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Steel furniture losing sheen
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Steel furniture is a popular choice for many who are attracted by its cost and durability advantage. But rising steel prices have dented the cost advantage somewhat these days.
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— Photo: Vipinchandran
Ubiquitous piece: Steel wardrobes have long been a staple in homes.
Its economy, durability, sturdiness and ease of maintenance have made steel furniture a prime choice both in homes and in business and office establishments.If almirahs were the most popular of steel furniture for a long time, chairs, bookshelves, tables, desks, garden chairs and so on have come to take their place now.
These are used widely in different setups. From schools to hospitals, steel furniture has made its presence felt in a variety of ways.
The flexibility of application offered by steel is one of the key reasons why it is so popular with furniture-makers. Designers like the material for this particular quality.
If flexibility is an important factor for designers, the ease with which steel furniture can be maintained is also significant from the practical point of view, says Polly N.V., who runs Jubily Steel Furniture, a small furniture-making unit at Koratty.
He says that if made with the right-gauge steel, the furniture give its money’s worth. Repainting makes steel furniture appear new, a big advantage in places where a large number of furniture pieces are used as in a business establishment or a hospital.
Use of paint adds to the aesthetics and appropriate colours can be chosen.
With thematic designs gaining precedence of late in interior decoration, the ability of steel to be painted in various colours makes it a preferred material, especially while setting up business environs. Prices of steel furniture have made its use widespread.
They are attractive options that offer also economy, says Jaleel P.K., who runs Ramees Engineering Works at Edayar.
However, the recent bout of price rice has plunged the steel furniture-making units into trouble, he says. In the past, steel offered an easy and aesthetic option against wood.
Even as wood continues to be costly and still remain out of bounds for many who cannot afford it, the price of steel furniture too is rising in keeping with the other commodities.
The result is that there is slowdown in the demand for steel furniture. The unpredictability of the market is one of the major effects on the steel furniture-makers.
Over the last three months, the price of steel has gone up significantly making it difficult for furniture-makers to quote a stable price for their products. This has a tendency to put off customers, says one of the furniture-makers here.
He claims that hundreds of small steel furniture-making units had shut down in keeping with the deceleration in demand. The woes of small steel furniture-making units are compounded by a scarcity of skilled labour as well as high electricity charges.
K.A. MARTIN
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