PANArt

PANArt Hangbau AG is a Swiss musical instrument manufacturer founded in 2000 by Felix Rohner and Sabina Schärer in Bern, Switzerland. The company is best known for inventing the Hang, a steel handpan instrument that helped popularize a modern family of handplayed steel drums.

The Hang is produced by hand from two hemispherical shells of nitrided steel, which are welded together to form a compact, convex top surface and a resonant bottom cavity. The top surface features a central note called the Ding, complemented by several surrounding tone fields arranged in a circular pattern. The bottom surface typically includes a circular opening that contributes to the instrument’s resonance. The instrument is designed to be played with the hands and fingers, producing a range of melodic and percussive sounds that blend sustained tones with rhythmic hits.

PanArt’s Hang combined a distinctive timbre with a novel playing technique, and it quickly drew attention from musicians worldwide. The design and sound of the Hang inspired a broad community of makers and players and spurred ongoing development within the handpan family and related percussive instruments. Beyond the Hang, PANArt has pursued other sound-sculpture ideas and experimental instruments, reflecting the company’s broader interest in timbre, tuning, and user interaction.

PANArt’s work has left a lasting impact on contemporary world music and instrumental design, and the Hang remains the most recognizable product associated with the company.