Blum furniture fittings - high quality products or dummy?

A little about the brand

Bloom is not a multinational corporation. This is a small, export-oriented Austrian company: 7 factories in Austria, 2 in the New World (USA and Brazil), packaging and logistics produces EXCLUSIVELY furniture fittings, and this probably explains the close attention to innovation and unique properties of products. If Bloom does not maintain its leading position in its segment, it simply will not survive!

But at the moment, furniture manufacturers in all countries know that Blum furniture fittings will last as long as the furniture itself!

Hettich fittings

Original Hettich furniture fittings are widely used in the CIS and are worthy competitors to Blum. The brand’s lack of rich history is compensated by a competent approach to the production process. Due to a more affordable price and no loss of quality, it allowed the German manufacturer to take away part of the market from its main competitor from Austria.

Hettich engineers have released the Quadro series guides, these products have absolute precision due to the use of the ball bearing principle. With its help, it is possible to provide a high level of functionality and comfort during operation.

Distinctive features of Hettich:

• InnoTech (drawers with built-in double sidewall);
• Quadro guides (designed for drawers, the operating mode is based on the principle of a ball bearing);
• ProfiTech double sidewall system (for equipping pull-out elements);
• Silent System retractable mechanisms (suppresses most vibrations).

Main types of Blum fittings

The functionality of modern kitchens is ensured by three main types of fittings

1. Bloom hinge systems

Blum hinges ensure soft and smooth opening of doors, and the bloom closer provides a shock absorption system, regardless of the weight of the door.

1. Bloom extension systems

The extension system can be either guides for wooden drawers or sets of drawers with metal drawers that can withstand loads of up to 50 kg. blum drawers, even when fully loaded, glide smoothly and silently along the guides. All of them provide for fixation when extended - it is impossible to accidentally drop them. The bloom closer compensates for the degree of workload and the force of pressing when closing.

1. Blum lifting mechanisms

They are used to open and fix the doors of wall cabinets and allow you to securely fasten the doors in any position. Blum lifting mechanisms have different modifications for cabinets of any size and configuration.

Blum also produces division systems that increase the capacity of boxes and cargo. These include stainless steel trays, cutlery holders and other “useful little things” that increase the functionality of kitchen cabinets and drawers.

Kitchen fittings Blum

Furniture fittings Blum (Blum) is a well-known brand on the Russian market.
In modern furniture showrooms, a high-quality kitchen set will definitely be equipped with fittings from the Austrian manufacturer Blum. Thanks to the high requirements for fittings, which are set by the manufacturer himself, focusing on the speed of development of modern technologies, furniture fittings from Austria have taken leading positions in Europe and Russia in just a couple of years.

Why should furniture fittings be from Blum?

1. Bloom mechanisms open silently, close smoothly, can be invisible or in noble colors that will ideally complement the image of the furniture.
2. Bloom loops are the absolute champion in terms of the number of openings. Hinges from an Austrian manufacturer can withstand 200 thousand cycles , while according to GOST, ordinary hinges only reach 80 thousand cycles (open-close). Translating this indicator into a temporary resource, we get approximately 22 years of continuous use.
3. Furniture with Bloom fittings made of exceptional stainless steel is guaranteed by the manufacturer for each component for at least 5 years.
4. Blum fittings are so convenient and functional that they will definitely become a housewife’s assistant in the kitchen. It will also not cause any trouble in caring for the furniture, since the main facades and fittings can be removable, which will make it easy to carry out hygienic cleaning in the kitchen or even wash the blum hinges and lifts in the dishwasher .

Austrian Blum fittings are a guarantee of peace of mind and complete satisfaction with your furniture. You will forget about the unpleasant creaks of hinges, extraneous noise from cabinets, the heaviness of facades, opening drawers with force and other problems associated with kitchen components.

How do blum kitchen fittings work?

Speaking about the operating principles of bloom mechanisms, we can distinguish several categories that differ in the type of opening and functionality.

AVENTOS BLUM lifting mechanisms easily open and lock at any level, providing plenty of room for handling kitchen utensils.

