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Use your QR Code reader to learn more about PremeerTM in Interprint’s magazine, The Leader

Introducing TM

Superior Protection for your Board

and your Bottom Line.

Introducing PremeerTM, a smart decorative overlay that combines unsurpassed protection against moisture and wear with all the versatility, printability and sustainability a market could ever want. Interprint’s ability to print stunning multicolor designs on SynDECOR® and apply a protective coating inline speeds delivery times and maximizes value.

Premeer outperforms other adhesive-based overlays at every turn: Premeer protects better, it folds better, it prints better and it’s better for the environment. Premeer works with all common water-based laminating or PUR hot-melt systems.

To learn more about Premeer, visit premeer.com or call Interprint, Inc. at 413-443-4733.

Premeer is designed and manufactured by Interprint Interprint, Inc. 101 Central Berkshire Blvd., Pittsfield, MA 01201 413.443.4733 www.interprint.us www.premeer.com SynDECOR® is a registered trademark of Applied Extrusion Technologies, Inc.

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Buffett Gets It… Congress Never Did… REMODELING PICTURE BRIGHTENS

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erkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett recently stated that the US economy will not enjoy a sustainable recovery until the housing industry recovers. For those of us allied to the residential and commercial construction industry, this is painfully obvious. Our leaders inside the beltway in Washington might want to pay attention. History has shown that the housing industry leads the nation to recovery. Buffet went on to say that single and multi-family homes are one of the best investments you can make and he would purchase two or three hundred thousand properties if he could only figure out how to manage them all. Yes, there’s a flood of foreclosures still swamping the market and some wonder if home values will continue to fall.

But there is some good news out there just released by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) at Harvard University.

Remodeling activity is expected to pick up later this year after two years of bouncing around a bottom. Their leading indicator for remodeling expenditures is projected to be up 5.9% by year end. Recent improvements in pending home sales and continued low interest rates are contributing to the rise according to JCHS. Interest rates are at all time lows and when combined with remarkably low prices for single and multi-family properties, it truly is a once in a lifetime opportunity for buyers. I have personally invested in student housing close to the University of Wisconsin campus in Madison. My CFO/wife and I have acquired three properties in the last few years. Prices for income properties in this area have stabilized and are now rising, but in 2009 and 2010 many of them had fallen in price along with single family homes. Rents never dropped and are now moving higher as many displaced by the foreclosure crisis are driving vacancy rates to multi-year lows. However, securing low rate, long term financing continues to be a problem for small time investors like us. Financial institutions and appraisers now bound

by Dodd-Frank have been basing financing decisions on the replacement value or other comparables rather than the profitability and cash flow of income properties. This is going to be a major obstacle for investors nationwide as they step in to acquire much of the inventory of over two million foreclosed properties in America. We often hear of regulation restraining business. This is one example which hit home for us. 50% of America’s renters live in 1-4 unit multifamily properties mostly owned by small investors. Property acquisition for the small investor will be painstakingly slow if income properties are appraised as if it is an owner occupied single family home rather than an income generating entity. Appraisers now have a new found level of independence where their opinion is the final word and cannot be questioned by banks or consumers. Dodd-Frank goes to great lengths to separate the appraiser from anyone who could influence them… as if the housing crisis can be blamed on the appraisal community rather than Congress, the real culprits.

The sooner foreclosed properties sell, the sooner the process of repair and remodel can begin…and the sooner we can realize the 5.9% jump in remodeling as expected by the Joint Center for Housing Studies.

Household formation continues to occur at a steady clip even though new home construction is languishing around 600,000 units per year. With each passing year there is an increasing pent up demand for homes, condos and apartments. Household formation is expected to average around one million over the next ten years. At some point in the future America will face a housing shortage as hard as that is to believe. For furniture and cabinet manufacturers that day can’t come soon enough. In the meantime, take heart in the opportunities in a more robust remodeling sector.

2012 DECORATIVE SURFACES CONFERENCE

Finally, we look forward to seeing you at the Decorative Surfaces Conference on October 17-19 at the Portofino Bay Hotel in Universal Orlando. On behalf of TCM Americas and my partner Dr. Kurt Fischer, we want to thank our sponsors and attendees for your continued support. For more information on sponsoring or attending the conference, go to www.surfaces-conference.com. Additionally, the popular Surfacing Reception is set for August 22 from 6-8 pm and will be held once again at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta during IWF. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, give me a call at any time. My coordinates are in the masthead of this issue.

All the best, John Aufderhaar Publisher • Surface & Panel • jaufderhaar@surfaceandpanel.com surface&panel

hnologies, Inc.

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California Closets Offers the Industry’s Best Today’s California Closets systems are finished in the latest styles of textured TFM, high-gloss rigid thermofoil or acrylic, translucent resin panels and even textiles.

CANADIAN OFFICE

Post Office Box 747, Station B Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1P 5P8 PH: 613-232-6782 FAX: 703-724-1588 INTERNATIONAL TESTING AND CERTIFICATION CENTER

73 Lawson Road, Leesburg, VA 20175 PH: 703-724-1128 FAX: 703-724-1588 www.itcclab.org

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WallBed Company Credits KML for King Size Retail Success The Great American WallBed Company helps people conquer space with comfortable beds that remain cleverly disguised behind attractive cabinetry until it’s time to “hit the hay.”

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Finishing Matters A special section highlighting the finishing industry.

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Trends: Translucent Light Panels There is no doubt that integrated lighting is an emerging trend that permeates interior, commercial and furniture design.

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Trends: High Gloss High gloss finishes entered the realm of kitchen cabinetry several years ago via the top European design houses.

Since then the popularity of the look has increased, and high-gloss is becoming more prominent in everything from kitchens and baths, to closets and furniture.

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Great Countertops There are many materials, both natural and engineered, that can meet the demanding criteria for kitchen and bath countertops. S&P presents a collection of some of the materials gracing countertops today.

Suzanne VanGilder/Surface & Panel Magazine 1617 Country Club Lane, Watertown, WI 53098 PH: 608-698-0375 FAX: 920-206-1767 svangilder@surfaceandpanel.com

19465 Deerfield Avenue, Suite 306 Leesburg, VA 20176 PH: 703-724-1128 FAX: 703-724-1588 Toll Free 1-866-4COMPOSITES www.CompositePanel.org

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34 The Real Value of Training 38 Harbour City Kitchens’ Fine Finish 42 Powder Coating for Wood Products

Michelle Bruhn/Surface & Panel Magazine 1617 Country Club Lane, Watertown, WI 53098 FAX: 920 206-1767 mbruhn@surfaceandpanel.com

MAIN OFFICE

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CIRCULATION

COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION

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KCD Software Introduces The Countertop Edge Profiler KCD Software, developers of vivid 3D custom cabinet and closet design programs, recently launched the “Countertop Edge Profiler.”

ADVERTISING

Karen Leno - KML Design, Inc. 923 Forest Edge Circle, Coralville, IA 52241 PH: 319-430-5108 kmldesign@mchsi.com

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John Aufderhaar Surface & Panel Magazine 1617 Country Club Lane, Watertown, WI 53098 PH: 920-206-1766 FAX: 920-206-1767 jaufderhaar@surfaceandpanel.com www.surfaceandpanel.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN

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Harbour City Kitchens: A Perfect Market Match Just outside of Victoria, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island, Harbour City Kitchens makes some of the highest quality custom cabinets found anywhere.

PUBLISHER

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

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Ryan Wagner, National Accounts Manager Surface & Panel Magazine 1617 Country Club Lane, Watertown, WI 53098 PH: 920-262-2080 FAX: 920-206-1767 rwagner@surfaceandpanel.com

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Next Generation Decorative Overlay PremeerTM by Interprint combines excellent board protection with high fidelity prints in a product that’s versatile and environmentally safe.

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3 From the Publisher 27 Designer Spec California Closets Ginny Snook Scott 64 Regenerate 65 Advertiser Index 66 From the Editor

ON THE COVER

White kitchens are a perennial favorite, and many engineered materials can deliver the look.

This acrylic stone countertop

by Hi-Macs® also delivers an easy-to-clean, heat and chemical resistant surface.

ARCHITECTS: PROJECT A01 ARCHITECTS, ZT GMBH/ FABRICATOR: ROSSKOPF & PARTNER AG / PHOTOGRAPHER: NADINE BLANCHARD.

