Archasol Inc. has just released an upgraded model of its popular ‘Solari’ solar powered workstation. The ‘Solari’ workstation is one of the key products offered by the Bozeman Montana based company which promotes products incorporating solar panels for charging phones, laptops, electric scooters and e-bikes, lighting for pathways, walkways and signs, WiFi hot spots and environment monitors, primarily where connection to the electricity grid is not viable.

Although the basic design of the Solari workstation remains unchanged, all the structural components are now manufactured entirely in stainless steel, finished with two coats of durable powder coat. Electronic components, USB ports and wireless charging pads have also been upgraded and some slight changes have been made to the exterior, based on user feedback.

“The solar workstation has proved to be a particularly useful amenity at colleges and universities,” says Janice Dobson, Business Development Director for Archasol, "and the latest upgrade will ensure these units remain in service for a very long time with minimal ongoing maintenance.”

One of the main attractions of this type of bench is that it allows students to meet and work in the open air both day and night, knowing that they can charge up their laptops or mobile devices without leaving the bench. At dusk, overhead lights turn on automatically, extending the time for students to meet with their friends, enjoy a snack, catch up or continue working away from the confines of their dorm room or the library.

“Being able to power your laptop directly from a 120V outlet while charging your phone and enjoying the open air and not having to pack up and depart when power drains away, is a real bonus,” remarked Dobson.

The large 78” x 63” overhead canopy serves not just as a housing for the PV cells and overhead lights but offers some protection from heat and glare from the sun as well as light rain. It can also give a more intimate feel to the outdoor space compared with an exposed table.

With the two PV panels sited at opposing angles, the bench can be positioned so it optimizes solar power generation both in the morning and afternoon, which is most useful in northern latitudes with shorter daylight hours and a lower angle of the sun. Since these self-contained units weigh just under 600lb, the ‘Solari’ workstations can be relatively easily repositioned as needed, although they can also be fixed in place permanently on a concrete pad.

“As colleges and universities focus ever more on providing safe, healthy and enjoyable workspaces on their campuses, it’s expected that multifunction amenities like the ‘Solari’ workstation will become a more common sight in coming years,” Dobson predicts.

For further information about the Solari workstation, other models of solar benches or any of the complete range of solar lighting products offered by Archasol, Janice Dobson may be contacted at (406) 551-4098.