Design | APS Assheuer + Pott

A premium buffet system

Development of the versatile, sustainable buffet system APS VALO

Modular, appealingly designed, multifunctional – in 2023, we developed a versatile buffet system for APS that allows high-end restaurants and hotels to present their exquisite dishes in style. All items in APS VALO collection are made from durable materials and can be flexibly rearranged and combined. Following the success of the series, it was expanded with a Black Edition in 2025. This new addition complements the existing modules and broadens the creative scope for refined presentations and arrangements.

Hotels and restaurants that pamper their guests with gourmet cuisine set high standards for the presentation of their buffets. With the multifunctional APS VALO collection, we have created a buffet system that lives up to these standards. Premium materials like oak and black powder-coated metal were chosen for greater durability. The wood used in the collection is mostly produced in Europe and is FSC-certified. The collection’s versatility, which allows the items to be freely rearranged, also helps make it more sustainable.

The core elements of this innovative modular system are stackable boxes and trays made from solid European oak, whose surfaces are treated with fine oil to protect them from moisture. The multifunctional wooden items can be combined in almost limitless ways. The shelves, serving racks, stands and slate trays allow you to create your own individual arrangements, and every last detail has been designed with aesthetic appeal in mind. All dimensions are based on the gastronorm standard, meaning that even with just a few items a vast number of buffet set-ups are possible.

The warm glow of the oak adds to the overall impression of stellar quality. In the APS VALO Black Edition, the black surfaces provide a further elegant stage for the presentation of food. The series embodies a refined design clarity and expands the creative scope for atmospheric setups.

The versatile modules and APS VALO’s extensive range of accessories help hotels and restaurants to deliver exceptional service. The clean designs make the items easier to arrange, move around and clean, so that buffets can be kept looking appetising from morning to evening. To ensure easy access to all dishes presented on the stations, we developed an ingenious system of multi-level racks and stands. This system maximises the available serving space for smaller buffets, while ensuring the presentation is just as refined as with a big, lavish buffet set-up.

Furthermore, smart details have been incorporated into the collection’s design. The metal parts of the serving racks can be configured to different heights and angles using high-precision connectors. Metal label holders can be used to label the different buffet stations. Functional design elements like the lattice-shaped oak inserts enhance usability – they can be used to keep glasses ready to hand, for instance. There are also dividers that can be used to quickly create a cutlery box.

As a multifunctional system for premium buffets, APS VALO offers solutions for appealing presentation of hot and cold dishes. We developed an elegant wooden frame for APS’s induction hobs that blends harmoniously with the buffet system’s minimalist design. A plastic tub for crushed ice with a tray on top can be used to chill cheese or fruit, keeping it fresh and appetising for longer.

The series was honoured with the LOOP Design Award 2024 and with the DNA Paris Design Award 2024 in the "Product Design/Home-ware & accessories" category.