Surface & Panel is published bimonthly by Bedford Falls Communications, Inc., 1617 Country Club Lane, Watertown, Wisconsin 53098, telephone 920-206-1766, fax 920-206-1767. John Aufderhaar, President, Christine Aufderhaar, CFO. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical without written permission from the publisher. Subscription policy: Individual subscriptions are available, without charge, to manufacturers who engage in panel processing, qualified service providers and suppliers. Publisher reserves the right to reject non-qualified subscribers. One year subscription to non-qualified individuals: U.S. $50, Canada/Mexico $75, all other countries $100, payable in U.S. funds. Single issues are $15, and must be prepaid. Bedford Falls Communications, Inc., does not assume and hereby disclaims any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions in the material contained herein, regardless of whether such errors result from negligence, accident, or any other cause whatsoever. Printed in the U.S.A. Postmaster: Send address changes to Surface & Panel, 1617 Country Club Lane, Watertown, WI 53098. Please direct all subscription questions and mail to: Surface & Panel, 1617 Country Club Lane, Watertown, WI 53098 PH: 920-206-1766

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Surface &

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Aventos lift systems in the kitchens

blum.com |

800.438.6788

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Living environments

Kitchens

Drawer with ORGA-LINE spice holder

Electrical touch-to-open waste bin drawers open with a touch of your knee when hands are dirty or wet.

High quality hardware plays an important role in meeting the demands of everyday kitchen use for the lifetime of your cabinets.

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Blum’s soft closing hinges and drawer runners in the closet

blum.com |

800.438.6788

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Living environments

Bathrooms and Closets The bathroom requires cabinets that ensure optimal use of storage space. The ability to use wide drawers that aren’t very deep is a real advantage. Blum’s soft closing hinges and drawer runners are a great solution here. They provide silent and effortless closing for doors and drawers in the bathroom and stand up to the high humidity.

Lift doors in the workplace or home office

TANDEM plus BLUMOTION soft closing drawer runners and many other Blum products are made in the USA. For more information on Blum products go to blum.com or contact your local Blum distributor.

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Harbour City Kitchens: A Perfect Market Match

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ust outside of Victoria, British Columbia, on Vancouver Island, Harbour City Kitchens makes some of the highest quality custom cabinets found anywhere.

Also, the company’s value line of DIY cash-and-carry cabinets rivals the big box stores. And actually, Harbour City is quite successful in that middle semi-custom kitchen market as well. “Our biggest advantage is agility. We can cater to any market,” says Lindsay Pattison, Operations Manager for Harbour City Kitchens.

Certainly the company’s continual investment in technology makes for versatile production. But Harbour City’s innovation is also due in part to what it won’t produce, which is essentially anything destined to be installed outside of the southern half of Vancouver Island. Efficiencies in automation and logistics, combined with the advantage of being a long-held locally owned business in a micro-market, contribute to Harbour City Kitchens’ perpetual success. In its 55,000 square-foot workshop, the company produces about 2000 units of kitchen, bath and home storage case goods per year, from condo developments to custom homes.

THE MARKET

Harbour City Kitchens serves a micro-economy that is based primarily on high-technology enterprise, environmentally focused tourism, local sustainability and the arts. In fact, Victoria is on track to be home to the first Platinum LEED community in the world, and is committed to being carbon neutral by the end of 2012. It stands to reason that Harbour City, a third-generation family-owned business, reflects these values.

Being able to cater to any price point in this limited market serves Harbour City well because of another interesting fact that is relatively unique to the area. “We have a very high housing market right now,” says Pattison. “It is very expensive to get into the housing market here, so things like renovations are definitely becoming a lot more popular than new builds because it is just so expensive.” Harbour City has long standing relationships 10

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with contractors, and good name recognition throughout the local community. And there is more to their operation than just kitchens.

“We do any cabinetry, kitchens, bathrooms, closets, laundry rooms, built-ins, whatever the customer’s interest is,” says Pattison. “A lot of customers become repeat customers, doing different projects over time.”

The Materials

In order to provide such a wide range of products, Harbour City Kitchens has both solid wood and panel processing capabilities.

“Nearly everything is made in house,” says Craig Bryden, who is Harbour City’s Production Manager and also an owner, along with brothers Tim and Scott Philipchalk. “On the wood side we make all the cabinet doors, dovetail drawers, butcher block counter tops, mouldings and millwork. We do buy some turned wood products, but everything is finished here. We also process TFM and plywood panels, occasionally purchasing high-gloss rigid thermofoil door and drawer fronts.”