Bloom lifts come in the following types:

• BLUM AVENTOS HF - opening upwards, in two folds.
• AVENTOS HS - opening upwards, in one fold.
• AVENTOS HL - vertical opening.
• AVENTOS HK - rotary opening.
• AVENTOS HK-S - rotary opening for small facades.
• AVENTOS HK-XS - upward opening for fronts less than 460 mm.

BLUM drawers come in three types of extension:

• METABOX - partial extension, normal closing.
• TANDEMBOX - full extension, soft closing, with built-in closers.
• LEGRABOX - non-standard fittings in shape, size and color with an additional function - CABLOXX locking.

BLUM trays with cutlery separating system:

• ORGA-LINE - set of stainless steel trays.
• AMBIA-LINE is a set of trays made of natural wood.

BLUM guides (different material color):

• TANDEM - hidden guides with a smooth opening system.
• MOVENTO - improved TANDEM type guides.
• TANDEMBOX is a universal drawer system.
• TANDEMBOX Plus, Intivo and Antaro
• LEGRABOX is a creative solution for designers, with great possibilities for choosing color, material, shape and functionality.
• METABOX - economical drawer guides.

BLUM hinges usually come complete with a built-in closer:

• MODUL hinges are an economical option.
• BLUM CLIP – installation is done manually, without tools.
• CLIP top hinges have a unique design and simplified adjustment.
• TIP-ON BLUM - installed on furniture without handles. Opening occurs at the moment of light pressure on the facade.
• BLUM clip top BLUMOTION – silent shock absorption system hidden in the recess of the hinge.

At the moment, Blum mechanisms have about 1,200 functional solutions for furniture fittings.

Separately, I would like to note that each product produced at the Blum factory is tested before release, in accordance with international quality standards according to ISO 9001. And most importantly, Blum accessories are an absolutely environmentally friendly product . This is confirmed by the European ISO14001 certificate. This distinctive mark is awarded to those companies that not only monitor the environmental friendliness of the process during production, but also make a significant contribution to preserving the environment.

BLUM’s motto is: “Global benefit for everyone, from the manufacturer to the buyer!”, which is what they subscribe to.
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Advantages and disadvantages of Blum fittings

The advantages of Blum fittings include:

• high technology
• ergonomics
• reliability
• possibility of maximum use of space
• multifunctionality
• aesthetics
• durability

The disadvantages are the high price.

The question is, is the high price a real disadvantage? Experts say that Blum fittings are just as much more expensive than the very high-quality products of their competitors Hettich and Grass as they are superior to them in their consumer properties. And Blum’s lifting mechanisms simply have no analogues - none of the existing systems from other companies even come close to Blum’s standards of convenience and safety.

And besides, it is much more economical to purchase fittings that provide more than 200,000 cycles of comfortable opening and closing than those that are half the price, but guarantee uninterrupted operation for only 50,000 cycles.

Categories

1. Mechanisms for lifting doors. Used for kitchens with wall-mounted shelves and doors.
2. Sliding structures. Products open easily and simply.
3. Hinge designs. Used for doors.
4. Directional elements. Smooth, smooth opening of drawers.

Aventos lifting parts

Lifting mechanisms are reliable and durable

The Aventos series are mechanisms that allow you to open any facade without effort and, if necessary, leave them in the desired position. Lifts do not require kitchen cabinet handles.

Aventos products differ:

• HF is a folding lift model, suitable for high-hanging cabinets with large fronts.
• HS—folding products with three levels of adjustment smoothly lift the facade cover above the body, which saves kitchen space.
• HL—vertical door lift.
• HK - a rotating mechanism that lifts the door and leaves it in a horizontal position, often used in cabinets installed under the ceiling.
• HK-S is a small model of a rotating product for small and corner drawers.

Blum fittings are popular

Lifting parts of the Aventos series can be equipped with additional systems that improve their performance.

Models are developed for wooden facades and structures made of metal profiles.

The fittings must be of high quality

Installation of the products is not difficult.

