FAQs

Emeco (Electric Machine and Equipment Company) is renowned for handcrafted aluminum furniture, most famously the 1006 Navy Chair—still produced continuously since the 1940s. First made for US Navy ships and submarines, the chair is handcrafted in 77 steps and built so strong it comes with a lifetime warranty.

All Emeco products are made in the USA. Our factory is in Hanover, PA, where we transform recycled aluminum into ultra-durable furniture using a signature 77-step craft process. Emeco sources materials as locally as possible to support local businesses and craftsmen.

At Emeco, sustainability is not a new concept - it has been at the heart of everything the company does, since it was first founded in 1944 on the principle "Begin with what's left over. Turn it into what will last". The classic 1006 Navy Chair was made from scrap aluminum and built to last at least a hundred and fifty years. Today Emeco continues to lead the industry, exploring and innovating ways to use consumer and industrial waste, and environmentally responsible resources to create and build simple, timeless, durable furniture, without compromising design, performance or affordability.

Emeco is a firm believer in "owning your impact", and lead by example - the company's approach to sustainability continues to evolve and adapt as we learn new processes, materials, and self-correct to better methodologies. Since 2020, Emeco measures and declares product carbon footprint, CO2 emissions. Knowing your carbon footprint is the first step towards reducing it. Just like nutrition labels on food, the carbon footprint labeling is intended to help us make more informed decisions.

All Emeco furniture is made in the USA, in adherence with all applicalbe US federal and Pennsylvania state laws

In the end, it all comes back to purpose. We know as manufacturers there is a choice to be made in terms of what we choose to make and how we make it. Emeco's ambition is, and always has been, to 'make more with less' and we will continue our efforts to tread even lighter.

Emeco is known for its chairs and stools, but also offer a wide range of tables - from café tables and standing height bar tables to large, communal dining tables. Emeco also make sofas and lounge chairs, notably Navy Lounge which was originally created for the US Navy in the 1940s and re-designed by Jasper Morrison in 2025.

Emeco offers an extensive selection of outdoor furniture - over 90% of Emeco's collection can be used outdoors as well as indoors.

Emeco is known for handcrafting durable furniture from recycled aluminum. The 1006 Navy Chair was first made for US Navy ships during WWII. Recycled aluminum was the obvious choice for several reasons: it's light weight, non-corrosive, non-magnetic, and could be turned super strong. Due to wartime material shortages, scrap aluminum was used from the start, and Emeco has continued making use of waste streams ever since.

Emeco championed the use of recycled PET, from waste soda bottles, with the launch of the 111 Navy Chair in 2010. Emeco also uses recycled wood-filled polypropylene, essentially industrial waste from plastic factories and lumber yards, taken before it enters the waste stream, in collections like Broom and Alfi. Emeco uses reclaimed wood from Pennsylvania farm buildings and recycled natural cork for the SU collection. Solid wood is sourced locally, from sustainably managed forests, and crafted in partnership with Amish woodworkers from neighboring Lancaster, PA.

Yes, over 90% of Emeco's products can be used outdoors. Recycled aluminum, Emeco's signature material, is non-corrosive and weathers the elements all seasons. Recycled plastic is also outdoor approved. Emeco offers Accoya, an outdoor approved wood, for table tops and seating. Outdoor approved upholstery is offered for Emeco sofas, lounge chairs and dining chairs and stools, as well as upholstered seat pads for the iconic Navy Chair.

Yes, not a problem.

Emeco's first chair, the 1006 Navy chair, was built for the US Navy to withstand torpedo blasts. We’ve been making resilient and reliable furniture ever since. All using sustainable materials. All made in the USA. All built to last.

Emeco furniture is often relied upon in demanding, high-traffic settings, such as higher education environments and all types of hospitality settings. Furniture with Emeco's signature hand brushed clear anodized finish is extremely low maintenance.

Emeco products are certified ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 for strength and stability.

All Emeco products are designed and built to last. Part of that is ensuring they can be cleaned to keep them looking good for a long time and to help maintain a healthy environment - at home or in public settings, whether indoors or outside.

• Emeco's signature hand brushed clear anodized finish is extremely low maintenance. Over time, salt air residue, pollution and other dirt may gather in the brushed grain, we therefore recommend hosing down furniture every now and then or just washing it with water and a sponge. This will be sufficient to maintain its look over many years.
• For recycled plastic materials, we recommend washing it down regularly with water and a sponge, to keep dirt and dust from sitting too long on the surface, which over time may become harder to remove.
• Should it be necessary, for instance in sensitive healthcare environments, Emeco's aluminum and plastic furniture is bleach cleanable. Hydrogen peroxide-based cleaners may also be used, dilution level 1:10. Please refer to the care advice for your specific product for details.
• Aluminum has anti-bacterial properties, making it a desirable material for sensitive settings such as healthcare environments, where it also performs exceptionally well from a maintenance standpoint.

