You'll find Brown Jordan furniture at premier properties such as The Conrad Hilton in Hong Kong, The Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, and The Breakers in Palm Beach. It also is a top brand in the retail market.
The aluminum advantage
Aluminum extrusions and fabrication from Hydro Aluminum make the gently curving, eye-catching lines of the Wave series possible.
“Aluminum is very design friendly,” says Bill Kennedy, Brown Jordan VP of Global Procurement and Logistics. “We can do some very innovative things with aluminum. The combination of corrosion resistance and the ability to create very complicated shapes make it ideal for our furniture.”
You’ll find Wave tables and chairs around pools, on oceanside boardwalks, and in outdoor settings at hotels, resorts and spas around the world. It is quickly becoming one of Brown Jordan’s leading lines.
Bending expertise
Designing and manufacturing the extrusions used in the Wave line was a tremendous challenge. For the technical knowledge and experience it would take to bring the Wave design to reality, Brown Jordan turned to their long-term aluminum component manufacturer, Hydro Aluminum.
“Our expertise in extrusion bending is recognized as being among the best in the industry,” says Mark Turley, Hydro VP of Sales. “Our engineers worked very closely with Brown Jordan in the design phase of the project.”
Hydro recommended a multi-void profile that allows Brown Jordan to bend the extrusions to the design specifications the Wave line requires.
Extrusion quality is extremely important. Uniformity of the wall thickness is one very critical aspect that is important to Brown Jordan. “If the extrusions do not have uniform wall thickness, you’ll burn holes during welding or you’ll have problems with bending,” explains Kennedy. “Hydro has consistently delivered extrusions which have met our requirements.”
Because of the Wave’s complex bends and the way in which the extrusions are joined, Hydro developed several sets of tooling until Brown Jordan’s exact specifications were met.
“Hydro’s material has been proven to be a very uniform product,” says Kennedy. “It meets our specs exactly and gives us a very high quality end product.”
Extruded tubing
Hydro also supplies extrusions for Brown Jordan’s Roma, Coast, and Breeze lines. For Roma, Hydro produces 7/8” tubing extruded from a 6063-T6 special alloy. This unique alloy/heat treatment combination gives considerable strength while allowing Brown Jordan to bend the extruded tubing into Roma’s graceful lines.
In total, Hydro produces twenty-one profiles for Brown Jordan, and will ship up to 1,000,000 lbs. of extrusions in 2004.
Long-term partnership
The relationship between the two companies has endured for over a quarter century. It’s based not only on advanced technology, but also on cutting edge customer service.
“Hydro makes sure that as we develop new products we’re able to get the new materials in a reasonable time,” says Kennedy. “They have the ability to turn new extrusion designs quickly. Plus, they give us products that meet our expectations – and our customers’ expectations.”
As part of its recent customer service initiative, Hydro has implemented programs to improve on its already impressive on-time delivery record. Customers now benefit from a 92% on-time delivery company-wide average.
“We’re buying from Hydro not only on the basis of a fair price,” says Kennedy, “but also on superb quality, outstanding customer service and on-time delivery.”
Designs for the future
Brown Jordan is a pro-active, aggressive company at the forefront of moving the leisure furniture industry forward. It constantly introduces new designs and lines to capture market share and deliver customer satisfaction. Having a strong, reliable partner like Hydro Aluminum gives Brown Jordan the confidence to expand its horizons.
“I like the assurance that there’s a substantial corporation behind the people we deal with,” says Kennedy. “I like having the ability to tap into their extensive resources if I need to.”
Brown Jordan and Hydro Aluminum – two companies hard at work in the pursuit of leisure.
