Posts Tagged ‘Furniture Industry’
NeoCon schedule at Merchandise Mart Chicago announced through 2021
Merchandise Mart Properties. Inc. announced the schedule for the NeoCon’s schedule at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago through 2021.
The furniture design show will be held during the second week of June. Specific dates for NeoCon (www.neocon.com) are: June 11-13, 2012; June 10-12, 2013; June 9-11, 2014; June 15-17, 2015; June 13-15, 2016; June 12-14, 2017; June 10-12, 2018; June 10-12, 2019; June 15-17, 2020; and June 14-16, 2021.
“We’re pleased to announce the schedule for the next decade of NeoCon shows, leading the contract industry through the year 2021,” said MMPI president, Mark Falanga. “As it has for the last 43 years, NeoCon will continue to be produced at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago through the next decade and beyond. The Mart’s commercial furnishings industry and NeoCon has been the backbone of The Mart’s core business for the last 43 years and will continue to be so into the future.”
Grass Movement Systems invests in new logistics facility
Grass GmbH Movement Systems (www.grass.at) built a new logistics facility as part of a multi-million dollar investment program by Grass owner, Wurth, since its takeover in 2004.
The nearly $8 million new facility in Gotzis, Austria, replaced the company’s old dispatch hall with a cutting-edge logistics facility including a high-bay warehouse and improved internal and distribution logistics. The company says this expansion will ensure its increasing demand can be met, following positive growth in the U.S. and German markets in the first three months of 2012.
According to CEO Ronald Weber: “The long-term consequences of the Euro financial crisis will make 2012 a year of challenges, but also a year of great opportunities and accelerated growth. We are intensifying our efforts on key markets and are focusing not only on the kitchen and furniture industries but are also turning our attention to expanding the trade sector. Last year, we founded our own companies in Great Britain and Australia, which will bring us noticeable growth rates this year, and in Japan, too, we are well positioned on the market with our own colleagues.”
Alliance for polyurethane foam certification launches new website
The Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam’s testing and certification program, CertiPUR-US, launched a new website at www.certipur.us. The new site provides consumers with information on the certified foams that may be found in their bedding or other products, as well as provides a list of companies offering products that contain CertiPUR-US-certified foam.
The new website is an important first step in the marketing campaign to educate consumers about the benefits of CertiPUR-US-certified flexible polyurethane foams, and to drive demand for certified products, the Alliance says.
“Mattress and furniture shoppers want to know where to find products containing certified foams and the website was designed to make that easier,” said Doug Sullivan, executive director of the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam. “Being able to verify that the foam in your products is certified is also a powerful selling tool for manufacturers and retailers.”
The website’s industry sections provide details on the steps required in the certification process, and allows manufacturers and retailers to find participating foam suppliers and review registration documents for the verification process. The program is open to domestic and foreign producers of flexible polyurethane foam that meets the Association’s testing requirements and technical criteria.
Furniture supplier Hafele America names new president
Hafele Group, a furniture and architectural hardware components supplier, named Paul K. Smith as president of Hafele America Co., the company’s North American subsidiary.
Smith succeeds John Hossli who is retiring as president after serving in that role since 1999. Smith will oversee all company operations in the United States.
“We believe Paul’s 25 years of proven management experience combined with his expertise in architectural interiors, engineering and solutions will lead Hafele America toward continued growth and success,” said Sibylle Thierer, CEO and president, Hafele Group. “His expertise, passion and leadership also make Paul extremely well suited to contribute to the expanding Hafele global enterprise.”
Smith joined Hafele in mid-2011 after serving at Haworth Inc. as vice president, responsible for all North American products and the development of the company’s global product portfolio. Smith’s previous experience at Haworth included executive positions in the company’s architectural interiors and wood businesses. Prior to Haworth, Smith served in management positions with General Electric Co. and Whirlpool Corp. For more information, please visit www.hafele.com.
Xylexpo woodworking, furniture industry show to be held May 2012
With more than four months before the woodworking technology and furniture industry supplies event Xylexpo, the show’s general manager, Paolo Zanibon, says registration figures are positive with more than 400 exhibitors and a current exhibition area of about 30,000 net square meters.
Xylexpo will be held Tuesday, May 8, 2012, through Saturday, May 12, 2012 in the Milan, Italy, exhibition center, Fieramilano-Rho. The show will extend over four halls, with halls one and three for panel processing, hall two for solid wood machining, and hall four for primary operations.
Promotional activities for the show were recently launched, and will be fully up and running at the beginning of 2012. Promotional activities use a traditional communication campaign complemented with “personal” contacts using opportunities presented from new business-to-business communication tools, according to show organizers. For more information on Xylexpo or to register, please visit www.xylexpo.com.
Leggett & Platt receives home furnishings environmental awardental excellence award
Leggett & Platt Home Furniture Components was nominated for the home furnishings industry’s Sage Award for environmental excellence.
The Sage Award, launched in 2008 by the American Home Furnishings Alliance and Cargill’s BiOH, is presented to manufacturers, suppliers and retailers in the home furnishings and bedding industries. Sage Award entrants were judged on sustainability efforts, social or community involvement and company success.
