USM is a furniture design brand located in Münsingen, Switzerland. Originally a family-run business in 1885, the grandson of the founder Paul Scharer, led the company through industrialization and into the modern era in the 1960s. Such a process of industrialization started with the opening of a new factory in 1961, a factory fit to evolve and grow with the company. Paul Scharer still leads the company today. After the new factory opened, he was inspired to disrupt the wood-only furniture market that then existed and created the USM Haller fitting system, a ball-and-tube frame system, which is now the standard in international furniture.
To create your own custom USM design with their online configurator, click here, or contact us and we would be happy to help you.
Visit The SiteUSM began as a family-run metalworking and locksmith business in 1885. It was not until the founder’s grandson, Paul Scharer, came to take the lead of the company that the company became industrialized and took a new role as a business. The company takes its name from its founder, Ulrich Scharer, and the town of Münsingen, Switzerland which is right outside where Scharer was born. The company still operates here today.
In the early decades of the 20th century, the company began to specialize in window fittings, hinges, and precision-designed sheet metal.
In the 1960s, Paul Scharer, a graduate of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, led the company to become a furniture-focused manufacturer. In collaboration with Fritz Haller, he created the USM Haller fitting system which quickly gained the attention of the world market due to its versatility, though it was originally designed to furnish USM offices. This system is now considered widely used as a standard in furniture worldwide. In 1961, a new factory and office building opened to house USM which was constructed with industrialism in mind as a space that the company could continue to evolve over the decades.
Between 1970-2000, USM began to spread its wings to take the rest of the world by opening subsidiaries in Buehl of Germany, Charnay-lès-Mâcon of France, and New York City. The first USM showroom opened in Hamburg Germany in 1998. USM continues to be a world leader in versatile, structural furniture reflecting its unique origins as a metalworking company.
The USM Modular furniture system is absolutely perfect for anyone seeking functional pieces that are versatile with an elegant, simplistic appearance. Three words describe USM, timeless, sustainable, and versatile. The USM design has not changed much since the company’s coming of age in the 1960’s and serves to create furniture that is highly customizable for the customer’s needs. Since the mid-20th century, USM has been globally active in the furniture market offering unparalleled options for modular furniture that is innovative and marked by quality design.
USM offers the amazing opportunity for customers to design their modular function online with the help of their signature USM 3D configurator. The configurator helps you design a virtual piece in real time with the ability to add, edit, or delete modules. By also choosing a range of customizable shapes and sizes, features, colors, and materials, you have the opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind piece that matches your exact vision for your space. As you design the piece, the price is also calculated in real-time. Once you have finished your design clicking the “contact” button found below the price, the USM team will contact you within 48 hours to process the order.
Possible pieces include dressers, storage units, open shelves, and more. The possibilities are essentially endless for creating your perfect modular piece. We highly recommend coming in person to see USM modular pieces in person. We look forward to seeing you soon and discussing your unique design!
At Millésimé, we offer in-person shopping and consultations in Philadelphia and Cape May. We invite you to take a look at our about page to learn more about us and the showroom pieces we offer. It is a unique opportunity to show pieces from a world-renowned brand like USM.
Since its revolutionary rebrand from exclusive metalworking to modular furniture, USM has continued as a voice for innovation and customer-centered creativity in the furniture market. USM is not a typical furniture designer and offers something new with each piece, all while not compromising on quality, minimal aesthetic, and function. Millésimé is the only local dealer of USM products. We would love to welcome you to the showroom in person to help you imagine how USM pieces could elevate your space. We look forward to seeing you!
