As brands throughout Europe look for flexible development partners capable of delivering tailored collections, the role of specialised private label producers is becoming increasingly important. In Slovakia, upholstery manufacturer Kroslak has spent more than three decades refining its production model to support furniture brands across Europe.
Founded in 1991 shortly after Slovakia's borders reopened to international trade, the company began as a metal workshop before expanding into upholstered furniture production. Today, Kroslak combines several manufacturing disciplines under one roof, supporting brands from product development through to finished furniture ready for distribution.
© Kroslak From left to right: Amro Nogdalla, František Kroslak, Samuel Kroslak
From metal workshop to integrated production
The company's origins reflect the transformation of Central European manufacturing in the early 1990s. What began as a small operation gradually evolved into a production environment centred around sofas and upholstered furniture.
Samuel Kroslak, co owner of the company and son of founder František Kroslak, explains that upholstery quickly became the company's main focus. 'The company was founded by my father in 1991, and we started with a metal division,' he says. 'Very shortly afterwards we expanded into upholstery. For most of our history, the core business has always been sofas.'
Over time, the company built partnerships with large furniture chains in German and Dutch speaking markets before expanding its client base. 'For almost twenty years we worked mainly with big retail chains in Germany and surrounding markets,' Samuel continues. 'In the past seven years we have diversified a lot. Today we work with around forty-five B2B partners across Europe.'
© Kroslak
Three divisions under one roof
A defining feature of Kroslak's production model is the integration of several manufacturing disciplines within the same facility. The company operates three core divisions, metal processing, upholstery production and injected foam manufacturing.
According to Amro Nogdalla, co owner of the company, this structure allows the team to combine technologies when developing new products. 'Having these three divisions under one roof gives us flexibility when working with different materials and constructions,' he says. 'We can bend and weld metal parts, produce the upholstery, and also create moulded foam components within the same production environment.'
The metal division produces structural components and visible elements, including powder coated or brushed finishes. Meanwhile the upholstery department manages wood frame production, sewing, upholstery and final assembly.
A more recent addition is the injected foam production line, which produces moulded seat components through a chemical injection process. 'This technology opened the door to another product segment,' Amro explains. 'Besides residential sofas, we now also work on office and contract furniture for public spaces.'
© Kroslak
Scale and experience
Today Kroslak operates with around 120 employees and a production area of approximately 50,000 square metres. Over its history the company has delivered more than two million sofas to furniture brands, mainly within Western Europe.
For Samuel, this experience helps build trust with brand partners. 'Our customers know us as a producer rather than a brand,' he says. 'They come to us because they need a reliable partner who understands development, materials and production.'
The company's approach centres on collaboration rather than standardised product lines. 'We do not work with one fixed production line where everything is the same,' Samuel explains. 'Every project is defined by the customer, and we adapt our production around those requirements.'
© Kroslak
Manufacturing partner for European brands
Kroslak focuses on private label manufacturing for furniture brands across Europe, and is focusing on complex programs with highly customisable comfort options and dimensions on a commission basis.
Amro believes this division of roles is essential. 'Our partners focus on sales, marketing and brand identity in their markets,' he says. 'Our role is to be a flexible production partner who can handle development, manufacturing and logistics.'
For Samuel, the ambition remains grounded in the company's original philosophy. 'We want to be a partner that brands can rely on when they need something developed and produced properly,' he concludes. 'If we can combine our technologies and experience to make that happen, then we are doing exactly what we set out to do.'
More information:
Kroslak
Nitrianska Blatnica 5,
956 05 Nitrianska Blatnica
[email protected]
www.kroslak.sk
+421 918 906 694
Slovakia
