INMotIon - Grass

INMotIon
TIOMOS PRODUCTION IN REINHEIM.
Helmut Kainrad on the newly developed,
fully automatic production facility. Page IV
MoveMents
19,000 visitors at the
ZoW exhibition. And a
raging success for GRAss.
The ZOW suppliers’ exhibition in
Bad Salzuflen in February was a
magnet for the European furniture
and supplier industries as well
as trade and architects. About
19,000 visitors flooded through the
exhibition grounds in order to take
in new trends and take a close look
at the new products. The feedback
from visitors was highly pleasing for
GRASS employees at the exhibition.
The new Tiomos hinge system
caused quite a stir and other new
systems such as the Quaturis Swing
were extremely well received.
tutti a Milano. off to the
eurocucina 2010 exhibition.
144 exhibitors have registered
for this year’s Eurocucina
exhibition. That is a few more than
in 2008, a positive sign in view of
the lingering effects of the global
financial and economic crisis.
Exhibitors are likely to showcase
innovative ideas, creative design,
new technologies and holistic quality.
What we look forward to: our
new, tried and tested movement
systems will appear in many of our
customers’ quality furniture.
ISSUE 2/2010
THE FUTURE IS NOW.
Is the trend towards powered movement set to continue?
Thomas Müller on the living style of tomorrow. Page VI
The new evolutionary hinge system for the furniture trends of tomorrow.
Tiomos for the door to the future.
Never before has a hinge system featured so many trendsetting aspects as Tiomos. Go to
pages II/III to see everything about the evolutionary system with revolutionary kinematics and
the stepped damping control mechanism concealed in the hinge arm.
Dynapro and Tiomos have been awarded the quality seal for good design.
Two Red Dot Awards for GRASS.
This is not the first award for GRASS.
But it is welcome news. It strengthens
our belief and motivation. Of the
4,252 entries from 1,636 companies in
57 countries only the best were rewarded.
Amongst them were the Dynapro
concealed slide system and the Tiomos
hinge system. Our thanks go to the
jury and, above all, to those who have
driven the development of these movement
systems: our customers, product
CUSTOMER MAGAZINE
HAVE A GREEN DAY.
Frank Nessler on concepts and the vibrant interaction
between identity and design. Page V
managers, engineers and production
experts as well as all members of staff.

Mikko Kubierske, Head of Product Management
for Hinge Systems, on the development
of Tiomos.
About timely
ideas and their
attraction.
Out of sight, but highly effective: the Tiomos adjustable damping technology.
Mikko Kubierske has a sense of humour.
And to counter a common prejudice:
for a technically-minded German, the
man has a strong and wry sense of
humour. That comes across at the very
beginning of the interview about his work
on Tiomos: “We often get ahead of ourselves
when thinking about the future.
Tiomos: a great and inspiring challenge for Product Management.
But we shouldn’t miss out on the
present.” A good example of Mikko
Kubierske’s 'here and now' approach is
quick to follow: “Two or three years ago
Tarek Utturkar and I flew to Chicago in
order to interview customers about
our Tiomos concept. A heavy blizzard
forced us to land at New York, with an
unplanned overnight stay. We were not
very pleased, thought of our customers,
the delay and the time wasted – in other
words, the future. And then we realised
that at long last we had time and leisure
Mikko Kubierske
Head of Product Management
Hinge Systems
“Tiomos is the
new benchmark in
hinge technology.”
to share our ideas. When we arrived in
Chicago the next day, the luggage with
our first Tiomos prototype was missing.
However, in spite of that, we were able
to get our customers all fired up by our
ideas about Tiomos – and quite a few
of them were born during the previous
night.”
only a few years ago tiomos
would not have been possible.
The actual start of the development of
Tiomos, according to Mikko Kubierske,
was in 2006, although the idea of a
new hinge generation had been around
since 2001: “As a result of the merger
of GRASS and Mepla-Alfit we were able
to combine our competencies and unify
our visions. At that time there was no
satisfactory solution on the market
for an integrated damper without pins
or adapters or similar additions. And
nobody wanted to go as far as talking
about adjustable damping technology
within the hinge. And yet that was
precisely what Markus Herper, Tarek
Utturkar and I wrote into our first joint
briefing catalogue – together with many
other criteria which we are fulfilling
today.”