When it comes to materials, Harbour City’s standard specifications reflect environmental responsibility, a value that is important to the both the company and the market it serves. For example, carcasses are made with NAUF MDF and particleboard. “It is not necessarily a demand, “says Pattison, “but it is another one of those things that becomes a perk.” Harbour City regularly compares their products with those made from similar

Behind Harbour City Kitchens The Technology

materials offered through the big box retailers to make sure they are price competitive.

“Once you tell customers about the nature of the boxes, they are more interested. Often we have customers come in who are still shopping elsewhere, and it definitely gives us an advantage over the competition,” says Pattison.

Distribution plays an important role in helping to navigate the ins and outs of the different environmental accreditations. “We spend time educating ourselves about how to

C

raig Bryden, Production Manager for Harbour City Kitchens, is continually looking for ways to use technology for increased efficiency, agility and environmental benefit.

Last fall Bryden took a technology tour. “After going to Germany, I was inspired by how organized the operations were, how productive,” says Bryden. “Even before that we always try to stay ahead of technology. We have always been fortunate with the volume of work we do, but we don’t take that for granted.“ Panel products currently make up the majority of the company’s business by volume, and the segment continues to see growth. To support that Harbour City revamped its panel processing operation in early 2012, bringing in several pieces of new equipment and re-organizing the production flow for more efficiency.

“We have Stiles and Biesse equipment,” says Bryden, “but all the new machines are Stiles.

They took really good care of us. One of their engineers came and toured our shop, and we gave him a floor plan. Then he gave us back a floor plan with a new layout for proper workflow through the shop.”

Continued on page 14 ›

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Dreaming of an office in 3-D?

Your customers are.

get it done properly because there are a lot of rules involved. Especially with LEED projects,” says Bryden. “We have preferred vendors, like Panolam, Newpro and Uniboard, but we are not really tied to one.

We rely on our distributors, generally UCS or Hardwoods Specialty Products, to identify what materials meet the quality and environmental specifications, then choose suppliers based on logistics.”

THE MATCH

3-D laminates give them tops with soft edges and unique shapes, drawer fronts with seamless details, and unparalleled durability.

www.jbcutting.com • 586.468.4765 12

The company’s agility gives customers more options when it comes to aesthetics. “Someone might come in and say, ‘This is the look I want,’ but it is way out of their budget. Well, we have products that can provide a similar look at a much lower price. It may not be exactly the same product, but we have many door styles, stain colors and options to go with,” says Pattison. Harbour City tests out new materials and designs in the showroom, including the latest in hardware. “It is not just drawers and boxes anymore. People want more detailed organizational units, recycle units, spice racks, things like that,” says Pattison. In addition to finely finished wood, textured TFM and veneer, the company is seeing increased interest in high-gloss thermofoil, particularly for accent work.

The combination of a limited distribution area and the capability to produce cabinets made from a variety of materials allows Harbour City Kitchens to be competitive across the market at virtually any price point. With cost taken out of the equation, customers in the greater Victoria area are more inclined to do business with a local company that is environmentally conscience, making Harbour City Kitchens a perfect match. Read on to learn more about Harbour City’s recent investment in technology, which is moving them into position to be able to serve even more segments of their specific market, such as millwork and retail casework. And be sure to check out the details about the company’s high-tech finishing operation in Finishing Matters (page 38). s&p

www.surfaceandpanel.com

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Taking care of business Stiles Machinery offers an unmatched range of world-class manufacturing equipment for any production application. Our business is built on over 45 years of deep relationships with the woodworking industry, and over the last decade that success has been extended to customers in plastics, composites, nonferrous metals, and more.

From full-scale manufacturers to studio craftsmen thousands of Stiles customers count on us for outstanding products, service, and support. We work hard to understand your production needs, and provide solutions that will keep you operating efficiently and successfully.

