ABOUT
KITCHEN COMPETENCY
Kitchen culture à la nobilia means: Quality made in Germany.
Experience intelligently engineered kitchens with superb design. Something for every taste, and at an attractive value for money.
OUR STANDARD
Nobilia builds intelligently engineered kitchens with excellent design and for every taste. For many people, nobilia kitchens reflect their attitude towards life. Our focus is always on: Quality.
In the planning department. In the production department. In the processing and customer service departments. At nobilia our goal is to provide every customer with exactly the kitchen they want. As unique as the people living in them.
Every nobilia kitchen is absolutely unique. Every single kitchen is individually planned and made with the utmost precision. Every nobilia kitchen is absolutely unique. Every single kitchen is individually planned and made with the utmost precision. More than 75 years of experience and a high degree of automation guarantee the consistently high level of quality.
COMPETENCY KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES
Nobilia is impressive both nationally and internationally: Which is why more than 8,000 trade customers in over 90 countries worldwide depend on the company. Almost every second kitchen – of the 783,000 produced annually – is exported.
Every market has its own laws. And nobilia always adjusts its trade structures to accommodate the requirements of the respective country. In whichever country – nobilia offers its partners quality kitchens with an outstanding value for money, which take into account the trends and preferences of worldwide markets.
INFORMATION
WE LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE
From receipt of goods to production and to delivery – nobilia has installed a sophisticated control system for all process steps, to guarantee the high quality of the products.
In addition, as many as 21 complete fitted kitchens are put through the paces of a quality audit every day. Quality, environmental protection and energy efficiency are essential elements of nobilia’s company philosophy.
CAREFUL HANDLING OF RESOURCES
The PEFC certification demonstrates nobilia’s dedication to an environment worth living in as well as responsibility in handling the valuable raw material wood. You can always count on: Our processed derived timber products all come from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources.
WE MAKE COMPLETE KITCHENS
Nobilia offers the retail market a complete package kitchen from a single source: with intelligent accessories, attractive built-in sinks and a wide range of electric appliance brands from entry level price to the premium high-end segment.
DELIVERY IN A NUTSHELL
We achieve the highest degree of delivery quality and adherence to delivery dates thanks to our own “white” vehicle fleet. Our highly qualified drivers ensure professional and secure furniture transport at all times. 411 Drivers.
FACTS
KITCHEN CULTURE À LA NOBILIA
We build intelligently engineered kitchens with superb design. nobilia kitchens capture many peoples’ attitude towards life with something for every taste, and they also impress with their attractive value for money.
FIGURES, DATA AND FACTS
There is 75 years of experience and the know-how and lifeblood of more than 4,200 employees in every one of our kitchens. All this and much more have made us the market leader and Europe’s largest kitchen manufacturer.
FOUNDING
- Company founding : 1945
- Founder : Brothers Johann and Willy Stickling
MARKET DATA
- Sales volume : EUR 1.482 billion
- Export ratio: 53,1 %
- Trade customers: More than 8,000 worldwide
- Employees: Employees:
PRODUCTION
- Production sites : 2 in Germany
- Complete marketing : Approx 5,500 electric appliances/day
PRODUCTION AREA:
- 385,000 m², of which:
- 110,000 m² in plant I, Verl-Sürenheide
- 140,000 m² in plant II, Verl-Kaunitz
- 35,000 m² in plant III, Gütersloh
- 100,000 m² in plant V, Saarlouis
PRODUCTION FIGURES 2021:
- 830,000 kitchens/year
- 8,300,000 units/year
- 1,750,000 worktops/year
- 3,800 kitchens/day
OWN VEHICLE FLEET
1. TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS
- 227 lorries and 900 semi-trailers
- 411 qualified trained drivers
2. FREIGHT VOLUME
- 3.15 million m³/year
3. TRAVEL DISTANCE, LORRIES
- 20.6 million km/year
QUALITY
- Certified energy management : according to ISO 50001
- Certified quality management : according to ISO 9001
- Certified environmental management : according to ISO 14001
- GS quality seal for tested safety “Golden M“ : From the DGM, Deutsche Gütegemeinschaft Möbel (German quality control association)
- "Furniture made in Germany"
- Environmental seal “Der Blaue Engel” (blue angel eco label)
- TSCA Titel VI compliant / CARB2
- PEFC seal : for the use of wood from sustainably managed forests
- Emission Class DGM
HISTORY
OUR ROOTS
nobilia kitchens have been a part of our home for generations. Join us on a journey through time as we explore 70 years of company history.
