Incoming to IronmongeryDirect: Altro Pipe Shelving & Cabinet Hardware

The practicalities of pipe-style

The pipe-style products manufactured for the Altro range include 48 individual component pieces, which can be combined to create 60 Shelving Sets, as well as 6 Cabinet Handles.

In terms of sizes, the Cabinet Handles are available in three different centres measurements:

·         320mm

·         160mm

·         128mm

The Shelving components are available in ½” and ¾” diameters, as well as a number of lengths:

·         40mm

·         78mm

·         150mm

·         300mm

·         450mm

Practical benefits of these products include the combination of being crafted from highly durable materials (mild steel and aluminium for Cabinet Handles and iron for Shelving), as well being designed to be hollow, a choice made to increase ease of installation.

Note: Due to the material (iron) used in the manufacturing process, it is not recommended for the shelving products to be used outside.

The aesthetic properties of pipe-style

There a number of aesthetic benefits to investing in pipe style products, including a number of stylish finishes including powder coated black and sandblasted grey for the Shelving, and satin brass and nickel for the Cabinet Hardware.

A unique aesthetic quality that comes with the Shelving in particular, is the unlimited creativity that comes with purchasing individual components to end up with your own custom shelving setup that will not only provide the storage space you need, but will be a visually appealing addition to any home or business.

We also noticed that pipe-style fixtures and a more industrial décor had been increasing in popularity, so we wanted to be able to develop a range that was at the forefront of interior design trends.

Placement of pipe-style products

As previously mentioned, the industrial interior design trend is booming in popularity, so finding a place for your new Pipe Shelving and Pipe Cabinet Hardware will be easy. Whether you want to add a more urban feel to your kitchen or bedroom cabinets, or want to have a go at creating your own fixtures including toilet roll holders or even candle holders, these products are incredibly versatile.

These products can even be used as the building blocks for larger DIY projects, including building a new desk for an office, or a shoe rack for busy homes.

The pipeline of pipe-style

To find out more about how these pipe-style products came to be, we spoke to Kate Benson, Direct Sourcing Assistant at IronmongeryDirect. Kate has overseen the project from initial ideas, to the manufacturing process, to getting the products out to customers:

“I was given a sample of a rail and was asked to have a look to see if pipe style products are trending, so I did a lot of market research over a few weeks to decide if this was a good product to add to the range.

When the research proved that the pipe-style products would in fact be a good choice, I then began searching for the perfect pricing and quality for the range, to allow customers to have an affordable and durable DIY project. This was followed by a meeting with the management team for final sign-off.

When the pitch for the products had been signed off, I spent a lot of time with various departments to get ready for the launch, including getting the perfect photos from our photography team, and working with our merchandising team to make sure the product descriptions covered all of the technical aspects that our customers needed to know. Lots of time spent with photography get the shelves built up, measurements to be done and photo to be taken perfectly. After assisting with barcoding the product and storing all of the stock in our Distribution Centre, we officially launched the product to our website.”