GERMANY - Functional fittings specialist Hettich draws an altogether positive balance from its presentation this year at Interzum in Cologne: industry stakeholders from around 100 countries showed an enthusiastic response to the trends and solutions focusing on "customisation", with the event also seeing a gratifying increase in the number of visitors.

Hettich sees itself as a catalyst for the entire furniture industry. At Interzum, innovative product solutions and overall concepts were on display that make the mega trend of customisation an easy to implement model for success: the manufacturer's presentation gave trade visitors a wealth of creative ideas for everything from designing their own furniture to producing entire spatial concepts.

The new "AvanTech YOU" drawer system proved to be a visitor magnet throughout the show. With this product highlight, Hettich is making customization in color, shape and material the standard in furniture design – and is once again taking its long proven "thinking in platforms" to a higher level.

Hettich's "TopLine XL" sliding door system for large and heavy door panels proved to be the last word in sliding perfection. Installation has never been easier, and its extremely shallow design with integrated Silent System makes the fitting almost invisible on furniture. Added to generously proportioned wardrobe design is unimagined sliding pleasure: with "TopLine XL", doors weighing up to 100 kg gently open and close with effortless ease.

Hettich also showed the possibilities of Tiny Space living at Interzum. Using the example of a fully furnished single person apartment on a floor space of just 18 m², Hettich showed in Cologne how lovely a "tiny space" can be as a home and demonstrated all of the surprises it held in every corner.

With these and other solutions for practical convenience, great design and storage space, Hettich wants to awaken the industry's appetite for the next generations of furniture. All of the furniture ideas for living room, kitchen, bathroom and office furniture, including all construction plans, are available for downloading free of charge from the Design Gallery on Hettich's homepage.