OUR ROOTS, 1945
Master cabinetmaker Johann Stickling and his brother, businessman Willy Stickling, found a cabinetmaker’s workshop in Avenwedde as a non-trading partnership. They produce sewing cabinets and occasional furniture in a rented hall.
THE COMPANY GROWS, 1947
The first of their own production halls is commissioned in Avenwedde. From now on, the 25 employees concentrate on the manufacture of kitchen buffets.
UNDER A NEW NAME, 1949
As of December 1, 1949 the company operates under the name J. and W. Stickling OHG (general partnership).
SEPARATE WAYS, 1956
The business is split: While Willy Stickling produces living room furniture in a previously established subsidiary plant in Avenwedde under the brand name Wista, Johann Stickling continues to manage the original company.
A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, 1961
Heinz Stickling, the elder son of Johann Stickling, joins the business and focuses increasingly on the company’s public image. The company's first own lorry is purchased.
FOCUS ON FITTED KITCHENS, 1967
Since the company converted to a limited partnership in 1962, it has carried the name NOBILIA-Werke J. Stickling KG. Johann Stickling’s younger son Werner Stickling joins the business. The number of employees increases to 145. Just under a quarter century after it was founded, nobilia now specialises exclusively in fitted kitchens.
GENERATIONAL CHANGE, 1970
Johann Stickling hands over the leadership responsibility to his sons Heinz and Werner Stickling. In order to further develop production, a new plant with an initial production area of 7,000 m² opens on a property measuring 51,000 m² in Verl-Sürenheide on the occasion of the company’s 25th anniversary.
THE FIRST IN-HOUSE EXHIBITION, 1973
The first in-house exhibition takes place on an exhibition space of 2,000 m². A tradition is started, which still exercises a profound appeal on the industry today.
EXPANSION, 1976
Under the name Dominanta, the Stickling brothers establish an additional plant in Verl-Kaunitz. On a production area of 8,000 m², 80 employees produce an extensive selection of modular wall unit systems and add-ons.
AT HOME IN VERL, 1985
The old plant in Avenwedde closes its doors. With its closure, the entire kitchen furniture production is now exclusively located in Verl-Sürenheide.
FOCUS ON FITTED KITCHENS, 1989
Heinz and Werner Stickling decide to halt production of living room furniture and sell the company Dominanta. In the same year, two-shift operation is introduced in Verl-Sürenheide.
QUALITY
MADE IN GERMANY
From receipt of goods to production and to delivery – nobilia has installed a sophisticated control system for all process steps, to guarantee the high quality of every single kitchen.
In addition to the testing stations, up to 21 complete fitted kitchens are put through the paces of a quality audit every day. Quality, environment and energy have been core to our company philosophy since our very beginning. Every single nobilia kitchen meets the stringent international quality, environment and energy guidelines.
Stress test for kitchens – proof of quality is in the quality control testing laboratory.
Furniture, components and materials must prove themselves fit for daily wear and tear through extensive testing in our own QC testing laboratory. Indeed, for 15 years worth of wear and tear. All materials used are tested for this minimum service life.
ZERO ERROR STRATEGY
Only furniture that has passed all the qualification tests in nobilia’s testing laboratory, are allowed in the new collection. The QC testing laboratory is thus an important building block in nobilia’s zero error strategy.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Regular product audits, ramp audits and return shipment reviews are important components of our consistent quality assurance. A quality circle group with customers as well as workshops for trade partners and collaborating fitting installation companies also ensure the highest nobilia quality.
AWARDS
AWARDS AND QUALITY SEALS
From the very first glance nobilia quality can be seen, felt and experienced every day. Our awards from independent testing institutes are the proof.
CERTIFIED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
On a regular basis, TÜV Rheinland / LGA InterCert reviews and certifies our quality management system according to ISO 9001, our environmental management system according to ISO 14001 and our energy management system according to ISO 50001. The ISO 9001 norm establishes the standards for a quality management system in order to satisfy customer requirements and ensure product quality. This seal represents well-designed workflows, which we have optimised especially for the development, manufacture and sales of kitchens.
The ISO 14001 norm for environmental management systems helps improve a company’s environmental performance. Companies can continuously improve their energy efficiency with the energy management norm ISO 50001. By following the energy management standard ISO 50001, companies can continuously improve their energy efficiency and reduce their CO2 emissions. All three of the certificates issued by TÜV Rheinland are globally recognised standards.
