Emeco

Wilton C. Dinges founded the Electric Machine and Equipment Company (Emeco) in 1944 with $300 in savings and a used lathe for machine-work. He started bidding on government manufacturing contracts out of a loft in Baltimore, Maryland, beginning with experimental antennas and jet engine parts. Dinges moved to Hanover, Pennsylvania in 1946 in order to take advantage of the local labor market.{{cite news|title=Making a fortune... in aluminum office chairs|date=March 1953|url=https://www.dropbox.com/s/9ajyecsl85s8znj/Modern%20Metals_Emeco_1953.pdf?dl=0|newspaper=Modern Metals}}{{cite news|title=Peace Work|first=Jeffrey|last=Hogrefe|newspaper=Metropolis Magazine|url=https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k1slyare17o4xze/AACjgBhl4GlLU6TdV_naPw7Ba?dl=0|date=May 2000|pages=84–89|access-date=June 9, 2015}}{{cite news|title=Hot Seat|first=Tim|last=Stuhldreher|newspaper=Central Penn Business Journal|date=June 18, 2010}} He obtained 10,000 pounds of aluminum scrap metal at an attractive price and started using it to build dining table legs. Later Emeco manufactured chair frames and eventually focused completely on aluminum chairs in 1948. The Emeco 1006 Navy Chair for which the company is known was one of several furniture products made out of anodized aluminum, such as bunks and lockers, that Emeco made for the US Navy's fleet during World War II.{{cite news|first=Charles|last=Gandee|title=Ship Shape|newspaper=New York Times Magazine|date=April 16, 2000|access-date=June 8, 2015|pages=104–105|url=http://partners.nytimes.com/library/magazine/specials/041600ship-shape.1.html}}{{cite web |title=77 Steps: Episode 310 |url=https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/77-steps/ |website=99% Invisible |publisher=99% Invisible |access-date=June 11, 2018 |date=June 5, 2018}} The business grew by under-bidding other manufacturers on government contracts for office building furniture. By 1953, there were four Emeco factories in Hanover.

By 1955, Emeco was producing 200,000 chairs per year. Dinges developed the chairs and Emeco's manufacturing process,{{cite news|title=Starting From a Chair|newspaper=DOMUS Magazine|date=November 2013|pages=106–111|url=http://digitaledition.domusweb.it/domus/books/131101domus/index.html#/163/

|access-date=June 8, 2015}} but he was not a good businessman and due to the elaborate manufacturing process, found it hard to generate a profit. By 1979 the company was not receiving enough new government contracts to stay in business and was nearing bankruptcy.

File:Emeco Factory 1940s Hanover,Pennsylvania.jpg

Emeco was sold that year to Jay Buchbinder who tried unsuccessfully to revive the military end of the business. Buchbinder's son, Gregg, acquired Emeco from his father in 1998.{{cite news |last=Beck |first=Ernest |date=October 2004 |title=How I Did It: Gregg Buchbinder – And sometimes your market finds you |newspaper=INC Magazine |url=https://www.inc.com/magazine/20041001/howididit.html}} He noticed that Giorgio Armani and other designers showed an interest in the 1006 chair,{{cite news|title=From Military to High Fashion, Pennsylvania Company Finds New Customers|publisher=CNN|date=March 6, 2011|url=https://archive.org/details/CNN_20110306_230000_CNN_Newsroom#start/960/end/1020|access-date=June 8, 2015}} so he decided to focus on those and similar products.{{Cite web |title=Emeco |url=https://www.rossanaorlandi.com/designers/emeco/ |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=Rossana Orlandi |language=en-US}} In 1999 the company posted a profit for the first time in more than 20 years. Gregg met French designer Philippe Starck at the 1998 International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF){{Cite web |date=2017-01-16 |title=How It's Made: Emeco |url=https://www.surfacemag.com/articles/design-furniture-emeco-how-its-made/ |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=SURFACE |language=en-US}} and the two agreed to collaborate on numerous designer versions of the 1006 Navy chair.{{cite news|last=Kristal|first=Marc|title=Starck's Material World|newspaper=Metropolis Magazine|date=May 11, 2012|pages=96–97|url=http://www.metropolismag.com/May-2012/Starck-8217s-Material-World/|access-date=July 1, 2015|archive-date=July 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710172056/http://www.metropolismag.com/May-2012/Starck-8217s-Material-World/|url-status=dead}} By 2004 these accounted for half of Emeco's production, or 46,500 chairs per year.

