Kimball International’s Jasper headquarters received national recognition this week when its Havei recliner series earned a Gold Nightingale Award in the Patient Seating category at the Healthcare Design Conference + Expo (HCD). The Nightingale Awards honor product design and innovation that support healing environments, and the Gold designation marks a top-tier endorsement from peers and design jurors.

The Havei recliner was singled out for a combination of patient-focused features and caregiver-oriented functionality. According to the product description, Havei offers patient comfort through an infinite recline mechanism and transfer-friendly options, along with a heated back and seat. Caregiver efficiency features noted include a Trendelenburg function and central locking casters, design elements intended to ease patient transfer and repositioning in clinical settings. The jurors evaluated submissions on functionality, contribution to healing, durability, aesthetics and innovation, criteria that the Havei series met at a level sufficient to secure the award.

The recognition places a spotlight on Jasper as a center of healthcare furnishing design. Kimball’s win underlines the company’s ongoing involvement in healthcare design and reflects broader industry trends emphasizing environments that support physical comfort and clinical efficiency. "Havei reimagines the recliner as more than a clinical tool." This summary of the product’s intent captures why jurors prioritized not only mechanical performance but also contribution to patient well-being and the aesthetics of care spaces.

For Dubois County, the award carries direct community implications. Kimball International is among the county’s larger employers, and accolades at national trade forums can strengthen a company’s brand when bidding on institutional contracts. Increased demand for award‑winning products often translates to higher production volumes, which can support local manufacturing employment, supplier relationships and related services. For area hospitals, long-term care facilities and clinics, an emphasis on furniture that improves patient comfort and streamlines caregiver tasks may influence procurement decisions in upcoming budgeting cycles.

From a market perspective, product awards function as quality signals that reduce information frictions for hospital buyers who must balance cost, durability and clinical outcomes. The jury’s emphasis on durability and innovation suggests that buyers may weigh lifecycle costs alongside upfront prices, a factor that can favor established manufacturers with local production capabilities. Policy-wise, municipal and county economic development strategies that support advanced manufacturing and workforce training can capitalize on such private-sector successes to attract complementary businesses.

Kimball’s recognition also connects to longer-term shifts in healthcare design that prioritize patient-centered care, infection control, and staff ergonomics. Furniture that integrates features like central locking casters and Trendelenburg positioning responds to both clinical protocols and operational needs, aligning product innovation with evolving standards in patient handling and safety.

More details about the Havei recliner and Kimball’s healthcare product lineup are available on Kimball’s product page. The Gold Nightingale Award confirms that a Jasper-based company is competing — and being recognized — on the national stage for products intended to improve patient experiences and caregiver workflows.