SMESK Lift
the desk the monitor disappears into
In seconds, the classroom becomes a computer room. And back again.
A light push is all it takes, and the monitor rises out of the desktop. A second push lowers it again, and the surface is clear. Your PC stays firmly fixed in the desk, secured against unauthorised access.
No obligation, shipped in tested transport boxes.
Key facts at a glance
- 500 mm monitor travel via gas spring
- Your PC any performance class, your choice
- up to 27 inches up to 32 inches with the Lift extension**
- 7-year warranty* from delivery, in the EU and Switzerland
- 74–82 cm working height, tool-adjustable
- from 7–8 weeks in the fast-delivery programme, for selected models
** 32 inches on single desks from 90 cm wide, on double desks from 180 cm wide.
Developed and assembled in Germany.
Room use
One room, many uses
Traditional IT rooms are often poorly utilised because visible technology blocks the room for everything else. With the Lift, the same space serves as a computer room and as a classroom, seminar room or meeting room.
Timetable
- In the morning computer science
- Then English
- In the afternoon department meeting
All in the same room.
For school authorities, this means one room does two jobs, yet it only has to be planned, built and maintained once.
Tablets and laptops have their place in lessons. But comprehensive IT education needs full PC workstations with a large screen, from office software and programming to CAD and video editing. The Lift keeps them ready on demand without occupying the room permanently.
A look at the desk shows how this works at each workstation.
How the Lift works
Raised or fully lowered
Push.
A light push is all it takes. The gas spring lifts the monitor out of the desktop to eye level.
Work.
Your desk is now a full PC workstation. Your computer is fixed firmly in the desk.
Lower.
A second push lowers the monitor back into the desk.
Clear desk.
What remains is a flat, continuous desktop for exercise books, textbooks and group work.
That was the whole changeover. Nobody packs equipment away, nobody re-plugs cables.
Try it yourself: request a trial installation
Which leaves the question of where the computer goes when the monitor has disappeared.
PC mount
Your PC: your choice, fixed in the desk
The computer is fixed firmly in place: built into the desk body or attached to the desk with a PC holder. The desk takes PCs of every performance class, from mini PCs to workstations.
Larger devices are usually fixed to a holder. Holders come in three sizes: Mini, Medium and Max.
- Mini
- Medium
- Max
- Vertical, Lift only
SMESK supplies the furniture. You choose and buy the PC yourself, with no tie to any manufacturer. Your IT team keeps its familiar hardware and can continue to use its standard image, meaning the uniform software set-up on all devices. On request, we can also supply a suitable computer.
The Lift also offers the PC holder Vertical, which is exclusive to this model. It holds a mini PC directly in the lift mechanism.
And the cables? You won’t see them.
Intelligent cable management
A route for every cable
Power, network, video and peripheral cables run through the desk, concealed and protected against tampering. There is enough space for entire power strips and power supplies.
The hollow desk legs serve as cable ducts. Although the legs are height-adjustable, they can be closed securely with screw-on covers. Pre-formed openings in the legs let you connect neighbouring desks with fully concealed cabling. On the Lift, the lower cable tray with cover comes as standard.
If required, every desk can be fitted with power and data via a modular built-in system: Schuko sockets, network ports (RJ45), USB-A and USB-C. Further modules are available on request.
In everyday school life, what the desk can withstand matters too.
Robust and lockable
Built for continuous use
We chose the gas spring deliberately. The lift mechanism needs no power, requires little maintenance and stands up to constant use.
The desk body and PC holders are lockable. This makes the devices much harder to steal or tamper with than freely accessible equipment.
The steel and the desktop have a scratch-resistant coating. Parts and spare parts are covered by a 7-year SMESK warranty*. SMESK is a brand of C. Rudolf Salfer GmbH.
Applications
Wherever a room has two jobs
The Lift belongs wherever the same room sometimes needs computers and sometimes clear desks. Even with the monitor raised, there is plenty of work surface, and the screen sits at eye level. That makes for ergonomic, focused work.
- Schools and vocational schools Computer science and specialist lessons with CAD, with screen-free lessons in the same room in between.
- Training and seminar rooms Software training in the morning, a workshop at clear desks in the afternoon.
- Universities and e-exams E-exams, meaning written exams on the computer, and compute-intensive applications such as robotics, data science or local AI.
- Training centres and academies Training centres run by chambers of commerce and skilled crafts, public administration academies and private training providers switch between IT course and seminar in seconds.
- Public administration Software training for your teams, followed by meetings in the same room.
The overview shows which system suits which workplace.
The SMESK family
Which system suits your room?
All four SMESK systems share the same base, the base module, and can be combined in the same room. The main difference is the screen.
SMESK Lift
With the push function, the monitor rises vertically out of the desktop: screen at eye level, plenty of workspace. Fully lowered, the surface is clear.
SMESK Flip
The monitor folds up on gas springs and stays partly recessed in the desktop: plenty of legroom and a clear view across the room. Folded down, the surface is clear.
SMESK Semi
The monitor is fixed and half recessed into the desktop: no moving parts at the monitor, plenty of legroom, cost-effective. Keyboard, mouse, cables and PC can be stowed away neatly.
