Constant progress Hukla Möbel

CONSTANT PROGRESS

Sofa and recliner manufacturer Hukla Möbel GmbH has come through the financial crisis of the past few years and continues to introduce new lines. Industry Europe looks at the reasons behind its success.

AT its production sites in Germany and Poland, business is brisk for sofa and recliner manufacturer Hukla Möbel GmbH. Export manager Mark Litterst said that the company has survived the global economic crisis so far and has expanded both its product range and its staff.

“Our first reaction to the recession was a decision to focus all our activities on markets we have been successful in already,” he explained. “This proved to be a wise decision. The recession has had practically no influence on our business.”

A long tradition

Founded in the Black Forest area of Germany in 1936, by Hugo Klausner, Hukla started making wooden cases. After World War II, however, it began catering to the furniture shortage of the time by making mattresses. The company later added furniture to its product portfolio and today approximately 60 per cent of its production is sofas, while 40 per cent is recliners.

Originally known as Hukla Werke GmbH, the company’s name was changed to Hukla Möbel GmbH in 2004 after it was sold to a large South Africa based furniture group. Today Hukla is part of the group’s European division.

The company manufactures its products from three different production sites. At Gengenbach, in Germany, sofas and recliner chairs are made, while at Torgelow, also in Germany, recliners are produced. At Wolow, in Poland, production focuses on sofas.

A unique product

The reputation of Hukla’s products is built on its high-quality furniture and reasonable prices. The company also holds a significant number of patents that help it retain and grow its market share. These cover elements of functionality, such as the reclining mechanisms of the chairs, realigning and other relaxation actions, seat angle changes and seat depth changes. All of these can be combined to produce a unique product.

The company has also developed its own in-house foam into which it can directly mould the springs. This enables it to offer a ten-year warranty on the seat comfort.

Another patent covers construction processes, enabling it make lightweight but extremely durable frames.

Motion furniture

New product design and development is on going. Over the past few years the company has expanded its design studio, increasing its in-house body of designers.

Its most recent ranges of recliners have been extremely successful. It also offers a new generation of sofas with special recliner actions.

Carpenter APS is one of the leading manufacturers of fl exible polyurethane foam in Scandinavia. The company is part of the international company Carpenter Co. We offer our customers a wide range of foam products:

• Standard Polyether • High Resilience • CMHR • Hypersoft • Waterlily® • Celsius® viscoelastic

Hukla’s development teams are constantly working on interesting new products. The company is known for high- quality motion furniture and this is what its customers have come to expect. It is constantly striving for new mechanisms combined with new looks and superb comfort.

Hukla’s products are aimed at the medium to upper end of a market that sees little fluctuation. Any fluctuation that does occur is purely seasonal with September to March being the busiest period.

The Hukla name

Carpenter APS, Michael Drewsensvej 9, DK-8270 Højbjerg Phone: +45 86 29 23 11, Fax: +45 86 29 27 71, Email: info-dk@carpenter.com www.carpenter.com The aim for the future, said Mr Litterst, is to continue to develop the product range and to adapt to demand. “Global taste in furniture varies a lot. Adapting to both regional demands as well as special demands of certain consumer groups is the key to success,” he explained. “However, Hukla only serves the middle to upper market segment – and this will not change.”

He went on: “Furniture is a bit like fashion – today’s blockbusters may be irrelevant next year. Therefore we have to listen closely to market demands.”

And he added: “The company also plans to build the Hukla brand and to ensure that its name is better known among consumers. Hukla is a known brand for the dealers but only a few end consumers know the name.” n