Category: Architecture

Flokk, as Scandinavian Business Seating is called today has just acquired the Swiss chair manufacturer, Giroflex. With the addition of this new company it now claims to be the number one manufacturer office chairs and office furniture in Europe.

The European market for office seating 

Giroflex and Flokk are entered into an agreement in which the latter takes over all shares of the Swiss manufacturer with all its entities. The parties agreed purchase price or further details of the transaction is unknown.

As the leading Swiss manufacturer of high-quality ergonomic office chairs, Giroflex is known as a premium brand with a strong position in the German-speaking markets. Almost 90 percent of Giroflex’ turnover in 2016 CHF 45.5 million (EUR 41.5 million) came from Switzerland, Germany and Austria as well as from Belgium and The Netherlands.

The hugely succesfull UK manufacturer Orangebox made it mark on the London corporate market bwith the import of the Giroflex 64 taskchair. A chair still sold to mayor corporates within the financial services industry. Orangebox as a seperate brand developed further by being able to adapt very quickly to the ever changing boom and bust economy of the UK. To a lesser extent this is the case in Scotland as well, where McKellar Office Furniture Glasgow has been representing both brand for a number of years. Chair manufacturers like Giroflex and BMA Ergonomics (als part of Flokk) who invested heavily in engineering and tooling to build their own mechanisms are less flexible to adapt, where UK manufacturers generally are more assemblers than developers.

“We are incredibly proud Giroflex Flokk-to be able to welcome to the family,” said Lars Røiri, CEO of Flokk. Our two companies share for the most part the same philosophy about product quality and design, but are not major competitors because we operate in different markets, “continues Røiri enthusiastic.
While Giroflex ‘ leadership is strong in Switzerland and solid in Germany, Flokk has the first position in Scandinavia and The Netherlands. “The acquisition by Flokk offers new possibilities for Giroflex. As part of a larger group we can expand our geographical reach and find new growth opportunities, “says Dr. Frank Forster, CEO of Giroflex. “Flokks network and affiliates create ideal conditions to brand Giroflex international to consolidate and develop”, close Frank Forster.

The name Giroflex Flokks portfolio as a separate brand remains in existence. Recently, Malmstolen, a Swedish manufacturer of Office chairs, Offecct, a specialist in and lounge furniture, also part of the group. Flokk aims to continue to consolidate the market by a leading positions in key markets. “Giroflex fits perfectly with this strategy and brings Flokk, as it were, in the best starting position.” Perfect for our continuous growth “, says Lars i. Røiri CEO of Flokk.
The management of both companies will now perform an in-depth evaluation to identify opportunities and to the most sustainable ways to come to the enterprise in the future.