From Horsens to the world: Birthe Tofting has helped turn VOLA into a Danish design icon

For more than 50 years, VOLA has manufactured its taps and fixtures at its factory in Horsens, Denmark. A key driving force behind that success is Birthe Tofting, who for over four decades has championed durability and local production – values that continue to define the company today.

Inside the factory in Horsens, locally trained specialists assemble each tap with precision and care. What emerges is not just brass and stainless steel, but a piece of Danish design history. While many companies began outsourcing production abroad in the 1990s, VOLA chose to stay. Its products are designed to last for generations, to age gracefully, and to be repaired rather than replaced.

At the heart of this philosophy is Birthe Tofting, who last year celebrated her 40th anniversary with the company.

“When we make a technical improvement, we ensure that new components fit older models. Because we have our own factory in Horsens, we can choose to produce spare parts for all our taps – even the oldest ones. If you have an older stainless steel tap covered in limescale, we can renovate it so it looks like new,” Birthe Tofting, Sales and Marketing Director at VOLA, explains.

Today, VOLA produces just one series of taps – modular, repairable, and upgradeable. This is made possible by keeping production close. All fixtures and components are manufactured locally in Horsens, where the VOLA Academy also trains installers and supplies spare parts for products dating back to 1968.

Gaining attention in Europe

VOLA’s commitment to local production and long-lasting products has become increasingly relevant in a time marked by geopolitical uncertainty and new EU requirements on environmental impact. As a result, VOLA was highlighted in a traveling exhibition during Denmark’s EU Presidency, where hundreds of European policymakers, civil servants, and journalists gathered in Danish cities.

“We are pleased that VOLA is gaining visibility among European decision-makers. Every month, architects from around the world visit our factory to see the entire process – from raw brass and steel to the finished tap. If anyone had doubts, they now have clear proof that we continue to manufacture in Denmark,” says Birthe.

VOLA’s continued relevance and ability to inspire both nationally and internationally make the company a natural Vision Partner for the Danish Design Award. In collaboration with leading design stakeholders, VOLA contributes to strengthening Denmark’s position as a design nation and setting standards for the future.

“We are proud to present VOLA as a Vision Partner of the Danish Design Award. They are a compelling example of how design can address the challenges we face globally, where climate change and resource scarcity demand new approaches to production,” says Martin Delfer, CEO of the Danish Design Center, which co-hosts the Danish Design Award together with Design denmark.

Good design evokes emotion

When asked what defines good design, Birthe emphasizes simplicity. VOLA taps are meant to become a natural part of everyday life – a counterbalance to technology and overstimulation.

“A good life is about simple experiences. Turning a handle should feel right. Moving away from the digital and closer to the human,” she says.

She also believes that good design creates lasting value and emotional attachment. A VOLA tap can follow a family for decades, developing a beautiful patina over time and becoming part of the home’s story.

“We don’t create products for the sake of it. They must fulfill a real need and foster attachment – a sense of reassurance and pride in owning something that lasts,” Birthe explains.

Design values at every level

As a cultural anchor within VOLA, Birthe ensures that design thinking permeates the entire organization – from the factory floor in Horsens to the company’s nine international subsidiaries and global partners.

“To work at VOLA, you need to understand and communicate the values behind the design – and the message must be the same whether it comes from a salesperson, an installer, or the CEO,” she says.

Her efforts have ensured that design is not merely an aesthetic choice, but a strategic foundation of the business.

“Birthe has been the anchor ensuring that design always holds a strategic position within the company. The VOLA design philosophy grows out of the company’s values, which she has articulated and communicated both internally and externally. Together with the executive management team, she ensures that all decisions are made in alignment with the brand’s values,” says VOLA CEO Johannes Aagaard Saugbjerg.

Since 2025, VOLA has been a Vision Partner of the Danish Design Award – a partnership Birthe has helped shape. Winners are selected based on their ability to build on the Danish design tradition while expanding the understanding of what design is and can be – an approach Birthe sees reflected in VOLA’s own philosophy.

“We don’t create something new just for the sake of it. Every product must make sense – aesthetically, functionally, and emotionally. It must last for generations, be repairable and upgradeable, and contribute to a good life for those who use it. To me, that is the essence of good design – and what we strive to live up to every day at VOLA,” Birthe says.