Airport Furniture in New Hampshire: Arconas vs. Artopex

Airport furniture is operational infrastructure

Choosing airport furniture in New Hampshire is not the same as furnishing an office lobby or a conventional waiting room. Airport seating and terminal furniture have to survive heavy daily use, constant cleaning, security requirements, accessibility rules, charging demand, and repeated change, often while the terminal stays open.

Two manufacturers that come up are Arconas and Artopex. Both build beam-style public seating, but they approach the airport market from different directions. Arconas is an airport-focused manufacturer with a broad curb-to-gate ecosystem. Artopex is a wider commercial furniture manufacturer whose Passenger, Voyager, and Frill Beam collections can serve airports alongside other high-traffic waiting spaces.

The short version: Arconas is usually the stronger starting point for a full terminal program, while Artopex is a compelling seating-focused option when the scope is modular beam seating that has to coordinate with a broader commercial furniture package. The right answer depends on the zone, the performance requirements, the schedule, and the installed lifecycle cost.

A seating decision affects far more than looks. It shapes passenger circulation, cleaning time, charging access, security sightlines, maintenance staffing, gate capacity, and the perceived quality of the whole terminal. Before requesting a quote, an airport team should account for:

• ›Passenger volume, dwell time, and peak-period capacity
• ›Accessible seating and companion positions
• ›Power access and future electrical upgrades
• ›Cleaning access below and around the furniture
• ›Security visibility, anchoring, and anti-tip performance
• ›Fire, durability, and sustainability documentation
• ›Freight, secure receiving, and phased installation
• ›Replacement-part availability over the service life

That is why the lowest seat price is rarely the right comparison. Airports should weigh installed cost per usable seat and lifecycle cost per passenger position, not the price of a single chair.

Arconas: an airport-specific, curb-to-gate platform

Arconas has specialized in airport furniture since the 1970s, and its portfolio now extends well beyond beam seating into a broader set of terminal products: tandem and beam seating, lounge and modular seating, benches, integrated and retrofit power, tables and chairs for dining areas, waste and recycling stations, liquid-disposal units for security areas, modular check-in and gate counters, and outdoor furniture.

That breadth matters when an airport wants consistent planning, finishes, and documentation across multiple zones, from boarding lounges and quiet lounges to dining, family areas, check-in, baggage claim, and security processing.

A few of its seating approaches are worth knowing. Avro is a flexible beam-seating system built around a universal beam, so tandem, recliner, lounge, and bench formats can be installed, removed, or replaced as needs change, and its arm-mounted low-voltage charging can be retrofitted without replacing a whole row. Flyaway leans toward comfort for longer waits, with a high back and lumbar contour paired with open under-seat sightlines and inboard legs that keep the cleaning path clear. Bernu Aero is a more streamlined metal seat for high-use areas where durability and easy cleaning come first.

Arconas is most differentiated when the project goes beyond seating. Integrated power, counters, waste and recycling, liquid disposal, and airport-specific space planning let one platform cover a large share of the passenger journey. The company also publishes airport-centric professional resources, including 2D and 3D models, product data, and environmental documentation, with ANSI/BIFMA testing, CAL 117 or CAL 133 options, EPDs, and HPDs on selected products.

Artopex: focused beam seating in a broad commercial line

Artopex is a broad commercial furniture manufacturer, with workstations, desks, office seating, storage, and healthcare products, so airport seating is one part of a much larger line. It currently presents three beam-seating collections.

Passenger is the most directly airport-oriented. It uses a center-beam structure, can take interchangeable arms and laminate or glass tabletops, and uses the Ultra-Flex membrane seat with relatively few legs to simplify cleaning. It can be floor-anchored and reupholstered, which suits boarding areas, transportation terminals, and hospital waiting.

Voyager is a modular high-density solution with seats, tables, and ottomans. Options like a waterfall seat edge and raised seat height help serve a wider range of users, and like Passenger it can be anchored and reupholstered with a reduced leg count for cleaning access.

Frill Beam uses a molded plastic shell on a steel beam. It comes with or without arms, can take a seat cushion, and can swap a laminate table for a seat position. Its simpler palette suits high-turnover areas where easy cleaning, color choice, and value matter more than lounge comfort.

Artopex is attractive when the project is primarily a passenger seating package rather than a complete terminal program, and especially when the same order also covers airport administration offices, operations rooms, or staff areas from one commercial manufacturer. That planning convenience does not replace the airport-specific counters, waste systems, power ecosystem, and terminal-zone breadth that Arconas brings.

Arconas vs. Artopex, area by area

Set against each other, the two lines split along a few clear lines.

• ›Market focus: Arconas is an airport and passenger-terminal specialist; Artopex is a broad commercial manufacturer with a beam-seating category.
• ›Terminal-wide scope: Arconas covers seating, power, counters, waste and recycling, liquid disposal, tables, and outdoor furniture; Artopex covers beam seating plus its broader office portfolio.
• ›Power and charging: Arconas offers integrated and retrofit airport charging, with Avro supporting replaceable outlets; Artopex does not position power as a defining feature of the three beam collections.
• ›Modularity: both offer replaceable and reconfigurable components on selected lines, so confirm exactly what changes in the field versus what needs a new beam or frame.
• ›Cleaning access: both are maintenance-conscious, with open sightlines and inboard legs from Arconas and reduced leg count, anchoring, and easy-clean plastic from Artopex.
• ›Sustainability: Arconas shows company ISO certifications plus EPD and HPD documentation on selected products; Artopex highlights Indoor Advantage Gold on Passenger and Voyager. Always request current certificates for the exact model and finish.
• ›Best fit: Arconas for full renovations, multi-zone standards, and power-intensive gates; Artopex for seating-only scopes, mixed-manufacturer packages, and airport-plus-office orders.

