Technological Innovation

Arclinea has recently brought to fruition an important plan for development of its production system. What choices were made and what consequences will they have on the market?
We have invested in new systems for closely linked production stages: management of our warehouse and semifinished products, the squaring and edging of panels. Completely automated, these systems are today controlled by new software that directs the entire production process, right from the initial coding phase. This brings remarkable advantages: shorter production times, higher quality standards and greater flexibility. The latter in particular is a fundamental condition given the growing market demand for customisation. Today we can offer a wider variety of solutions, in terms both of size and finish, and ensure faster response times for an increasingly more diverse demand, even for small quantities. In addition to all these advantages, mention must also be made of a new structure for our storage units, used throughout the Collection and made possible by this new technology.

This important evolution in the Arclinea production system coincides with presentation of the Thea model. Are these new aspects related?
It will positively impact the entire Arclinea Collection, but Thea in particular will benefit significantly. The reason lies in the new-gen laminates, a material highly suited to the type of product interpreted by Thea, which will be handled by the new systems. Not by chance in fact has the range of these materials recently seen the addition of new finishes and colour options, coinciding with the presentation of Thea.

Generally speaking, how much is your range conditioned by industrial logic?
The aim of Arclinea is to ensure the reliability typical of an evolved industrial product associated with attention to detail and special manufacturing processes that only human intervention can guarantee. This choice, naturally, starts at the conception stage of our kitchens and is then reflected across the entire production process. A well-defined philosophy and one we have always shared with Antonio Citterio.

Technological evolution and craftsmanship: it is possible to balance these factors?
Process automation, closely linked to industrial logics, does not necessarily limit a product’s originality. On the contrary, it is the condition that allows us concentrate on our distinctive signature trait: selection of the best materials, exclusive processes, attention to every detail and a customised service. The aim being to obtain an exclusive, customised product featuring functional solutions that also surprises and excites. Our ‘Made in Italy’, in other words.

Art direction: Juma
Video: Forte, @about_forte