Stahldeko Since 1999 – Our Story and Metalworking Workshop.

From stainless steel curtain rods assembled in our homes to our own metalworking workshop in Emskirchen, Germany. Our story since 1999.

Stahldeko since 1999 · Our Story · Part 1 of 4

Two colleagues, one idea, and not even a workshop of their own at first. What they did have was technical know-how, plenty of determination—and the occasional complaint from the neighbors when the circular saw was running.

1999 Launched onlineThrough 2007 UttenreuthThrough 2011 Ebrach-EberauSince late 2011 Emskirchen

01 / Where it all began

Two colleagues in Upper Franconia

We are Stahldeko. More precisely: Evgeni Kusnezov and Alexander Veselov. Or Alexander Veselov and Evgeni Kusnezov. The order does not matter much to us—after all, both deserve to come first. :-)

We met in the early 1990s in Ebrach, Upper Franconia, Germany. At the time, we worked for Silenta Produktions-GmbH, a manufacturer of children’s furniture and interior furnishing products.

The product range included solid-wood cribs, loft beds, bunk beds, wardrobes, shelving, tables, and chairs. There were also curtain rods, curtain tracks, and internal-track profiles made from wood, plastic, brass, stainless steel, and aluminum.

We both started on the shop floor, although we already held technical degrees: Alexander in mechanical engineering and Evgeni in radio engineering. At Silenta, we learned production processes firsthand—from sourcing materials to machining, assembly, and the finished product. We contributed our own ideas and had opportunities to put new manufacturing approaches into practice.

Where metalworking meets computer technology

Alexander completed additional training as a mechatronics technician, expanded his metalworking expertise, and helped source high-quality stainless steel components for interior furnishings.

Evgeni focused on computers, 3D graphics, and the digitization of production processes. As the internet gained importance in the late 1990s, he led the development of Silenta’s online presence and online sales channel for children’s furniture.

By then, Alexander was working for a large company in Nuremberg. Our different areas of expertise would soon prove to be a very good combination.

02 / The founding

Stahldeko.de went online in August 1999

In the summer of 1999, we decided to build our own online platform for high-quality stainless steel curtain rods and drapery rods. Alexander contributed his metalworking expertise and contacts with stainless steel manufacturers. Evgeni handled the website, graphics, and IT.

The responsibilities were clearly divided: Alexander sourced components, assembled orders, and handled shipping. Evgeni took care of the website and technical operations.

At first, we purchased ready-made stainless steel components. After an online order came in, Alexander cut the rods to the requested length and put together the brackets, finials, rings, and mounting hardware.

We did not have a workshop at first. We worked out of our apartments. It worked—at least for us. Alexander’s neighbors probably enjoyed it less when stainless steel tubes were being cut with a circular saw again.

A look back: the early Stahldeko homepage around the turn of the millennium.

“Our own workshop? Not in the beginning. A circular saw? That we had.”

From the start, we wanted to offer stainless steel components that stood apart from ordinary mass-market products in material quality, workmanship, and design. Over time, however, it became clear that simply assembling purchased parts would not be enough for us in the long run. We wanted to develop our own products and manufacture more of them ourselves.

03 / Uttenreuth · through summer 2007

Limited space. Plenty of machines. And work kept coming.

After working in apartments, basements, and smaller workshops, we spent time in Uttenreuth, where we rented space as subtenants. The rooms were cramped, the workshop sometimes a little chaotic—but by then, we could already machine metal ourselves.

Historic Stahldeko metal workshop in Uttenreuth with stainless steel tubing and a KASTO cutting saw — Stainless steel tubing, material storage, and the cutting area: every available foot of space was put to use.

Cramped metal workshop in Uttenreuth with lathes, tube bending machine, and packing materials — Machines and packing materials shared the limited space.

Drill press and crowded workbench with tools in the former Stahldeko workshop in Uttenreuth — The workbench was rarely empty. Neither was our order book.

Blue JUTEC tube bending machine in front of lathes at the former Stahldeko workshop — With our own equipment, we could do much more than simply cut tubes to length.

04 / Ebrach-Eberau · through the end of 2011

Finally, room for our own ideas

In Ebrach-Eberau, we had a larger workshop hall all to ourselves. At first, the long metal tubes were still stored on the floor. Gradually, we added our first cantilever storage rack, a semi-automatic metal-cutting saw, and a lathe.

Larger Stahldeko workshop hall in Ebrach-Eberau shortly after moving in, with open floor space — An unfamiliar sight after Uttenreuth: open floor space.

Long metal tubes and profiles stored on the floor during the move to Ebrach-Eberau — At first, the metal tubes still had to be stored on the floor.

First green cantilever storage rack for long metal profiles in the Stahldeko workshop — Then came our first cantilever storage rack.

Metal-cutting saw area and material cart in the larger Stahldeko workshop in Ebrach-Eberau — The cutting area gained more room and better working conditions.

OPTIMUM lathe in the Stahldeko metal workshop in Ebrach-Eberau — We now had a lathe of our own as well.

Yorkshire Terrier sitting on a workbench among metalworking machines in Ebrach-Eberau — And sometimes the workshop supervisor had four legs.

With more space came greater metalworking capabilities and a broader product range. What began as assembling curtain rod orders gradually developed into a manufacturing operation where we could increasingly put our own designs into production.

05 / Emskirchen · late 2011

A workshop of our own. This time, truly ours.

At the end of 2011, we moved into our own, larger workshop in Emskirchen. It was an important step—with space for machinery, materials, workstations, and further development of our manufacturing operations.

Exterior of Stahldeko’s own workshop in Emskirchen after the move in late 2011 — Our own workshop in Emskirchen—late 2011.

Self-installed stainless steel chimney pipe on the exterior of the Stahldeko workshop in Emskirchen — Before work could really get underway, the office needed heating, too.

Stainless steel chimney and forklift outside the Stahldeko workshop building in Emskirchen — Naturally, we installed the chimney for the wood-burning stove ourselves.

Snow-covered exterior of the Stahldeko workshop in Emskirchen during the first winter after the move — We were ready for the first winter. The wood-burning stove kept the office warm.

Snow-covered Stahldeko workshop building and grounds in Emskirchen — Winter at the new location: the workshop was ready for what came next.

In Emskirchen, we could cut, mill, turn, drill, bend, and weld metal—with the appropriate machinery and trained staff. Our range expanded beyond curtain rods and drapery rods to products for bathrooms, kitchens, entryways, and closets, as well as outdoor areas, patios, commercial spaces, and restaurants. Companies from various industries and public institutions increasingly became our customers, too.

06 / Today

That original idea has grown into quite a lot

Today, we manufacture products for a wide range of applications. Custom-made products and special-order solutions are especially important to us: designs for spaces and requirements where standard products simply do not fit.

We combine our metalworking experience with an understanding of how our products are used in practice—from a single curtain to custom constructions for commercial spaces.

What has not changed since 1999 is our commitment to material quality, workmanship, and thoughtful design.

And we still welcome every customer inquiry, whether residential or commercial. Sometimes an interesting new design begins with a simple question: “Could you make something like this?”

We are Stahldeko. And we are still moving forward.