HERDMAR

Herdmar is one of Europe’s largest cutlery manufacturers, with a tradition dating back to 1911, renowned for innovative design, functionality, and exceptional finishing.

Combining family heritage with modern technology, Herdmar creates collections recognized worldwide — from luxury hotels and restaurants to elegant homes.

Its products are distinguished by precision, durability, and refined aesthetics, making Herdmar a synonym for Portuguese excellence in the world of cutlery.

With over 100 years of existence, Herdmar is one of the biggest producers of table cutlery in the world, with recognized merits everywhere, bringing to the market a distinct philosophy of democratic design which aims to present cutlery pieces as fashion items for the table.

Present in 80 countries, with the promise of “dressing the tables”, all the productive process goes on in Caldas das Taipas, Guimarães (north of Portugal), where the fourth generation of the Marques family is now at the helm of the direction, standing up for excellence, creativity and innovation on this traditional business in the region.

With a medium daily production of 30.000 pieces, and a team of around 120 collaborators, Herdmar undertakes to ensure the continuity of the values that led the company to success along their already long-life history.

Mission

Value creation through the features of our products, is the main reason of our existence. We propose to produce pieces of excellence, beyond their obvious functional utility, becoming true fashion accessories at the table, where the design links tradition to the current trends, resulting in contemporary elements. Through the trust deposited in the professional relationships, our business partners are active members in our history, which strongly contribute to our continuous development.

Vision

We pretend to be a world reference as cutlery producer strongly helping to the area development and differentiation. Characterized by a strong cultural absorption, we play in all of our work the "know-how" acquired in more than one hundred years of experience in the production of table cutlery.

Innovation, design and quality are concepts that define our guidelines which drive our professional relationships into a more personal and lasting character.

Our values:

• Quality - We invest heavily in product and service quality, ensuring a complete satisfaction and matching our costumer's expectations.
• Design - It's what distinguishes us. Each piece means a story, a moment or a personality, and it's the result of an investment made along its development, allowing each of the lines to arise smoothly in a logical way. The diversity of finishes that we provide, give each item a personal charisma, suitable for specific occasions, transforming the table into a real catwalk.
• Innovation - It's in our DNA, we do persistently risk looking to bring to our operating markets useful and differentiating elements that add the value required to excel in a remarkable way.
• Tradition - We know the road we have traveled far and we do recognize its importance keeping us faithful to our principles promoting a continuous and sustainable grow.
• Social responsibility - We act on this way, keeping the active concept, with knowledge that it is our duty to contribute to the society improvement through a conduct guided by environmental concerns and a policy of integrated and sustainable development.
• People as the most valuable asset - Human resources are the reason of our success, as such we seek a constant development of their skills, often providing an evolution of our organization and improved our performance as a company.

Start of business activity, with a capital of 50$, being established for 8 years in rudimentary facilities in a rented mill on the banks of the River Ave, with the purpose of producing solely and exclusively knives.

Installation of the plant in its own headquarters in Caldas das Taipas, which at the time was selling items of cutlery with the brand "marca 11" - year of foundation of the company.

Death of the founder Manuel Marques and succession of his sons Abel and Jose Marques, in the direction of the company. This phase is marked by the onset of a new guideline, where investments and improvement of working conditions were the "north".

Period characterized by the born and registration of the brand HERDMAR (Marques Heirs), as well as the creation of the legal enterprise Manuel Marques Herdeiros Lda. This phase is strongly marked by the recruitment of several workers, for the Portuguese armed forces, which would defend national interests in the African colonial wars.

This promoted a reengineering process with arrival of more sophisticated machinery, giving the factory technical conditions that allowed a larger scale production, lower manufacturing times and consequently lower cost and higher quality products.

Being Pioneer, Herdmar launches the first stamped model for the market, also starting at this period selling models in 18/10 (Cr-Ni).

The 60's were also marked with the beginning of the "internationalization" of the brand, which sets the first commercial relations with the Portuguese colonies in Africa.

The first logo and catalog were created, in order to assist this embryonic process of internationalization, where competitiveness is a key factor for the continued development of the company, where the import of raw material (stainless steel) allowed a more attractive selling price and good receptiveness by the markets.
In clear development and brand expansion in the 70s, Herdmar starts producing and selling some stainless steel tableware and kitchen utensils.

1st Participation in national and international fairs, starting this decade regular participation in CERAMEX (Lisbon), MACEF (Milan) and Ambiente (Frankfurt).

After the death of partner Abel Marques, the other partner and brother – José Marques, acquired the other half of the company, with his children already working there.

As a result of accession to the EU market, a strong increase in demand originated mostly by foreign customers, which led to a large increase in sales volume, consistently instilling a fundamental acquisition of "know-how" occurs.