Which is better for a New Hampshire airport project

There is no universal winner; the scope points to the answer.

Arconas is often the better fit when the project covers several passenger-facing zones, when integrated charging is a major requirement, when the airport needs gate or check-in counters and waste or liquid-disposal units in addition to seating, or when the owner is building a repeatable furniture standard for future phases.

Artopex is often the better fit when the immediate scope is beam seating rather than a full ecosystem, when Passenger, Voyager, or Frill Beam matches the desired comfort and maintenance profile, or when the same package also includes offices and staff areas from one commercial manufacturer.

An airport does not have to use one manufacturer everywhere. As an open-line dealer, COI can put an Arconas platform in power-intensive boarding lounges, an easy-clean beam product in a short-dwell waiting area, and workplace furniture in adjacent administrative space. The key is to standardize the details that drive operations: finish palettes, upholstery performance, power modules, anchoring, replacement parts, cleaning procedures, and installation methods.

Lead times and pricing: compare installed lifecycle cost

Lead-time claims need careful reading. A public Arconas federal schedule lists delivery at 90 days or less after receipt of order for covered products, which is a useful planning reference but not a universal promise for every commercial order. Artopex advertises an Express Program shipping within 10 business days, but Passenger, Voyager, and Frill Beam are not in that Express assortment, so beam-seating lead times should be treated as quote-specific.

A realistic airport schedule includes far more than factory time: programming and field verification, layout and capacity studies, finish approval, mockups, electrical and anchoring coordination, submittal and owner review, manufacturing, freight and any cross-border coordination, secure receiving, phased or off-hours installation, and punch-list and spare-parts turnover. In New Hampshire, winter freight and access restrictions can affect the last steps, so set an approved-submittal date, a required-on-site date, and an installation window before releasing the order.

Pricing works the same way. Neither manufacturer publishes a clean, current, installed price for a full airport package, which is normal for contract furniture. When comparing proposals, ask for product price by complete row rather than by seat shell, installed cost per passenger position, the added cost of arms, tables, and charging, freight and delivery, floor anchoring and electrical coordination, upholstery or fire-code upgrades, spare parts, warranty labor versus parts-only coverage, and the cost to replace a single damaged seat, arm, table, or outlet. A cheaper row gets expensive fast if it needs extra floor work, offers fewer usable charging positions, is hard to clean, or forces a full-assembly swap after one component fails.

The airport buyer's furniture scorecard

Before approving a manufacturer, score every proposed product against the same operational criteria.

• ›Capacity and circulation: how many usable seats fit without narrowing paths or blocking queues, counting wheelchairs, luggage, strollers, and companion positions.
• ›Comfort by dwell time: a ten-minute checkpoint bench and a two-hour boarding seat do not need the same profile.
• ›Accessibility: plan a mix of seat heights, arms, transfer positions, and clear wheelchair locations with the architect and accessibility consultant.
• ›Power and technology: decide the mix of AC, USB-A, USB-C, and wireless, and confirm whether modules are replaceable and serviceable without disrupting passengers.
• ›Cleaning and infection control: review leg count, floor clearance, seams, and upholstery removability, and have facilities staff review a mockup.
• ›Security and anchoring: confirm under-seat visibility, anti-tip performance, floor anchoring, tamper resistance, and cable concealment.
• ›Durability and repairability: review structural testing, finish and abrasion performance, and the tools required for field repairs.
• ›Fire and environmental documentation: request current certificates for the exact product, upholstery, and configuration.
• ›Warranty and parts: an airport is a high-use environment, so confirm which warranty tier applies and how long parts stay available.
• ›Installation and future phases: badging, escorts, screening, restricted loading, night work, and phased closures all belong in the proposal, not as a surprise at the dock.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best material for airport seating? There is no single best material. Perforated metal and molded plastic clean easily and hold up in high-turnover areas, while upholstered seating adds comfort for longer waits but needs a clear cleaning and replacement plan. Many airports mix materials by zone.

Should gate seating include power at every seat? Not necessarily. The right charging ratio depends on passenger volume, dwell time, existing power, and budget. A distributed approach works well as long as the system is serviceable and ready for future connector changes.

How long does airport seating take to manufacture? It is project-specific. Standard contract production can run from accelerated programs to roughly 90 days, but custom finishes, power, large quantities, approvals, freight, and installation phasing extend the total.

Is Arconas better than Artopex for airports? Arconas offers the broader airport-specific ecosystem and is usually the stronger candidate for a comprehensive terminal. Artopex is a strong seating-focused option when Passenger, Voyager, or Frill Beam fits a specific area or the project also includes office furniture.

Can an airport mix Arconas and Artopex products? Yes. A mixed specification works well when each product is chosen for a defined zone and the team standardizes finishes, maintenance, spare parts, and installation details.

Start with the terminal plan, not the chair

The best airport seating in New Hampshire starts with the passenger journey and the facility's operating requirements, not the chair. Arconas and Artopex both offer credible high-traffic options, but their capabilities are not identical: Arconas provides a deeper airport-specific platform, and Artopex provides a focused beam-seating lineup inside a broad commercial catalog.

Commercial Office Interiors is based in Hooksett and supports airports, FBOs, transportation hubs, and public waiting areas across New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New England. As an open-line dealer, COI can compare manufacturers zone by zone, test layouts, coordinate power and anchoring, develop the specification, and manage installation as one process, so the result stays comfortable, cleanable, and repairable for the life of the terminal. Bring a floor plan or a room list and we will run a free space plan and a side-by-side bid.