Manufacturing and environmental commitment

Everything starts with a model we 3D print in our Paris atelier, down to the smallest detail of the design. This model serves as a master: we use it to make a silicone mold, then cold cast into it a mix of 80% pure metal powder and epoxy resin. Once demolded, the piece is sanded and hand patinated, one at a time. We work this way with bronze, copper, brass, and aluminum, each with its own powder.

Partly, and at two key moments. The starting model is 3D printed, which guarantees precision in the design and real consistency from piece to piece. But the entire finish is done by hand: demolding, sanding, patina, protection, and visual inspection all pass through our hands, one piece at a time. That's the touch that gives each handle its slightly unique signature.

Our bronze, copper, brass, and aluminum powders come from European suppliers specializing in fine metallurgy. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin, close to the composition of classic statuary bronzes. When possible, we favor powders made from remelted metal scrap, to limit the impact of extraction. Each powder is reserved for its own material, never mixed.

Traditional foundry casting melts metal at very high temperatures, which takes a huge amount of energy and sacrifices a mold with every piece. Our cold casting happens at room temperature, using a reusable silicone mold, with no melting involved. The result: far less energy spent, and a crisper pattern, since the material takes the shape of the mold without the turbulence of molten metal. It is a leaner process, built for small, carefully finished runs.

A foundry-cast handle is poured in molten metal, which calls for simplified patterns and heavy tooling. With us, the pattern is first sculpted in 3D with a level of detail molten metal could never hold, then transferred through cold casting. You get the same weight in the hand, the same reflection and patina of metal, with sharper relief. It is the same standard of material, delivered by a different process.

Yes. 3D printing the master, molding, casting, sanding, and patina: it all happens in our Paris workshop. Our metal powders and resins come from European suppliers, and both assembly and finishing stay French. Every piece is checked by eye in our workshop before it ships.

Our process is designed to stay lean. Cold casting skips the very high heat and the disposable mold that foundry work requires, and we produce only the material the piece itself needs, with no sprue to remelt. We work in small batches, close to actual demand, rather than building up large stock. Most of our restraint comes from the process itself: less energy than a foundry, less waste, less overproduction.

We make small batches and measure out the metal powder and resin as closely as possible to what each order calls for, which limits leftover material at the source. The silicone mold serves several pieces before it's replaced. We'd rather produce just what's needed than generate offcuts to deal with later. That's the whole point of working to order: little stock, little waste.

In practice, the question rarely comes up: a Holdon handle is made to last for decades, and we archive the 3D model of every piece so it can be remade identically. Our metal handles combine metal powder and epoxy resin, a blend that doesn't sort like solid metal at a recycling center. If you'd like to part with older pieces, we offer to take them back at the atelier instead of the trash. It's the cleanest way to give them a second life.

No. Our metal handles are cast from bronze, copper, brass, or pure aluminum powders, with no added lead, no cadmium, and no mercury. The materials used comply with European RoHS directives restricting hazardous substances. You can install them in a kitchen, a child's room, or a bathroom with no risk of toxic migration.

As a small atelier, we don't hold a full REACH certification: the process is heavy and costly, and few small ateliers carry it. That said, all our raw materials are themselves REACH compliant: European metal powders, resin, patinas, and protective treatments. On request, we can send you the safety data sheets for each material, useful for an architect's file or a bid submission.

Each handle is made to order in our Paris atelier. Allow an average of 5 to 10 business days for production, plus the carrier's delivery time, which varies by address. You'll receive an email with the tracking number as soon as the shipping label is issued, generally between the 5th and 10th business day after your order.

We accept all major credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) via Stripe, as well as PayPal. Transactions run through these two international references in online payment: Holdon Paris never sees and never stores your card number, all sensitive data is transmitted encrypted to the platform. The site runs entirely on HTTPS. For large professional orders, bank transfer with a deposit is possible (see architects and professionals).

Yes. French law gives you 14 days from receipt to exercise your right of withdrawal, with no need to justify it. The handles must be returned in their original condition, uninstalled, and return shipping is at your expense unless the error is ours: the refund is issued within 14 days of receipt at our workshop. To start a return, write to us via contact Holdon Paris: we'll send you the address and the process. Custom and personalized pieces are not eligible for the right of withdrawal, since they are made specifically for you.