A masterpiece is usually
the sum of small strokes of
genius. Mikko Kubierske is modest
enough not to talk about a masterpiece
in this context; nevertheless he
agrees with the idea: “I believe Michael
Schumacher once said that he was only
able to become world champion on the
basis of many small details coming together,
which was the result of the work
of everyone involved. We have experi-
Perfect form with fascinati ng properties.
Evolutionary technologies in the smallest of spaces.
enced that every day throughout these
last three years and now we feel that the
hard work was worth it.
the entire damping technology
is integrated and
concealed in the hinge arm.
One of the outstanding characteristics
of the new hinge system is the choice
of adjustment levels for the Soft-Close
closing damper. Mikko Kubierske and
his colleagues had 'sleepless nights try-
ing to integrate and conceal the entire
damping technology in the hinge arm'.
Today the complex and concealed inner
workings of the high-tech hinge work like
a Swiss timepiece and impress through
their unique damping characteristics.
The closing action is smooth and even
in all of the movement phases, starting
from an opening angle as small as 20°.
“The size and weight of the door do not
matter,” emphasises the Head of Product
Management, and he goes on to say:
“The determining argument for adjusting
the damper without tools was that many
different door sizes and dimensions exist
in the furniture industry. Doors should
close evenly and quietly, whatever their
size. It was also important that there
should be no rebound effect. Today we
know that this was the right decision,
without a doubt. This solution will prevail
in the market and with it GRASS sets
a new benchmark in hinge technology.”
INMotIon. THE CUSTOMER MAGAZINE. Page II/III
Markus Herper, Head of Development at the Competence Centre
for Hinge Systems in Reinheim, on the kinematics in Tiomos.
A little bit of Galileo Galilei.
Markus Herper is also a 'Tiomos man'
who was involved from the beginning.
That, and the first exchange of
ideas with Mikko Kubierske and Tarek
Utturkar, he remembers very well: “We
talked a lot about movement in general
and about the movement of doors. People
intuitively feel whether a movement
is beautiful. They feel it in themselves, in
other people, in moving objects and also
in the kitchen. We, as technically-minded
people, always want to know how something
works and how it could function
better. That led us to the subject of
Galileo who is considered the inventor of
modern kinematics. That inspired us to
think further than we had up until then.
So a little of this man’s fascinating mind
has also gone into Tiomos.”
optimum leverage forces for
minimum gaps. The new kinematics
concealed within Tiomos is an other
small stroke of genius. Thanks to physically
optimised leverage movements, it is
extremely easy to open furniture doors. In
addition, the unique kinematics facilitate
exceptionally even reveals with minimum
gaps. These unique characteristics of the
new hinge system are of special benefit
for furniture designers because these reduced
gaps and reveals offer completely
new opportunities in furniture design.
Perfect alignment with a
twist of the wrist. Markus Herper
is pleased about the successful options
for the fine adjustment of Tiomos hinges:
“Vertical and depth adjustment is continuous
and self-locking using a worm gear
principle. The third dimension is equally
as easy, and adjusts the overlay and sets
the stop limit. Compared to many other
rather more sensational advantages of
Tiomos, this does not sound too impressive
at first. However, when considering
the installation of a high-quality kitchen
with its expensive front panels, and
thinking about extremely narrow reveals,
then the picture becomes clearer and the
benefit obvious.”
the path to a uniform formal
vocabulary. When talking about
high-quality living room and bathroom
furniture, Markus Herper remembers, as
so often, the lengthy discussions with
furniture manufacturers and designers:
“A uniform formal vocabulary is of immense
importance for how design is
perceived. Our customers have told us
often enough how important it would be
to have just one hinge system for moving
a wide range of different doors. And
that is what we have managed to do.” The
systematically extended Tiomos range
covers movement solutions for glass,
mirror and aluminium frames through
to variable wide-angle applications and
provides perfect movement in virtually all
applications. Markus Herper concludes:
“The Tiomos 160° wide-angle hinge can
be used for standard wide-angle solutions
as well as for doors with zero protrusion,
a fact that reflects our idea of systematic
economy, making the hinge system particularly
attractive to the trade.”
Markus Herper
Head of Development
Hinge Systems
“People intuitively feel
whether a movement
is beautiful.”
Tarek Utturkar, Product Manager for Hinge
Systems, on the culture of cooperation.
Continually amazed.
