Introducing the largest office furniture manufacturing companies in the world(2)

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2-Steelcase

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Steelcase was founded as a metal office furniture company in 1912 by Peter M. Wege in Michigan. Wege (the founder of the company) was an experienced person in the field of sheet metal production and refractory industries and had approximately 25 patents before starting the company. Steelcase's first products included fireproof metal safes and four-drawer filing cabinets, which Wege invented and manufactured. In 1914, the company received its first official license to manufacture its product, a fireproof steel waste basket. The name of this product was Victor. Victor became very popular because of its light weight and its ability to prevent fire when smoking indoors and especially at work.

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In 1915, this company for the first time designed and produced 200 metal tables for the first Boston skyscraper (Tower House) and this event led to the beginning of the production and distribution of steel tables. In 1937, this company collaborated with Frank Lloyd Wright (office furniture manufacturer) in a project that lasted two years and led to the creation of the first modern office furniture.

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The name Steelcase was the result of an advertising campaign to promote metal office furniture on a wooden base and became a trademark in 1921. This company officially registered its name as Steelcase Company in 1954. This company was recognized as the leader of the furniture industry in the late 60s due to its high volume of sales. During the 1970s, Steelcase expanded its product territory into new markets, including Asia, Europe, and North Africa. In 1973, the company introduced the 9000 Series furniture line. In the same year, the company made the largest shipment of furniture for the new sears tower during a commercial contract. The delivery included 43,565 pieces of furniture and equipment for 44 furnished floors

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During the 1980s and 1990s, Steelcase changed its approach to designing and creating new products in response to the changes in the administrative and economic environment. The company's current headquarters was built in 1983 in Michigan City. Also in 1989, Steelcase Development Holding Company Steelcase Inc. opened. The center included ten research labs and workspaces to encourage collaboration in product development.

Steelcase became a public company in 1998 under the symbol SCS. During the 2000s, Steelcase reorganized its workforce and began to integrate modern technologies into its products. In 2000, the company opened Steelcase University, a center for employee development and research and continuous learning. The Steelcase wooden furniture factory in Caledonia achieved LEED certification in 2001 and was the first factory to receive this certification. In 2002, Steelcase partnered with IBM to create and launch Project BlueSpace, a prototype "smart office" project designed using new office technologies.

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Steelcase's turnover is estimated at 2600 million dollars by the end of 2021.

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Introducing the largest office furniture manufacturing companies in the world (1)