All things furniture fittings...

  An espagnolette lock , also sometimes called a bar lock, is a type of lock used on furniture, particularly cabinets, lockers, and cupboards. It offers a unique way to secure multiple points on the furniture door. Here's how it works: 1.      An espagnolette lock typically has a central lock nozzle or turn knob. 2.      Turning the knob or key rotates one or more long round bars fitted inside the lock. These bars extend from the lock towards the top and bottom (and sometimes, if mounted horizontally, even to the sides) of the furniture frame. As you turn the handle, the bars rotate and engage with strikers mounted on the frame, effectively locking the door at multiple points. Some espagnolette locks also have a bolt in the lock body to provide three-point locking. Here are some benefits of using espagnolette locks for furniture: Multi-point locking: They provide a more secure closure c...

The Best Items to Maximise Bedroom Space Are you tired of a cluttered bedroom with limited cupboard storage space? Do you find yourself struggling to fit all your clothes, shoes, and belongings neatly? Our pull-out storage solutions and pull-down rails are designed to immensely improve the way you organise your bedroom space, offering convenience and functionality. Pull-Out Storage Solutions If you are looking to streamline your daily routine and make it easier to find what you need when you need it, then you need pull-out bedroom storage solutions . These bedroom furniture fixtures are crafted to utilise every inch of your wardrobe space efficiently, offering smart design and practicality and are perfect for bedrooms of any size. Here’s why they’re a game-changer: Features: 1. Space Optimisation: Our pull-out storage solutions are designed to maximise space, ensuring that no corner goes unused. This means you can store more items without sacrificing accessibility.   2. Versatil...

Sustainable Choices and Soft Close Hinges and Runners – why upgrading your furniture is this year’s best trend Why is it a good idea to upgrade your furniture fittings and fixtures? Because small details can make a significant impact on the overall aesthetics and functionality of a space. One often overlooked, but game-changing upgrade, is the switch to soft close hinges and runners . With sustainability in mind, where there isn’t a need to completely replace a cabinet, cupboard or drawer, the addition of soft close hinges and runners may be the best option to elevate your furniture. Not only do they add a touch of sophistication to your furniture, but they also bring practical benefits that enhance the overall user experience. This year is a good time to invest Imagine that you walk into a room, and the first thing you notice is the sleek design of a cabinet door closing gently and silently, thanks to soft close hinges. It's a small touch that transforms a mundane action into a sa...

We are excited to announce a price drop on our existing stock of pan drawer runners . We believe in providing our customers with the best value for money and are confident that this product will continue to provide you with the same level of quality and satisfaction as many of our other products. What are pan drawer runners? Pan drawer runners are the mechanisms that allow your kitchen drawers to slide in and out smoothly. They are essential for ensuring that your drawers function correctly. Traditionally they are used in kitchens where variable drawer heights are required within the same unit but can also be used in a lounge, office or bedroom.  By using these drawer runners, all you need to supply is the base, rear, and your own drawer front. Below we have listed some of the great features of pan drawer runners. Smooth sliding Nylon rollers provide a smooth and quiet operation, allowing the user to easily access the contents of drawers without any resistance. The runners roll on ...

Knockdown (KD) furniture is designed to be put together and taken apart easily, often without the need for specialised tools or skills. A key feature of knockdown furniture is its fittings , which include cams and dowels . We wanted to take a look at the most frequently asked questions about cams and dowels and why they are so important for knockdown furniture. 1. What are cams and dowels? In KD furniture, cams and dowels are components used to connect two pieces of wood or MDF. Cams are usually shaped like a wheel with a lobe or projection, while dowels are cylindrical pins used to align parts. 2. How do cams and dowels work? Dowels work by fitting into corresponding holes in the material, creating a strong and secure joint. Cams work by rotating a shaft, which then engages with a partner surface, creating a secure connection. 3. What materials are used to make cams and dowels? A dowel is usually made of wood, but can be metal or plastic. Cams can also be made from a variety of mater...

Soft close hinges are now even more competitively priced, so what better time to invest in your cabinetry? If you are considering using them, read on, as there are many more reasons why we recommend soft close hinges. What are soft close hinges? Soft close hinges are a type of door hinge that closes the door slowly and softly. They are concealed cabinet hinges that are usually used in kitchens and bathrooms, but they can also be used in other furniture such as wardrobes. They offer a simple way to improve cabinets by giving you peace of mind that your kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors will close gently and silently, without slamming shut. How do soft close hinges work? Our soft close hinges  have a hydraulic mechanism and spring built into the arm of the hinge.  When the door is closed the spring and hydraulic mechanism take over and ensure that the door is brought to a soft close instead of slamming shut. Where to use soft close hinges Soft Close Hinges are mo...

