A Global Phenomenon – NOROCK by Chris and Toby Heyring
The global phenomenon NOROCK –from father and son team Chris and Toby Heyring – has changed the experience of dining out with its innovative self-stabilising table base technology. Having received multiple awards for its design, NOROCK is forging forwards with tables that provide style and comfort for both patrons and venue owners.
Backed by years of experience, the duo created NOROCK in response to the all-too-common challenge of the wobbly table. In creating the design, Chris drew on his 25 years of innovating in the automotive industry, where he invented Kinetic, a hydraulic car suspension that is now factory-fitted in prestigious vehicles like McLaren supercars, Toyota and Nissan. For his part, Toby brought a passion and expertise in creating, refining and advancing new technologies. With NOROCK now at the vanguard of design in the global market, the Heyrings have established partners worldwide, supported by warehouses in Illinois and Sydney. Distinguished with both a Red Dot Design Award and Good Design Award for product design in furniture and lighting, NOROCK has been implemented in many hospitality spaces due to its winning form and function.
Most recently, NOROCK partnered with award-winning Australian interior designers Tom Mark Henry on a limited release of NRxTMH, a designer-led collaboration that was launched at the world-renowned FuoriSalone Milan Design Week 2023. The pairing saw NOROCK reinvigorated through a palette that references the shades of the West Australian coastal landscape. NRxTMH features colours such as Peppermint Green – a nod to the native peppermint trees along the coastline – and Pindan Red, which is inspired by the rich soil of the Kimberley region. Forging NOROCK on a new path, the designer-led NRxTMH collection sees a union of technology and design culminating in a rich and vibrant dining experience.
At its core, the NOROCK technology has been changing patrons’ dining experiences since 2012. Using a simple mechanical system with four interconnected pivoting legs, the table is steadied by all four feet, as they reach an average weight loading once placed on uneven ground. NOROCK is available in dining, counter and bar designs with options of four legs, a T-base or in a rounded base. Among the many restaurants, cafes and bars throughout the world to feature NOROCK are The Wild Tavern in London, England, Hutton Brickyards in Manhattan and The Aster in Los Angeles, United States, Rafi and Pellegrino 2000 in Sydney, Australia, and Nando’s restaurants glob-ally. A recent addition to this prestigious list is Tim Hortons, Canada’s iconic coffee and donut chain, where each cafe is fitted with the self-stabilising Lunar disc base and Trail T-Base tables to withstand the fast-paced environment.
Not limited by geographical boundaries, NOROCK is available for purchase and integration in venues around the world. Coupled with its patented technology – which provides a stable dining experience no matter the surface – each NOROCK table is made to last with no maintenance or replacement parts required and a five-year warranty on the mechanism, providing a sustainable choice for all venues. Determined to bring an end to the worldwide issue of unsteady tables, Chris and Toby have imparted their knowledge and experience into NOROCK’s form and function, unveiling an ingenious modern design that is highly functional and supports hospitality venues of all sizes.
