This is how it all began
History
Our story began in 1942 when the young couple Evy and Jarl Andersson bought a carpenter’s shop in the small village of Kinnarp, Sweden. Since then the business has grown step by step and children and grandchildren have played their part in its development. Evy often called Jarl “the Optimist”. They were driven by the belief that anything, however good, can always be improved a little. An approach that is still deeply rooted in us as a company today. All so that our customers who use our products and solutions will feel a little better. And get a little more done. In a long-term sustainable way.
Today we are a large international interior design company, still characterised by the same genuine curiosity and down-to-earth spirit of innovation that drove our founders.
1940'S
EVY & JARL GET GOING
Evy and Jarl Andersson founded Kinnarps in 1942, with two employees on their team. Initially furniture was made to order, primarily for architects. In 1943 Kinnarps started to deliver tambour cabinets to the Swedish government, and three years later the company signed its first contract with the government. Since then Kinnarps has been a loyal supplier of workspace solutions for the public sector.
1950'S
BECOMING KINNARPS AS WE KNOW IT
Kinnarps invested in its first complete range of office furniture, producing the first catalogue in 1952. Completion of the new factory gave Kinnarps the space it needed to expand its production of chairs. In 1959 Kinnarps started to deliver the furniture with its own furniture truck and assemble the furniture at the customer's office, ensuring quality all the way to the customer. By wrapping the products in reusable blankets instead of one-off packaging, waste was reduced and more products could be loaded in the van.
1960'S
BIGGER STAFF AND FIRST SHOWROOM
In the early 1960s there were 34 Kinnarps employees on the books and an annual turnover of SEK 2 million. In 1968 the company opened its first showroom in Stockholm. During the 1960s product assortment increased and Kinnarps launched order-directed production.
1970'S
GOING INTERNATIONAL
Henry Jarlsson, Evy and Jarl’s oldest son, assumed the role of CEO in 1973. Kinnarps went on to launch in London in 1974, establishing itself in the export market. In 1977 Kinnarps bought a briquette press for wood waste. The briquettes reduced the use of heating oil and made use of the inevitable wood waste from the factory.
1980'S
A WIDER PRODUCT RANGE
In the mid-1980s the company decided to invest in a new and comprehensive range of furniture. Soft seating and conference furniture were added to the Kinnarps’ standard offering. During this decade, Kinnarps purchased the supplier Granstrands and invested in a new factory in Skillingaryd in south-central Sweden. Kinnarps launched a solvent free UV lacquer (1980) to be able to offer hard, durable surfaces without damaging the environment. Since 1980 we have cut our emissions by 90% by placing eco-innovation at the centre of our business model.
1990'S
CERTIFICATES & RESPONSIBILITY
In 1991 Kinnarps developed and produced the first electrically adjustable table, which offered alternative positions for deskwork. Kinnarps became the first furniture manufacturer in Sweden to receive Quality Management System certification ISO 9001 in 1993. In 1997 the company’s environment management system received ISO 14001 certification. Kinnarps also joined the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) the same year. The company worked with supplier Reiners throughout the 1990s, and in late 1999 Reiners joined the Kinnarps Group.
2000'S
WINNING AWARDS & ACQUIRING COMPANIES
At the start of the new century, Kinnarps won two awards: the Balanced Scorecard Hall of Fame Award and the Competence Company of the Year in Sweden. The company established itself in several new markets, as well as acquiring design furniture companies Klaessons, Materia and Skandiform. At the beginning of 2000 Kinnarps also launched Kinnarps Next Office, offering research, strategy and advice in creating tailormade offices for its customers.
2010'S
Kinnarps continued its sustainability work with the launch of The Better Effect Index – the first comprehensive sustainability tool for interior solutions. In 2018 the company launched two new concepts; Kinnarps Next Education offering research, guidance and strategy for active learning environments and Kinnarps Next Care a guiding method in creating healing spaces.
TODAY
SUCCESSFUL INTERIORS
Kinnarps delivers interior design solutions for offices, schools and healthcare facilities. The entire value chain is characterised by high quality and low environmental impact – from raw materials to finished workplace solutions. Kinnarps is one of Europe's biggest manufacturers of interior design solutions, with operations in 40 countries.
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