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About Emeco

Emeco is very clear in what they do:

"We make chairs. In America. Often by hand. Mostly from recycled stuff. But always to last."

Emeco origins in Hanover, Pennsylvania where, in 1944, Wilton Carlyle Dinges creates the Electrical Machine and Equipment Company (Emeco). World War II brings a big uptick in business. Specifically, a government commission for a chair that can withstand the American Navy.

A very resiliant material is needed to withstand life on a ship: salt water, salt air, an occasional torpedo blast. In 1944, salvaged aluminium is plentiful. Methods to recycle this to a highly resistant material are not. This leads to The Process: 77 steps that turn ordinary aluminium in an extraordinary strong material. Thus the 1006 Navy Chair was born; the first chair in many to come.

From ships to showrooms

Making recycling obsolete by making things that last has it's downside; there is no replacement market. In the case of Emeco this meant that other markets are needed in order to stay succesful.

In 1998, more and more architects and designers are using Navy Chairs in very modern ways. There are orders from Ettore Sottsass, Geogio Armani and Philippe Starck. This initiates partnerships that lead to the production of the company's first new designs since the 40s. More designers took notice, thus leading to more new design chairs and shifting the field of work from ships to showrooms.