History of the Ahrend brand
For over 125 years now, we have been converting the ordinary office into a place full of life – vitalising spaces
It all started in 1896, when still under the age of 18, Jacobus Ahrend Jacobus Ahrend discovered his entrepreneurial calling and with the help of his mother he started to sell home accessories directly from their living room. The history of the company bearing his name serves to this day as inspiration and encouragement in facing the challenges of the day and in the development of new approaches to designing the workplace environment of the future.
Discover the rich company history and get to know some of the remarkable projects and designs that we have delivered and created over the years.
For 125 years now we have been building a strong legacy that continues to inspire us to take new approaches to the future of work and workplace environments.
1896
Company founded
The young Jacobus Ahrend founds Ahrend with the help of his mother. He sells the first products from the living room of their apartment in Amsterdam.
1926
Office furniture
The Ahrend product portfolio includes furniture for the first time.
1941
Own production
Ahrend acquires metal furniture manufacturer De Cirkel and starts producing furniture under his own brand.
1953
Revolutionary chair
The Revolt chair by designer Friso Kramer is launched. It represents a breakthrough in industrial design and mass production.
1958
The Resolut chair
The chair designed by Friso Kramer and Wim Rietveld has successfully found its way into school classrooms and living rooms and has become a favourite subject for graphic designers and photographers. It was awarded the prestigious Signe d'Or.
1967
Companies merge
Merger of Ahrend and metal furniture producers, ODA and De Circel.
1972
Mehes system
Friso Kramer creates a new furniture design system, Mehes (Mobility, Efficiency, Humanisation, Environment, Standardisation), responding to the growing popularity of open-plan offices.
1984
Global success
Ahrend wins the largest international order – furnishing the headquarters of HSBC in Hong Kong with 6500 Mehes work stations.
1991
TECHO established
Jiří Kejval and Martin Kulík established TECHO in Prague. IKEA was among its first major clients. Initially we supplied them with table lamps, but soon extended this to include a very successful range of office accessories that sold around the world.
1993
Production of TECHO office furniture
TECHO commenced production of office furniture – initially in cooperation with German firm Gesika. The following year production moved to a new premises, the site of the former “Dřevozpracující podnik Praha”. With this move we continued the tradition of furniture production on the Prague Hostivař site dating back to the 1950s.
In response to the division of Czechoslovakia the company established its first foreign branch in Slovakia.
1994
Responsible design
Launch of the first product to follow the principles of sustainable design - the Ahrend 220 task chair, which would later become the top selling office chair in the Netherlands.
1996
Royal Ahrend
Ahrend celebrates its hundredth anniversary and is granted the right to use the title “Royal”.
2008
TECHO part of Ahrend
After many years of successful cooperation with the Dutch group, Royal Ahrend becomes the sole owner of TECHO, which has already achieved success in several countries – Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, and the United Kingdom. This acquisition enhances Ahrend’s position as a leading player in the European market for commercial interiors.
2011
Leader in sustainability
Ahrend becomes the first holder of Cradle-to-Cradle certification in the field of office furnishings.
2014
TECHO in 90 countries
TECHO wins an order for National Microfinance Bank in Tanzania, thus bringing the tally of export countries to 90.
2015
Gispen and Innovation LAB
Gispen and Preskihaaf School Furniture become part of the Royal Ahrend group. The Innovation LA Bis launched, which is a development section for new product groups that should contribute to enhanced ergonomics and increased workplace productivity.
2015
Ahrend expansion
Ahrend successfully expands to other countries and opens local offices in Dubai, Shenzhen and Shanghai.
2021
Opening of Circular hub
In our 12,000 m² Circularity Centre in the Netherlands, we have concentrated all our expertise and production facilities in the field of circular production.
2021
Techo becomes fully integrated within Ahrend
From January 1, 2021, and after 30 years as TECHO, the company takes on the name of its owner and continues under the common brand Ahrend. One of the most modern furniture factories in Central and Eastern Europe is being built in Prague Hostivař.