1980
Max De Pree becomes chairman and chief executive officer.
A new Holland seating plant is built. The Building B production site is converted to office space.
1981
Burdick Group is introduced.
Herman Miller's Energy Center begins burning waste to generate power--both electrical and steam--to run the company's million-square-foot Main Site manufacturing facility.
V-Wall movable walls are introduced.
1982
Tradex, Inc., becomes a Herman Miller subsidiary, providing easy-to-acquire workstations, casegoods, and seating. Its name is later changed to Phoenix Designs and then to Miller SQA.
Vaughan Walls, Inc., a manufacturer of movable, modular walls, becomes a Herman Miller subsidiary.
1983
A special stock-ownership plan establishes all Herman Miller employees as shareholders.
1984
The Equa chair, the Ethospace system, and the Eames sofa are introduced.
Herman Miller opens facilities in England and France.
1985
Milcare, a wholly owned subsidiary, is formed from the company's Health/Science Division, which began in 1971. It will be renamed Herman Miller for Healthcare in 1999.
The Worldesign Congress names Charles Eames "The Most Influential Designer of the Century" and Action Office "The Most Significant Design" since 1960.
Herman Miller Research Corporation publishes The Negotiable Environment.
Dealerships open in Korea, Malaysia, and Australia.
1986
The Custom Choices Division is established to offer nonstandard products.
George Nelson dies.
Construction of the Design Yard in Holland, Michigan, begins.
The Scooter stand is introduced.
1987
Newhouse Group furniture is introduced.
Action Office enhancements become Action Office Encore (later renamed Action Office Series 2).
Dick Ruch is named Herman Miller CEO, the first person outside of the De Pree family to hold that title.
1988
Ergon 2 chairs and Ethospace support cabinets are introduced.
Max De Pree publishes Leadership is an Art.
Ray Eames dies.
1989
The Equa chair wins a Design of the Decade award from Time magazine.
Herman Miller employees create the Environmental Quality Action Team (EQAT) to coordinate environmental programs companywide and involve as many employees as possible.
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