SMESK Top
Continuous closed desktop with the full work surface. The monitor stands on top, while the PC and cables sit inside the desk, protected against tampering.
For planning and tenders
Dimensions, options, technical data and answers to frequently asked questions.
Dimensions, versions and colours
SMESK Lift is available as a single desk and as a double desk with two workstations on one desk body. The desk linking kit joins desks flush to form rows and blocks.
- Single desk
- 80, 90, 100 or 120 cm wide; 140 and 160 cm as special sizes on request
- Double desk
- 160, 180 or 200 cm wide
- Desk depth
- 70 or 80 cm
- Working height
- 74–82 cm in 15 mm steps, tool-adjustable
Colours and decors
The desk body comes in jet black (RAL 9005) or white aluminium (RAL 9006). There are six decors to choose from for the desktop: Arctic White, Pastel Grey, Dark Grey, Cognac Oak, Silvretta Elm and Obir Beech. We use wood-based materials from our board manufacturer, sourced from PEFC/FSC-certified, sustainable forestry.
- Jet black, RAL 9005
- White aluminium, RAL 9006
Arctic White
Pastel Grey
Dark Grey
Cognac Oak
Silvretta Elm
Obir Beech
On-screen colours may vary. We will send you samples on request.
Modular system
Options and accessories
The desk body, desktop, Lift module and cable management are always included. You configure everything else to suit your application.
PC mounting and security
- PC holder Mini for slim mini PCs
- PC holder Medium for mid-size desktop PCs
- PC holder Max for large desktops up to tower size
- PC holder Vertical Lift only, for a mini PC
- Locking bolt standard with the PC holder, design depends on the configuration
Monitor
- 32-inch Lift extension for larger monitors, requires a minimum desk width
- VESA mount 100 × 100 for monitors with the common 100 mm hole pattern (VESA)
Cables
- Patch and HDMI cables CAT 6A for the network, HDMI between PC and monitor
Power and data
- Retractable desk socket sits flush in the desktop when not in use
- Retractable power strip tower with 3 sockets, 2 × USB-C, 1 × USB-A
- USB-C built-in strip socket plus 100 W USB-C charging
- Built-in frame, fitted power and data combined in the desk
- 5-way power strip five sockets in the desk body
- RJ45 and HDMI connection panel network and video at the desk surface
Assembly and fixing
- Desk linking kit joins desks flush in a row
- Floor fixing set fixing brackets including mounting parts
- Back panel screens the view and protects cables at the rear
- Top leg cover for a tidy overall look
- Castor set four braked castors (Ø 42 mm)
Technical data
All values at a glance.
Dimensions and weight
- Type single desk or double desk (2 workstations on 1 desk body)
- Single desk width 80 / 90 / 100 / 120 cm; 140 / 160 cm as special sizes on request
- Double desk width 160 / 180 / 200 cm
- Desktop depth 70 cm or 80 cm
- Desktop thickness 19 mm, matching 2 mm ABS edge
- Weight approx. 40–45 kg (single desk), approx. 73–77 kg (double desk), depending on configuration
Height and monitor mechanism
- Working height 74–82 cm in 15 mm steps, tool-adjustable, set once to suit the users ergonomically
- Height mechanism telescopic desk leg (‘leg-in-leg’) with button-head screws; height-adjustable levelling feet to compensate for uneven floors
- Monitor mechanism gas spring with push function (a light push, then the monitor moves automatically), lift mechanism needs no power
- Monitor travel (stroke) 500 mm
Monitor and PC mounting
- Monitor size up to 27 inches (VESA 75/100); up to 32 inches with the Lift extension, on single desks from 90 cm wide, on double desks from 180 cm wide; larger custom solutions on request
- Monitor weight no fixed upper limit, the gas spring is matched to the weight of the monitor
- PC mount any performance class, virtually all standard PCs, no fixed weight limit; in the desk body or on PC holder Mini, Medium or Max; PC holder Vertical Lift only, for a mini PC
- PC holder, takes PCs up to (W × H × D) Mini 42 × 213 × 202 mm · Medium 112 × 392 × 399 mm · Max 199 × 484 × 434 mm · Vertical up to 177 mm wide
- Ventilation of the PC mount passive
Usable internal dimensions with a 5 mm insertion allowance. Width is the most reliable dimension; for Mini and Max, height and depth are partly open, so the PC may protrude.
