IQD visits Fantoni company’s Research Centre

The research activity is not simply one of the functions of a forward-looking company, but it is the function that best expresses its entrepreneurial and responsible attitude, made up of challenges and propensity to change, overcome limits, experiment and expand into new markets.

A synthesis of culture and strategies developed over time. And when we talk about entrepreneurial culture, Fantoni Group – founded in 1882 and today leading manufacturer of office furniture, partition and storage wall systems, sound-absorption systems, MDF and chipboard panels and melamine floorings – has really gained a lot of it over time. A culture rooted in a spirit of participation and sharing, as evidenced by the collaborations with important institutions, artists and designers from all over the world, which led the company to design its first, innovative Research Centre in the Osoppo headquarters.

Opened in 1996, year of great ferment in Europe, the centre, having been sensitive to the undergoing changes, has soon become a meeting place for the public and the professionals. With an eye towards the market developments, as appropriate for any space not dedicated to memory, but to the testing and sharing of experiences and knowledge, early this year the Research Centre has been renovated and modernized in its function as an educational venue – complete with conference room and a rich library of architecture and design – and research space with a particular focus on issues related to sustainability, circular economy, evolution of wood-based materials, surfaces, acoustics and renewable energy.

Industrial ethics and design culture are the key elements guiding Fantoni Group to direct each phase of its activity towards the consolidation of an identity characterized by the well-balanced coexistence of elements such as quality, beauty, attention to detail, tailoring of the products, ecosustainable production, search for new materials, respect for the environment, enhancement of human resources and individual creativity and constant market surveillance.

The experimental activity promoted by the renovated Fantoni Research Centre finds its ideal place right in this context. Thanks to the involvement and contribution of experts from different backgrounds, such as architects, engineers, designers, entrepreneurs, teachers, technicians, students and business operators, the centre is devoted to economic, ethical, ecological, environmental and sociological issues related to wood and furniture, along an itinerary of exploration and training enrichment that will continue to represent the invaluable know-how of the company.