Ten years ago Pedrali set up a plant in Manzano in Friuli, in the province of Udine, an area known as the Chair District for its traditional wooden chair-making. An important reason for the manufacturer to establish the new wooden furniture production plant there, while in Bergamo in Lombardy they have been working with plastics, metal and upholstery for 50 years. In Manzano, however, the family-run company uses both traditional wood-crafting expertise and 21st-century high tech. The production model is the same as the one successfully used in Bergamo. The industrial process is based on the idea of doing most of the work internally, to ensure maximum quality and control over every phase: from design to production. Design is realized with automated processes, making storage and production extremely efficient. Industrial robots execute the individual steps in the work process with extreme precision and are also used in the water-based coating process.
The chair “Frida” beautifully demonstrates this balancing act between traditional craftwork and contemporary production. At first glance the model calls to mind elegant, timeless classics with a very light, unembellished design. Yet upon closer inspection it quickly becomes apparent how successfully the formal reduction and finishing of the details have been accomplished. The slightly curved wooden seat shell is state of the art, the chair has a very sculptural feel and it moreover catches the eye with delicate, feminine contours. The design by Odoardo Fioravanti was awarded the “Compasso d’Oro” design prize back in 2011. “Frida” is made from bleached oak and stained wenge and is representative of the fine woods that Pedrali processes in Manzano.
The chair “Babila”, likewise designed by Fioravanti, also seems light and timeless. In the wooden version it has ash legs combined with a plywood seat, although it is also available with a technopolymer shell. A similar mix of materials has been used in the production of the chair “Nemea”. Here an aluminum frame reinforces the seat of the chair with the characteristic angled back legs. Once again, the designers Michele Cazzaniga, Simone Mandelli and Antonio Pagliarulo reduced the classic look to basic forms, making it an excellent feature in hotels, bars or restaurants. The chair is stackable and thus easy to handle in large quantities. In 2016 the fact that the raw materials come from sustainably managed forests goes without saying. (rw)
.
The taste of wood: The Pedrali wood division is celebrating 10 years of operation with the reorganisation and expansion of its production unit in Manzano. Here, assisted by the latest technical machinery, a team of skilled craftsmen create beautiful furnishing products from the very finest woods. Video © Pedrali
Industrial robots execute the individual steps in the work process with extreme precision and are also used in the water-based coating process.
Photo © Filippo Romano
Where Pedrali furniture is made: Just 20 employees work in the plant in Manzano. Photo © Filippo Romano – Image on the right: Tivoli Chair by Cazzaniga Mandelli Pagliarulo. Photo © Pedrali
Pedrali attaches great value to manufacturing as many components of its furniture as possible itself; it ensures independence and saves costs.
Photo © Filippo Romano
The furniture components move through the production line as if by magic.
Photo © Filippo Romano
The "Babila" collection by Odo Fioravanti. Photo © Pedrali