Material and surface
- Desk body powder-coated steel, scratch-resistant, matt, lockable
- Steel thickness 0.8–2.0 mm, depending on the component
- Desktop 19 mm melamine-faced decorative chipboard with a scratch-resistant surface
- Desktop decors Arctic White, Pastel Grey, Dark Grey, Cognac Oak, Silvretta Elm, Obir Beech
- Desk body colours RAL 9005 jet black, RAL 9006 white aluminium
- Wood-based materials boards from a European brand manufacturer, sourced from PEFC/FSC-certified, sustainable forestry (certification at manufacturer level)
Cables, power and data
- Cable management, as standard hollow desk legs as closable cable ducts, knock-outs at the top and bottom, desk-to-desk cabling, upper cable routing for cross-cabling, fixing and strain relief points
- Duct cross-sections generous, even for long rows of desks
- Lower cable tray standard on the Lift, cable tray with cover under the desk
- Cable and trip protection tamper-protected cable routing in the desk body
- Electrification optional, via a modular built-in system with Schuko, RJ45, USB-A and USB-C; further power, data and multimedia modules on request
Delivery, warranty and planning
- Scope of delivery steel desk body, desktop and Lift module; assembly hardware; lock or latch as standard, with a key or screw-fastened depending on configuration
- Your choice PC, monitor and peripherals
- As a service on-site installation, cabling and freight
- Delivery time from 7–8 weeks in the fast-delivery programme (selected models)
- Warranty 7 years on parts and spare parts from date of delivery, in the EU and Switzerland, non-transferable; wear parts (gas spring, PE slide rails, locking mechanism) 1 year
- Origin developed and assembled in Germany, with assured spare parts supply
- Planning data DWG and DXF (2D), STEP (3D) on request
- Dimensional drawing front, side and top view on request
Frequently asked questions
Is your question not listed? Write to us at info@smesk.de or call us: +49 8631 3677-0.
How does the retractable monitor move, and does it need power?
A gas spring carries the monitor. With a light push, it moves 500 mm out of the desktop automatically, and with a second push it goes back in. The lift mechanism needs no power. Only your PC, your monitor and the sockets in the desk need a power supply, if you choose to have sockets.
Which PC can we install, and do we have to buy it from you?
The Lift takes PCs of every performance class, from mini PCs to workstations. The computer is built into the desk body or attached to the desk with a PC holder in size Mini, Medium or Max. You decide which device to use, with no tie to any manufacturer. If you wish, we can supply a suitable computer as well.
Which monitors fit the Lift?
Monitors with a VESA 75 or 100 mount fit, which is the standard screw pattern on the back. Monitors up to 27 inches are standard. With the Lift extension, up to 32 inches is possible on single desks from 90 cm wide and on double desks from 180 cm wide. There is no fixed upper limit for the weight, because the gas spring is matched to the monitor.
Can the working height be adjusted during lessons?
No, not while the desk is in use. The working height is set once with tools, between 74 and 82 cm in 15 mm steps. After that, it suits your users permanently. During lessons, only the monitor moves.
How well are computers and cables protected against unauthorised access?
The cables run out of sight through the desk body and desk legs. The computer sits in the desk body or in a PC holder on the desk. The desk body and PC holders are lockable, with a key or screw-fastened depending on configuration. This makes the devices much harder to steal or tamper with than freely accessible equipment.
How much does a room with SMESK Lift cost?
That depends on the width, equipment and number of workstations. This is why we prepare a cost estimate for you, tailored to your room and your budget planning.
How quickly can you deliver?
Selected models are available from 7–8 weeks in our fast-delivery programme. For other versions, we will tell you the delivery time on request.
What is delivered, and who sets up the desk?
We deliver the steel desk body, desktop and Lift module, including assembly hardware. The lock or latch version is included as standard and depends on the configuration. You choose the PC, monitor and peripherals yourself. We offer on-site installation, cabling and freight as a service.
What does the warranty cover?
The SMESK warranty covers parts and spare parts and applies for 7 years from the date of delivery, in the EU and Switzerland, without registration. Wear parts, namely the gas spring, slide rails and locking mechanism, are covered for 1 year. The warranty is non-transferable and requires proper care. Removal, reinstallation and on-site service are not included.
What documents do we receive for planning and tendering?
We send you the product data sheet, CAD files in DWG, DXF and STEP, and ready-made text modules for your tender specification. The tender specification texts are written for a product-neutral tender. Write to us at info@smesk.de.
Next step
See it for yourself. In your room.
The best way to find out whether SMESK suits your room is to try it yourself.
Free trial installation
A SMESK desk in your room, with your users, free of charge and with no obligation.
Visit to a reference room
Experience a fully equipped SMESK room in everyday use. Visits are by invitation, and we treat the addresses confidentially.
Tender specification texts
Ready-made text modules for your tender specification, worded to be product-neutral.
Cost estimate for budget planning
Tell us the room size, number of workstations and the version you would like. We will get back to you with an estimate for your budget.
Get personal advice
Roland Oehlberg from the SMESK sales team will be happy to advise you.
- Phone+49 8631 3677-35
- Emailroland.oehlberg@smesk.de
- General enquiries+49 8631 3677-0 · info@smesk.de
We look forward to your enquiry!
Feel free to write to us in your own language. We offer personal advice in English, German and French.
Get personal advice
Would you like to find out more about the SMESK desk solutions?
Our team will be happy to advise you in person.
+49 8631 3677 35
info@smesk.de
Footnotes
- * Parts warranty under our warranty terms: 7 years from delivery on spare parts. Wear parts such as the gas spring, slide rails and locking mechanism are covered for 1 year.
- ** 32 inches on single desks from 90 cm wide, on double desks from 180 cm wide.