To keep your Emeco furniture looking good, follow Emeco's care and maintenance advice for your specific product.

Old chairs and stools often need to have the glides replaced. Glides are the small "feet" at the bottom of each chair leg. Adding new glides - and making sure you have the right type of glides for your floor - can make the world of difference and breathe new life into your product.

Our glides are tailored to fit individual Emeco chair models. There are different glides for different applications - hard floors, carpeted floors, outdoor use etc. To order replacement glides, please contact us to ensure you get the right glides for your product and floor. Our Customer Service Team will be happy to assist personally.

USA: customerservice@emeco.net or 1-717-637-5951
Europe: europe@emeco.net

Yes. Emeco has worked with design icons like Philippe Starck, Frank Gehry, Norman Foster and Jasper Morrison, to name a few. We partner with designers and architects that share our belief in simple, sustainable furniture that is designed and built for longevity.

Many new innovations are created when exploring the best solutions to difficult problems. Our purpose is to create chairs with the utmost consideration for environment. For us, the material is at the heart of everything we make. The invisible design considerations are as important as the visible ones. We avoid using virgin materials as far as possible, and instead develop innovative methods to upcycle waste materials to make timeless chairs that last. It takes years of working with material scientists and engineers to make the best possible products for our customers and the planet. Counterfeiters use the least expensive materials with no regard for the environment or longevity.

Another aspect of our design development is the production process. For our very first chair, the 1006 Navy - developed for the US Navy in the 1940's - Emeco developed a unique 77-step process that we still use today to handcraft the chair from recycled aluminum in our factory in Hanover, Pennsylvania, USA. We guarantee the 1006 Navy chairs for life. Counterfeiters reduce costs by reducing steps in the process, leading to in inferior products that are not guaranteed for life.

Our work and that of our designers is paid for from the sale of our chairs. By choosing authentic design, you are showing consideration for the environment and helping to secure the future creation of original, sustainable design.

Emeco is proud to be a member of Be Original Americas, joining Alessi, Cassina, Emeco, Flos, Fritz Hansen, Herman Miller, Vitra and other companies in the fight against counterfeit design.

All Emeco Chairs are protected by some form of Federal intellectual property protection, including trademark, copyright and/or patents. Emeco owns statutory and common law rights in the design and trade dress. Emeco invests a great deal of its time and resources developing its chairs, and it has a firm policy of guarding its intellectual property from unauthorized use by others. If you have any questions concerning our intellectual property, please contact us at legal@emeco.net.

Emeco furniture is built in accordance with the highest standards of design and manufacture. Our all-aluminum chairs and stools are so strong that we guarantee them for life, or 150 years to be precise.

The Emeco Life-time Warranty applies to:
1006 Navy, 1 Inch All Aluminum, 20-06 chairs and stools, Emeco Stools, Heritage, Hudson, Icon, Kong, Sezz, Soso and Za.
The warranty is extended for the above mentioned products purchased as of Jan 1st, 2002.

Find Warranty information for all Emeco furniture here.

Emeco's aluminum furniture is handcrafted at our factory in Hanover, Pennsylvania, following a unique 77-step craft process originally developed for the US Navy in the 1940s. Back then, the chairs needed to be 'torpedo proof' to survive aboard warships and submarines. Scrap aluminum was a wartime necessity. Today, our craftsmen employ the same labor intense process to turn recycled aluminum into furniture so strong it comes with a lifetime warranty. Notable steps include hand welding every joint and seam to maximize strength; heat treating the products in a 960° salt bath followed by baking it overnight in a special oven which turns the malleable metal three times harder than steel; anodizing , which turns the surface into aluminum oxide, a super durable finish next to the hardness of a diamond.

Recycled aluminum is one of the most sustainable materials available, it is endlessly recyclable without loss of strength. Most of the aluminum produced in the late 1800’s is very much alive today. In cans, computer parts - and Emeco furniture. Recycling aluminum saves 95% of the energy required to make the same amount from its virgin source. Emeco furniture from recycled aluminum also has a low carbon footprint, and most importantly, is built to last - it even comes with a lifetime warranty. Longevity is true sustainability.

No, aluminum does not hold heat, or cold, the way other materials such as steel do. It gets a little warm but will not burn skin or feel uncomfortably hot like steel would. Instead, aluminum conducts heat upon contact, in other words it adjusts to your body temperature, meaning it will stay comfortable in both warm and cool conditions. This applies to Emeco's signature hand brushed anodized finish as well as our powder coated finishes.