The project team travelled to every continent
to visit over two hundred customers
during the development phase of Tiomos
in order to establish their needs and
to obtain their feedback during various
stages of the development. Tarek
Utturkar has been part of that team from
the outset. Today, in his own words,
Tarek is overwhelmed by the openness
and trust of customers, and particularly
inspired by the three-year development
process and the results it achieved:
“As product manager you think of what
is possible and what you can only dream
of, and run the risk of exhausting yourself
in trying to achieve the dream. When
talking to customers and their designers
you sense the enormous potential
of as yet unrealised ideas, and on your
way home you begin to think of how to
overcome economic and commercial
barriers.” Tarek Utturkar is very fond
of remembering the times when they
presented the first prototypes with adjustable
damper technology within the
hinge arm: “I glanced at the faces of
the designers and engineers present
up to the moment when we presented
the damper adjustment, and every time
their eyes widened in amazement. That is
simply unforgettable.”
tiomos is an evolutionary
new development. Tarek Utturkar
is grateful: “The feedback from customers
has confirmed our approach again
and again. They have encouraged us to
develop a completely new hinge, in spite
of the high investment costs. Today we
see more clearly than ever before that
we made the right decision in order to
meet market requirements in the decade
to come.” In addition to these customers,
Tarek Utturkar mentions the large
development team at GRASS as well as
GRASS’s designer, Stefan Ambrozus.
“The early involvement of Stefan was immensely
helpful for the overall project.
Thanks to his work we were able to
achieve our vision of a consistent design
throughout the entire product range with
its various hinge types.” “What remains,”
summarises Tarek Utturkar, “is not only a
unique product but also the fact that so
many participants at the various GRASS
locations, and also outside the company,
have grown closer together. For me that
makes the Tiomos success even more
precious, and I think that the development
process can be considered a guideline
for the future.”
Tarek Utturkar
Product Manager
Hinge Systems
“Tiomos is currently the
best possible movement solution
for furniture doors.”

Helmut Kainrad on what was perhaps the biggest challenge in his career.
State of the art: Tiomos production in Reinheim.
Sophisticated quality assurance is applied at every stage, like here during final assembly of the damper.
Tiomos is not a hinge in the traditional
sense of the word; it is actually a complex
movement system. That makes the tasks
of production and quality assurance all
the more demanding. As Helmut Kainrad
says: “Complexity is further increased by
the minimal amount of space available;
if Tiomos were a microchip, it would be
a lot easier for us. Nothing moves in a
chip, and it certainly doesn’t have several
hundred thousand movements, as with
Tiomos.” The Managing Director of the
Competence Centre for Hinge Systems
makes another comparison, this time with
expensive wrist watches: “Although timepieces
are even more complex, their mechanical
parts move weights of just a few
grams or even much less. By contrast,
Tiomos has to move doors with weights of
up to more than ten kilograms, and it has
to do so with an action that is comfortable
for the user and feels harmonious from
the tactile and kinematic points of view.”
Production facilities to automotive
standards. The requirements
to be met in the manufacture of
Tiomos are of a similar high standard to
those of the automotive industry, explains
Helmut Kainrad: “We have therefore developed
our new fully automatic manufacturing
facilities to the same standards. In
some areas such as the reliable manufac-
Helmut Kainrad
Managing Director of the Competence
Centre for Hinge Systems in Reinheim
“Our greatest challenge
was the development
and reliable manufacture
of the totally unique
adjustable damper.”
Andreas Köpnick on the new flap lift system.
ture of the unique adjustable damper, the
criteria can even be compared to those
of medical technology or aerospace technology.
That may sound exaggerated, but
will become obvious to any visitor coming
to Reinheim and experiencing production
in detail.” However, few people will ever
have this priviledge because most production
and quality assurance processes
and their underlying technologies are kept
under wraps in order to avoid imitations.
30­million­euro investment.
Investment in the entire product family
runs to about 30 million euros. All assembly
plants and tools were redesigned from
scratch and built as an integrated whole.
At GRASS the development, implementation
and product introduction of Tiomos
involved about 50 employees for a period
of more than 3 years. Parts are manufactured
in the punching and metal forming
facility and the zinc diecasting facility at
Reinheim. Plastic parts are supplied by the
GRASS Competence Centre for Plastics in
Salzburg as well as a few selected manufacturers.
Final assembly of the Tiomos
takes place at the Reinheim facility.
Kinvaro L-80. Functionality and comfort
for modern living.
