Montis factory tour

Over the years we have enjoyed frequent visits to our brands’ factories abroad. Not only is it wonderful to be fully immersed in the manufacturing process and witness design excellence first-hand, but we are also reunited with old friends. We hold long-standing relationships with our brands, often going back many years. And thus, it was with great anticipation that the team made their way to Dongen – a beautiful village in the southern Netherlands, and hometown of furniture manufacturer Montis.

An insightful factory tour reminded interior designers, Jenny and Wouter, all that is wonderful about this brand. Today they share with us what they discovered with some behind the scenes scoop!

But before we delve into the team’s findings we wanted to share with you a statement from Montis which perfectly summarises the company.

“Every step we take at Montis can be traced back to one driving principle: we are committed to creating furniture that makes you happy – whether you’re using it or looking at it. Our designs become long-term friends; not for a little while, but for many years to come. Like a partner you can rely on.”

Reliable, unique designs, built to last.

New designs

The day kicked off with a tour of the showroom where Jenny and Wouter were shown some of the lovely Montis upholstery and were introduced to their newest products!

First they were shown the Aztec sofa which was recently reintroduced to the Montis collection. The refreshed model is now available in 2 depths with an optional headrest. In addition, a curved element has been added to the range which allows it to be configured as a circular sofa. Montis had a stunning example on display in a rust coloured fabric.

Jenny and Wouter were also introduced to Olio – a new side table to complement the Aztec sofa. Made from left over metal pipes and sheet metal, the name Olio stands for improvised collage, a hodgepodge of leftover materials. This concept is what inspired designer Max Lipsey. The table is available in 3 sizes and two colours, rust or sand.

Also new in the table collection is Perry – a coffee table constructed from ridged glass panels, laminated with a special coloured film. Perry is reminiscent of retro times yet is somehow simultaneously fresh and original. Available in 4 different sizes and 6 colours.

In addition to new products, the team also enjoyed seeing familiar designs in new settings. This included the Otis sofa with it’s beautiful and distinct kinked armrest – a sofa we are very fond of as it is one of our bestsellers and features in our Edinburgh showroom.

“It was great to see the Domino 18 sofa paired with the Domino 18 side table in walnut. The curved elements, cosy wool upholstery and Dot scatter cushions were a very inspiring combination.”

In the making

The second half of the visit was all about the manufacturing process and how these beautiful designs are brought to life.

The team explored various large rooms which revealed the different stages of the design process. From thread work, to foam moulding, fabric cutting and packaging – each step requires skilled hands and care!

The team were informed that the foam moulding facility is the only one of its kind in the Netherlands. During the production process, a curved steel framework is encased in polyurethane foam  – “a method which minimises residual waste, guarantees comfort and longevity, and offers great creative freedom.”

Montis’ designs have a unique way of combining elegance with playfulness, and this is perhaps down to their production processes – “At Montis, there isn’t a harsh line in sight – our designs are shapely, industrial and elegant.”

Lunch and a show!

To mark the end of the tour, Jenny and Wouter enjoyed a delicious lunch and were then dazzled by a spectacular light show! This further emphasised the magnificence of Montis!

We hope you have enjoyed this weeks ‘behind the scenes’ blog with Montis. We thoroughly enjoyed sharing with you the highlights of the trip and why we love this brilliant brand! To continue the theme, we invite you to watch this lovely short clip which demonstrates the making of Montis’ Luna chair – enjoy!

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