Initially, aluminum can feel cooler to the touch than fabric or wood, but since it conducts heat efficiently, it quickly adjusts to your body temperature so you don’t have to worry about seats getting uncomfortably hot in the sun or staying chilly for long — they quickly balance out, ready to use anytime. Emeco also offers numerous seating collections that combine recycled aluminum frames with wood or upholstered seats, providing the signature strength of Emeco's aluminum craftsmanship together with a range of tactile materials.

Emeco's aluminum furniture is non-corrosive, one of the many reasons it was first chosen for US Navy ships in the 1940s. We guarantee our hand brushed clear anodized finishes and our powder coat finishes for outdoor use.

Aluminum seating is often lightweight, which makes it easy to handle, a favorite of maintenance crews. Understanding that certain settings may require a heavier seat, Emeco offers several solutions, ranging from weight-adding to fastening solutions, for settings such as rooftop terraces exposed to the elements, or public spaces. Contact us to learn more.

Our lead times vary by product. We have many products in stock, but some are made to order specially for you. You will find the estimated lead time stated by each product. Please note that lead times on our European website for all made-to-order products include the transfer by sea from our factory in Hanover, PA, to our warehouse in Italy, located north of Milan.

USA
All U.S. orders are shipped from our distribution center in Hanover, PA. In general, U.S. orders shipped to the East Coast will be received in 2-3 business days via standard delivery. U.S. orders shipped to the Midwest or West Coast will be received in 3-7 business days via standard delivery. If you would like to ship outside the continental U.S., please contact our customer service.

Europe
All European orders are shipped from our logistic center in Rovellasca, CO, Italy. In general, European orders will be received in 5-7 business days.

No, Emeco products are not subject to tariffs since our sourcing and manufacturing is done in the US.

Cancellation of orders will be accepted up to the time of shipment but may be subject to a minimum 25% restocking fee. If an order is not cancelled prior to shipment, the order will be treated as a return and the customer will be responsible for all freight charges and a minimum 25% restocking fee. Special order items and Kong chairs and stools cannot be returned.

If you are not fully satisfied with your purchase, you may return your order to Emeco for a refund – special order items and Kong chairs and stools cannot be returned. The customer will be responsible for all freight charges and a minimum 25% restocking fee of the returned items. The credit amount will be placed back on the original credit card after the items have been inspected for damage. A return authorization will be needed for any return. Please contact Emeco Customer Service for a return authorization number.

USA: customerservice@emeco.net or 1-717-637-5951
Europe: europe@emeco.net

EmecoDirect is our Trade Program, open to interior designers, architects and design professionals. As a member of EmecoDirect you will benefit from Personal Service and Trade Pricing, whether you order one chair or many.

Application for a Trade Account does not guarantee automatic membership or discount. Emeco will grant Trade Program membership status entirely on a discretionary basis. Enrolment is contingent upon receipt of appropriate credentials. Approved applications will receive a confirmation email within two business days with a customer account number. This is not a credit card application. Terms & Conditions are subject to change.

The Trade Account is personal and not transferable and cannot be combined with any other promotions or discounts. The discount cannot be applied to past purchases. The trade discount is currently not available for purchases on-line at emeco.net, please contact Emeco to place your order. We reserve the right to change the list of items eligible for the Trade discount at our sole discretion without prior notice.

A Trade discount can only be used by the named professional, and must present his/her valid Trade number to receive the trade discount at time of purchase. Misuse of the Trade Account may result in account termination. Misuse includes, without limitation: use of the trade discount for personal purchases, any resale of merchandise purchased using the trade discount through any retail outlet (e.g., resale on or through any retail or auction Web site or store), reimbursement of trade discount upon merchandise return, transfer of membership, allowing others to use the membership, and submitting false, expired or misleading information in connection with a membership application.

For purchases online at emeco.net, we offer you the option to make your payment by credit card.

Yes we do!

Yes. Products will be shipped upon receipt of payment. Maximum order quantities apply. In stock products ship within 10 working days, Ex Works, Hanover, Pennsylvania. Maximum quantities apply.

The following products are included in the Quick Ship Program:

1006 Navy Chair - hand brushed
Quantity: up to 30 pieces.

111 Navy Collection
Chairs, Counter Stools, Barstools - all 7 colors.
Quantity: up to 30 pieces.

1 Inch Reclaimed Chair
Stacking chair - all 8 colors.
Quantity: up to 30 pieces.

Broom Collection
Chairs, Counter Stools, Barstools - all 6 colors.
Quantity: up to 30 pieces.

