What started off in 1961 as an architect's design sketch for modular furniture to meet our own requirements soon turned into the company's main product.
USM Modular Furniture is still produced, as it always has been, by USM in Münsingen, Switzerland.
USM founding as a hardware and locksmith’s business in Muensingen, Switzerland by Ulrich Schaerer.
Paul Schaerer, 3rd generation, joins USM.The decision is made to build a new factory and office pavilion. Paul Schaerer collaborated with the architect Fritz Haller to realize his idea and vision for a flexible factory building created with the architect’s unique, steel modular construction system.
Paul Schaerer and Fritz Haller developed a furniture system for the new USM office pavillion in Muensingen, Switzerland. The result was a flexible product that would adapt to the growing business and spatial demands of USM.
Application for patent registration for the USM ball joint for furniture by Paul Schärer.
Production and sale of USM Haller begins. First large contract furnishing the Rothschild Bank in Paris, France.
Founding of the subsidiary USM U. Scharer Soehne GmbH in Buehl, Germany.
The Higher Regional Court (OLG) in Frankfurt am Main explicitly recognised the intellectual property rights to the entire USM Haller furniture range in its decision of 11 February 1988.
© 1962 by USM Holding AG, Gümligen/Bern
Market launch of the USM Display and USM Kitos product lines.
The fourth generation enters the family firm, with son Alexander Schaerer, Dipl. Ing. EPFL.
Founding of the subsidiary USM U. Schaerer Fils SA in Charnay-lès-Mâcon, France.
Founding of the subsidiary USM U. Schaerer Sons Inc. in New York, USA.
Opening of the first USM showroom in Hamburg, Germany.
USM Haller is included in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, USA.
Opening of the new US headquarters and showroom in SoHo, New York.
Opening of USM showroom in Paris, France.
USM earns the GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality certificate for its USM Haller and USM Kitos product lines.
Subsidiary USM U. Schaerer Sons K.K. opens in Tokyo, Japan.
Opening of USM showrooms in Tokyo and Düsseldorf.
Opening of USM showrooms in Munich and Stuttgart
Inauguration of new Sqm 4300 state of the art powder coated facility in Muensingen.
50 year anniversary of the USM Haller furniture system.
Opening of USM showroom in London, United Kingdom.