In a hotel a chair is not used, it is consumed: moved three times a day, wiped with alkaline cleaner, stacked on top of each other. Bent wood lasts longer than routed solid timber because the grain runs around the curve and no section is weakened at the point of load.
Parts we make for hospitality
Chair frames
Frames for restaurants, breakfast rooms and conference seating, 22 to 35 mm section, reinforced at hardware fixing points. Bent wood chair frames
Arms and backs
Bent in pairs with chamfered or rounded edges — in contract use these are the surfaces guests touch. Bent wood chair arms
Table aprons
Curved aprons for round and oval contract tables, 18 to 30 mm thick. Bent wood table aprons
Slats and bench elements
Bent slats for benches, wall panelling and cloakrooms. Bent wood slats
Load, cleaning and testing
Contract seating is tested to EN 1728; North American projects additionally to BIFMA. The tests cover stability, strength and durability — exactly the points where a chair in hotel use fails first.
Cleaning is the second wear factor. Oiled surfaces can be re-oiled and age visibly; lacquered surfaces resist alkaline cleaners but show scratches more. We recommend oil-wax for high-visibility rooms and lacquer for heavily used areas.
We ship at 8 to 11 percent moisture content. In buildings with air conditioning and dry heating air, that is the difference between a frame that still sits true after two years and one that opens at the joints.
Tooling, MOQ and lead time
Tooling is built in-house in 7 to 15 days. It stays archived so spare parts come from the same tool years later — in hotel operation that is the decisive point, because one damaged arm otherwise blocks the whole seating group.
Production runs 15 to 30 days; FOB Foshan or Shenzhen, CIF or DDP on request. For projects with an opening date we recommend a partial shipment first so the fit-out can start. Details under MOQ, lead time and shipping.
Weight matters in operation too: a frame in 25 mm ash weighs about 2.2 kg, a comparable steel frame three times that. For housekeeping that is the difference between chairs being moved every day and chairs only being pushed — and whether they may be stood on the table when the floor is cleaned.
Frequent questions
Does bent wood survive hotel cleaning?
Yes, if the finish matches the cleaning regime. Lacquer resists alkaline cleaners better; oil can be renewed and ages visibly. The wrong finish is the most common source of contract complaints.
Can you supply single parts years later?
Yes. The tooling stays archived for the project lifetime, so re-supply runs without a new sample phase. We can hold safety stock for critical parts.
Which test is usual for contract seating?
EN 1728 for stability, strength and durability. North American clients additionally require BIFMA. Test reports are provided with the quotation.
Terms: bend radius, springback and case-hardening are explained in the bent wood glossary. Send a drawing with radius and section and we confirm feasibility, tooling and lead time within 24 hours via the contact page.
Application examples: six parts with their production parameters — see the examples.