Design Hub: The Astra Production Case

by Eleonora | Mar 25, 2026 | Design Hub Projects

Some projects arise from a practical need, others from a hunch. The Astra project stems from both.

In this project, the Saglietti Group applied its approach through Design Hub, a space where design, engineering, and production work together to transform ideas into tangible products, ready for industrial-scale production.
Design Hub represents the intersection of creativity and technology. It is not merely a design space, but a working method that allows us to oversee every stage of product development, from the initial concept to the physical realization.
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Architects, designers, and companies are supported throughout the entire process, with the goal of translating real needs into concrete solutions while ensuring consistency between the aesthetic vision and production feasibility.

The Astra Project

Astra, a Tuscan company operating in the fashion and luxury sector, approached us with a very specific request: to design a drawer unit capable of holding 1,200 spools of thread, perfectly organized, visible, and easily accessible, without any overlap.
The challenge was to develop a technical object—but also an everyday work tool—that was functional, sleek, and consistent with the company’s identity.

From the comparison to the 3D model

The first step was direct communication with the client. In collaboration with the sales department and the engineering office, every requirement was analyzed and translated into a comprehensive 3D model, including all system components.
Starting from this digital model, the second engineering department developed the machine programs, precisely defining all necessary machining operations. Every production phase was studied in detail, from cutting to milling, through drilling, and to the correct positioning of the hardware, with the goal of ensuring maximum precision and repeatability.

Materials and Construction

The chest of drawers is made entirely of white laminated MDF, a material chosen for its stability, durability, and aesthetic appeal. The unit consists of ten drawers, each designed to hold 120 beech pegs, for a total of 1,200 pieces.
The pegs, with precise dimensions of 90 mm in height and 8 mm in diameter, are positioned at perfectly equal distances. This design choice is not random but responds to the need to ensure order, accessibility, and true functionality in daily use.

Visibility and functionality

To allow for an immediate view of the spools, a transparent plexiglass panel has been integrated. Two circular holes have been cut into this panel for each drawer, enabling convenient access without compromising the clean lines and continuity of the design.
The finishes have also been carefully designed: the base and top have been chamfered using an edge-banding machine, resulting in a clean, uniform surface without the addition of applied edges.

Production and Prototyping

Now that the design and planning phases are complete, the project has entered the pilot production phase. Each chest of drawers was assembled in-house, with components labeled to ensure order and control at every stage. To date, thirty units have been produced. However, the value of the project lies not in the quantity, but in the process that led to its completion.

Un approccio orientato all’industrializzazione

The Astra project is a perfect example of the Design Hub’s approach: an environment where ideas don’t remain mere concepts, but become tangible prototypes that are tested and ready for mass production.
It is a process that enables the development of scalable products, while consistently maintaining a balance between design quality, production efficiency, and attention to detail.

Conclusion

That is why the Design Hub was created: to transform complex needs into tangible solutions, guiding each project from the initial sketch through to production. This same approach has guided the development of projects such as StarsBOX and the Home Office collection, reaffirming the Saglietti Group’s role as a bridge between design and industry, between vision and reality.

Because an idea is the starting point.
But it is only when it takes shape, becomes precise, and can be replicated that it can truly enter the world.

From nautical design to industrial production

by Eleonora | Feb 6, 2026 | Design Hub Projects

In thenautical furniture industry, each project is never a single isolated element, but a complex system of custom-made furniture, environments and solutions. Often, these projects are divided into production batches that must be replicated with industrial precision, maintaining design consistency and consistent quality. It is precisely in this context that our Design Hub, the operational heart of Saglietti Group dedicated to transforming customer ideas into efficient and controlled industrial production. We collaborate with general contractors specializing in nautical furniture, supporting them in the realization of specific portions of the project: not the entire yacht, but defined parts of the furniture, perfectly integrated into the overall design.

From design to production batch

The production process begins when the general contractor provides us with the 3D model of the elements to be fabricated along with the cutting plan, already optimized and divided sheet by sheet. Within these plans, each layer contains precise operating instructions, from through holes used for structural fasteners or passage of fasteners, to dedicated millings, which are essential to ensure the correct configuration of machining and machine movements. This layered organization allows us to work on only a specific portion of the project, producing only the required furniture parts and maintaining maximum fidelity to the general contractor’s original design.

Lot 1: the first production of a project

When a batch has never been produced before, so-called Batch 1, our skilled operator Luca translates the design into detailed machine programs, defining cutting, milling and drilling. Each machining operation in the software is color-coded, making the process clear, controllable and replicable in subsequent batches. Before moving on to actual production, Luca initiates a full machining simulation, which checks for interferences and collisions, minimizing errors and downtime.

From digital to CNC machine

Once the programming phase is completed, the batch enters the execution phase on the numerical control (CNC) machine. In the first batches, Luca performs an additional tooling check, verifying that the cutters are consistent with the planned machining operations. This step is critical to ensure accuracy, consistent quality and full industrial repeatability.

Labeling and pre-assembly: process optimization

Within the plant, we manage both the cutting and assembly departments, reducing errors and speeding up assembly. Thanks to an in-house developed labeling system, each part is identified and associated with the reference cabinet, ready for pre-assembly. This procedure allows us to deliver reliable components that are consistent with the design, even when we are working only on a portion of the furniture, never on the entire project.

The right material: Okumé for nautical furniture

Our general contractor predominantly uses Okumé, a high-performance, water-repellent wood that is ideal for marine environments and subject to constant humidity. Within the plant we process different types of Okumé, selected according to the target environment, type of furniture and finishes required. The material can be used raw, coated or painted, always ensuring quality continuity and consistency with project specifications.

Saglietti Group: the general contractor’s industrial partner

Saglietti Group’s value for general contractors, architects and designers lies in its ability to take a specific part of the project and turn it into a structured, precise and replicable industrial process. We intervene as an operational extension of the project team, translating the design into production without losing control, quality and consistency over time.
We don’t just provide machining: we operate as an industrial partner within complex design ecosystems, where each batch must meet high technical standards and rigorous production continuity. It is this integration of design, engineering and production that defines our Design Hub concept.