A short documentary film called "The 77 Steps of Making an Emeco Chair" by the grandson of designers Charles and Ray Eames shows the industrial processes and craftsmanship required to manufacture the Navy Chair.{{Citation |title=The 77 Steps of Making an Emeco Chair |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dB8uMeYXXQA |access-date=2023-03-10 |language=en}}

File:Emeco Hudson chair.jpg (2000)]]

File:Emeco 2006 chairs in Long Beach.JPG]]

In addition to architects Gehry, Starck, and Lord Foster, Emeco has collaborated with many other famous architects and designers such as Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Naoto Fukasawa, Barber Osgerby, Jasper Morrison, Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, Nendo, Konstantin Grcic, Adrian Van Hooydonk (BMW Designworks), Michael Young, Jean Nouvel, {{ill|Christophe Pillet|fr=Christophe Pillet|fr|Christophe Pillet}}, Andrée Putman, and Ettore Sottsass.{{Cite web |title=Emeco Designers |url=https://www.emeco.net/about/design |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=www.emeco.net}}{{Cite web |date=2021-03-17 |title=Emeco's Za Stool is a Study in Ergonomic Simplicity |url=https://www.azuremagazine.com/article/emeco-za-stool-is-a-study-in-ergonomic-simplicity/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=Azure Magazine}}{{Cite web |title=emeco Archives |url=https://www.designboom.com/tag/emeco/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=designboom {{!}} architecture & design magazine |language=en}}

Emeco is noted for their use of recycled and reclaimed materials.{{Cite web |title=Green Design & Outdoor {{!}} Salone del Mobile |url=https://www.salonemilano.it/en/articoli/insider/green-design-outdoor |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=www.salonemilano.it |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=More with less: how Emeco are embracing recycled materials |url=https://www.viaduct.co.uk/journal/design-stories/more-with-less-how-emeco-are-embracing-recycled-materials |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=Viaduct Furniture}}

The Coca-Cola Company and Emeco partnered to re-create the Navy Chair using rPET plastic bottles;{{Cite news|url=http://www.dwell.com/how-they-make-it/article/emecos-111-navy-chair|title=Emeco's 111 Navy Chair|last=Taylor|first=Michael C.|newspaper=Dwell|access-date=2016-11-17}} the 111 Navy Chair became available in 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://www.metropolismag.com/May-2012/Starck-8217s-Material-World/|title=Starck's Material World – Metropolis Magazine – May 2012|website=www.metropolismag.com|access-date=2016-11-17|archive-date=2015-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710172056/http://www.metropolismag.com/May-2012/Starck-8217s-Material-World/|url-status=dead}}

File:Emeco 111 Navy Chairs.jpg

Philippe Starck and Emeco revived and reengineered a 2001 design so that it could be made using a formula that combines waste polypropylene and reclaimed wood fiber. The result, called the Broom Chair, was launched in 2012.{{Cite book|title=The Sustainable Design Book|last=Proctor|first=Rebecca|publisher=Laurence King|year=2015|isbn=978-1780674735|location=London|pages=98}}{{Cite web |date=2012-04-24 |title=Broom Chair by Philippe Starck for Emeco |url=https://www.dezeen.com/2012/04/24/broom-chair-by-philippe-starck-for-emeco/ |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=Dezeen |language=en}}

In 2015, the Alfi Chair designed by Jasper Morrison was introduced. The seat of the chair is made of 100% discarded industrial waste – 92.5% polypropylene and 7.5% wood fiber.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2015/04/16/emeco-launches-new-collection-in-milan-designed-by-jasper-morrison/|title=Emeco launches Jasper Morrison seats in Milan|date=2015-04-16|website=Dezeen|access-date=2016-11-17}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.designboom.com/design/jasper-morrison-emeco-alfi-milan-design-week-04-16-2015/|title=jasper morrison conceives alfi seating collection for emeco|date=2015-04-16|newspaper=designboom {{!}} architecture & design magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2016-11-17}}

A 2022 advanced product design course in collaboration with the MIT Department of Architecture led to the development of "The next 150-year chair".{{Cite web |last=Elliott |first=Martha |date=2022-11-13 |title=MIT students future-proof furniture as Emeco seeks 'The Next 150-Year Chair' |url=https://www.wallpaper.com/design-interiors/emeco-mit-next-150-year-chair-los-angeles |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=wallpaper.com |language=en}}

In October 2012, Emeco filed a lawsuit against Restoration Hardware for allegedly violating their trademark and trade dress by selling look-alikes of the Emeco Navy chair, which Restoration Hardware called the “Naval Chair”. Restoration Hardware renamed the chair, then removed them from their website. In January 2013, Restoration Hardware agreed to stop selling the disputed chairs and to recycle their existing stock.{{cite web | last1=Raustiala | first1=Kal | last2=Sprigman | first2=Christopher Jon | title=Why Restoration Hardware's Knockoffs Are Good for Design | website=Slate Magazine | date=November 26, 2012 | url=http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2012/11/the_navy_chair_restoration_hardware_s_imitation_of_emeco_s_original_design.html | access-date=January 20, 2016}}{{cite web | last=Lasky | first=Julie | title=Copying Classic Designs Is the Focus of a Lawsuit Against Restoration Hardware | website=The New York Times | date=October 10, 2012 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/11/garden/copying-classic-designs-is-the-focus-of-a-lawsuit-against-restoration-hardware.html | access-date=January 20, 2016}}{{cite web | last=Egelko | first=Bob | title=Restoration Hardware to stop look-alike chair sales | website=SFGate | date=January 28, 2013 | url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Restoration-Hardware-to-stop-look-alike-chair-4230642.php | access-date=January 20, 2016}}{{cite web | title=Naval Battle Ends as Emeco, Restoration Hardware Settle Chair Dispute | website=Adweek – Breaking News in Advertising, Media and Technology | date=January 29, 2013 | url=http://www.adweek.com/fishbowlny/naval-battle-ends-as-emeco-restoration-hardware-settle-chair-dispute/297737 | access-date=January 20, 2016}}