Andreas Wacker
Head of Production
in Reinheim
“Without the experience
of the entire GRASS Group
in the production of hinge
systems, the development
of Tiomos would not have
been possible at this level.”
“The new Kinvaro L-80 makes our already wide range of flap lift systems even more attractive,”
comments Andreas Köpnick, Managing Director of the Competence Centre
for Flap and Corner Cabinet Systems at Alpirsbach. The Kinvaro L-80 opens flaps parallel
to the cabinet front, requiring very little force to do so. But in spite of the easy action,
the user always has the feeling of maximum stability. The Kinvaro L-80 will stay in any
position and will close with a gentle damping action. The adjustable damping system
allows for a uniform closing action, irrespective of the weight of the flap. This ranges
from light weights of 1.6 kilograms through to heavy doors weighing 14.6 kilograms,
with widths of up to 120 cm. Andreas Köpnick is keen to “highlight the wide application
range of this new flap lift system, rather than explaining the technical details.”
The development of the Kinvaro L-80 focused on design, quality and user comfort as
well as the efficiency of furniture manufacture. Here, the benefits of the flap lift system
lie in the easy, time-saving assembly of just a few parts and the fact that the door can
be fitted and removed without tools.
special attention is paid to
quality in all aspects of the
product and its production. As
with all other GRASS movement systems,
quality assurance is given top priority with
Tiomos.
Production cell for damper assembly.
The focus was on important attributes
such as the quality of movement, longevity,
robustness, appearance and full
functionality in all climatic conditions
right from the early stages of development.
In this context, Helmut Kainrad
mentions just a few of the tests: “Our
durability tests are excessive.
Tiomos test station.
We have designed the climate change
zone tests and vacuum tests specifically
for Tiomos.” Andreas Wacker, who is
responsible for production at Reinheim,
adds: “To ensure the necessary quality
we combined the experience gained in
over 30 years of producing hinge systems
within the GRASS Group. The quality
departments at Höchst and Reinheim
work closely together in order to achieve
and maintain the best possible quality
standard.”
Andreas Köpnick
Managing Director of the Competence Centre
for Flap and Corner Cabinet Systems at Alpirsbach
“The Kinvaro L-80 flap
lift system is a great
addition to our range.”
INMotIon. THE CUSTOMER MAGAZINE. Page IV/V
Beauty enhances our perspective on life.
Frank Nessler, the Grass Group’s Director of Sales and Marketing, on visions, change and movement.
“The future is a blank canvas for the designer.”
It is fascinating to meet Frank Nessler
for a personal conversation. He comes
across as inspired, and inspiring, in
everything he says, and how he says it.
What he says is clear and precise and
yet highly emotional. It is remarkable
how he manages to transfer his provocative,
motivating way into an email or a
letter. Even short instructions to his staff
or memos in a normal working day portray
vigorous momentum, impetus for
movement, the challenge to get on with
things. Between the lines, you get the
message: “Either we design our future,
or the future designs us.” His attitude
comes across at the end of emails. Instead
of the usual 'With kind regards' or
similar ending, Frank Nessler signs off
with sentences like 'Have a green day'.
And there, if not before, the new GRASS
spirit becomes evident.
Have a green day. When asked
about his personal views about 'green
days', Frank Nessler says: “Originally
this sentence was coined by our Global
Brand Manager, Harald Klüh, and it
has many dimensions. Within GRASS
it is about the spirit with which we
carry out our work. For our visions and
aims, we have selected a mountain
as a metaphor. Not just any mountain,
but the GRASS mountain. And just as
Reinhold Messner and others manage
their quests to reach the highest peaks
of this world, so we manage ours. So, a
'green day' is not a normal working day
in any odd company – it is a day on our
GRASS quest to 'become the best'. A
day full of concentration, inspiration and
motivation, a day by the end of which
we want to reach a certain milestone.
These are hours filled with challenges
and the ambition to master them, but
also hours of enjoying our joint effort
along the way. This makes it possible
to cope with difficult times and to get
further than others during good times.”
systematic innovation and investment
strategies. According
to Frank Nessler, the 'crisis' year 2009
and GRASS’s reaction to it are a good
example of this attitude: “In spite of
the fact that we did not achieve our
sales and operating profits targeted for
2009, and consequently had to make
cuts in many areas, we still maintain
our ambitious goals. Over the last three
years, more than 100 million euros has
been invested in the GRASS Group as
a whole. In 2010, more than 30 million
euros will flow into new products, production
facilities, research and development,
and sales. This is all aimed at
bringing innovations to the market that
make life easier for our customers and
the end consumer.”
