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Honesty of Materials

Craft Matters

At Bang & Olufsen, our unique approach to conceptual design drives us to think in terms of experiences – and we use that story in the way we craft our products.

Superior craft since 1925

Since 1925 Bang & Olufsen has created iconic audio and home entertainment products to the highest standards of sound, craft and design.

It's all made possible at our factory in Denmark, where we take care of every single step of the process. Expert eyes, hands and ears keep track of everything. We’ve been doing things this way for almost 100 years, because this is how you make products not just for today, but for tomorrow. Longevity is at the heart of all we do.

Our craft philosophy is: “It’s about what the craft means. A chance to transcend generations and keep memories alive. Destined to be kept, not put aside when something new comes along. Whether literally or in our hearts and minds, Bang & Olufsen products last like nothing else.”

Honesty of materials

Having the right material in the right place matters. This is how we see it. If it looks like aluminium, it is aluminium – machined to precision. If it looks like leather, it is leather – handpicked and of the highest quality. If it looks like wood, it is wood – natural and tactile.

All our materials are chosen for their beauty, functionality, longevity and comfort. We sculpt them, refine them, finish them. Everything is checked and rechecked by hand, eye and ear. It takes years to perfect craft like this. Almost 100 years, to be exact.

Aluminium

As one of the lightest and strongest materials in the world, aluminium brings both portability and rigidity to our products - and as an efficient heat dispenser, it works perfectly with our acoustic designs. It can also be coloured uniquely. In the anodization processes, both surface treatments and colour hue, as well as saturation and lightness, can bring out different depths and add so much more than just a painted colour.

Fabric

We use the richness, complexity and warmth of wool on many of our products. Working together with Kvadrat, one of the most iconic brands in the world of textiles, we use textures on the covers of our products that closely match the interior design palette. Several colours are then used to achieve greater depth. Did you know that there is a small amount of light green threads in our standard black colour?

Wood

Conceptually, the use of wood in Bang & Olufsen products comes down to how we believe technology should fit into your home. The Scandinavian heritage of bringing natural wood inside the home is reflected in the use of structural elements such as legs in smoked oak, pine, walnut or maple. The woods we use are treated with natural oils so as not to cover their rich texture and structure, which always feels smooth and warm to the touch.

Moving towards circularity

There’s a reason our products are icons – and it goes beyond style. They were crafted to last. To stand the test of time. To be passed down through generations. To be admired through ages. And we’re not done yet.

We became the first brand in the Consumer Electronics industry to implement the Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certified standard, which is the most ambitious product certification standard in the world. It focuses on a replaceable, customisable and upgradable approach to product design. Beosound Level was built with product circularity in mind. Not only can customers replace the batteries themselves, they can also customise the speaker covers with new materials and colourways.

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Our commitment to Cradle to Cradle™

Created by the American architect William McDonough and the German chemist Michael Braungart in 2002, the Cradle to Cradle design principles represent the most ambitious product certification standard in the world.

Craft stories

Image of Finn in Struer

Finn Nørgaard, Polishing

“The work has become more refined,” says polishing specialist Finn Nørgaard Klint. As one of our expert craftspeople, Finn’s expertise ensures the high level of finish that makes Bang & Olufsen products so tactile.

Image of Peter Bang and Svend Olufsen

The history of Bang & Olufsen

Since 1925 Bang & Olufsen has created iconic audio and home entertainment products to the highest standards of sound, craft and design.

Image of Britta Dickmeiss

Britta Dickmeiss, Glue & Anodizing

“The way you see things can be different from person to person.” We chatted with Britta Dickmeiss about her work in Struer, Denmark at Bang & Olufsen’s headquarters perfecting the unique finishes on our products.

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