We’re committed to taking care of businesses like yours — 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Find out how Stiles can help you take care of your business. Call Stephan Waltman at 616.698.7500 or email swaltman@stilesmachinery.com.

stilesmachinery.com

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THE TECHNOLOGY

Behind Harbour City Kitchens ‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

RIGHT: BRANDT AMBITION 1880 EDGEBANDER BELOW: WEEKE ABD-050 CNC DRILL AND DOWEL INSERTER

Production starts with Cabinet Vision, a 3D CAD software package from Planit. “From there we send the file straight to the saw, where it optimizes for the best way to cut in terms of yield of labor and time,” says Bryden. As the machinery saws, the computer generates printed bar codes that are used to track the pieces of an order through the process. A piece moves through the Brandt Ambition 1880 edgebander to the Weeke BHX 050 CNC. When the barcode is read the computer pulls up the corresponding CAD program for the piece.

“Our machining center is one of the new pieces,” says Bryden. “This new one is smaller; it only occupies about six feet by eight feet of floor space. We used to have a router in that position, but when we really started to look at it we realized we really didn’t utilize the router, we just used it for drilling. It was far more sophisticated than we needed for about 90 percent of our work. So we replaced it with the BHX machine which is specifically designed just for drilling cabinet parts.”

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LEFT: WEEKE BHX 050 CNC BELOW:

LIGMATECH MPH 450 CASE CLAMP

Harbour City upgraded technology for more efficient box construction as well, moving from screw and staple construction to dowels construction with a Weeke ABD-050 CNC drill dowel inserter. From there the boxes go to a Ligmatech MPH 450 case clamp. “We added in a lot of automation for box construction, and we’re happy with the way everything is set up,” says Bryden. Harbour City also has a highly automated wood shop and finishing line (read more about that in Finishing Matters, page 38) In addition to the CAD software, Harbour City makes use of other software to help keep things running smoothly in the shop. WoodWop software not only operates the machines, but it also sends reminders for scheduled maintenance. “We just started using another new program called Tractivity that tracks everything everybody does during the day. At the end of the day you can pull up a job and find out how many person hours were spent on it start to finish. We always knew our material costs really well, but labor was tough to track,” says Bryden. “When this new program is fully activated it will turn into our scheduler for stations and deliveries as well.”

Harbour City is always investigating new ways to use technology for increased efficiency and agility. Looking forward, Bryden would like to eventually integrate a Bargstedt material handling/ storage and retrieval system. “We have so many materials that we carry on the floor that it would be really useful, both for inventory management and for increasing the actual cut time of the saw,” says Bryden.

“The overall goals are to be more efficient and minimize human error while increasing production and quality.” s&p

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Plummer For m Free.com 208-777-2202

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What is ECC? ECC stands for Eco-Certified CompositeTM, as defined in a ground-breaking new Sustainability Standard and Certification Program for composite panel products – specifically particleboard, MDF, hardboard and engineered wood siding and trim, and products made with them.

What makes a composite panel Eco-Certified?

The requirements for ECC Certification are tough and specific, and require annual audits.

Composite panel products must first comply with the stringent California Air Resources Board (CARB) formaldehyde emissions regulation.

In addition, the panel manufacturing facility must meet at least 3 of the following requirements: • Carbon Footprint – Panels perform as a carbon sink resulting in overall net carbon storage.

• Local and Renewable Resource – At least 85% of wood fiber sourced within 250 miles.

• Recycled/Recovered – At least 75% recycled or recovered wood fiber; or at least 50% recycled/recovered wood fiber plus a minimum of 5% post-consumer fiber.

• Sustainability – At least 97% wood fiber furnish is converted to panels or re-utilized as a valued product.

• Wood Sourcing – Conformity with FSC Controlled Wood Standard (2008), FSC Chain of Custody Standard (2008), or SFI Fiber Sourcing Requirements (2011).

Who can be ECC certified?

Audited certification is available to composite panel manufacturing facilities, decorative surfacing facilities, and fabricators in North America.

Certification is granted on a facility-by-facility basis.

What about LEED? ECC certified products may help achieve LEED credit for Recycled Content MR Credit 4, Regional Materials MR Credit 5, Certified Wood MR Credit 7, and/or Low Emitting Material EQ Credit 4.4. ECC value added products may also help earn credit for Low Emitting Materials EQ Credit 4.5 (LEED–CI) and others.

Who sponsors ECC? The Composite Panel Association (CPA) developed the ECC Standard, including its unique Carbon Calculator. CPA will administer the ECC Certification Program as a third party certification agency accredited to ISO/IEC Guide 65 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

www.ECCproduct.org The Composite Panel Association is committed to advancing and certifying the sustainability of industry products for residential, commercial and industrial uses.

