The 114-year-old family business, Arco defines its objective as manufacturing beautiful products which are both sustainable and have social relevance. They do so by combining the knowledge and know-how of their professionals with new technologies. It is Arco’s mission to develop the existing craftsmanship into the expertise of the 21st century, by focusing on the integration of nature, workmanship and innovation. The timeless Essenza table is a perfect example of a product with a sustainable character whose development has kept up with the times. Furniture manufacturer Arco has developed various customized versions for the new campus of technology company Apple in Silicon Valley. During the imm Cologne 2018, the family firm introduces the new Essenza XL: a larger version of the classic Essenza table. Besides the new XL-version and the in 2017 introduced bench, Arco presents its Essenza refurbish program, which gives Essenza tables a new lease of life.

In the late 1990s, there was great demand for solid oak tables. At the same time, there was a need for a modern version. That is how the Essenza table was born – the first solid wood table in the Arco collection. A table with unique features and a minimalist design.Willem van Ast aimed to create a robust table, without using excessive material.
Many techniques used to create a stable, solid table
The fitted frame adds optical volume to the tabletop, while the top itself is not as thick. “A tree takes a century to grow, and you need to treat that wood sensibly.” While the Essenza emanates simplicity, a great deal of technology is concealed within the design. A solid tabletop is constantly moving due to variations in air humidity. Metal corner pieces attached in the tabletop ensure stability. Wire tensioners have been invisibly included within the top in order to bridge considerable lengths and help the wood retain its shape. And that is vital, especially in the case of the Essenza XL.
Giant table comes in three sizes
Nowadays, tables are expected to be multifunctional; not only a traditional kitchen table but also a desk, workbench, conference space, dining table…sometimes all at the same time.
The dining table has truly become a living table. A meeting place, with plenty of room for all kinds of table activities. Arco therefore presents the spacious Essenza XL which is available in 3 different lengths. The Essenza XL tabletop is made from 5.5 cm thick solid oak or American walnut. The legs are also solid oak or American walnut, measuring in at 12 x 5.5 cm. The table is available in the following sizes: 280 x 105, 320 x 105 and 360 x 105 cm.
Essenza refurbish program
As the Essenza table is a quality product and Arco strives for sustainability were possible, the company now presents the first step of the Essenza refurbish program. After being refurbished at the company’s own manufacturing facility in Winterswijk, the table is as new.
About Arco
The family-run company is located in Winterswijk, in the Achterhoek region of the Netherlands,near the German border. Since as far back as 1904, the company has been designing,developing and producing tables, chairs, cabinets, small items of furniture and accessories in-house, mainly from locally sourced materials.
The company’s core values are genuine craftsmanship, sustainability and innovation. Using the latest technology and working with renowned designers from the Netherlands and further afield, Arco produces furniture that is synonymous with ingenious detail and a high-quality feel. The company’s destiny is now being guided by the fourth generation of the van Ast family: Jorre van Ast, trained designer and Arco’s current Creative Director, is able to build on a solid foundation with the support of his team of more than 60 dedicated staff.