Investments should not only
be measured in terms of
money. For Managing Director Frank
Nessler, 'green spirit' is not just a sign
of material investment: “If we take a
brief look back at recent months we
can say with pride that we have moved
forward quite a long way. We had to
face the international market situation
and the merger of our companies with
the coming together of different company
cultures. We have all learnt a lot.
Above all: change means movement,
and movement means life. It takes
personal investment from all of us,
every day – our commitment, courageous
thinking, creativity and an active
openness to others.” For Frank Nessler,
this dynamic change in the company
culture is also reflected in the new
corporate design: “I feel an incredibly
strong interaction between our identity
and our design. One strengthens the
other, and for me that is also the reason
that our new brand presence at Interzum
2009 met with such an enthusiastic response.
People could actually sense it:
GRASS has changed. GRASS is moving.
There is still a lot more movement to
come from GRASS.”
A 'green day' for customers
and consumers. When asked
about the immediate and longer term
future of GRASS and the industry, Frank
Nessler replies: “My personal response
is to give an idea of how a 'green day'
might be experienced by consumers
and our customers. For consumers it
is a day on which they wholeheartedly
enjoy the beautiful looks and function of
their furniture and movement systems.
Their furniture is an expression of their
status, their personality and their lifestyle,
just like the car in their garage, the
clothes in their wardrobe or the eau de
toilette on their skin. Every design detail
on the inside of a piece of furniture
including the movement will be just as
well conceived as on the outside. That
is possible, because with our systems
for slides, hinges, flaps and corner cabinets
we cover all movements perfectly.
Environmentally aware consumers will
appreciate that GRASS favours an ecological
use of resources, recycled materials
and new energy concepts. And our
customers in industry and trade will appreciate
our service which is motivated
by a 'green spirit' when, in a climate of
increased competitiveness, they look for
partners who will actively and creatively
support them.
A green future with a red dot.
“The future is a big challenge,” reflects
Frank Nessler, “and if we give everything,
it will be green. The two Red Dot
awards for GRASS Dynapro and GRASS
Tiomos provide clear confirmation of
our approach, because they recognise
achievements which are GRASS-like
through and through: for design integrity,
for movement in unique, awardwinning
form and function.”
Frank Nessler
Director of Sales and Marketing
GRASS Group
“GRASS’s new spirit is
becoming more tangible
every day.”

Thomas Müller, the Grass Group’s Director of Technology and Development, on the electrification of furniture.
The future is now.
The beauty of movement, the desire for maximum comfort and personal lifestyle determine the trend towards electrification.
When asked what tomorrow’s lifestyle
will look like, Thomas Müller initially
replies with a philosophical view of the
past: “Look at recent years, decades
and centuries. The development of
lifestyles and its acceleration give us
a hint of what is possible within a very
short time – things that hadn’t even
been thought about yesterday have already
become reality today, and things
we are yet to conceive of today will be
standard tomorrow.” Opening up the
subject, the visionary engineer points
out that “not very long ago, people still
lived in caves.” Müller mentions the
much acclaimed film 'At the Beginning
was the Fire'. The masterpiece by the
French director Jean-Jacques Annaud
gives a fantastic account of the life of
stone-age people. While some of them
seek shelter in caves and can only use
the fire after lightning has struck and
fires ensue, others already have huts
to live in and use tools and lay fires
themselves. “And in most cases,” says
Thomas Müller, “technical achievements
have initially been viewed with
scepticism and even condemned by
traditionalists.”
the strong desire to shape
one’s life and personal
sphere. Until very recently most
homes did not meet much more than
the owner’s basic requirements. Only
few people were able to afford luxuries
that today are considered standard.
“The extent of our prosperity led, and
continues to lead, to yet other needs –
the wish for even greater comfort, for
an expression of status and personal
lifestyle.” According to Müller, there
is another driving force, in addition to
these natural consumer needs: “It is
the visionary designers and furniture
makers as well as companies like ours
– people who think creatively and take
pleasure in the newness of things. Together
with consumer demand, this
inventor spirit drives the momentum
of development.” As Thomas Müller
suggests: “This is moving us forward
towards electrification and electronics.
