ZOWN New Classic: Professional Folding Furniture for Hotels, Banquet Halls and Hospitality
In the folding furniture and catering sector for hotels, conference halls, catering companies and hospitality, ZOWN has established itself as a standard among European professional buyers over the past decade. The reason is not design alone — it is a systematic approach to materials, testing and logistics that other suppliers in this category have rarely executed as consistently.
This blog is an overview of the ZOWN New Classic collection: what it comprises, why the specifications matter to a professional buyer, and where this furniture system fits meaningfully into real-world use.
100% Pure HDPE (High Density Polyethylene)
Most folding furniture on the market is made from polypropylene (PP) or blends of various plastic materials. ZOWN New Classic uses 100% pure first-generation high-density polyethylene (HDPE) for tables and seats — no blending with other polymers, no recycled admixtures in primary components.
Why this matters for the HoReCa sector:
Dimensional stability. First-generation HDPE is more resistant to deformation under prolonged static load than blended plastics. A table that sits loaded all week before a conference retains its shape. A chair that seats a different guest every day does not give way at the seat.
UV resistance and water protection. The material is protected against both UV degradation and moisture — making it suitable for simultaneous outdoor and indoor use without the need for separate furniture lines.
Recyclability. Both the frame and the surface are 100% recyclable, which is a relevant criterion for buyers with environmental commitments when making procurement decisions.
The frame on tables and chairs is made of powder-coated steel in the shark grey shade — dark grey, slightly blue-toned, consistent across the entire collection. The combination of HDPE and powder-coated steel gives the furniture a visually neutral, professional appearance that adapts to any interior or exterior setting.
New Classic Tables: From Round to XXL
Round Tables (Planet Line)
Planet tables are the central format in the collection for banquet, gala and hotel configurations. The round shape allows equal distribution of guests without a "head of the table" — which is a standard requirement at formal dinners, weddings and congress gala formats. This is why Planet tables are the most frequently chosen format among hotels and event agencies covering a wide range of event types.
ZOWN offers Planet tables in five diameters from 120 to 200 cm:
- Ø122 cm — compact round table for 4–5 guests; suitable for smaller halls, restaurants with limited space or combined configurations with larger tables
- Ø150 cm — the most frequently chosen format; comfortably seats 6–8 guests, covers the majority of banquet and gala requirements
- Ø160 cm — an intermediate format for 7–8 guests, where Ø150 cm feels tight but Ø180 cm is too large for the hall
- Ø180 cm — standard large banquet format for 8–10 guests; suitable for gala dinners, weddings and congress banquets in larger halls
- Ø200 cm — the largest format in the line for 10–12 guests; suitable for prestigious configurations, high-category hotels and gala formats where spaciousness at the table is part of the experience
All Planet tables feature a 100% HDPE surface on a powder-coated steel frame, resistant to UV and moisture, suitable for both outdoor and indoor use. Load ratings, certifications and warranty are identical to the rest of the New Classic line.
Rectangular Tables (XL and XXL Line)
The rectangular line covers formats from smaller conference tables to long banquet tables for linear or U-shaped configurations. The reference model is the XL180 (182.9 × 75.2 × 74.3 cm):
- Load capacity: 362 kg of uniformly distributed load
- Warranty: 10 years under normal use
- Certifications: EN 581-1/3 Contract, EN 15372 L2
- Weight: 12.9 kg
The XXL line adds modules XXL3 (90 × 90 cm), XXL4.5 (137 × 91 cm) and XXL6 (183 × 91 cm) for modular configurations in any hall ratio.
Cocktail Tables
The Cocktail30 (Ø76 cm, H110 cm) is a high cocktail table for standing receptions, networking events and gatherings where seated configurations are not appropriate.
The Folding Mechanism
A distinctive feature of ZOWN tables is the folding system in which the frame folds into the tabletop — the table in its folded form becomes a compact panel with no exposed legs. Advantages:
- Safe stacking in piles without surface damage
- Reduced storage footprint
- Faster setup and breakdown compared to conventional folding tables
A manual blocker prevents unintentional opening during transport, while automatic safety latches ensure stability during use.
New Classic Chairs
Norman
Norman is the core model of the collection — a folding chair with a 100% HDPE seat and backrest on a powder-coated steel frame.
- Dimensions: 47 × 50.7 × 85.8 cm
- Load capacity: 272 kg (maximum recommended load for 24 hours without permanent deformation)
- Warranty: 5 years
- Certifications: EN 581-1/2 Contract
- Weight: 5.25 kg
- Compatible with Normantrolley (27 chairs)
- Built-in carrying handle and option for interlinking chairs
Aran
Aran is available in two versions: Aran Standard and Aran Plus. The seat and backrest are made from injection-moulded polypropylene in an ergonomic mesh design that allows partial airflow.
