Starting around 1990, there was a fundamental change in the furniture system. This change affected the connectors / expansion elements (joining elements) inside the tubes.

The first generation consists of two toothed half-shells that wedge themselves into the tube when the screw is tightened. This system was later replaced by the second generation, which is significantly easier to manufacture.

The second-generation connectors are made of two metal plates that are clamped together. From the side, they resemble a Christmas tree shape. The advantage of this system is that the connectors stay in place during furniture assembly without requiring any manual support.

It’s easy to identify which generation your connector belongs to: simply loosen the screw through the ball and compare the parts with the images provided.

Below, you’ll find instructions and videos explaining how to remove each type of connector: