Uno – its long-standing fastener-based shelving system is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Created in 1973 by Dorino and Ferruccio Fantin, co-founders of the company of the same name in 1968, the Uno system immediately proved to be an ideal choice because it is flexible, solid and minimal. Originally conceived as industrial shelving for archives and warehouses, over the years it has been used in a vast range of locations, including homes, offices, the retail world and prestigious exhibition venues. Part of the secret to its success is how easy it is to take apart and rearrange in different ways, with no need for screws or bolts. A big part has also been played by the wide range of accessories that have been introduced over the years (including doors, clothes rails, curtain rails, cup holders, and sloping shelves) and the sizable selection of 35 highly durable embossed finishes.
 
The cornerstone of the system is an intelligent combination of pressed sheet metal fasteners, solid shelves and 30 x 30 mm square tube uprights. Distinctive holes are punched into the inner side of the uprights at 5 cm intervals. They firmly secure the fasteners, onto which the shelves are subsequently slotted. This approach makes the uprights more resistant to twisting and bending than regular profiles. Each fastener is housed in two holes and can safely support up to two shelves in a row, clasping the upright and helping to reinforce the entire structure.