Innovating office environments for over 112 years

1960

Acrylic Paints Introduced
July 1961
Acrylic Paints Introduced
1969
First Environmental Engineer Hired

1970

Fabric Cutting Technology Better for the Environment
1971
Fabric Cutting Technology Better for the Environment
Lighting Evaluation Laboratory Opens
1976
Lighting Evaluation Laboratory Opens
1979
Began Converting Paint to High-solids

1980

National Environmental Award
1983
National Environmental Award
1988
Economicology: The Eleventh Commandment
Environmental Excellence Award
1989
Environmental Excellence Award

1990

First to Filter Effluent from Paint Tanks
1991
First to Filter Effluent from Paint Tanks
Details® "Wastebasket" Introduced
1991
Details® "Wastebasket" Introduced
1993
Replacing Non-Electrostatic Paint Applicators
1997
Zinc Plating Process Replaced
Awarded for Waste Reduction
1999
Awarded for Waste Reduction

2000

Steelcase University Learning Center Opens
2000
Steelcase University Learning Center Opens
DesignTex® Technology Wins Awards
2000
DesignTex® Technology Wins Awards
2001
Launched our renewable energy purchasing efforts
Lean Manufacturing Efforts Begin
2001
Lean Manufacturing Efforts Begin
First U.S. LEED-Certified Manufacturing Plant Opens
October 2001
First U.S. LEED-Certified Manufacturing Plant Opens
Eliminating VOC Emissions
2003
Eliminating VOC Emissions

2010

EcoCradle Packaging
June 2010
EcoCradle Packaging
NanoSphere Finish Added to Designtex® Finishes
April 28, 2011
NanoSphere Finish Added to Designtex® Finishes
Sharing the Warmth
September 2011
Sharing the Warmth
Recognized For Sustainability Leadership
April 2012
Recognized For Sustainability Leadership
Growing a renewable energy future
March 13, 2014
Growing a renewable energy future

2020

Carbon Neutral Option for Tasks chairs
June 19, 2023
Carbon Neutral Option for Tasks chairs

We opened our doors in 1912 after 11 business men agreed to invest in Peter M. Wege's dream of opening a steel office furniture company in a city renowned for wood furniture. Since then we've experienced many changes, including our name, but our business vision of always looking toward the future has remained the same.

Here we'd like to share with you a few hundred of the thousands of noteworthy historical moments from our 112-year plus legacy.

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