USER RESPONSE High gloss is much in demand and will lead the market for another few years. To find a versatile, easy-to-use and economic material is a Herculean task. Maximum materials available are imported and only a few are from reliable Indian suppliers. Also, the continuity of get-
MR. PRAMOD RAWAT,
ting the same colour again is difficult.
Rawat Brothers Furniture Pvt Ltd
Merino’s MR+ Tuff Gloss Laminates have a
The demand for high gloss laminates is more than ever before. However, the basic
better abrasion and Mar resistance than the
limitations is the lack of scratch resistance which very easily spoils the look of the
normal laminates. It’s life shall be equal to the
product. So it’s is more preferable for vertical surfaces (like shutter elements) rather
normal laminate but will retain gloss for up
than horizontal surfaces (like tops). The higher cost factor also limits its abundant
to three times in comparison. At present it is
use.
available in limited designs. However, with our
MR+ Tuff is a laminate with high gloss finish having special scratch, abrasion
past experience we have noticed that Merino
and heat resistance. The customer expects the product’s look to be maintained for atleast a period of 4-5 years, which MR+ can easily deliver. MR+ has better scratch and heat resistance than acrylic or PU. Also we can get consistent colour repetitively which does not change over time. PU and acrylic both have a yellowing effect with time and getting consistent colours is difficult. Also it is comparatively less expensive. So far we have had a very good experience in using MR+. There have been no complaints from any customer and the performance is consistent with what the company declares.
High gloss is a global trend and is well accepted in the Indian market for kitchens. However
MR. KAMLESH TALESARA,
due to man-handling as a standard practice
Sleek Furnitech, Udaipur
is continuously increasing the range in MR+. The edgebands too are available easily with major suppliers.
MR. BHARAT KAWEDIA, Nirvana Modular, Mumbai
even in the manufacturing process, the panels are prone to micro scratches. Merino’s MR+ Tuff Gloss laminate has resolved our problems of mini and micro
The gloss levels of acrylic is much higher
scratches during processing to enhance the
than MR+ but in comparison it is very expen-
beauty of high gloss. The lifesycle of MR+ is
sive. Acrylic gets scratched easily and the
three times longer than high gloss laminates
designs available are very less. While, the gloss
for the same application area. Also, the scratch
level of PU is much higher than MR+ and you
resistance in MR+ is better than acrylic and PU
get a seamless finish,. The range is endless too.
finish. The laminates can be used for modu-
But PU is very expensive in comparison with
lar kitchens, wardrobes, wall panelling and
MR+, and its application needs a lot of capital
more. The Edgebands are also easily available
equipments, and the process is very sensitive
and we have a close match with Doelken and
and time consuming. We have been using
Rehau. We have already shifted our complete
MR+ since its introduction and the major
range to MR+ in all the shades available and
benefit we have had was in production. The
we also suggest the users to upgrade to MR+
material does not get scratched easily and the
if they need respectable quality product. We
gloss level is higher. The finishes of our prod-
have had a reduced number of complaints of
ucts have increased in quality.
scratched panels.
72 DESIGN MATRIX • SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2012
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