Emeco filed a design right and copyright infringement case against Swedish furniture giant IKEA in 2015, alleging that IKEA’s Melltorp dining chair was similar to the Emeco 20-06 Stacking Chair designed by Norman Foster in 2006.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dezeen.com/2015/03/25/ikea-faces-legal-action-over-alleged-copyright-infringement-melltorp-dining-emeco-norman-foster-20-06-stacking-chair/|title=IKEA faces legal action over alleged copyright infringement|date=2015-03-25|website=Dezeen|access-date=2016-11-17}} In May 2016 Emeco accepted an out-of-court settlement from IKEA, both companies issued a joint statement announcing that a deal had been reached. Details of the deal remain confidential.

• 2000 Good Design Award, Hudson Chair by Philippe Starck
• 2010 Good Design Award, 111 Navy Chair® (in collaboration with Coca-Cola){{Cite web |title=The European Centre |url=https://www.europeanarch.eu/good-design-awards-archive/2015/03/17/111-navy-chair-(r)-2009-2010/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=www.europeanarch.eu |language=en}}
• 2011 iF Design Award, 111 Navy Chair® (in collaboration with Coca-Cola){{Cite web |title=iF – 111 Navy Chair® |url=https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/111-navy-chair/66587 |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=ifdesign.com |language=de}}
• 2014 iF Design Award, Parrish chair by Konstantin Grcic{{Cite web |title=iF – Parrish |url=https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/parrish/127591 |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=ifdesign.com |language=de}}
• 2020 Core77 Design Award, On & On Collection by Barber Osgerby{{Cite web |title=On & On Collection – by Barber Osgerby / Core77 Design Awards |url=https://designawards.core77.com/home/award_permalink?id=94539&category_id=3 |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=Core77 |language=en}}
• 2021 Inaugural ELLE Decor Earth Award{{Cite web |date=2021-10-01 |title=Introducing the Winners of Our Inaugural EARTH Awards |url=https://www.elledecor.com/promotions/a37595809/earth-awards-2021/ |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=ELLE Decor |language=en-us}}
• 2022 Wallpaper* Design Award, Za stools by Naoto Fukasawa{{Cite web |last=Magazine |first=Wallpaper* |date=2022-02-06 |title=Best metal morphosis: aluminium and steel designs from the Wallpaper* Design Awards |url=https://www.wallpaper.com/design/best-metal-furniture-wallpaper-design-awards |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=Wallpaper*}}
• 2022 Core77 Design Award, Student Notable Furniture & Lighting Award, Bethany Mumford, Savannah College of Art and Design (Inspired by Emeco){{Cite web |title=The Shoddy Chair for Emeco – by Bethany Mumford / Core77 Design Awards |url=https://designawards.core77.com/home/award_permalink?id=114063&category_id=3 |access-date=2022-10-09 |website=Core77 |language=en}}

• [https://grantondesign.com/Gregg-Buchbinder Interview with Gregg Buchbinder] (by Grant Gibson){{Cite web |title=Home — GrantOnDesign |url=https://grantondesign.com/Home |access-date=2022-10-24 |website=grantondesign.com |language=en}}
• [https://www.cooperhewitt.org/2017/06/02/a-sustainable-seat-the-alfi-chair/ A Sustainable Seat: The Alfi Chair] (Cooper Hewitt Museum, New York)
• [https://www.moma.org/collection/works/4728 Hudson Chair], {{ill|The Hudson (hotel)|lt=The Hudson|it|Hudson Hotels}} (Museum of Modern Art, New York)
• [https://www.sfmoma.org/artwork/2005.168/ Superlight chair (2004)] (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art)
• [http://collectiononline.design-museum.de/#/en/object/39502?_k=g4tf8v GoodForm (1931–32)] (Vitra Design Museum)
• [https://www.dezeen.com/2009/04/19/tuyomyo-by-frank-gehry-for-emeco/ Leslie Gehry Brenner Award] of the Hereditary Disease Foundation (HDF){{Cite web |title=Leslie Gehry Brenner Prize |url=https://www.hdfoundation.org/leslie-gehry-brenner-prize |access-date=2022-10-08 |website=Hereditary Disease Foundation |language=en-US}}

{{reflist}}

Category:Manufacturing companies of the United States

Category:Furniture companies of the United States

Category:Chair-making

Category:American furniture designers

Category:American industrial designers

Category:Manufacturing companies based in Pennsylvania