From classic to career type – the Maxi flap fitting
A re-think started in the furniture industry several years ago: function furniture also had to make a good visual impression. Precisely this re-think led to the development of flap fittings, which we couldn’t imagine being without nowadays. Furniture fronts could be opened upwards with these fittings. And open wall cabinets were no longer an obstacle course but ergonomic, space-saving and also good to look at. They have transformed kitchens into living spaces, a development welcomed by industry and consumers alike – for the time being.
A powerhouse with potential
Häfele soon realised that flap fittings were fundamental for creative furniture design: Häfele has had flap fittings in the product range as its own products for several years. These fittings are now classics in the furniture industry and we couldn’t imagine being without them, particularly in kitchen design. Häfele’s Maxi flap fitting is a powerhouse, since it holds front panels weighing up to 50 kg in any required position. But Häfele wouldn’t be Häfele if we didn’t make products that have already been successful a bit better. Häfele found the decisive trigger for this in the market: technicians, designers, wood processing companies, planners and customers all played an important part in this completely new idea.
Small addition, major effect
Whilst Häfele’s hardware and fitting systems specialists were perfecting the movement of the Maxi flap fitting, a Häfele employee simply tried something new: he combined the Maxi fitting with push hinges to create a push-to-open function. With a gentle finger press, even the heaviest furniture front opens all the way to the end position. A simple, additional component transformed the classic flap fitting into a creative, multi-functional solution. It was especially effective since the added value corresponded to precisely the current trend in furniture design toward elegant furniture fronts without handles. The new, expanded areas of application of the Maxi flap fitting show that Häfele not only identifies trends, but also sets them. And this was done successfully.