And why should electronics, which
is bringing about huge changes in all
spheres of life, not progress to the
kitchen, the living room, the bedroom
and the bathroom?”
the trend towards electrification
and electronics will
increase further. “As pioneers
of electrically moved and electronically
controlled opening systems we
very carefully watch consumer behaviour
and developments in the different
markets. After all, this is also the
reason why we are the only manufacturer
offering different movement
systems that can be combined with
each other. With the electrically aided
Sensomatic opening system and the
electronically controlled Sensotronic
slide system, we are meeting the demands
of the markets and allowing
differentiation and further development,
step by step.” “By the way, we
fully agree with our customers,” adds
Thomas Müller. “The trend towards
yet more comfort, towards electrification
and electronics is advancing in
all markets – faster in some segments
and countries than in others. For that
reason we are really looking forward
to the next Eurocucina exhibition. In
Milan, other individual applications
of our electric opening systems will
be presented by customers such
as Allmilmö, Ballerina, Eggersmann,
Häcker Kitchens and Warendorfer
Kitchens.”
Uses as little energy as a sAt
receiver. On the question of how an
increasing ecological awareness will
affect the trend, Director Müller says:
“This also has to be assessed from the
point of view of the different markets.
There are few markets where the topic
of energy conservation is as present
as it is in Central Europe. But irrespective
of that, we consider it our own responsibility
to make careful use of resources.
In this context it is really quite
remarkable that the power required for
the entire electrification of a kitchen’s
opening systems is no more than that
used by a satellite TV receiver in standby
mode.”
the continuation of the
modular concept in wall
cabinets. With Sensomatic and
Sensotronic in the base cabinet,
GRASS meets consumer and manufacturer
demand for a holistic movement
design combined with maximum functionality
and comfort. Thomas Müller
on the near future: “We will clearly continue
the electrification of wall cabinets
with the modular technology that we
have already tried and tested. We have
reasons to believe that this demand
is on the increase for wall cabinets.
The main motive for this is the beauty
of the movement, but also user-friendly
ergonomics.”
Thomas Müller
Director of Technology and
Development, GRASS Group
“We are the only manufacturer
to offer differentiation
using two systems and a
modular installation for
wall cabinets.”
New: Nova Pro Sensotronic in tall cabinets.
Plug & play for maximum comfort.
A tall cabinet with Sensotronic is not only extremely comfortable to use, but almost something like a status symbol. However,
GRASS isn’t only thinking about the comfort of consumers, which is proven by the very easy ‘plug & play’ installation of the
very few electronic components and the adaptability to each possible installation situation. It goes without saying that the
Sensotronic tall cabinet can be fitted with all drawer and accessory systems of the Nova Pro standard range. But back to
the consumers: it is really quite amazing how easily that heavy cabinet opens with just a gentle touch. A slight tug or push
is enough. The stable and even movement and the gentle braking after opening and closing are just as beautiful. Everything
moves as if by magic, totally automatic. The ergonomic and valuable design of the optional inner drawers provides perfect
access to the stored items.
INMotIon. THE CUSTOMER MAGAZINE. Page VI/VII
Sales Director Bodo Uffelmann is pleased about the results from ZOW.
In February, this year’s industry event
took place in Bad Salzuflen. And the approximately
19,000 visitors found what
they were looking for – numerous innovations
and trends as well as proven
products.
In Hall 19, the GRASS Group showed
them how innovation, comfort and quality
can merge to produce unique customer
benefits. The stand developed
into a veritable magnet for the public.
The primarily European trade visitors
were inspired by the creative movement
systems and the newly upgraded image
of the GRASS brand.
Absolute highlights at the
GRAss exhibition stand. Tiomos,
the new hinge generation from GRASS,
was the star of the show, as was to
be expected. Bodo Uffelmann, who is
GRASS Sales Director for Germany, is
fond of remembering the many amazed
and highly enthusiastic experts at the
exhibition stand: “The complex mechanism
concealed within the elegant and
stylish exterior, the adjustable damper
and the revolutionary kinematics never
fail to surprise. Even old hands, who
had seen much over the years, were
amazed.”
visitors were impressed by
product variety and range.
With Quaturis Swing, GRASS celebrated
a first at ZOW and added to the extensive
range of high-quality corner cabinet
systems. Naturally, GRASS also presented
the new and successful Dynapro
concealed slide system at ZOW, which
was only launched at the end of 2009.
