Made of only two materials and assembled without the use of glues, the Zero range from Elli Design has been designed to be as sustainable as a customisable piece of furniture would allow.
Founded by CEO Alessio Elli and COO Alessio Frigeri in 2021, Elli Design is driven by combining innovation and technology with social responsibility, and to translate these into a new Italian design aesthetic and a new approach to manufacturing.
The Zero Donut is a great example of the range, a blend of functionality and simplicity that can be used as a container or a seat , both indoors and outdoors, it is made from recycled plastic with a natural cotton velvet cushion or wooden table top.
Characterised by soft, flowing lines and elegant curves, the pieces are designed for public spaces, lobbies and hotel rooms. To improve the ergonomics, thus the comfort of the seat without compromising its edgy shapes, the 3D modelling was key.
Using Caracol’s Large Format Additive Manufacturing (LFAM) technology, Heron AM, Elli Design unlocked new ways of making furniture that enhanced its design freedom and production. The circular shapes of both tables, together with their surface patterns would require multi-step production processes in the case of traditional manufacturing techniques such as injection moulding and rotomoulding.
Produced using recycled glass fibre-reinforced polypropylene, the production method brought further benefits – facilitating the assembly of each table’s base with its top, thanks to custom hooks directly integrated within the base, as well as creating lighter furniture that reduced the environmental impact on the logistics and even the production spaces necessary.
“We make furniture that meet the principles of eco-design: use of recycled and recyclable materials at the end of their life; design for circularity which wants multifunctional, adaptable, reusable, repairable products; planning of second hand, Extra-Life and Made&Remade practices,” says Alessio Elli.
“Our manufacturing processes counteract value destruction, having in mind the entire life cycle of the product. For this reason, we have chosen Caracol’s robotic platform Heron AM to produce our products, and we have asked the support of their team to truly leverage the opportunities and potential of innovation and additive manufacturing, while guaranteeing equal quality and creativity that distinguishes Made in Italy design.”
