The Mono Legacy
In the late 50s, the flatware manufacturer Herbert Seibel worked on a pioneering flatware project first without the knowledge of his father together with the designer Peter Raacke. Mono A was launched in 1959. A consistent minimalistic flatware design that broke with all conventions, convinced with its revolutionary approach to become a celebrated and timeless design classic. This is the founding story of Mono.
Initially, Mono A was barely sold. It was considered too plain, too simple, a piece of tin. The success was slow to come, until 1973 Mono A got the first award with the federal Good Form Award and the sales started to increase.
Handcrafted in Germany
Production, grinding shop, warehouse, assembly, shipping as well as administration and sales offices are located on approximately 2500 square meters. Some things have changed here, but much has remained the same. Large parts of inventory management, sales and communication have become digitalized, LED lights illuminate the production hall and employees come to work on e-bikes. At the same time, traditional manufacturing methods are being adhered to with stubborn conviction in the belief that craftsmanship, the human eye and high-quality materials really do make a difference.
History
In 1895 Wilhelm Seibel I laid the foundation stone for the family business with the founding of the Britaniawarenfabrik W. Seibel in Mettmann in North Rhine-Westphalia. Expansion followed in 1911 with a branch factory in Ziegenhain in Hesse, which later became the property of his two younger sons Heinrich and Alfred Seibel.
Due to the good order situation in the post-war years, the workforce of the two plants in Mettmann and Ziegenhain grew to almost 1000 employees. But in the 1950s the company felt the effects of competition, especially from Japan and Spain. The sales figures fell, employees had to be laid off, the Mettmanner company initially merged before it was dissolved. In Ziegenhain, Herbert Seibel (Heinrich Seibel’s eldest son) tried to take countermeasures and commissioned Peter Raacke to develop a new cutlery. Mono A came onto the market, founded the Mono brand and secured the existence of the family business as a manufactory through a strategic focus on quality and design.
In 1985 Herbert Seibel retired at the age of 75 and his nephew Wilhelm Seibel IV, a great-grandson of the founding father, took over the business. At the end of the 80s he led the flatware production back to Mettmann.
Today, Wilhelm Seibel V. runs the family business with his sons Johannes and Matthias, the fifth and sixth generations, with around 30 employees.
Are you looking for exclusive flatware that brightens up your diner in any occasion, then look no further! Mono A and other Mono cutlery is sure to capture the interest and awe of your guests. Find Mono A and others here.
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