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Company Description in the ‘List of Winners’ preceeding the section, for checking: Robert Welch Designs Ltd Award-winning British designers of cutlery, kitchenware and products for the home
INNOVATION
The location of the internal neodymium magnets
Innovative integrated sharpener.
Alice and Rupert Welch in 2016.
Robert Welch Designs Ltd
For over six decades Cotswolds based family business Robert Welch Designs has been at the forefront of British tableware design. Founded in 1955 by Robert Welch, the company is today run by his daughter Alice and son Rupert who joined the company in the early 1990s. Robert was an inspirational designer who believed that everyone should be able to use beautifully designed pieces in everyday life. It was this philosophy which shaped his early designs as well as the modern company’s product o ering. This year Robert Welch Designs is the proud winner of a coveted Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation in recognition of its pioneering Signature Knife Block Set, which incorporates cutting edge innovation with design aesthetics. The Concept Committed to upholding his father’s design legacy, Rupert along with Design Director Paul deBretton Gordon set a single goal; to produce the best knife range in the world. Over a period of three years they worked with professional chefs to develop a range that would provide superior sharpness along with optimum cutting action. Two hundred and eighty-six prototypes later, the Signature knife range was launched: a series of precision tools encompassing ground-breaking design innovation and innate functionality. It was not an easy path, as Rupert describes: “We knew that for the design to be successful, we had to produce knives that performed above expectation. Customers were tired of using blunt knives in the
kitchen, and we felt con dent we could provide the solution. We began by meticulously questioning function, manufacture, durability and ease of use, and asked ourselves how we could create a range of beautiful, functional and timeless products. From here we worked closely with the Cutlery and Allied Trades Research Association to independently test the knives. The blades were reviewed for sharpness and durability to ISO 8442.5 using the CATRA automatic edge testing machine, which measures the e ciency of a blade in cutting through a single piece of paper. Since these rst tests we have consistently been rated in the top 1% of all branded kitchen knives tested.” An Innovative Storage Solution Paul comments: “Our newly designed Signature knives merited a storage solution that would keep them performing well in the long term. As a brand we had been predominantly known for our cutlery products, so developing a knife storage solution together with integrated sharpening options, presented a substantial challenge to the business. Equally, we recognised a signi cant gap in the market versus traditional wooden knife blocks.” The end result is the award-winning Signature Knife Block Set: a unique storage block with sharpener and integrated magnets along with six essential knives. Powerful Neodymium magnets protect the knives’ ne cutting edge by suspending them in six individual slots. A replaceable integrated sharpener encourages regular and easy knife sharpening, ensuring a safe and sharp blade edge.
Paul deBretton Gordon sketching Signature scissor concepts.
Initial sketches of the Signature knife range.
Rupert continues: “While it may have taken three years to perfect the design and ensure every knife is perfectly balanced, it has been worth every second. Receiving recognition for the innovation behind our Signature Knife Block Set and exceeding one million sales of the Signature range worldwide, is validation that we achieved everything we set out to do.” “This award especially recognises the hugely talented team here, and to be part of an elite group of Queen’s Award winners for a second year running is a real honour and brings a sense of pride to everyone at Robert Welch Designs.” ROBERT WELCH DESIGNS LTD Lower High Street, Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire GL55 6DY • Tel: +44 (0)1386 840 880 • help@robertwelch.com • www.robertwelch.com Robertwelchuk @robertwelchuk robertwelchuk robertwelchuk " RobertWelchUK
Queen’s Awards Magazine 2017
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