With the motto ‘More life per square metre’, Häfele demonstrated its competence in understanding furniture technology at interzum 2017, the world’s leading trade fair for furniture production and interior design. A total of approximately 69,000 visitors from 152 countries attended this biennial event for all wood and furniture specialists.
“We succeeded in giving the industry new, helpful suggestions for the future. Furniture is not far away from the future topic of Smart Home. With our Dialock access control system and the Loox LED lighting system, we have many years of experience with electrics and electronics in buildings and furniture. This expertise in electronics and networking is a valuable basis for linking the two worlds. Häfele can therefore be there for its partners as a platform provider when Smart Home is being implemented,” says Chief Executive Officer Sibylle Thierer.
During an eight-minute-long Smart Home presentation, Häfele showed an example of how light, sound and furniture functionality of a kitchen and a bedroom can be conveniently operated using a smartphone app. Häfele also introduced Häfele Connect, the key to connect furniture and rooms via an app based on the Loox LED lighting system as a starting point. This plug and play system and universal connectivity can easily connect furniture of all kinds, and also bring Häfele a step forward towards a comprehensive room control building technology—Häfele Hub, which is already at an advanced prototype stage.
Häfele also introduced the ‘Häfele Concept’, a ‘Micro Living’ concept with market potential for the furniture industry. This was presented through the example of two scalable apartments for visitors to experience its inspiring functionality, and how intelligent furniture with expanded functions can influence and modify rooms. Häfele also clarified market opportunities that exist with furniture ideas for smaller units.
In addition, Häfele highlighted creative products at their booth, such as lighting, furniture connectors, cabinet systems, sliding doors and flap fittings. Two of their new furniture connectors won the interzum Award 2017 in Cologne. The one-piece Ixconnect spreading bolt 8/25 won the ‘Best of the Best’ designation, while the new EasyStorage connector—a universal tool-less connector for furniture pieces—was awarded another prize.
With its special capability of comprehensively assessing furniture with regard to building, opening, outfitting and electrifying, the hardware technology specialist is almost intuitively qualified as a suitable partner for the furniture and construction industry.
