HEWI MAG / Knowledge
Stylish addition: HEWI expands the Re-seat family with new versions featuring chrome frames
Interview with HEWI Product Manager Susan Herrmann
HEWI has extended the Re-seat family to include a version with a chrome frame. This complements the existing chairs and stools with a black matte frame. In this interview, our product manager Susan Herrmann talks about the development of bathroom furniture made from post-industrial recyclate (PIR) and highlights its special properties.
HEWI: Ms. Herrmann, what was your role in the development of the Re-seat family?
Susan Herrmann: I work as a product manager at HEWI. In collaboration with the project team – which consists of colleagues from marketing, (material) development, design, and purchasing – we jointly developed and launched the Re-seat family. However, the development process for the Re-seat family was somewhat different than is usually the case with a new product development from HEWI.
HEWI: That sounds quite interesting. Please tell us more about product development and the idea behind the Re-seat family.
Susan Herrmann: HEWI stands for products designed according to aspects of universal design. Function and quality combined with an aesthetically pleasing design are our top priorities. In this way, we make ideal use possible for everyone and guarantee durable and long-lasting products for years to come. As experts in plastics and injection molding technology, we have been dealing with the reuse of plastic for a long time and have therefore asked ourselves: How can we use the additional material generated during production to make a new product? Until now, it has been rather unusual to upcycle material from production and then use it in the visible surface of a newly created product. For this project, it was, of course, important for us to manufacture a product from a recycled material that meets the high quality standards that our customers and we have come to place on our solutions. For us, one such material is the post-industrial recyclate that we use for the Re-seat family. The seating furniture is made of a mixture of recycled polypropylene and recycled polyamide. The polyamide comes from HEWI production, and the polypropylene from a regionally based company.
Is that where the name “Re-seat family” comes from?
Susan Herrmann: Yes, exactly. The syllable “Re” is derived from the word “Recycle”. It therefore alludes to the main feature that characterizes the bathroom furniture. Because our Re-seat family is produced with high-quality post-industrial recyclate, we also save on intensive treatment processes as well as a lot of energy during production. By sourcing raw materials and parts regionally, we strengthen regional supply chains and cooperate with local partners. This is also a fundamental part of our sustainability strategy.
HEWI: What is so special about the surface of the Re-seat family, and what color variants are available?
Susan Herrmann: The special feature is that each stool and bath chair is unique. This is because the two materials used have different melting points. This creates a mottled structure with small speckles of color on the surface during the injection molding process. These tell the unique color story of HEWI: This is because all colors from the HEWI polyamide product range are immortalized in the bathroom furniture.
The surface of the seat and backrest surfaces as well as the armrests are designed in two completely new colors: Forest Green and Dark Granite Gray. Both shades are quite close to nature. While the Dark Granite Gray harmonizes quite well with other products from the HEWI portfolio and is rather reserved, Forest Green can be used to emphasize certain elements in the bathroom. For example, it goes particularly well with the HEWI favorite color Somber Sage Green from System 900. Although each product in the Re-seat family is unique in itself, they still fit together perfectly in the composition.
The frame of the seating options is now also available in two colors, thereby increasing the design variety. In addition to the existing frame in matte black, a high-gloss version with chrome details is now also available.
HEWI: And how did the addition of a version with a chrome frame to the Re-seat family come about?
There were a number of key considerations when adding a chrome frame version to our Re-seat family. As a system provider, we want to offer various designs that allow our products to be harmoniously integrated into any interior design. The new chrome version complements our previous models in matte black and thus offers the opportunity to add high-gloss touches to the bathroom. We wanted to expand the product range of the Re-seat family so that there is a suitable solution for every individual furnishing requirement. The chrome version therefore rounds off our product range and extends our selection of convenient and attractive design options.
HEWI: What other special features characterize the bathroom furniture?
Susan Herrmann: Our Re-seat family is based on a streamlined round tube design made of metal. This can be either powder-coated in black or high-gloss chrome-plated. The seat and backrest surfaces as well as the armrests of the Re-seat family are made of post-industrial recyclate. This makes each piece of bathroom furniture unique and is the most special feature of the products.
With the Re-seat family, it was also important to us that the products are just as hygienic as the other HEWI solutions. The surfaces made of the material mixture are therefore easy to clean and resistant to cleaning agents. In addition, thanks to their minimalist design, the bathroom furniture has few joints where dirt and bacteria can collect.
Another special feature is that each stool and bathroom chair in our Re-seat family has a different function. Because of its small size, the small stool is ideal for narrow bathrooms and showers with small floor areas. Thanks to its frame shape, it ensures a secure footing and is absolutely tip-proof. The stool with integrated recessed grips supports users perfectly when sitting down and standing up. The same applies to the stool with side support handles. The raised and ergonomically shaped support handles give users the necessary safety in the bathroom and make their everyday life easier. The bath chair, which is available with or without armrests, has a towel rail on the back. This is also ideal for holding onto if required. For care staff, this additional function is also useful for quickly moving the chair quickly from A to B. The large bath chair has a circumferential railing. The armrests on this model are also ergonomically shaped and actively support the user. People with physical disabilities can feel their way around the railing until they can sit safely on the chair. In this way, the different models respond to the individual needs of the user.
HEWI: Thank you very much for your time and the interesting interview, Ms. Herrmann.
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