Kettal, 50 years in design

It’s not for everyone, riding the crest of a wave for five decades among the top international furniture brands. But it is a challenge that Kettal unhesitatingly accepted and triumphed, and now the company is celebrating half a century in business. This milestone was also celebrated in Dubai during Design Week.

So, what’s the secret of success? Retaining a solid identity linked to the roots, the territory and the history of the company; demonstrating a capacity for constant innovation and acute sensitivity to the changing tastes and requirements of an international public – these have undoubtedly been Kettal’s mainstays during its long and prolific history. More simply, the winning recipe lies in the products, backed up with the correct production philosophy.
“Timeless, functional and expressive furniture that can be passed down from generation to generation,” in the words of Alex Alorda, Vice Chairman. “Design that follows the correct process, that is, the proper balance between creativity, method and values.”

The brand began to gain popularity when, in 1966, Manuel Alorda launched his business in Bellvei (in the province of Tarragona, Spain) specialising in aluminium products: in the early years of the 21st century, Kettal acquired the brands Hugonet and Triconfort, creating the Kettal Group.
Now, as then, aluminium is the distinctive feature of the outdoor products and, similarly, over 50 years, the company has retained its original, family nature (given that the design and production are entirely carried out in the same coastal city 45 km from Barcelona, guaranteeing both the quality and the utmost personalisation).
What has changed and developed is the rapport with the major international names in design:  Oscar Tusquets, Patricia Urquiola (who reinvented outdoor furniture with the Maia collection), Jasper Morrison, Hella Jongerius, Rodolfo Dordoni, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and Doshi Levien, and many others.
“We develop products, not trends: so their durability and modernity are essential." This is the field of the innovative approach, which for Kettal outdoor products means "research into materials and production types.": one example is the Stampa chair by the Bouroullec brothers, which required six different production techniques to make, or the 3D fabric Nido d'Ape (Honeycomb), and Levien’s Terrain Fabrics, which reflect the subtly shades of colour in the natural panorama.
Innovation that makes Kettal creations not only ideal for outdoor settings (contract for 60%) but also perfect for indoors.  
Kettal has built its reputation on these values and, through them, looks to the future.