Many years ago in Germany
It all started in 1954 in Bäd Essen, Germany, when Josef Kesseböhmer and his son Heinrich J. Kesseböhmer began producing wire baskets and display stands for shopfitting and presentation.
They didn’t set out to bring quality office furnishings to the world – but that’s exactly what they ended up doing.
More growth, more ideas
Over the years, Kesseböhmer added PVC coating and electroplating capabilities, developing facilities and a fair bit of knowledge about metal processing. With this expertise, the company branched into related markets like fittings for kitchens, appliances, bathrooms, and bedrooms.
By the 1960s Kesseböhmer began to export products used around the globe by companies like Henkel, Nestlé, Coca Cola, Bosch and many more.
Through it all, Kessebohmer has remained a family company now led by the 3rd generation, with production facilities and sales offices throughout the world.
Kesseböhmer and ergonomics – a natural fit
In 1998, Kesseböhmer expanded the product portfolio to ergonomic office furniture.
Since then, Kessebohmer Ergonomics has become a global leader in manufacturing special system components for the furniture industry. Our lifting systems are primarily installed in table bases for office, industrial, school, and health care settings.
Kessebohmer Ergonomics: Made in America
In 2016, Kessebohmer Ergonomics of America (KEA) established a manufacturing facility in Grand Rapids, Michigan. What started as a production facility for pneumatic counter balanced table bases has become a much larger venture. The facility has twice expanded, and the workforce has quadrupled. Global and domestic supply chain partners, and a location in the heart of the Furniture City, allow us to offer responsiveness, quick lead times, and a bespoke experience for our US-based customers.
Our Values
Kessebohmer Ergonomics of America (KEA) strives to be an integral partner with our customers. We help our customers to provide a competitive solution, where performance and reliability are key decision points.
We take seriously our commitment to the environment, and in our constant effort to do more, we have become both ISO 50001 & ISO 14001 Certified. With our ISO 14001 environmental management system (EMS), we continually evaluate how our activities affect the environment, and take steps to minimize those impacts. We use our ISO 50001 energy management system (EMS) to monitor and reduce energy use throughout our processes to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Our Products
We make industry-leading power-free/pneumatic height adjustable table systems and electric columns. And we set ourselves apart through product engineering. For our motor columns, we use an internal drive and a guidance system free of visible connection for a cleaner design aesthetic. Our motor columns offer industry-leading speed (50mm/second), and all are extremely quiet at < 50 dbA.
Most of our pneumatic systems utilize a roller-bearing guidance system that allows for easy, smooth movement, even with cantilevered or off-center loads.
We also offer a wide range of profile shapes, strokes and drive systems.