All things furniture fittings...

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...

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...

Despite the challenges of the last year, the furniture manufacturing industry never ceases to amaze in its ability to adapt, while also continuing to make a significant contribution to the nation’s economy. We looked at some of the recent changes we particularly have observed, as a supplier of fixtures and fittings to the furniture manufacturing industry. Home Working Home working has increased the need for home office furniture as the WFH (Work From Home) movement takes a strong hold on the workforce. People are willing to invest in WFH spaces seeing this transition as a permanent one. Not just a decent ergonomic chair, but dedicated workspaces rather than utilising the kitchen table or breakfast bar as a desk. More People are Renting As it becomes increasingly difficult for younger people to get onto the property ladder, the option of renting also offers lower commitment and the freedom to relocate with less headache. The challenge for the furniture industry is to supply lower ...

Soft Close and Push to Open Drawer Runners Of course we get excited about all our product launches, but this is a first! We have not previously supplied a runner with the two functions of soft close and push to open combined.  These runners conveniently accommodate the trend for drawers without handles which alludes to modern minimalist style along with the luxury and quality of the fitting itself: providing simplicity and style with functionality. Where can we use them? These side fix runners are normally used in a bedroom or living room. There is no reason they can’t be utilised in kitchen drawers as well. The big appeal is preventing banging when closing, and the soft glide mechanism is a pure delight.   Noise is reduced as drawers close silently and gently every time and can never be slammed shut. All that is needed is a gentle touch which engages the mechanism that fully closes or opens the drawer. Replacement, upgrade and new design These side mounted drawer...

Extendable Table Design and Manufacture An extendable dining table is exactly what it sounds like ; it has extensions that can be insert ed into the table to increase the size of the table to accommodate dinner parties and special occasions . Mostly,  all you have to do is pull open the table top from each end, lay the leaf, or leaves, into the opening and push the table top closed again . At Unico we offer a range of fittings for making either beautifully crafted custom made   tables as well as supplying furniture manufacturers with the fittings for producing tables on a large scale. Extendable tables for the home or at work Extend ing dining tables are commonly used to maximise   kitchen and dining room space but we   also see many versions of   extendable tables being used to utilise space in an office, conference room or educational facility, for example. They can provide a versatile seating arrangement to host meetings and parties an...

At the beginning of the pandemic working from home seemed an inviting novelty in some ways. I could stay in my pyjamas all day, snack constantly from the fridge and do a bit of gardening during my lunch break. That novelty soon wore off after the back pain set in from trying to work on my laptop while sitting on the sofa. When moving to the breakfast bar was no better, I realised I needed a dedicated work from home space; where my feet could touch the floor, I could have all my documents close to hand and not be constantly tripping over cables. Invest in remote working We all can see that working from home now looks more like a long term scenario for many staff who were previously office based. It has the benefit of saving money and time not having to endure a tiresome commute. Staff are more productive and apparently, work longer hours on average when working from home. It seems to make sense then, to invest in a dedicated work from home space right now. Deciding how to configure ...

Soft close drawer runners mean quality cabinetry with longevity... This type of soft close drawer is in high demand with consumers these days because it has become one of the hallmarks of high quality in cabinetry.  If you are fitting a new wardrobe system, bedroom storage or office furniture, you want to be sure it includes soft close drawers. But w hat are they exactly and what are the main benefits?  Soft close drawers are a premium feature allowing drawers to close silently and smoothly. Just before it is completely shut, the soft close mechanism of the drawer takes over, and gently pulls the drawer closed the rest of the way. What are the advantages of a soft close drawer? Drawers with soft close cannot be slammed shut, ensuring they close gently and silently every time. A soft close drawer is safer because fingers cannot get accidentally crushed in the closing drawer. Drawers with soft close tend to last longer, because the mechanism endures less stress. Drawers that ar...

As staff return to work from furlough there will be some changes in the office. Notably the office furniture and it’s layout. Office furniture fitters, cabinet makers and carpenters have a lot of work on their hands, to meet the standards of our new normal and ensure we are all safe, and compliant with social distancing rules within the workplace. As we can’t predict how long social distancing measures are likely to be necessary, it is certain that employers will want office furniture that offers a variety of layout solutions and give the most flexibility.   Unico for Furniture Fittings At Unico we stock a huge number of office furniture fittings for the domestic and trade markets. We are also proud to be a leading furniture parts supplier to many leading furniture manufacturers from around the world. 7 Essential Desk Fittings We have put together a list of 7 essential items for desk fittings for office furniture and work spaces. These might include reception area furniture, m...