The epitome of Danish design

TOTAL SOLUTIONS: It started as a single door handle, and has since developed into a design range of more than 22,000 individual parts. d line has become a design concept used throughout a building

It started as a single door handle, designed back in 1966 especially for the University of Odense in Denmark. The L-door handle in stainless brushed steel by the designer and architect Professor Knud Holscher, has now spread around the world. Over the years, the product range has been expanded into more than 22,000 individual parts covering bathroom accessories, sanitary panels, handrails, wardrobe accessories and signs. The entire programme showcases the wellknown minimalism of Danish and Scandinavian design.

“Millions and millions of people touch Knud Holscher’s door handle every day,” says director Hans Christian Petersen of Carl F International, which produces and sells the designer’s d line range. On a global scale, d line is the largest and biggest selling product range in its segment. And although it is a niche, the range has become the epitome of Danish design for quality conscious architects all over the world. They are the 100,000 people who we target in 46 countries.”

Concept
d line is still being developed with individual elements which enable architects give buildings a consistent design programme.

     “We offer total solutions where new parts designed to harmonise with d line’s existing range are developed in collaboration with Knud Holscher, the architect and us,” says Hans Christian Petersen. “It helps to create and emphasise our thoroughly prepared design concept.” Since the arrival of the first door handle, d line has won numerous international design awards including the prestigious Danish ID Classics Prize in 1999.

     “The entire d line range forms an integrated part of everyday life for millions of people,” says Hans Christian Petersen. “Knud Holscher aims for discreet and elegant minimalism in his work. He is essentially not interested in luxury products, although most of his output has the stamp of exclusivity. It is rather the functional, dexterous solution to everyday challenges which hold his attention.”

Added value
Carl F is Denmark’s largest company in building hardware. d line products are mainly exported, generating annual revenues of more than DKK 100 million (approx. EUR14 million) and accounting for 10% of company sales.

     “The products are almost exclusively manufactured at our own factory in Denmark, which has perfected the technique of bending a steel pipe so accurately that the bending in all cases constitutes the radius of the straight section,” says Hans

Christian Petersen. “It is possible to manufacture more cheaply in low wage countries in the Far East. But we have instead chosen quality, and keep prices competitive through subsidiaries and our own sales channels. By thinking like our customers we help create the vital added value.”

http://www.dline.com