Aran Plus (shark grey):
- Dimensions: 51 × 52.8 × 81.2 cm
- Load capacity: 204 kg
- Warranty: 5 years
- Certifications: EN 581-1/2 Contract, EN 16139 L1
- Weight: 4.32 kg
- Piston mechanism for easier folding
- Compatible with Arantrolley (31–37 chairs)
Aran Standard is identical in form, without the piston mechanism.
Alex
Alex Pro and Big Alex are folding chairs made from injection-moulded polypropylene with a slightly wider profile — designed for configurations where visual appearance and comfort during extended seating are a priority. Available in shark grey, white and black.
Transport Trolleys
In professional use, folding furniture is not just a question of how many chairs fit in a storeroom — it is a question of how long it takes to set up for 200 guests and how many staff are required to do it.
ZOWN offers dedicated transport trolleys for each furniture group:
| Trolley | Capacity | Furniture |
|---|---|---|
| Normantrolley | 27 chairs | Norman Chair |
| Arantrolley | 31–37 chairs | Aran Chair Standard/Plus |
| XL Trolley | XL tables | XL table line |
| XXL Trolley | XXL tables | XXL table line |
| Planet Trolley | round tables | Planet line |
| Cocktail Trolley | cocktail tables | Cocktail line |
One staff member with a trolley can move and set up 30+ chairs in the time it would take without a trolley to handle 8–10. For hotels and conference centres with regular setups, this is a direct operational saving.
Textile Programme: Three Cover Options
ZOWN offers its own textile programme of table and chair covers — in three versions:
Flat covers are the classic format — a rectangular cloth that covers the tabletop and falls to the floor or to a defined height. Suitable for banquet and gala configurations.
Stretch covers conform to the table shape via an elastic material — faster to fit, a neater appearance without bunching, suitable for congress and reception configurations.
Paramount is the premium version with distinctive pleated skirting — dense, uniform pleats running along the entire perimeter of the table give the configuration a formal, banquet appearance that is the standard at gala dinners, weddings and high-end hotel formats.
All three versions are made to ZOWN dimensions, ensuring a precise fit without improvisation.
Certifications and Warranty: What "Professional" Actually Means
ZOWN products are tested by independent external laboratories to European standards. Certifications by product group:
| Product | Certifications |
|---|---|
| Tables (XL, XXL, Planet) | EN 581-1/3 Contract, EN 15372 L2 |
| Norman chairs | EN 581-1/2 Contract |
| Aran Plus chairs | EN 581-1/2 Contract, EN 16139 L1 |
The Contract class in EN 581 and L1/L2 in EN 15372 and EN 16139 mean that the furniture has been tested and certified for professional, not domestic use — which represents a significant difference in structural requirements, explained in more detail in the article Certificates for HoReCa Furniture: What a Professional Chair, Table or Lounger Must Have.
Warranty is structured by furniture type:
- Tables: 10 years under normal use
- Chairs: 5 years under normal use
This is among the longer warranties in the professional folding furniture category and reflects the manufacturer's confidence in the quality of the material and construction.
Who Is ZOWN New Classic the Right Choice For
ZOWN New Classic is a sound investment for:
- Hotels and conference centres with a regular need to set up and clear chairs and tables for 50–500+ guests
- Catering companies and event agencies that transport furniture between venues and require compact, robust equipment
- Restaurants and hospitality terraces with mixed outdoor and indoor use
- Schools, cultural institutions and municipal halls where furniture is used for various purposes and moved by different users
Where use is not intensive and furniture is mostly fixed in place, the collection is rather well-specified for those needs — but its value becomes most apparent precisely where furniture changes location every week.
Conclusion
ZOWN New Classic is not a collection that justifies its value through appearance. It is justified by the material (100% first-generation HDPE), certified structural parameters (up to 362 kg for tables, up to 272 kg for chairs), a well-designed folding and transport system, and warranty periods that are among the longest in the segment.
For a professional buyer who evaluates furniture through total cost per year of use — not just purchase price — these are parameters that speak for themselves.
The ZOWN New Classic collection — tables, chairs, trolleys and textiles — is available at vebo.si. Contact us for a quote, a test sample or advice on model selection for your specific application.
Author of the article: Jan Češnjevar
Sources and References
- ZOWN New Classic Collection — official page: zowncontract.com
- ZOWN XL180 table — technical sheet: zowncontract.com/en/furniture/new-zown-classic-xl180
- ZOWN Norman chair — technical sheet: zowncontract.com/en/furniture/norman-chair
- ZOWN Aran Chair Plus — technical sheet: zowncontract.com/en/furniture/aran-chair-plus-shark-grey
- Certificates for HoReCa Furniture — vebo.si guide: Certificates for HoReCa Furniture: What a Professional Chair, Table or Lounger Must Have
- EN 15372 (mechanical strength requirements for tables): BSI — British Standards Institution
- EN 16139 (requirements for non-domestic seating): BSI — British Standards Institution