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You know you're on the right track with design when customers start discovering new and ingenious ways to use your products.
Every manufacturer values positive customer feedback. It’s reassuring to know that people use and appreciate your product. But when they go beyond your original intentions, finding innovative applications that work, it’s something else entirely.
This confirms the inherent flexibility of the design and demonstrates that a product resonates so strongly with users that they are inspired to experiment, pushing its boundaries to new levels.
The Evolution of the HES Concealed Hinge
We have recently been made aware of this happening with our HES2 concealed hinges. The HES range has always been a design innovation we have been particularly proud of. It was the first concealed hinge to be manufactured without a pivot arm, allowing two-way interior doors to benefit from a fully concealed hinge mechanism.
Since launching the HES3D hinge, we have expanded the range to cover the widest variety of applications of any concealed hinge on the market. This includes two-way doors and cabinets of all sizes. One of the more recent additions, the HES2, is now seeing customers redefine its use even further.
Surface-Mounted for Simplicity
The HES2 was developed as a surface-mounted option to simplify installation. Unlike previous HES models, which required mortising on both the door and frame, the HES2 only requires mortising on the door, with a screw-mount plate for the frame. The hinge comes in two parts, which are mounted separately and then snap together for convenience. Three-way adjustment screws allow precise alignment after installation.
We positioned the HES2 as a solution for door manufacturers, allowing them to pre-install concealed hinges in doors before selling them on. With only surface mounting required on the frame or cabinet, it offered an ideal ‘easy hang’ solution.
A Concept Flipped
Mortising is typically only suitable for wood, meaning the HES2 was primarily designed for wooden doors. However, we have been amazed to discover that some of our more creative customers have been using the HES2 to mount aluminium-framed glass doors—by flipping the hinge around.
Aluminium is widely used in glass doors as it is lightweight but strong, allowing for thin profiles that maximise the glass panel size. However, aluminium cannot be mortised, so we had not marketed the HES hinges as suitable for these types of doors.
Some enterprising customers, however, have discovered a clever workaround. By mortising a wooden frame to install the door-side hinge plate and screw-mounting the other plate into an aluminium frame, they have successfully integrated the HES2 hinge into full-length glass doors—achieving the sophistication of a concealed hinge for this application.
Innovation is a Partnership
This discovery highlights that innovation is a two-way process. At Sugatsune, we prioritise listening to our customers to understand real-world needs and challenges. Solving problems is what drives our design philosophy. It’s incredibly rewarding to see customers using our products to find their own solutions—sometimes in ways we never anticipated.
For more information on Flipping Innovation Around With HES2 Concealed Hinges talk to Sugatsune UK