphere,” noted the Chicago-based Vice President. “So, part of that is every restaurant now wanting their own distinct tables. To that end, we work very closely with all the tabletop manufacturers here in the U.S., allowing them to design the table tops while we provide guidance based on how the bases will look. Speaking of bases, we provide a large variety, ranging from lightweight folding aluminum for the outdoors, to heavier options such as cast iron and stainless steel.” FLAT can even provide color customization and laser etching options.
Furthermore, FLAT’s products are just as useful outdoors as they are indoors, if not even more-so. Restaurateurs looking to maximize their outdoor dining revenue will find FLAT’s technology invaluable. “We use light-weight aluminum for our outdoor bases, they are easily lifted and carried. Our stabilizing technologies are also perfectly suited to any outdoor terrain, be it brick, concrete, asphalt, or any other uneven surface. What it boils down to is no matter what environment you find yourself suddenly working with, our products will adapt to it,” explained Hughes.
For those worried about finances during these troubled times, FLAT has taken great care to make their products extremely affordable and cost efficient. A box of Equalizers, which will cover one table, costs around twenty-two dollars.
“It’s less than a dollar per day for the first month, and even then, that cost is made up the instant you receive your first cleaning bill, or on the first set of glasses that would have otherwise been broken. The reputation benefit lies in the fact that you simply won’t receive complaints anymore. It’s an instant fix to a problem many of your competitors are too lazy to solve.” Although FLAT Table Bases are a bit more expensive, ranging from $70 to $100 dollars, the return on investment is attractive, given all the costs saved that might be incurred had one not installed the product.
FLAT has already proven to be incredibly successful, with their product being utilized by large brands such as Disney, Microsoft, and Hilton. “Any establishment that plans on taking food and beverages seriously should consider FLAT,” proclaimed Hughes.
FLAT sells through all major distributors in the US and has a dedicated website where any who are interested can browse catalogs or get in touch with the company in order to find a representative in their area.
