05
de Setembre
de
2016
Act.
05
de Setembre
de
2016
Josep Maria Sans Amill never imagined that his idea for metallic curtains would become, three generations later, a highly-regarded object of decoration and interior design all over the world. Large companies like Google or Paypal, hotels and theatres in the United States, Japan, Russia and South Africa have all incorporated this element into their premises, whether it be as decoration or to separate spaces. This is how a family company set up in 1926 in Montblanc, in Conca de Barberà, has become a firm with an international reach.
It all began when Sans Amill, who worked at making iron chains, had the idea of metallic curtains. In the 1960s, his son Josep Maria Sans Folch began to make these curtains out of anodised aluminium mesh, a light and versatile metal that could be dyed in different colours and adapted to different needs. At the beginning of 2000, with a new generation in charge, the company grew to become Kriskadecor, the decoration and interior design division of Josep Maria Sans Amill SA.
Since then, the name Kriskadecor has been associated with chain curtains to decorate shared public spaces all over the world. "We began exporting in the 1960s, but with the creation of Kriskadecor we have gone more global," says the company's sales manager, Josep Maria Sans Esplugues. The company currently has a turnover of around two million euros a year.
Kriskadecor's products have been seen as part of the scenery for the 2004 Oscars and covering the Ecuador pavilion in Milan's International Expo held last year. These are just two examples of how these metallic fabrics have been used and they are a far cry from the chain curtains designed for doors that became popular in the 1960s.
"We put ourselves at the service of architects and interior designers," says Sans about how Kriskadecor works, which includes taking charge of developing the solutions that will best work in the proposed design. They are solutions that can go from standard curtains to an entirely personalised product.
A delegation in the United States
Kriskadecor has just opened an HQ in the state of Arizona, from where the company could better install itself in the United States, where they have clients like Venetian, Cosmopolitan, Calvin Klein, Hard Rock Cafe, Novotel and hotel W. Kriskadecor's American HQ is in a 1,000 m2 space and has a team of four people in the areas of sales, production and design, supply and logistical distribution for clients. In its HQ in Montblanc, however, there are 80 people employed.
"This allows us to consolidate our presence in the United States, which is a very powerful market and at the same time it opens doors to other countries," says Sans. Alongside his siblings Cristina and Matías Sans they make up the third generation in the family firm that has been able to diversify its products and services, offering curtains with personalised designs, screens for lighting systems and fixed and moveable structures to create atmospheres and to decorate walls and ceilings.
However, Kriskadecor's internationalisation does not end in Arizona, as some 70% of its turnover comes from different foreign markets. In 2015, the company began working in Japan and is preparing to go into South Korea and Iran. "We have a niche product, we have to look for new niches in the market," says the sales manager. And among the future projects, they do not rule out boosting their innovation and development department and "researching new materials," according to Sans.
It all began when Sans Amill, who worked at making iron chains, had the idea of metallic curtains. In the 1960s, his son Josep Maria Sans Folch began to make these curtains out of anodised aluminium mesh, a light and versatile metal that could be dyed in different colours and adapted to different needs. At the beginning of 2000, with a new generation in charge, the company grew to become Kriskadecor, the decoration and interior design division of Josep Maria Sans Amill SA.
Since then, the name Kriskadecor has been associated with chain curtains to decorate shared public spaces all over the world. "We began exporting in the 1960s, but with the creation of Kriskadecor we have gone more global," says the company's sales manager, Josep Maria Sans Esplugues. The company currently has a turnover of around two million euros a year.
 |
| A moment from the 2004 Oscars ceremony. |
Kriskadecor's products have been seen as part of the scenery for the 2004 Oscars and covering the Ecuador pavilion in Milan's International Expo held last year. These are just two examples of how these metallic fabrics have been used and they are a far cry from the chain curtains designed for doors that became popular in the 1960s.
"We put ourselves at the service of architects and interior designers," says Sans about how Kriskadecor works, which includes taking charge of developing the solutions that will best work in the proposed design. They are solutions that can go from standard curtains to an entirely personalised product.
A delegation in the United States
Kriskadecor has just opened an HQ in the state of Arizona, from where the company could better install itself in the United States, where they have clients like Venetian, Cosmopolitan, Calvin Klein, Hard Rock Cafe, Novotel and hotel W. Kriskadecor's American HQ is in a 1,000 m2 space and has a team of four people in the areas of sales, production and design, supply and logistical distribution for clients. In its HQ in Montblanc, however, there are 80 people employed.
"This allows us to consolidate our presence in the United States, which is a very powerful market and at the same time it opens doors to other countries," says Sans. Alongside his siblings Cristina and Matías Sans they make up the third generation in the family firm that has been able to diversify its products and services, offering curtains with personalised designs, screens for lighting systems and fixed and moveable structures to create atmospheres and to decorate walls and ceilings.
 |
| The curtains are used to separate areas to create distinct spaces. Kriskadecor |
However, Kriskadecor's internationalisation does not end in Arizona, as some 70% of its turnover comes from different foreign markets. In 2015, the company began working in Japan and is preparing to go into South Korea and Iran. "We have a niche product, we have to look for new niches in the market," says the sales manager. And among the future projects, they do not rule out boosting their innovation and development department and "researching new materials," according to Sans.