Health and safety on the agenda
The Kevi twin-wheel castor has been developed and enhanced since Jørgen Rasmussen first invented it in 1965. It now comes in a soft version that doesn't scratch wooden floors, and an anti-static version that doesn't generate electricity when rolling across carpets. The Kevi Castor received the Danish Design Centre ID Prize in 1998, because the "product solved an important and relevant task in a sustainable way".
Concepts of 'health and safety' and 'ergonomics' emerged in the 1970s and have influenced working life ever since. Suddenly, there was a correct way to sit and tables needed to have the right height. Jørgen Rasmussen designed the Kevi Castor while working on an office chair for Fritz Hansen furniture manufacturers. The Kevi chair became one of the most popular office chairs in the 1970s, and to this day it can be found in many educational establishments all over Denmark. You may not even have noticed that you are sitting on a Kevi chair, because it is that common.
International success
The Kevi Castor quickly achieved world fame and it is produced today by ScanCastor - a Danish company that is still going strong despite keen competition from China, among other countries. Danish design, technology and innovation guarantee Danish jobs and recognition in the global challenge. When it comes to castors, there is no better alternative than the Kevi Castor. The Kevi chair was also selected for the Danish Design Project in 2004, when the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York was furnished with Danish design, which is seen there by 15-17,000 visitors every day.
Charlotte Jul is design writer and editor at KUNSTUFF, a Danish handicraft and design magazine.
The Kevi Castor, Jørgen Rasmussen.
Photo: Pernille Klemp