Perfect surfaces for timeless furniture elements
- Technologies for surface treatment
TON is a world-leading manufacturer specialising in handcrafted bentwood furniture.
The company builds on a unique artisanal heritage connected to its historic factory in Bystřice pod Hostýnem whose roots reach back more than 160 years. Surface treatment plays a strategic role in meeting the demands of an increasingly fast-paced market that, while moving at speed, is not willing to compromise on refined aesthetics and high-quality finishes.
Today, the furniture market demands more than beauty alone. It calls for flexibility, short lead times, consistently high and repeatable quality standards, and growing attention to the sustainability of production processes. For a company like TON, rooted in the bentwood tradition developed over generations at the Bystřice pod Hostýnem factory, the challenge is clear: to preserve a unique craftsmanship heritage while evolving in a world that is moving ever faster.
In the Czech Republic, in the heart of Moravia, this challenge is lived every day at TON’s plant. Here, two complementary souls coexist: one rooted in tradition, where wood is still bent by hand as it was at the very beginning; the other constantly oriented towards the future of design and technological innovation, expressed through the shaping and finishing of wood using state-of-the-art industrial solutions.
A heritage looking ahead
TON is one of the most renowned names in the art of handcrafted bentwood furniture. The history of the factory in Bystřice pod Hostýnem begins in 1861, giving rise to some of the most iconic product lines in European design. In 1876, the iconic Chair No. 18 was introduced, becoming a global symbol, followed over time by other masterpieces such as Armchair No. 30 and Chair No. 811 designed by Josef Hoffmann. Another key milestone came in 1994, when TON a.s. was officially founded as a modern joint-stock company.
Today, TON is an industrial company with 350 employees, an annual turnover of around 22 million euros, a total production area of 21,000 square metres, and a presence in more than 90 countries worldwide.
Its production includes seating and interior furniture elements designed to offer durability, refined aesthetics and everyday comfort.
The brand works closely with leading international designers and is successfully positioned across contract, hospitality and residential markets, primarily targeting the high-end and luxury segments.
“Over time, we have continuously adapted our internal processes to reflect what customers value most today: flexibility and speed,” explains Facility Manager Dominik Růžička. “This applies not only to delivery times, but also to how quickly we can respond to new requests or customise products based on the customer’s actual needs. At the same time, we continuously invest in improving the quality and durability of surface treatments, both lacquered and oiled. This includes the development of more resistant finishes and the introduction of new solutions, such as pigment oils for table applications, which offer greater design freedom without compromising performance.”
Finishing as a key process
In TON’s evolutionary path, surface treatment has taken on a strategic role, not only for aesthetic reasons but also from a production standpoint.“Finishing is one of the most decisive phases, because it is the first detail customers see and touch when choosing a product,” adds Michal Papuga, surface finalization specialist of TON.
“With increasing demand and growing product complexity, traditional spraying and drying processes were becoming a bottleneck, especially in table production. We needed a solution capable of increasing efficiency, shortening cycle times, ensuring consistent repeatability of final quality, and making our processes less environmentally impactful by reducing emissions.”
The answer came from Superfici technologies. After an initial collaboration with SCM in 2018, marked by the purchase of a ‘morbidelli m800’ CNC machining centre for table-top processing, in 2023 TON once again turned to the Italian Group for an advanced finishing solution. As Papuga explains, the opportunity to visit the Superfici Technology Center in Villasanta (Milan) was particularly valuable, allowing tests on real parts and direct discussion with technicians on how to innovate finishing processes. “We were very pleasantly surprised by the center's equipment and the experience of the technicians. The results were convincing and gave us confidence we could meet high finishing requirements consistently.”
TON’s factory was therefore equipped with an advanced UV-curing coating line, featuring a Superfici “compact 3” reciprocating spray machine with recovery system, filter on demand, and designed to operate at a line speed of 5 m/min using water-based and UV water-based coatings.
Technology serving results
The process begins with an infeed cleaning stage using brushes, essential for perfect surface preparation. This is followed by automatic spraying, with recovery systems that optimise coating consumption. After an initial flash-off stage, the cycle continues through air jet blade dryers and air blade dryers, up to the transfer unit and final air jet flash-off.
Final curing takes place via a Poliedra machine with mercury lamps, equipped with reflective technology to maximise energy efficiency.
Another key feature from a sustainability perspective is the central air handling unit with air compensation and heat recovery system: the hot exhaust air leaving the ovens is used to preheat incoming fresh air from outside, reducing the energy required to run the line. An intelligent solution, fully aligned with TON’s sustainable approach. The introduction of the Superfici coating line delivered immediate results. Bottlenecks in furniture production were eliminated, drying times were drastically reduced, and surface quality reached new standards.
With the right combination of technology and coatings, TON is now able to meet market demand with extremely high-quality output, delivered reliably and continuously.
The relationship with SCM and Superfici did not end with the installation of the line. The system has been running efficiently for over two years, and the ongoing collaboration with Superfici technicians and the local dealer Italcomma ensures continuous support and consultancy, helping TON fully exploit the line’s potential through flexible fine-tuning of parameters and processes.
Looking ahead, staying true to identity
TON’s future includes new product launches - such as the introduction of the new Cissy armchair designed by Patrick Norguet in 2025 - as well as continued investments in energy efficiency, automation and people development. “People remain a fundamental pillar of our growth,” concludes Dominik Růžička. “We continue to expand employee qualifications and skills, ensuring that our teams are prepared to work with new technologies and evolving production methods while maintaining a high level of craftsmanship.”
In TON furniture, memory and vision coexist. Every detail tells an ancient story, every surface reflects a contemporary choice. It is within this balance between material, gesture and technology that the company’s vision takes shape: creating furniture designed to stand the test of time, supported by advanced industrial processes and technological partners such as SCM and Superfici, called upon to further enhance the very essence of the product.