Leggett & Platt’s HFC was named one of two finalists for the Sage Award in response to its environmental progresses. The American Home Furnishings Alliance’s Enhancing Furniture’s Environmental Culture voluntary environmental management system was implemented at all 13 of the company’s facilities. Leggett & Platt’s No-Sag Products branch in Kendallville, Ind., earned the company a 2011 Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for its reuse and recycling practices.
As a Sage Award finalist, HFC will be featured in a video highlighting its environmental achievements at the February 2012 Furniture Industry Sustainability Summit in Raleigh, N.C., as well as on the Sage Award website for one year at www.SageAward.org.
Rehau, Hettich honor students for furniture, interior designs in Canada
Polymer processing company Rehau, www.rehau.com, along with furniture component manufacturer Hettich, www.hettich.com, presented awards to the Canadian student winners in the 2011 International Design Award competition.
Held in September 2011, the awards presentation ceremony recognized innovative furniture systems and interior designs submitted to the competition by students from OCAD University, formerly Ontario College of Art & Design, and the University of Toronto.
The two winning Canadian entries under the competition’s theme of “Design Your Living Space” were “Algeoli,” an air and water purification system that functions as an interior lighting element, submitted by Mae Shaban, and a nanotechnology food storage unit called “Wave,” submitted by Marie Kudo, Jason Luk, Song Kim and Xuan Nguyen.
“As the furniture industry must continue to evolve to meet dynamic customer needs, we believe it’s imperative that fresh and creative ideas from students are recognized in a significant way,” said Dr. Thomas Troeger, North American business team manager for Rehau’s furniture business unit. “Rehau is honored to sponsor the International Design Award competition as a means to provide this recognition, and also to highlight new concepts that will very likely shape the future of furniture design.”
For additional information on the International Design Award competition, visit www.internationaldesignaward.com.
Mockett announces furniture, hardware 2011 Design Competition
Doug Mockett & Co. is looking for furniture part and accessory submissions to its 2011 Design Competition.
Doug Mockett & Co. announced it is currently accepting submissions of furniture parts, accessories and hardware to its 2011 Design Competition.
The competition will award up to four first place winners, each with $1,000, an engraved trophy and a royalty based on sales of their design project.
To enter the competition, submit a write-up of a product along with an optional drawing or model, to the address: Contest Administrator, Doug Mockett & Company Inc., P.O. Box 3333, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, or via email to contest@mockett.com. The deadline for contest entry is Tuesday, Sept. 6. For more information, call the contest administrator at 310.318.2491.
Bush Business Furniture awarded Navy purchase agreement
Bush Business Furniture, the commercial division of Bush Industries, was awarded its first Blanket Purchase Agreement by the U.S. Department of the Navy, which allows the company to sell its furniture to the Navy within the continental U.S.
This five-year agreement enables BBF to compete for Navy contracts in two categories: worksurfaces, workstations, computer furniture and accessories; and filing and storage cabinets, shelves, mobile carts, dollies, racks and accessories. BBF says it will be on the first-call vendor list.
“We are thrilled with the U.S. Navy’s decision to award BBF with this purchasing agreement and enable us to provide quality furnishings to installations across the U.S.,” said Mike Chefalo, vice president of product management, commercial products for Bush Industries. “We are confident that the Navy will find that our comprehensive line of superior, reliable office furnishings will fit their furnishing needs.”
Furniture makers to present seminars at AWFS Fair 2011
The Association of Woodworking & Furniture Suppliers will offer several skill courses on handcrafted furniture as part of the educational program for AWFS Fair 2011.
Jeff Miller of J. Miller Handcrafted Furniture in Chicago will offer two sessions. A half-day session, “Designing and Building Chairs,” will offer insight into chair construction and joinery for those who may be intimidated by the challenges that chairs pose. In “Mastering Furniture Design Fundamentals,” Miller will explore each phase and process involved in design, from seed idea to finished piece.
Phil Lowe, founder of the Furniture Institute of Massachusetts, will present sessions on advanced joinery and ornamental inlay. The joinery class will demonstrate complex techniques such as slot dovetails, angled dovetails for drawer construction that is not square, angle tenons used in chair construction, and mortise and tenons for curved parts. The inlay class will show how to embellish furniture with various Federal furniture techniques such as stringing, banding, bellflowers and fans, as well as demonstrating simple tools designed for inlay stringing and a process known as sand-shading.
A course called ”CAD/CNC for the Custom Furniture Maker” will be taught by Leland Thomasett of Taghkanic Woodworking in New York, which will explore using CAD/CAM software to design furniture, create fixtures and cut parts. A session on ”Photographing your Furniture Like a Pro” will share tips on how to take a great finished shot, including information on composition, background, lighting, and how to utilize a personal digital camera for great shots.
The Furniture Society will hold its annual conference in conjunction with the 2011 AWFS Fair, providing on-site activities for attendees at the group’s AWFS booth. The 2011 College of Woodworking Knowledge will offer seminars in eight different tracks from more than 50 industry experts who will deliver the presentations. AWFS Fair 2011 will take place July 20-23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