Bodo Uffelmann is clearly pleased about
the feedback and the positive experi-
ences from his discussions: “In its application
it shows how well Dynapro serves
the trend for individual design in the furniture
industry. Whether it is a matter of
handle-less fronts, high fronts and wide
drawers, the use of different and also
heavy materials or perfect alignment –
Dynapro meets the critical demands of
manufacturers and their designers. In
addition, its excellent running characteristics,
made possible by its entirely
unique, fully synchronised slide system,
are a real benefit.” When asked whether
the proven and much refined movement
systems would fade into the background
in view of the many innovations
by GRASS, Bodo Uffelmann comments:
“Quite the contrary, new and existing
product ranges complement each other
to form a full range which is not easy
to match. After all, what our customers
want is variety within a comprehensive
design concept. They want to use synergies
while at the same time creating
something individual and special. That
can best be achieved with a full range
that has been designed for efficient furniture
production.”
Much movement in the
market. Bodo Uffelmann, who has
been in the industry and a GRASS employee
for a long time, sees movement
in the market: “Although the difficult
year of 2009, with its economic problems,
has not yet been fully digested,
many companies believe that economic
growth is on its way, with increasing
sales and demand. This cautious even
if warranted optimism has resulted in
higher order levels at the beginning
of 2010. What helps us is the desire
of many furniture makers, particularly
kitchen manufacturers, to differentiate
themselves and stand out from
the crowd. That is not new, but has
never been as important as it is today,
since upward pressure on the high-end
product segment is on the increase.”
As Bodo Uffelmann explains, GRASS
provides the best possible answer:
“With our new breadth of range and
the most comprehensive programme
of double-walled drawer systems, concealed
slide systems, hinge systems,
flap and corner cabinet systems, we
provide manufacturers with variety
within a system context. This allows
manufacturers maximum external differentiation,
and grading options within
their own ranges and models.”
Quality has moved up on the
agenda. “In order to last and have a
sustained effect, differentiation needs
to feature oustanding quality,” says
Bodo Uffelmann. The Sales Director
points out that this should continually
be impressed upon the consumer
as being the sum of all aspects of the
furniture and movement systems – its
design quality, functionality, comfort
and longevity. “As yet, the furniture market
is still governed by other rules than,
for example, the fashion industry, but
the risk of interchangeability and 'not
being able to tell the difference' is on
the increase – in the fashion industry,
Bodo Uffelmann
Sales Director
“The interest shown by
many large manufacturers
confirms the image boost
GRASS has achieved in the
European market.”
Quality has moved up on the agenda.
The complete range has been well received.
Popular meeting point: GRASS at ZOW.
New ergonomics in the corner cabinet: Quaturis Swing.
Every corner is a curve.
cheap suppliers present their product
with well-known designers and classy
models and thereby make life difficult
for the quality brands. Unfortunately,
the fact that one can find precious
little quality in these short-lived models
is often overlooked.”
Visitors looking for a comfortable solution for standard base cabinets found an answer at the GRASS exhibition stand at ZOW.
Quaturis Swing adds another extremely functional facet to the already extensive range of high-quality corner cabinet systems
from GRASS. With the help of a special swivel mechanism, the ergonomically formed shelves swing out almost completely
from the corner cabinet, offering optimum access to the entire storage area. The fact that the shelf on the lowest level moves
automatically when opening the door is not just beautiful to watch, but also makes its contents readily accessible. This makes
loading and unloading the shelf easy. In addition, the closing process is extremely comfortable as all shelves swivel back when
the cabinet door is closed. Needless to say, gently damped by Soft-Close.

GRASS apprentices – courageous people for challenging tasks.
In free-fall upwards.
GRASS apprentice Laurin Tschohl concentrates before his jump into the depths.
Ticino, Switzerland. It is the 6 th of January,
2010, 8 o’clock in the morning, and very
cold. The sun will rise in a few minutes.
Before us looms the huge Verzasca
dam. A man stands on the edge of the
dam and jumps: a 220-metre free-fall
before the bungee rope catches him.
The butterfly feeling gives way to adrenalin
coursing through the body.
We are at the location where the new
GRASS cinema spot is being filmed.
This time the leading actor is not the
James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, but
Laurin Tschohl, mechanical engineer-
ing technician in the fourth year of his
apprenticeship at GRASS. The idea for
the unusual spot is the result of collaboration
with the Shining Pictures
film production company in Zurich.
