Unwavering ‘Savoir Faire’ – Fermob

Across its three production facilities in Mâcon, Thoissey and Anneyron in France’s southeast, state-of-the-art machines and humans work side by side. Human-centred aptitudes such as intuition and feeling are complemented by machine-led productivity and efficiency, resulting in furniture imbued with artistry and craft as well as technological precision.

With thanks to the company’s continued investment into innovation and industrial expertise, Fermob produces roughly 650,000 pieces every year, consistently transforming metal into high quality furniture. Notably, a new production line in Anneyron will significantly increase manufacturing quantities, and together, the production facilities are equipped with machinery to cut, bend, curve and shape steel sheets and coils, meaning the Fermob design studio’s creativity is never curtailed by manufacturing limitations.

Alongside a commitment to high standards of manufacturing, Fermob is also widely recognised for its distinctive approach to colour. The company firmly believes in colour’s ability to ignite joy and inspire creativity – a philosophy that enriches the Fermob offering and enhances its vivacious spirit. Its colour chart has grown from two colours in the late 1980s – racing green and white – to 22 shades today, all mixed in-house. There is brightness and intensity in shades such as Poppy, Opaline Green and Honey or softness and subtlety in Cotton White, Nutmeg and Clay Grey. Shades are selected for their individuality and relevance, and the construction and stability are crucial, too; they are hardwearing, and resistant to UV light, abrasion and water, ensuring a long and vivid life.

The zero-waste painting line machine is essential to Fermob’s growing colour capabilities. At 220 metres long, it is the most advanced in the world and features an efficient yet meticulous 22-step process, meaning up to 20,000 products can be painted every week at 98 per cent productivity. Zero water pollution is produced thanks to a successive drip process, zero atmospheric emissions as the heat from the ovens is recovered for the metal treatment baths, and zero powder waste as the solvent-free, 100 per cent polyester powder-coating is applied without water through a closed-loop process meaning any surplus powder is collected and reused. It is an invaluable tool which directly supports Fermob’s lasting commitment to colour.

Fermob’s place in design history is without question; its Bistro and Luxembourg chairs mean it will be eternally linked to French life and culture. Yet it is clear the company’s ambition does not end there – its commitment to innovation across manufacturing, sustainability and design enriches its reputation as an important player in the field of global, contemporary design. Further, manufactured to this day in the French countryside, Fermob’s furniture can be found in over 60 countries, bringing a generous dose of the company’s unwavering ‘savoir faire’ to homes and public spaces around the world.