GS QUALITY SEAL FOR TESTED SAFETY
This certificate is awarded by LGA Nürnberg (furniture testing institute). The LGA belongs to the TÜV Rheinland Group and is Europe’s largest and most important furniture testing institute. The GS quality seal for tested safety is a voluntary safety seal that has meaning far beyond the borders of Germany.
In the area of consumers and occupational health and safety, it provides the guarantee that the safety requirements have been met and are regularly reviewed by an independent institute such as the LGA. LGA product certificates for furniture, furniture parts, components and accessories are a way of identifying tested and monitored quality, product safety, durability, user-friendliness and material stability.
“GOLDEN M“
The DGM Deutsche Gütegemeinschaft Möbel - (German furniture quality seal) have tested nobilia in accordance with RAL-GZ 430. Following this test, nobilia was awarded the RAL quality seal, the "Golden M". This ensures that each kitchen leaving the plant meets today’s expectations and quality requirements for a long life, stability and health and environmental aspects.
"FURNITURE MADE IN GERMANY"
Since August 1, 2020 end consumers have discovered a new label on the market, which gives them information about furniture quality: “Furniture Made in Germany” is the geographical origin mark in accordance with RAL-RG 0191, which labels German-made furniture that meets verifiable, strictly defined criteria. This certificate requires proof that the design, assembly and quality testing of the furniture takes place in Germany. As often before, nobilia is once again among the first kitchen furniture manufacturers to be distinguished with the new “Made in Germany” label.
BLAUER ENGEL (BLUE ANGEL ECO LABEL)
In July 2012 our company was the first kitchen furniture manufacturer awarded the eco label “Der Blaue Engel” (blue angel). This mark of the German Federal Environmental Agency promotes the concerns of environmental and health protection as well as consumer protection.
The products and services which are distinguished are those –– when viewed holistically – which are particularly environmentally friendly and at the same time meet the high standards for occupational health and safety as well as usability. The “Blaue Engel” (blue angel) was awarded to the following ranges: 253, 312, 317, 351, 371, 382, 406, 526, 545, 555, 566, 615, 648, 706, 808, 917, 977 and 985.
TSCA TITEL VI COMPLIANT / CARB2
For the manufacture of its furniture nobilia uses only derived timber products which meet the stringent U.S. EPA Formaldehyde Emissions Standard of the TSCA Title VI Toxic Substances Control Act.
With this step, our company fulfils the American requirements - in effect since June 1, 2018 - for the further reduction of formaldehyde emissions from derived timber products. The maximum permissible values from TSCA Tile VI correspond to the CARB2 (California Air Resources Board) ” standard from California. The furniture is labelled with the information “TSCA Title VI compliant.”
PEFC /04-31-1281
Since July 2009 nobilia is the first ever kitchen manufacturer certified in accordance with PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes). In this way, nobilia documents its dedication to an environment worth living in as well as responsibility in handling the valuable raw material wood.
Since the derived timber products processed all come from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources. Forest certification provides the guarantee that the wood products that consumers purchase are not coming from questionable sources nor from overexploitation, but come from managed semi-natural forests. By applying for PEFC certification, nobilia kitchens demonstrates to the customer a sense of responsibility for our environment.
CLIMATE AGREEMENT OF THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY
We put the focus on sustainability at nobilia. The same goes for the subject of greenhouse gas emissions. Here, it is of primary importance to face the responsibility – alongside other manufacturers – that this generation has toward future generations and the environment.
In 2016 the DGM (German quality control association) initiated the ”Climate Agreement for the Furniture Industry” and nobilia is an established member. In order for the CO2 footprint to gradually be reduced and ideally neutralised, it is important to nobilia to take a pioneering role in making this topic public and raising awareness.
EMISSION CLASS DGM (GERMAN QUALITY CONTROL ASSOCIATION)
Having met all award requirements, nobilia's kitchen furniture was awarded the highest emissions class of A by the Deutschen Gütegemeinschaft Möbel e.V. (German quality control association). The RAL emission label informs consumers about emission of harmful substances and protects them from health hazards.
RKT RECYCLING CERTIFICATE
In Germany, we participate in the RKT (Recycling Kontor Transportverpackungen) return and recycling system. We thus ensure that our packaging is gathered, collected, and recycled in accordance with the packaging laws.
GOGREEN CERTIFICATE
The entire mail and package dispatch is taken care of by the CO2 neutral GOGREEN services of the German postal service and DHL. With this, nobilia offsets the CO2 emissions created during transport. The offset is certified through an independent certification company (Societé Général de Surveillance, SGS) according to ISO 14064.