Constitution of the anonymous society, Manuel Marques Heirs and assignment of administrative members of the 3rd generation of heirs of the Marques family offices.

Materializes the change of manufacturing facilities built thinking about your purpose, equipped with the most modern technologies, with high level of automatisms and providing excellent working conditions. This event, made possible an increase in the efficiency of production processes reaching a production capacity of 140,000 pieces per day and a great improvement of product quality.
Awarded with the "Gold Medal of Merit Industrial" by the Guimarães City Hall, as well as "Business Success Case" by the Ministry of Economy of Portugal and the Chamber of Commerce of Israel.

Herdmar celebrates its centenary, with the completion of a memorable event, which drew more than 500 people, including employees, former employees, customers, suppliers, family and friends.

The model Malmö wins iF Design Award and a Nominee prize for the German Design Award.

Distinction by the IFFHS in Singapore, through the Best Decor Award, rewarding the creativity and quality of the Oslo design among the all the European companies participating in the EU Gateway program.

Gold Prize winner in the first edition of the European Product Design Award with the model Lizz.

Special mention given by the German Design Council to the NOHC project, through the prestigious GDA competition, complemented by distinction with the Excellence Award given by the prestigious British magazine, Tableware International. For the second consecutive year it was given the gold prize award in the EPDA, this time for the Milà salad tong.

The 4th generation of the Marques family effectively assumes the corporation board, renewing the ambition to continue the consolidation of the brand and company history as a worldwide reference, as creator and table cutlery producer.

Company certification under ISO 9001 (Quality System) and ISO 14001 (Environmental System) standards, becoming the first Portuguese cutlery company to achieve certification.

Celebration of the 110th anniversary and two new international designs: German Design Award – Nominee.

For the first time winner of an Iconic Award, both competitions organized by the German Design Council.

Installation of a new photovoltaic power plant for electricity self-consumption (UPAC), which has been added to the system installed since 2012, leveraging energy efficiency in a transition to 100% consumption of green energy, with an average energy equivalence of 40% between its production and consumption.

Base Material – 18/10 Stainless Steel

Herdmar uses exclusively austenitic 18/10 stainless steel, the internationally recognized standard for premium cutlery.

Chemical composition: 18% chromium (Cr) + 10% nickel (Ni), with the remainder being high-quality iron (Fe) and strictly controlled trace elements.

Functional characteristics:

• High resistance to corrosion and staining, even under frequent use and industrial dishwasher conditions.
• Long-lasting shine thanks to the optimal balance of chromium and nickel.
• Hypoallergenic properties when properly used and correctly finished.

The microstructure of austenitic steel allows processing that combines strength and flexibility, contributing to the ergonomics and longevity of the cutlery.

Advanced Manufacturing Processes

Each piece of cutlery undergoes multiple stages of precision production:

• Pressing and forming – high-precision tooling ensures the perfect balance between aesthetics and ergonomics.
• Mechanical polishing – removal of micro-imperfections and preparation of the surface for finishing.
• Heat treatment – optimization of the metal structure to improve wear resistance.
• Surface finishing – application of the desired visual and protective layer.
• Quality control – each batch is tested in accordance with international food-contact standards.

Quality Control & Certification

All Herdmar products undergo strict control procedures:

• Tests for corrosion resistance, wear, and color stability.
• Biocompatibility – tested and approved for food contact according to EU and international standards.
• Finish durability – simulations of intensive professional use.

Special Finishes

PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition)

A high-adhesion ceramic coating, with a thickness between 0.5 and 1.5 microns, applied in a vacuum chamber using a highly ionized plasma process.

Advantages: Exceptional resistance to wear and corrosion, hypoallergenic and biocompatible, available in various colors and tones.
Recommendation: Suitable for professional (HoReCa) use.

ACD – Plastic Coating

Traditional paint application method with a pretreatment process to ensure optimal adhesion. Allows the use of any Pantone color.

Glitter version: Addition of micro polyester particles into a transparent ACD varnish for a decorative effect.

Recommendation: These finishes are not recommended for intensive HoReCa use.

24K Gold Plating

Application of a 24-carat gold layer, with a thickness of 3–4 microns.

Advantages: Luxurious appearance and exclusivity.

Swarovski Crystals

Hand-applied crystals on cutlery handles using a specialized adhesive developed for long-lasting bonding.

CBT (Controlled Brittleness Treatment)

A special controlled treatment that gives the steel surface a vintage/worn look without compromising its strength and resistance.

Standard Finishes

Polished finish – high shine and reflective surface.
Matte finish – sophisticated, understated visual effect.