Stock availability may vary.

Yes, our products are BIFMA certified for use in commercial applications. Products are certified X5.1 for Office chairs or X5.4 for Lounge and Public Seating. Certificates are available in our Downloads area.

All Emeco products have Health Product Declarations (HPD) and can be found on the Mindful Material platform or in Emeco's Downloads library.

Our products are also ETL VOC certified for indoor air quality. The volatile organic compound (VOC) certification program is recognised by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the LEED v4 Low-Emitting Materials Credit.

Emeco measures and declares the carbon footprint of products using Doconomy's 2030 calculator. Knowing our carbon footprint is the first step towards reducing it. Just like nutrition labels on food, the carbon footprint labeling is intended to help us, and our clients, make more informed decisions. We believe it's on all of us to own our impact.

No product can be LEED Certified; certification is only granted to the entire building or interior. A project is LEED Certified by qualifying for credits that accrue when environmentally sound choices are made in the design and building process. Product choices can help the project qualify for LEED Certification by being environmentally sound. Some jurisdictions require new construction to have a minimum number of LEED Credits.

Based on the requirements of LEED v4.1:

BUILDING DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION: MATERIALS AND RESOURCES CREDITS

Credit (New): Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Sourcing of Raw Materials.

Specifying Emeco aluminum and/or plastic furniture contributes to this credit in terms of Recycled Content because all of our products contain recycled content. Please refer to the individual product to confirm percentage.

Credit (New): Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Material Ingredient Reporting.

Specifying any Emeco product contributes to this credit in terms of material disclosure. All our products have HPDs that list out the material parts down to the thousand level.

Updated Healthcare Credit: Furniture and Medical Furnishings

Emeco products can contribute in a variety of ways, specifically through our VOC testing that complies by ANSI/BIFMA e3-2019e, Sections 7.6.1, 7.6.2, 7.6.3 and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2: Private Office and School Classroom

BUILDING DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION: INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CREDITS

Credit, Updated and consolidated: Low-Emitting Interiors

Emeco provides an array of products with potential to contribute to this credit based on extensive VOC testing that is in accordance with both ANSI/BIFMA e3-2019e, Sections 7.6.1, 7.6.2, 7.6.3 and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2: Private Office and School Classroom

INTERIOR DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION: MATERIALS AND RESOURCES CREDITS

Prerequisite Expanded: Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning

Based on this credit, Specifying Emeco furniture may contribute to Construction Waste Management because Emeco uses 100% recyclable shipping and packing materials. 

Emeco also offers the ability to recycle chairs at end of life, which may potentially contribute to Construction Waste Management, although we expect a lengthy lifetime of our products.

New LEED V4: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Sourcing of Raw Materials

Specifying Emeco aluminum and/or plastic furniture contributes to this credit in terms of Recycled Content. Emeco uses recycled material as far as possible in the creation of our products. All Emeco aluminum furniture is made from at least 80% recycled aluminum. Emeco plastic seating is made from recycled PET or reclaimed polypropylene, both of which are in turn recyclable. Please refer to the individual product to confirm percentage.

New LEED V4: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Material Ingredient Reporting

Specifying any Emeco product contributes to this credit in terms of material disclosure. All our products have HPDs that list out the material parts down to the thousand level.

INTERIOR DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION: INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CREDITS

Credit: Updated and consolidated, Low-Emitting Interiors

Emeco provides an array of products with potential to contribute to this credit based on extensive VOC testing that is in accordance with both ANSI/BIFMA e3-2019e, Sections 7.6.1, 7.6.2, 7.6.3 and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2: Private Office and School Classroom.

BUILDING OPERATIONS + MAINTENANCE: MATERIALS AND RESOURCES CREDITS 

Updated and Renamed: Purchasing - Facility Maintenance and Renovations 

Emeco also offers the ability to recycle or reuse chairs at end of life, which may potentially contribute to Facility Maintenance and Renovation, especially considering the length of lifetime we typically expect. 

Credit: Solid waste management - ongoing 

Emeco will take back chairs to recycle at end of life. 

PILOT CREDITS 

Environmentally Preferable finishes and furnishings 

BD+C, ID+C 

Emeco provides an array of products with potential to contribute to this credit based on extensive VOC testing that is in accordance with both ANSI/BIFMA e3-2019e, Sections 7.6.1, 7.6.2, 7.6.3 and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2: Private Office and School Classroom. 

Based on the location of the project, and distance from Hanover, PA, specifying Emeco products may help to gain points in locally sourcing.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a division of the US Green Building Council, a government sponsored organization whose goal is to promote environmentalism in the building industry. For more information visit www.usgbc.org.

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