The 10 Best Things About Soft Close Drawer Slides When it comes to supplying furniture fixtures and fittings, Unico will go the extra mile to make sure their customers have exactly what they need. One of our most popular and best-selling items this year has to be soft close drawer slides . And there are plenty of reasons why they are a top choice, we have put together just 10 of the advantages and benefits you can enjoy from these drawer slides. 1. Last longer As there is generally less stress and wear on the mechanism compared to standard drawer slides, expect to enjoy better performance and smooth travel for longer. 2. Safer Soft close drawers can’t be slammed making it harder for fingers to get caught in the closing drawer. Just before it is completely shut, the soft close mechanism of the drawer takes over and very gently pulls the drawer closed the rest of the way. 3. Luxury finish Drawers with soft close offer a premium feel and allude to high end with a luxury quality. 4. Satisf...

At Unico , our staff are always happy to advise customers and ensure they have the right furniture fixtures and fittings for their needs. One question we are often asked is “How do I choose the right hinge?”. Choosing the right hinge for kitchen cabinets or wardrobe doors is crucial and we can help you make the right selection from our range. What are the different types of hinges? With different function and use, choose from a wide array of styles, designs, and types such as: butt hinges cranked hinges cylinder hinges spring hinges flap hinges flush hinges piano hinges lay on hinges lift off hinges pivot hinges self-closing hinges  We are confident we have the right hinge for you so let’s look at some of our hinges in a little more detail: Overlay hinges Fitted to doors where the door lays onto the frame of the carcass. Full overlay hinges Overlay the width of the carcass side. Half overlay hinges Overlay up to half the width of the carcass side. Inset hinges Allow the door to clo...

Our customers span a range of different industries and come in all shapes and sizes with varying expectations. Tony Killick, our General Manager, spoke to us about supplying the trade with furniture fixtures and fittings in our Q&A below. Which types of tradespeople and industries do Unico generally work with? "We supply multiple trade manufacturers and individuals across differing sectors including kitchen manufacturers, kitchen fitters, furniture designers, carpenters, bedroom fitters, office furniture manufacturers and locker furniture." Do Unico supply internationally? "Although we do sometimes supply overseas, the majority of our business is currently UK based customers." What are Unico especially well known for and what are your best-selling products with regards to trade customers? "Our strongest range is locks for furniture and lockers , for example code locks, cam locks, cylinder locks and much more. We actually have a vast product range, so lock...

In our latest blog we offer  5 reasons why you should upgrade to our Soft Close and Push to Open Drawer Runners . These side mounted drawer runners are ideal for use in manufacturing and bespoke furniture. They are also a perfect replacement to damaged runners or simply for upgrading drawers in a living room, bedroom, kitchen, office or under stairs. Here is why you should be upgrading drawers with our push to open and soft close drawer runners: 1. They last longer These fittings last longer  because the mechanism is under less stress, so they offer a great investment over the longer term. 2. They are quieter The big appeal of these drawer runners is preventing banging when closing.   All that is needed is a gentle touch which engages the mechanism to fully close or open the drawer. This results in drawers closing in virtual silence and never being slammed shut. 3. They are on trend Uber modern, minimalist style can be achieved using these runners for drawers witho...

In order to stay ahead of the game, we are always looking for new products to add to the huge number of items we keep in stock.  The news this month is we have just introduced a new range of Side Fix Drawer Runners with a weight loading of 35kg . These are more competitive than our current offering and we have listed the features and benefits below: Features of Side Fix Drawer Runners These are full extension drawer runners manufactured in steel with a zinc finish and fitted with a rubber back stop for a positive shut. They offer a maximum weight capacity of 35kg. They also feature a disconnect lever and steel ball bearing case. Please note, if used horizontally, the weight limit is reduced by three quarters. To ensure the drawer runners are correctly fitted they require a building in width of 12.5mm either side. What are the Benefits? More cost-effective alternative to our current runners  Hold a maximum of 35kg Easy access to the drawer and contents Drawer runners e...

If you are looking for a supplier of Knock Down (KD) furniture fittings, then you have come to the right place! At Unico, we supply KD furniture fittings to manufacturers of KD and flat pack furniture and have done so for more than 40 years. Supply meets demand The furniture market has generally seen an increase in demand for cheaper furniture which makes ready to assemble (RTA) and flat pack furniture an ideal choice when setting up home. Although KD furniture is generally less costly to produce and easier to transport, the standard of materials used varies quite substantially. We supply furniture manufacturers with a range of fittings to suit every type of RTA furniture such as panel connectors and brackets through to Allen keys and noise buffers. KD fittings for outdoor furniture We also specialise in recliner chair fittings and outdoor furniture fittings for furniture that can be collapsed and stored: spring-loaded lock pins, umbrella spoke fittings, ratchet for recliner chairs a...