Producer Stefan Bircher sums it up in a
few words: “On the topic of advertising
for apprentices – why only focus on the
compulsory side of their training if you
can show the choices open to them?
Because those who are familiar with
the company and the people behind
the name GRASS know that this is
an unusual company with the courage
On the road to environmental certification.
for new ideas.” You can view the spot
yourself at www.ichundgrass.at
From apprentice to manager
People with goals keep moving. For this
reason, GRASS is promoting the individual
capabilities of its apprentices,
both in the technical and commercial
fields. These young people are trained
to become skilled and competent in
their chosen careers. After one year
of basic training, each apprentice
will work in a number of different
departments. 'Feel the Move' is the
trendsetting motto in the young people’s
song specifically composed for
GRASS. While any sound training
programme is aimed at skills and competence,
GRASS does not stop there.
The company offers incentives to motivate
employees to reach new goals.
An apprenticeship with GRASS opens
doors to many opportunities, such
as vo cational A-levels, master craftsman’s
certificate and MBA courses.
GRAss employees are leading
players GRASS takes this motto
very seriously. The company realised
at an early stage: young, committed
people are crucial for technical and
design innovation. They are the cornerstone
of customer-oriented thinking
and commercial success in the future.
Franz Reiner, Head of HR at GRASS, on
training apprentices: “The success of a
company depends on the competence
and capability of its employees. That
is why we at GRASS take the training
of our apprentices so seriously. And
this is also the reason why apprentices
are recognised and appreciated from
their first day at the company.” It is
therefore not by chance that GRASS
is recommended by the Chamber of
Commerce, the Austrian Chamber of
Labour and the Province of Vorarlberg
as 'excellent training provider'.
GRASS and the environment: behaving responsibly.
Frank Nessler, Sales and Marketing Director
of the GRASS Group, is known
for not mincing his words, and he makes
no exception when it comes to environmental
awareness: “Industrial production
and logistics use up energy and
cause emissions; nobody should try and
'greenwash' this fact with flowery terms.
Sustainability not only relates to responsibility
for the environment, but also to
economic and social responsibility.” And
without trying to point a finger at others,
Page VIII
Jump into the future.
Frank Nessler says: “Today, everybody
talks about 'going green' but very few actually
state where they stand, which targets
they have achieved and which they
are yet to achieve. So let’s keep our feet
on the ground and talk about concrete
action.”
own natural gas power unit
in Höchst. District heating
at Götzis. One of the things Frank
Nessler mentions is the eco-friendly
power generation at the Höchst plant
using a natural gas combined heating
and power unit: “On that basis, GRASS
has not only achieved a 60% reduction
in heating requirements through heat
recovery systems, but has also reduced
CO 2 emissions by up to 70%.” By connecting
up the district heating network
at Götzis, GRASS has even become
completely CO 2 neutral with respect to
heating – and has done so in a region where
winter lasts for five months. At Höchst,
75% of the required energy is produced
by the company, which is equivalent
to 13,000 MWh of electricity and about
12,000 MWh of thermal energy.
Careful use of resources.
GRASS’s approach to the environment
can be seen and felt in many ways. For
example, GRASS engineers make use of
all opportunities in modern development
and production technology for the implementation
of innovative product ideas.
It goes without saying that only materials
without hazardous or illegal contents
are used. New coating technologies save
up to 3,000 m 3 of clean water every year
compared to conventional processes.
Collecting raw material waste and recycling
3,000 tonnes of scrap metal saves
valuable resources.
Imprint: Owner, editor and publisher: GRASS GmbH | A-6973 Höchst/Austria | Grass Platz 1 | www.grass.eu | Design: GRASS Marketing, Editors: die3 – PR Agency, www.die3.eu. Subject to printing errors.
INMotIon. THE CUSTOMER MAGAZINE.
Christoph Walter
Director of Finance and Administration
GRASS Group
“An apprenticeship at
GRASS is a leap into
an unconventional
company with exciting
perspectives.”
GRAss’s environmental certification
is expected to be
completed in 2010. Environmental
certification in accordance with ISO
14001 is currently in full swing. This
means that all processes will be successively
converted to make better use of
resources and protect the environment.
“Our employees think 'green' not only at
work, but also at home,” Frank Nessler
is pleased to report: “Responsible use of
resources is now common everywhere
and, with our certification, we demonstrate
our responsibility towards the
environment, now and in the future.”
Article No.: 71969-00