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Our Purpose

making an impact for our customers, our partners and our community

Employee owned. People centered.

Since the very beginning, KI has been doing more than manufacturing furniture. We’ve been listening. Learning. Helping our customers create unique and inspiring spaces for the people they serve. Not simply because that’s our business. But because that’s how we can make a difference in the lives of others—for our customers and end users, our own people and the communities we call home.

Great contract furniture starts first with listening and offering expert advice and personalized solutions. Inspiring design reaches out from that first relationship.

- Brian Krenke, chief executive officer, KI

 

Our Design Philosophy

Furnishing Knowledge Since 1941.

1941 - 2000

Krueger Metal Products founded by Al Krueger.
1941 Krueger Metal Products founded by Al Krueger.

100 Series® folding chair is its flagship product.

Company relocates from Aurora, Ill. to Green Bay, Wis.
1945 Company relocates from Aurora, Ill. to Green Bay, Wis.
Dick Resch joins KI as Assistant to the Executive Vice President.
1964 Dick Resch joins KI as Assistant to the Executive Vice President.
Vertebra® chair, designed by Ambasz & Piretti, introduces passive ergonomics.
1977 Vertebra® chair, designed by Ambasz & Piretti, introduces passive ergonomics.
Com system launched, marking KI's first foray into systems products.
1983 Com system launched, marking KI's first foray into systems products.
KI becomes employee owned, with Dick Resch as majority shareholder.
1986 KI becomes employee owned, with Dick Resch as majority shareholder.
Pallas® Textiles established.
1988 Pallas® Textiles established.
Piretti® Collection seating launches.
1989 Piretti® Collection seating launches.

The first of many collaborations with Giancarlo Piretti.

KI receives ISO certification.
1994 KI receives ISO certification.
KI earns first Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award.
1995 KI earns first Wisconsin Manufacturer of the Year Award.
KI expands its product portfolio by acquiring AGI, ADD & Spacesaver.
1998 KI expands its product portfolio by acquiring AGI, ADD & Spacesaver.
KI Convention Center opens.
2000 KI Convention Center opens.

2001 - Today

Resch Center debuts.
2002 Resch Center debuts.
KI launches Genius® walls, designed by Eberhard von Huene.
2002 KI launches Genius® walls, designed by Eberhard von Huene.
Wharton™ lectern earns IDEA Gold Award.
2003 Wharton™ lectern earns IDEA Gold Award.
Community Impact Award presented to Dick Resch and KI for positively impacting the Greater Green Bay community.
2003 Community Impact Award presented to Dick Resch and KI for positively impacting the Greater Green Bay community.
Pallas® Textiles Ceramica Collection receives Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design.
2004 Pallas® Textiles Ceramica Collection receives Good Design Award from the Chicago Athenaeum, Museum of Architecture and Design.
Pallas® Textiles wins first Best of NeoCon Gold Award for the Entwined Collection.
2010 Pallas® Textiles wins first Best of NeoCon Gold Award for the Entwined Collection.
KI fulfills its 500,000 custom furniture request.
2010 KI fulfills its 500,000 custom furniture request.
Learn2™ wins Best of NeoCon Gold, Education Solutions.
2011 Learn2™ wins Best of NeoCon Gold, Education Solutions.

KI wins NeoCon Showroom & Booth Design Competition, Large Showroom.

Lightline® wins Best of NeoCon Silver and BUILDINGS' Product Innovation Grand Prize for Workplace Design Aesthetics.
2012 Lightline® wins Best of NeoCon Silver and BUILDINGS' Product Innovation Grand Prize for Workplace Design Aesthetics.
Trellis® wins Best of NeoCon Gold.
2014 Trellis® wins Best of NeoCon Gold.

Trellis also wins BUILDINGS' Product Innovation Grand Prize for Technology Support.

Pallas® Textiles receives Best of NeoCon Silver and Interior Design Best of Year Awards for the Valetudo Collection.

Dick Resch celebrates his 50th Anniversary with KI.
2014 Dick Resch celebrates his 50th Anniversary with KI.
New products win leading design awards.
2016 New products win leading design awards.

Doni® seating, Ruckus® classroom collection, Evoke® architectural wall and Sway® lounge seating win industry-leading furniture design awards.

KI adds 60,000 square foot expansion to its Green Bay manufacturing facility.
2017 KI adds 60,000 square foot expansion to its Green Bay manufacturing facility.
Tattoo wins gold at NeoCon.
2018 Tattoo wins gold at NeoCon.

KI’s Tattoo® collection wins a Best of NeoCon® gold award at the 2018 NeoCon World's Trade Fair. These awards showcase design excellence and innovation.

KI employees become majority shareholders.
2018 KI employees become majority shareholders.

Dick Resch sells majority shares from Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to KI employees, making the company 100 percent employee-owned for the first time in its history.

Brian Krenke appointed as CEO.
2019 Brian Krenke appointed as CEO.

Dick Resch becomes executive chairman of the board.

KI attains Green Master Level status.
2020 KI attains Green Master Level status.

The Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council names KI a GREEN MASTER LEVEL within its Green Masters Program. This program recognizes companies for their sustainability accomplishments and ideas for future sustainability actions.

C-Table Max wins Best in Show at EDspaces.
2021 C-Table Max wins Best in Show at EDspaces.

Presented by EDspaces & Learning By Design, this award celebrates innovative product design that augments learning, improves students' well-being and is based on research and customer collaboration.

At KI, We Take Ownership

This is our company—KI is 100% employee owned—and we care deeply about the work we put our names on. There’s no question … with KI you’re getting a team of owners, all working together to make a difference for our customers.

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KI is Changing Lives One Chair at a Time

It all started with a metal folding chair. But even then, we knew it was about so much more—a larger purpose that’s been part of our story to this day.

 

Making an Impact

We believe we’re in a unique position to create positive change in the world around us. And we take action to carry out that responsibility in four key areas.

Sustainable practices to preserve and protect our world.

Sustainable practices to preserve and protect our world.

We’re committed to responsible manufacturing, sustainable product design and environmental stewardship.

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A focus on health and well-being.

A focus on health and well-being.

Within our walls and in the community, KI supports initiatives that improve health and promote wellness.

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Nurturing a culture of inclusion and diversity.

Nurturing a culture of inclusion and diversity.

We believe our best work comes from an inclusive environment, where the diversity of our voices makes us stronger together.

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Making a positive impact in the communities we serve.

Making a positive impact in the communities we serve.

We wouldn’t be who we are without the communities that have embraced us. We’re dedicated to giving back.

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