Keilhauer president Mike Keilhauer and designer Geof Lilge introduce bent-metal furniture brand Division Twelve in this video produced by Dezeen for the furniture manufacturer.
Division Twelve creates powder-coated tubular steel furniture for the contract market that comes in an array of bright colours. The company is a subsidiary of Keilhauer, a contract furniture manufacturer based in Toronto, Canada.
Division Twelve's collection is made up of stools, chairs and tables that sport a stripped-down aesthetic.
The stools and chairs can feature wooden seats or seats padded with foam, which can be upholstered in a range of textiles, vinyls, and leathers.
"The pieces have their own character" says Mike Keilhauer in the video interview, which was shot by Dezeen at Keilhauer's Toronto headquarters. "They are simple, but sophisticated. It's about making spaces a little more relaxed."
Divison Twelve's products come in a bright array of 20 standard colours, to which the Pantone Color of the Year will be added each year.
In addition, contractors ordering custom pieces will be able to choose from powder coatings in more than 200 colours.
"It's an opportunity for interior designers to bring a little bit of fun and colour into a space," said Lilge, creative director of Division Twelve, who conceived of the collection.
The entire production process takes place at Keilhauer's facilities in Ontario, Canada.
"Everything is manufactured in our facilities here in North America," Lilge stated. "We make everything ourselves. We bend every tube, we weld every joint."
According to Lilge, the collection was designed with sustainability in mind.
"Our collection is made up of recyclable steel, sustainably sourced solid wood and bio based seat foam, so we're looking at a product that's very sustainable," he explained.
Mike Keilhauer emphasised the versatility of the collection, which interior designers can use to furnish co-working spaces and informal breakout spaces in offices, as well as hospitality projects like bars, restaurants and hotels.
"We decided to bring Division Twelve under the umbrella of the Keilhauer family because it was just fresh," he said. "It allows us to bring a totally different feeling to the spaces that we work in."
The collection brings a streak of colour to Keilhauer's portfolio, which largely consists of seating and tables for more traditional office spaces.
"Division Twelve has a 'jump for joy' kind of feeling," said Keilhauer. "The whole idea of a little bit of edge, lots of colour, fun, joy - that's Division Twelve."
This video was produced by Dezeen for Keilhauer in Toronto. All images are courtesy of Keilhauer.