Industrial arts teacher G.W. Haworth outgrows his home workshop, where he manufactures wooden toys, and construction begins on the first, 4,480-square-foot plant in Holland, Michigan. The move to the new facility is followed by more orders.  

Using a loan of $10,000 from his parents’ life savings, G.W. Founds Modern Products. He hopes to earn enough money to put his children through college.

  A freelance salesman pitches G.W. a sketch of some proposed bank-type partitions for the United Auto Workers headquarters in Detroit in 1951. G.W.’s first foray into floor to-ceiling movable walls, the X & L series, is realized.  

G.W. considers uses for the scrap material created by the manufacture of partitions, which leads to the production of planters and room dividers in 1955.

50 employees (or “members”) and $472,000 in sales; the company makes an addition to the plant.

Modern Partitions, Inc., is formed.

G.W.’s teenage son Dick Haworth sweeps floors and operates plant machinery.  

Study carrels are launched as a new product line.

First national sales meeting is held in Holland, Michigan, for 55 manufacturers, representatives, and dealers.

Members and sales of nearly $2 million.

Dick returns from the army and assumes responsibility for manufacturing and new product development. His goal is to produce an office module system.

Dick introduces the Modern Office Modules (MOM) system and significantly alters the company’s direction, with sales of $6 million the following year.

Company name and logo change from Modern Partitions to Haworth.

Haworth International, Inc., is formed to set up foreign licenses for the manufacture and marketing of office interior systems.

National showroom opens in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart.

830 members and sales of $67 million.    

Company moves to its current location at One Haworth Center. Showrooms open or are renovated in 18 North American cities and four international locations.

The company’s one millionth panel is produced on the steel line. 1986: The Power Base electrical system is introduced.

Wood case goods are launched.

DataThing introduces plug-and-play voice and data cabling to panels.

4,240 members and $600 million in sales.  

The company reorganizes into regions: 1) North America, 2) Europe, 3) Middle East/Africa, 4) Asia Pacifi c & Central America/South America.

Matthew Haworth formally joins the team as a dealer associate.

Ideation Group is formed, applying user-based research to breakthrough concepts and products such as Crossings, Irrigator, Flo, Eddy, Drift, and Wake.

Manufacturing expands with production at the Shanghai plant; over ten years, the company acquires 25 companies in Europe, North America, and Asia.

14,790 members and $2 billion in sales.  

Organic Workspace strategy launches to take a comprehensive view of entire floor plates and all types of spaces. The Chicago showroom, Haworth’s LEED-CI Gold certified building, becomes the showcase for these adaptable workspaces.

Beloved founder of the company G.W. Haworth passes away at the age of 95.

New corporate headquarters, an LEED-NC Gold–certified facility, opens as a living lab.

The American Society of Interior Designers awards Haworth its Patron’s Prize for exemplifying the value of interior design.

Curated selections from Haworth, Poltrona Frau, Cappellini, and Cassina are brought together as the Haworth Collection.  

Bluescape is launched to support virtual work and visual collaboration.

Haworth acquires the Poltrona Frau Group, including iconic Italian design brands Cappellini, Cassina, and Poltrona Frau.

Haworth acquires JANUS et Cie for premium contemporary outdoor and interior furniture.

The company’s headquarters are given a refresh by Patricia Urquiola.

70th anniversary celebration of Haworth’s history of craft, innovation, 400 patents, and inspiring spaces around the the world.