Herdmar

Overview

Herdmar is a Portuguese producer of table cutlery, established in 1911 and operating from Caldas das Taipas, Guimarães. It manufactures stainless steel flatware with a focus on democratic design, exporting to 80 countries and producing around 30,000 pieces daily.¹²³

History

Herdmar was founded in 1911 by Manuel Marques in rudimentary facilities on the banks of the River Ave, initially producing knives. In 1919, it moved to its own plant in Caldas das Taipas, Guimarães, and began selling under the 'marca 11' brand. Key milestones include launching the first stamped model in 1968, starting 18/10 stainless steel production, and expanding into tableware and kitchen utensils in the 1970s. In 2002, it upgraded facilities to increase capacity to 140,000 pieces per day. The company is now led by the fourth generation of the Marques family.¹²³⁵

Product Lines

Manufacturing

All production occurs in-house at the company's facilities in Caldas das Taipas, Guimarães, northern Portugal. The plant, upgraded in 2002, uses modern technologies and automatisms for high efficiency and quality control. Daily output is around 30,000 pieces, with capacity up to 140,000.¹²⁵

Notable Products

• NOHC - Flatware with Portuguese natural cork injected into handles, nominated by German Design Council.
• Marca 11 - Early cutlery brand from 1919 plant installation.
• Stamped Model (1968) - First stamped cutlery introduced, marking production innovation.
• 18/10 Stainless Steel Line - Shift to Cr-Ni stainless steel for improved quality and pricing.

Reputation

Herdmar is recognized as one of the largest table cutlery producers worldwide, praised for quality stainless steel flatware, innovative designs like cork-handled NOHC, and family-led consistency over four generations.¹³⁵⁶ Professionals note its strong export presence in 80 countries and modern manufacturing capabilities.¹² It receives awards such as the Gold Medal of Merit Industrial from Guimarães City Hall.²