Flexibility, mobility and versatility are the focal points of a new approach to space planning. At Interzum 2011 Häfele, the international creative workshop for hardware technology, will show its interpretation of this global trend in innovative room designs that reflect the changing needs of their users ... one could say dream rooms. Rooms with stunning functionality and vibrant energy, rooms that are constantly changing and virtually create on-demand interiors. Intelligent hardware technology and Häfele Engineering make it a reality and as a result fair visitors will experience first hand how a living room is transformed into a kitchen, a guest room into an office, how a dining table becomes a multi-purpose work surface, a coffee table reveals itself as a multi storage unit, a table turns into a bed and even how a small hotel room can suddenly offer the comfort and charm of a 5-star luxury hotel.

The trend toward open concept spaces eliminates walls and truly allows furniture and furnishings to become the highlight and centre of attention. This trend presents a unique challenge for the furniture industry and all its stakeholders, architects and designers as well as furniture manufacturers and hardware technology specialists. Häfele has accepted the challenge and is in the midst of re-evaluating its product range with this opportunity in mind. User comfort and customer processes are at the centre of our attention. The end results are creative contributions for modern room design with many moveable and multifunctional elements.

Häfele Functionality is becoming a brand that is synonymous with lively furniture, innovative furniture and furnishings and versatile room design. At the same time „Functionality“ is hailed as an important term implying quality. Nowadays, almost everyone in the industry promotes it as an attribute of their brand.

At Interzum 2011, trendsetter Häfele will take its commitment to the next level by including designers and architects with a focus on service, consulting and the new products from its partners in the furniture industry. Häfele wants to serve this new trend and is constantly creating and developing new furniture solution that combine high levels of function and design. It only makes sense that a supplier speaks the same language, sees the big picture of furniture production and has the same perspective of the end users as the furniture industry to incorporate into his research and development work.

Häfele is presenting itself as a supplier of innovative ideas for industrial furniture manufacturers and as internationally recognized engineering partner to the industry. Lifestyle furnishings that meet the criteria of modern room design will be the focal point of the over 1,000 m2 stand.

The current living trend is dominated by the desire to eliminate the traditional barriers between bedrooms and bathrooms, work spaces, dining and living rooms. Each individual room may become larger but this usually leaves less space for storage.

Through the clever use of hardware applications and the creative use of surfaces, spaces, nooks and crannies Häfele provides elegant solutions for this apparent contradiction. Häfele provides surprising functionality for furniture – it becomes more versatile, mobile, turnable, slidable, rollable, height adjustable and, when it is not required, even invisible.

Hardware highlights for the furniture industry

Häfele Development Engineering chooses the market success Minifix to be its Interzum star. The Minifix 15/16 housing’s comprehensive redesign results in higher tightening power and stability thanks to new and very clever geometry in material removal. The matching hollow section bolt is made from steel; it preserves materials and money – a great match up for the economy and the environment.

Under the brand name Slido Häfele presents a new sliding door fitting from its own development and production. The Classic P VF 50 Vorfront fitting promises a high degree of user comfort for large and heavy panel doors. When connected to the electric drive E-Drive, the doors run automatically in both directions after just a small tap. The most effective soft-closing and guiding system for a third front sliding door is provided by the newly developed Smuso centre door soft-closing mechanism.

A brand new Engineering feat are hardware fittings that are covered with the antibacterial surface coating Alasept. They are deployed in sensitive areas such as clinics, retirement homes, medical practices, schools, kindergartens to add a layer of protection. They protect door handles, drawer handles, handrails and other surfaces from contamination with bacteria such as MSRA. Alasept is a major entry into the general discussion about hygiene.

A visit to Häfele in Hall 7 during Interzum will be worthwhile for many reasons. The stand will be a unique insight into the international competence and a pool of ideas for those that design, plan and build furniture. Inspiration for innovative and intelligent furniture is the promise from the hardware technology specialist. The energy new ideas generate is well known and particularly valuable because it tends to live on well past the excitement of the show floors has worn off. Back at the shop these ideas will be evaluated for their long-term value and ability to spawn economically viable products

In addition, Häfele will be exhibiting at the special presentation for light panel constructions during the Ligna Fair in Hannover from May 31st – June 3rd - Hall 24/Stand C19

“Häfele is an internationally established family firm with its Head Office in Nagold, Germany. Founded in 1923, the company serves the furniture industry, architects and developers, joinery and related trades with furniture fittings and architectural hardware as well as electronic locking systems in over 150 countries around the world. The 2010 financial year saw the Häfele Group achieve a turnover of over 881 million Euro with a workforce of more than 5,200 employees in 37 sales branch offices.“

SOURCE: Hafele