A professional resource for the design curious
From small beginnings in a Swiss Village, Züco have grown an international reputation for quality furniture.
November 21st, 2008
In a small Swiss village called Rebstein in 1921, Karl Zünd set up a business which manufactured a variety of goods including horse saddles, upholstered furniture, bedware, leather goods and sports articles. His company quickly became successful, due to the passion and craftsmanship of the workers, and was soon the largest in the village with 10 employees.
Little did Karl know, that nearly 80 years later his company would grow to become a force in the global market. Far from the modest beginnings on the Swiss Austrian Alps, Züco (made up of the first two letters of Karl’s surname and the abbreviation for company) is now cementing its place in the worldwide commercial furniture arena.
During its development, Züco has expanded, building on their original focus in manufacturing to include design and distribution sectors. Conversely, their seemingly random initial range of offerings has been refined into a core business of high quality commercial office seating.
The qualities regularly attributed to items of Swiss development –whether they be watches, knives or furniture – are inherent in the Züco brand. Good quality, fine craftsmanship and precise design are to be expected. But it is another quality that has enabled Züco to be so eagerly accepted whenever they forge into new territory – passion.
Züco have established a method of collaborating with people who are as passionate about design as they are. Design Ballendat brings a sense of personality and uniqueness to the products he designs, bic-design stretches the limits of materials to offer innovative structural solutions and bert&bert’s designs are a meeting point for formal language and character and emotion.
Design for Züco is also about interaction. Each person involved in the company – from the designers and craftsman right up to CEO Roland Zünd, synchronises like the cogs in a watch, collaborating to create a working whole. Roland, who is also the creative mastermind of the company and grandson of founder Karl Zünd, says, “We see the process of creating a convincing solution as a task of coordination”.
Having established a presence in the USA, Canada and the Far East, Züco are now also firmly ensconced in the Australian and New Zealand markets. And it seems this migration has been a happy move for everyone.
Züco
Supplier: Methis Australia
INDESIGN is on instagram
Follow @indesignlive
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
