35. The Dining Chair

Design a timeless classic and the ripples from that one idea can be felt across industries for decades.Take Ercol’s Windsor Dining Chair, number 35 on our list of the greatest items we make here.It may be more than 70 years old, but its impact and influence remains significant. Today it’s even helping revive the British wood industry decades after being ravaged by Dutch Elm Disease.On this week’s The Factory Next Door, Ercol’s Chairman and Creative Director, Henry Tadros, shows us around their purpose-built modern factory close to High Wycombe, the historic heartland of UK furniture-making.We question what makes a design timeless, watch the beauty and drama of wood bending, and learn why some outsourcing has been an important part of the company’s survival.Say hello on Instagram @thefactorynextdoorAnd if you want to vote for the show at the British Podcast Awards, you can at this website:www.britishpodcastawards.com/votingThe Factory Next Door is supported by AVEVA, a leader in industrial intelligence. Sign up to their bi-weekly newsletter about manufacturing here:www.aveva.com/factory Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.