Where a word is a word and a handshake is valid

The German manufacturer of sliding doors, room dividers, hinge and folding doors, walk-in wardrobes, wardrobe systems and freestanding furniture started as a family business in 1986. Their success story stretches over three generations now, all the while being present in homes on all continents, having partners in 70 countries, including company holdings in the USA, Canada, Russia, Switzerland and Poland. In Hungary - as well as at S/ALON BUDAPEST this fall - you can find raumplus courtesy of Kamex, our new partner for this year’s design fair.

Looking beyond the fact that raumplus is an ethical company on the quest for a sustainable future, every piece of furniture that leaves their production is individual and made to measure, even in unusual dimensions. What does that mean in practice? How can a wardrobe, partition wall or door transform your flat into a home? What does conducting business in the spirit of traditional Hanseatic merchants entail? Read on, and find out for yourself with our interview with Kathrin Strauß, Art-Director / Leitung Marketing of raumplus and Gábor Kámán, CEO of Kamex Group!

Bremen-based raumplus operates as a family business. In your opinion, what are the benefits of this organizational model in the interior design industry?

The advantage of smaller to medium-sized family-owned companies is basically their agility in terms of short, fast decision-making processes. At raumplus, too, the responsibility for decisions is divided among various competent managers. However, the size of the raumplus company makes it possible for the management to be involved in important decisions and to have a significant influence on the direction of the company in terms of products, service and corporate culture, for example. This is exactly the point where we say that this is a very authentic action. Furthermore, we have a family-like atmosphere, not only among the colleagues, but the employees are also known by name to the management.

As per your corporate philosophy, raumplus acts in the spirit of traditional Hanseatic merchants. What should the world know about this legacy?

Basically, we are committed to Bremen as a location and thus to our origins. In addition, for Bremen’s Hanseatic citizens, the virtues and values of the Hanseatic merchants are important points of orientation for their daily work. Hanseatic merchants have always acted and continue to act in a sober, cosmopolitan, tolerant and liberal manner. Typical are also: a word is a word and a handshake is valid.

Maximum quality with minimum environmental impact - that is your company maxim. How do you keep the corporate footprint as small as possible?

We take the issue of climate change and sustainable action seriously by already bringing about change at many different starting points. For example, we print our brochures climate neutrally, use recycled corrugated cardboard for packaging and lead-free mirrors. With our central extraction system we were able to realize a large energy saving and we can list many other points here. In short, we as a company are concerned with using resources and our environment responsibly.

Raumplus is certified in 5 categories with the label "Furniture-Made in Germany". What is the content and significance of this certification?

We are proud of the independent certification with the label "Furniture-Made in Germany", which is awarded by the renowned German Institute for Quality Assurance. The label stands for high-quality manufacturing in Germany that meets the requirements according to RAL. This means that the highest demands are placed on the design and development work, through the raw material, to the production and individual components such as our fittings. These demands must not only be asserted, but also demonstrably proven and checked with regular quality tests. Let’s stay with the raumplus fittings as an example, they ensure the effortless, permanent opening and closing of our certified doors. Just as they ensure dimensional accuracy and low-noise operation. As you can see, the "Furniture made in Germany" label is not simply a matter of looking at the overall impression or design, but at each individual component that creates a high-quality end product.

Raumplus offers a wide range of products from sliding doors, hinge or folding doors, partition walls, interior and wardrobe systems as well as chests of drawers - even in “unusual dimensions”. What does that mean in practice?

Quite simply, that we manufacture according to the customer’s wishes, as far as the technology and material allow us to do so. In the case of our RPE aluminium frame revolving door, this means, for example, that the already large standard door is available up to a maximum size of 62 x 300 cm or that our Swing Door Slim Line 2-leaf can be supplemented with a side panel and fanlight to close larger room openings in a beautiful design. With the Legno interior system, on the other hand, it is the folding widths of up to 120 cm that give the wardrobe system special dimensions. With some selected models of our sliding doors, even door heights of up to 3500 mm and door widths of up to 1800 mm with a door weight of up to 180 kg can be realised.

Every piece of furniture that leaves production is individual and made to measure. What are your favorite references of such tailor-made solutions from the past few years?

You know, favorite products and references are difficult to choose if, like us, you live the philosophy of always creating the right and custom-fit room solutions for the wishes and needs of the customer. What we particularly like, on the other hand, is the variety of international as well as national references, which include the Sung-Nam Weltz Tower in South Korea, the office of a multimedia agency in Bremen and a beautiful private home in the USA.

What are the main steps of configuring and realizing a dream wardrobe?

First and foremost is the desire, what problem is to be solved with the dream wardrobe and what wishes does the customer have for the design? Then there is the need for competent advice, an exact measurement on site, a dimensionally accurate production and finally a professional assembly.

What are the crucial things to consider? Are there any special features one should know about (monitor in the sliding door, black board covering etc.)?

To answer this question in detail would, frankly, take us right across our product portfolio. Let’s look at it a little more generally: With the Sliding TV Door, it is important to note that the customer can install a standard TV set or monitor up to a size of 55 inches. The cable routing must be taken into account here, as the necessary power supply and connection to any other devices should be ensured. For the interior systems, as for all cabinets and shelves in general, the load specifications must be observed. And last but not least, care instructions for the fillings and surfaces, because we want our customers to enjoy their custom-made furniture for a lifetime.

What are you planning to bring to S/ALON BUDAPEST?

Kamex, the Hungarian representative of raumplus will participate in the exhibition. In addition to the main product groups, interior sliding doors, wardrobe systems and racking systems, swing doors will be presented as a new product.

Kamex processes raumplus products on its premises in order to maintain high standards of manufacturing quality. The products we manufacture, ready for installation or available as ready-made doors, are installed by our preferred raumplus partners. They are responsible for the survey, the design and the contact with the end user from the start of the project to its completion.

See you soon at S/ALON BUDAPEST, between 23-25 September at Budapest Arena, where we’ll venture to explore the most exciting corners of the world of interior design! Get your ticket for the journey here, and prepare yourself with endless inspiration on our Facebook and Instagram page!