1. The main parts of the mechanism are attached to the inner side walls of the solid wood kitchen set with a screwdriver. The part of the film with the inscription “attention” is removed and the metal part is pulled out.
2. Slip-on mechanisms are attached to the façade from the inside. The door is inserted into metal parts and secured.
3. Covers are placed on the main parts of the mechanism.

Other lifting systems are installed in a similar way.

Clip Top Details: Hinges

Kitchen fittings Blum

Hinge system - Clip Top products are compact, durable pieces on kitchen cabinet doors. Shape - any size, ensuring comfortable work with frequent use of the cabinet.

Product line:

• cliptop—a model with or without springs, opening at a large angle, for facades made of different materials (wood, metal, glass);
• modul - economical mechanisms with three-dimensional adjustment and different opening angles (90 and 170°).

To install the hinges, markings are carried out where the parts will be installed. Holes are drilled in places. The hinge parts are attached to them. A gap is cut out on the door and a mounting plate is inserted.

Make your kitchen more convenient

The door is hung on the cabinet.

How to choose Bloom fittings:

Tandembox: extension

The system ensures easy drawer pullout for varying load levels. Mechanisms with easy installation that can withstand any load due to the reinforced bottom and durable metal sides. Item categories:

• drawers of different heights - N(68 mm), M (83 mm), K (115 mm);
• with one or two railings;
• built-in enlarged side parts - box side (204 mm);
• internal drawers with pull-out components.

Boxes are made in two types:

• metabox - side steel part;
• legrabox - matte glass surface with stone inserts and fingerprint protection.

Motion technologies

The movement is smooth

Due to additional systems, Blum fittings are of high quality.

The blumotion system is a built-in safety feature that allows you to silently open furniture. The mechanism prevents the headset from damage and overload.

Tip-On design - automatic movement. To open and extend, you need to lightly press the surface of the facade. The system is easy to install and provides reliable fixation.

The Servo-Drive mechanism is the use of an electric drive. Opening or extension occurs by pressing a button. The system works flawlessly and gives the kitchen set a feeling of weightlessness.

Tandem: guides

Correct kitchen ergonomics

Tandem guide components allow heavy fronts to be opened effortlessly and smoothly. Models are manufactured for full and partial extension and are additionally equipped with closers:

• movento—four-dimensional adjustment with synchronous extension, supporting up to 65 kg of load without deformation;
• standard—guides for wooden drawers with a load of up to 35 kg, fully or partially extendable.

Blum fittings allow you not to hold the door while opening.

Kitchen fittings Blum

Installation of the guides is simple: the sliding parts are disassembled into two parts, one element is mounted on the inner wall of the drawer. The second component is installed on the side wall of the cabinet.

The box is inserted into the guides.

Internal separation systems

Blum kitchen fittings have many uses

Boxes and cargo systems are equipped with division elements. Improved kitchen cabinet fillers with greater width and depth increase storage space for items.

The Orga-Line component is used for the Tandembox and in the wooden box. Ambia-Line is used for Legrabox.

Dividing systems include cutlery holders, stainless steel trays and other utensil storage items.

Blum fittings - caring for mechanisms

The fittings do not require special care. It is enough to limit its contact with liquid - after wet cleaning, immediately wipe it dry with a soft cloth. To clean metal elements, do not use aggressive alkalis, abrasives, or steel wool. And of course, do not store acid-containing liquids open in cabinets - as they evaporate, they can cause metal corrosion.

And then Blum fittings will provide you with many years of pleasure from using a beautiful, functional and comfortable kitchen!

All custom-made kitchens manufactured by our salon are equipped only with high-quality Blum fittings; you can find out more detailed information about this by phone or by sending a message using the feedback form. We will definitely call you back and answer all your questions related to fittings and components for your future kitchen.

Let's sum it up

The main conclusion that should be drawn from this article is that the fittings should be selected for each specific case. If you are choosing fasteners for kitchen drawers in which heavy pots and pans will be stored, or the drawers will be opened and closed frequently, then you should not save. If the fittings are provided for a cabinet or chest of drawers that is not often accessed, it makes sense to save money.

We are ready to install both Blum and Hettich fittings in our furniture. For more detailed advice, you can always contact our professional managers, they will help you make a choice.