The Shaped Table 59T in Action
Introducing the Shaped Table 59T
Palmer Hamilton designed the 59T to give schools and facilities the largest number of shapes and seating configurations available in a single cafeteria table platform that still fits through a standard door. This shaped cafeteria table combines torsion assisted lifting, center latches accessible from either side, and a unitized steel frame engineered for the daily demands of K through 12 lunchrooms, all in a product that is genuinely one of the easiest cafeteria tables on the market to set up and store. When you specify the 59T, you are specifying a table that gives students more room to connect, and gives facilities teams less time managing furniture and more time supporting the people who use it.
Details
The 59T is widely regarded as one of the easiest lifting cafeteria tables on the market, and the engineering behind that reputation is purposeful. Torsion bars and torsion springs work together to provide long lasting lift assistance throughout the complete operating range, so the table opens and closes smoothly whether staff are deploying it for the first time or the thousandth. Center latches are accessible from either side of the table, saving the time and steps that single side latch systems require. Two stage latches provide a safety stop position and a secure in use position, and the storage latch locks the table in the upright position for safe movement and storage. Benches fold up with the table for easy floor cleaning beneath the unit.
What distinguishes the 59T from other mobile cafeteria tables is the range of shapes and seating configurations it supports. Round and square wheelchair accessible models have 32 inch height give two wheelchair users access to the same table as their classmates, with the same customization and configuration options as all other 59T models. End leg assemblies with center wheels provide superior weight distribution across the six 4 inch Poly II gray rubber ball bearing swivel casters that support the table during transport, making it safer and more stable to move than tables without this feature. The unitized frame design means the table’s structural integrity does not depend on the tabletop for strength, extending service life in the demanding environment of a school cafeteria.
Every 59T is built with the materials and finishing standards that school furniture requires for long term performance. Tabletop and bench surfaces are constructed from three quarter inch M3 industrial grade 45 pound density particleboard covered in Wilsonart® high pressure laminate, with a balanced black phenolic backer on the bottom for stability and moisture resistance. EdgeGuard™, Palmer Hamilton’s sprayed on polyurea edge treatment, is standard on all 59T models, sealing the tabletop and bench edges against moisture, food traps, peeling, and chipping through years of student use. All metal parts receive a thorough cleaning before electrostatically applied, baked on epoxy powder coat for superior resistance to abrasion, marring, and scratching. The 59T is UL Listed to UL Standard 2040 and has earned GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD Gold Certification, meeting the most stringent indoor air quality standards for the spaces where children eat and learn. Palmer Hamilton builds the 59T in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, backed by a standard warranty, because the students and staff who use these spaces every day deserve furniture made with that level of commitment. Do More with Your Space™.
Benefits
More Seating Options in the Same Footprint
The 59T’s range of elongated and shaped table configurations allows facility planners and foodservice directors to design cafeteria layouts that seat more students per square foot without expanding the dining room. Multiple stool and bench seating arrangements, including two bench and four stool hybrid configurations, give administrators the flexibility to match the table to the program rather than the other way around.
Safer and Easier to Operate for Every Staff Member
Torsion bars and torsion springs provide consistent lift assistance throughout the full operating range, making the 59T genuinely easy for any staff member to fold and unfold safely. Center latches accessible from either side of the table eliminate the need to walk around the unit during setup and storage, saving time during the compressed minutes between lunch periods when every second counts.
Inclusive by Design
Round and square wheelchair accessible tables have 32” tabletop height. Elongated tables are 29” tabletop height. 59T models at 32 inch height give students using wheelchairs access to the same cafeteria table as their peers, with the same design quality, laminate options, and configuration flexibility as standard models. Providing accessible seating as part of the standard product line rather than as a special order compromise reflects the kind of thoughtful design that makes a real difference in the daily experience of every student in the building.
Features
Torsion Bar and Torsion Spring Lift Assist System
The 59T uses both torsion bars and torsion springs working together to provide smooth, consistent lift assistance throughout the complete folding and unfolding range of the table.
Unitized Frame Construction
The 59T’s self-supporting MIG welded unitized frame carries the structural load of the table independently of the tabletop, meaning the frame holds its integrity even as tops are replaced or upgraded over the life of the product. All critical parts at the pivot points are attached to the unitized steel frame, and all steel latches are automatic in both the storage and in use positions and cannot be accidentally opened or knocked out of adjustment.
EdgeGuard™ Edge Treatment
EdgeGuard™ is Palmer Hamilton’s sprayed on polyurea edge treatment that provides superior resistance to moisture, eliminates unsanitary food traps, and is extremely tamper resistant. Edges stay sealed and resist peeling and chipping through years of daily use, and the standard black color coordinates with all Palmer Hamilton table frame finishes.
Core Attributes
Full Specifications
Ideal For
School cafeterias and multipurpose dining facilities that need to maximize seating capacity per square foot while maintaining the flexibility to configure the room differently for special events, testing days, or community programs.
Districts and facilities managers specifying cafeteria tables that need to serve both standard student populations and students using wheelchairs from the same product family without compromising design quality or configuration options.
Foodservice directors and facilities teams who need a cafeteria table that one staff member can fold, move, and store quickly during the compressed time between lunch periods without walking around the table or wrestling with difficult latches.
Architects, interior designers, and facility planners specifying K through 12 dining environments where table shape and aesthetic character are part of the design intent, not just a procurement afterthought.
Certifications and Standards
- UL Listed to UL Standard for Safety for Folding Rollaway Tables, UL 2040
- GREENGUARD Certified by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
- GREENGUARD Gold Certified by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
Get A Quote
Palmer Hamilton builds the 59T for the students, staff, and communities who deserve a cafeteria that is welcoming, flexible, and built to serve every lunch period for years to come. Contact your Palmer Hamilton representative to select your shapes, heights, finishes, and seating configurations and Do More with Your Space™.