Furniture Hardware Industry Overview

Furniture Hardware
Furniture hardware products include all components and fittings that are used to fix, design and build furniture products. The primary functions of these products include fixing different parts of units, to attach windows and doors, to help moving parts function smoothly, to enhance attractiveness, comfort as well as the overall life of furniture products. Furniture hardware come in a variety of models and types.
Some of the important materials that are used to make furniture hardware are cast iron, hand forged iron, brass, stainless steel, cold rolled steel, and chrome, among others.
Some of the popular finishes for furniture hardware products include - polished brass finish, polished chrome, antique black, polished nickel, satin nickel finish, iron and wood finish, antique brass, etc.

Type
Some of the important categories of furniture hardware are -

Hinges	Handles	Knobs			Locks
Latches	Casters	Furniture Legs			Brackets
Label Holders	Keyhole Covers	Furniture Frames			Headboards
Levelers	Furniture Arms	Rails & Supports			Furniture Supplies

Hardware - A Crucial Component in Furniture
Furniture that is used for sitting, resting, or storing items, is primarily made from wood based materials that do not affect its functioning directly. Furniture acquires attributes, such as usefulness, beauty and safety from its design and hardware. These attributes help the furniture gain value and advantage by furnishing beauty and functionality to the furniture.
However, hardware, which enhances the value and appearance of furniture is often subjected to criticism. Some of the complaints that people make about furniture hardware are - doors, drawers and locks that cannot be operated properly, legs and arms that are not sturdy, heavy furniture that cannot be moved easily, doors and lids that are noisy and difficult to use, handles and finishes that deteriorate the service life of furniture. Hence, it is important for the furniture hardware that it is designed in order to correct these problems and add comfort, aesthetics and value to the furniture.



Trends in Furniture Hardware Industry
Furniture hardware has come a long from way from its use as a mere functional accessory to a decorative hardware that gives a unique look and appearance to the furniture products. Today, furniture hardware products come in an extensive range of designs, styles, sizes and finishes to satisfy every need and to compliment every decor. While buying furniture hardware today, people are now more concerned about the appearance of hardware products in relation to how they will match other furnishings in the home.

Technological advancements influence every domain and sector of economy and furniture hardware is not an exception. These technological developments in the manufacturing of furniture hardware products has resulted in rapid expansion in the scope and complexity of furniture hardware products. Manufacturers now utilize technology to develop light weight hardware products that make less noise and can be operated smoothly.
In recent years, the furniture hardware industry has extended its offerings to help builders and facility managers help deal facility requirements. Interior and exterior furniture sets include various types of hardware products that are designed to ensure durability and value, and a variety of products, which facilitate functionality as well as style.
As like with other sectors of economy, environmental concerns have also influenced the furniture hardware industry. Manufacturers are now taking substantial efforts and measures in manufacturing products that support green initiatives through environmental conservation and preservation. Even though hardware manufacturing is still undergoing some major transformation, the trend towards more environment friendly finishes is growing faster.


Competitive Scenario
The volume of furniture hardware sold depends largely on the sale of furniture products and the rise in personal income of individuals and businesses. The profitability of individual businesses is directly related to volume, as many costs are fixed. Bigger companies can leverage their advantage of economies of scale while smaller companies can compete by offering specialty products or through quality workmanship, which can sell for a premium price. Imports of hardware products are emerging as a major competitive factor.