Industry, innovation and infrastructure

“Everything is possible for Our Lord and a mechanic.” With this motto, Johannes Vestre founded a small machine shop in the Norwegian town of Haugesund in 1947. After seven decades, all our manufacturing still takes place in Norway and Sweden, and our future goals are more ambitious than ever.

Materials and production

We source local materials for our products, partly for environmental reasons and partly to ensure quality. Scandinavian pine is harder and better suited for outdoor furniture than wood from warmer climates. Nordic steel is produced with more than 20 % lower emissions than average, when compared to steel from other countries.

High-quality Nordic steel and aluminium

Vestre uses high-quality Nordic steel and aluminium that are sourced as locally as possible. The global steel industry is responsible for 7% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions from steel production in the Nordic countries are more than 20 % lower than average. This is made possible by state-of-the-art production plants and the high proportion of renewable energy used in production. Vestre furniture is solidly built and can withstand extensive wear and tear and use for many years. The steel we use is between 3 and 16 mm thick (1/8 and 5/8 of an inch). Steel plates and tubes are cut using advanced laser machines, which are extremely accurate and minimise resource wastage. Welding is carried out both manually and using automated robots. All components are processed and assembled with a view to achieving optimal strength and durability.

We use Hydro CIRCAL which consists of at least 75% recycled aluminium. This is the highest content of recycled material on the market, which means drastically reduced energy consumption, while the product is also of high quality and durable.

Sustainable timber

For our furniture we use high-quality FSC-certified pine from Norway and Sweden (Pinus Sylvestris). Owing to the cold climate the trees grow slowly and can only be felled after 80–120 years. This means that Scandinavian pine is harder and more suitable for outdoor furniture than pine from warmer areas, which generally grows 3–5 times faster. Scandinavian pine has a hardness of 1,7 on the Brinell scale. Scandinavian forestry is amongst the most sustainable forestry in the world. The felling of virgin forest is prohibited by law and, consequently, timber production in Scandinavia has doubled over the last hundred years, with an annual increase in stock of 10%. Vestre's timber is impregnated with natural linseed oil which offers lasting protection against rot and virtually maintenance-free use. After some time outdoors, the surface will develop a grey patina.

Hot-dip galvanisation

All steel components used by Vestre are hot-dip galvanised in a liquid zinc bath at 450 °C / 840 °F. The bath is exclusively heated using renewable energy, meaning zero emission of harmful greenhouse gases. This process provides a rust-free coating (80–120 μ) that enables Vestre's products to remain outdoors for several decades. Around 2–4 μ of the coating is lost in the first year as a consequence of use and climate impact and then the loss decreases to 1–2 μ per year. This guarantees a lifespan of at least 30–40 years outdoors. Steel that is powder-coated after hot-dip galvanising will have an even longer lifespan, as the powder coating protects the zinc. If the surface is damaged, hot-dip galvanised products repair themselves through the zinc contracting and forming a new coating in the damaged area. This is called cathodic protection. Hot-dip galvanising is a method that was patented by the French engineer Sorel in 1837, and which these days is carried out in accordance with the strict environmental requirements defined in ISO 1461. Zinc (Zn) is an important renewable construction material that occurs naturally in stone, water and human beings.

Powder-coating developed to cope with the North Sea

Before Vestre's products are powder coated, they are subject to extensive cleaning and processing in multiple phases. This process takes place in a series of immersion tanks and comprises degreasing, purified water and activators. The powder coating does not contain any solvents and is applied electrostatically through sophisticated nozzles. The powder is then melted in an automatic curing oven that gives the product its final appearance. The process was developed for the Norwegian offshore industry to ensure a very high finish that meets the strict requirements of Corrosion Class C5 (coastal areas with high salinity).

Assembly and quality control

Only screws and attachments made from stainless or acid-resistant steel are used. The assembly process takes place both manually and by using robot technology. Prior to packaging and transport the products are subjected to a thorough quality check in order to ensure that they comply with our strict craft and finishing requirements.

Environmentally friendly transport

Vestre will have emission-free internal transport by 2020. We have already implemented new generation biodiesel and are going to transition to electricity. We are one of the first companies in Norway to order the Tesla Semi, which has a range of 800 km.