Crafting innovative new features for established furniture designs doesn’t just rely on finding the right products for the job. Any solution developed to support a manufacturer’s operations must complement their existing production processes and installation methods, without adding unnecessary time, cost or complexity.
This was the challenge facing fitted furniture manufacturer, Hammonds, when it sought to introduce integrated lighting to its wardrobe range. With more than 250 customer orders passing through its factory each day, the business needed a solution that would enhance the functionality and appearance of its furniture while fitting seamlessly into the way it already worked.
Drawing on a longstanding partnership, Hammonds turned to Häfele UK, which combined its product development expertise with its detailed understanding of the manufacturer’s operations to create a unique LED lighting solution. The design needed to evenly illuminate Hammonds’ wardrobe interiors, activate automatically when doors opened, and remain discreet within the furniture design.
“The brief covered much more than the performance of the lighting itself,” says Jamie McLaren, Business Development Manager at Häfele UK. “We needed to understand how the wardrobes were manufactured, handled and installed, then develop, prototype and test a solution that worked with those processes.”
The result is a series of ready-to-use lighting kits, containing drivers, sensors and LED strips in three lengths tailored to Hammonds’ designs. Positioned towards the front of wardrobe side panels, the lighting provides even illumination without glare and eliminates the need to make changes to existing panels.
The sensor-operated, plug-and-play system can also be installed by Hammonds’ own fitting teams without specialist electrical equipment or an electrician.
Through its Service+ Customised offering, Häfele cuts, assembles and tests the lighting bars before packaging them into complete one- or two-door kits. This removes preparation and individual component picking from Hammonds’ operation, streamlining stocking and distribution while reducing the risk of missing components.
Backed by Häfele’s seven-year warranty, the solution has sold more than 2,000 units in its first year.
Surinder Dahri, Buyer at Hammonds, said: “We handed Häfele a tough brief, but they listened, refined it, and came up with a solution that we knew would work. The team was always receptive to feedback and adapted the design to our requirements, which is why they’re one of our most trusted business partners.”
The project demonstrates Häfele’s approach to strategic partnerships, combining co-creation, product engineering and operational support to help furniture manufacturers introduce new features while improving efficiency across their businesses.
For more information, visit Häfele UK’s Service+ page.
