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AWMAC member profile
Hettich: Four generations
of furniture technology innovations
Canadian Design and Construction
Report special feature
You can’t see Hettich’s prod-
ucts in completed projects, but
the company’s four generations
of family-owned management
have provided responsive and in-
novative solutions to technology
challenges since 1888.
The company began when
Karl Hettich mechanized the pro-
duction of anchor escapements
for cuckoo clocks. In 1928, son
August Hettich developed a produc-
tion line for piano hinges, a move
that set the course for the com-
pany’s current focus: furniture tech-
nology. Today the Hettich name
applies to hinges, drawer runners,
folding and sliding systems, han-
dles, drawer systems and lighting
systems in furniture.
Eastern Canada sales manager
Claude de Lanauze says Hettich’s
AWMAC (Architectural Woodwork
Manufacturers Association of
Canada) membership helps to con-
nect the business with its market.
“The association sets high stan-
dards and we present products to
meet those high project standards
and grade needs,” he said. “We
also offer products that are new and
innovative to keep members current
on what is available and possible.
Many of our lines are patented be-
cause they are unique.”
De Lanauze says Hettich has
used the same focus it demon-
strated for its sliding door program,
to develop a new product. The re-
cently-introduced ArciTech drawer
supports high loading capacity, re-
specting the trend towards material
such as marble, glass and heavy
wood. “Our German-engineered, high
quality products are durable and
want to support all growing material
trends,” he said. “We also use two
dedicated technicians to provide
technical support and training to fur-
ther assist our customers.”
De Lanauze says the AWMAC
membership allows Hettich to
stay in front of its clients to better
understand their needs. The com-
pany also organizes focus groups
and uses its own laboratories to
study how people work and
works with schools worldwide on
product development and innova-
tion. “We work bi-annually with
REHAU Unlimited Polymer Solu-
tions on the International Design
Awards,” he said. “This competition
invites design students from all over
the world to create innovative and
unusual solutions in furniture de-
sign and challenges us to come up
with novelty solutions to meet the
needs of these fresh eyes and new
perspectives.” Hettich also took part in the
Woodworking Machinery and Sup-
ply Expo (WMS) in October.
“We support AWMAC and have
provided our support to its renewed
chapter in Quebec,” he said. “It is
important to the industry to support
the association’s standards for best
value and highest quality.”
For more information, visit
hettich.com The Canadian Design and Construction Report — Fall 2013 – 37