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ECC Wood Products are among the greenest on earth.

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KCD SOFTWARE THOUGHTFULLY INTRODUCES THE Countertop Edge B Y

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Profiler

L A R S O N

DESIGN IS IN THE DETAILS.

A countertop edge, for instance, presents an array of choices the average consumer may not have originally thought about.

Quality design software has long recognized the need to match this attention to detail in its presentation in order to win over traditional woodworkers to modern technology.

KCD Software, developers of vivid 3D custom cabinet and closet design programs, recently launched the “Countertop Edge Profiler.” This built-in feature allows easy application of countless edge choices to a countertop design.

The Countertop Edge Profiler wraps any edge shape and material around the entire countertop with a click of the mouse. Building on the success of KCD’s Molding Maker, it utilizes the “Intelligent Application Formula.” “It sounds complicated but really couldn’t be easier for the customer,” explains Tim Murphy, President and head programmer of KCD Software. “Once an edge shape and material is chosen, this feature instantly applies it to all and only those places on the countertop that are likely going to need a custom edge. The areas lining the refrigerator and stove, for instance, would not require a fancy edge shape, so those areas remain straight.”

The Countertop Edge Profiler wraps any edge shape and material around the entire countertop with a click of the mouse.

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Bring your

own style.

KCD Designer is used by more custom cabinet professionals than any other cabinet design software in the industry.* Create stunning rooms for clients & revise them in minutes!

KCD Commander lets you automate your design, pricing and cut list reports for traditional or CNC Manufacturing.

Fast, powerful and easy to use with free tech support.

Try it now at KCDsoftware.com (QR on left)

508.760.1140 • KCDsoftware.com Software You Can Build On™

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*KCD Software ranked #1 in a 2012 Design Software Survey of the Cabinet Makers Association.

5/15/12 3:08 PM

As with the Molding Maker feature, the cabinet maker and countertop designer remains in control. “We made the quick ability to alter individual sections a priority,” says Murphy. After the edges are applied to the countertop, the designer can double-click on any particular section to apply a different edge or remove the edge from areas chosen by the Profiler.

As technology advances, those in the market for cabinetry and countertops have become savvy comparison shoppers. Their choices have increased and they demand unique styles to fit their personality but don’t bust the budget. “One is always looking for a point of differentiation in the marketplace when you are a woodworker,” says Markus Raves, Director of Marketing for Surteco Canada Ltd. Designers and manufacturers have found that more and more customers want a detailed representation to approve before committing. As John Filippelli writes in www.ForResidentialPros.com, “Dealers have found that moving toward displays that show complete kitchen and bath concepts that are fully accessorized is the best way to allow clients to truly conceptualize these designs and picture them in their own homes.” Software like KCD’s Cabinet and Closet Design Suite, gives those customers photo-realistic 3D representations. “Being able to include a fancy, custom edge just makes the picture pop,” adds Murphy.

Cabinet makers using design software have made a point to request innovations like the Countertop Edge Profiler. “We kept hearing that all the software out there tended to require a time-consuming process to add a custom edge,” says Murphy. He explains that previously, manually applying your own edge was done piecemeal, one section at a time, while the Countertop Edge Profiler applies the edge to all the likely areas on the entire countertop in an intelligent way. As Murphy puts it, “Our customers two highest priorities remain ‘ease-ofuse’ and an accurate 3D representation. The Countertop Edge Profiler provides both.”

The Profiler is compatible with any custom design in the cabinet maker’s personal library, KCD’s extensive list of edge shapes and styles, as well as supporting the edge designs of laminate companies such as Formica and Whitehall, among others.

As with all the design features in KCD Software’s Custom Cabinet and Closet Design Suite, the Countertop Edge Profiler provides a detailed cut list and pricing, along with the vivid 3D image for the manufacture and customer to be able to make the most informed choices possible.

KCD Software is an award-winning manufacturer of custom software designed to facilitate woodworkers, designers, builders and renovators of cabinetry and closets. KCD Software offers multi-tiered programs to design, price, and build cabinet and closets for both traditional and CNC Construction. This is backed by free technical support and a commitment to each customer’s success. s&p

“Dealers have found that moving toward displays that show complete kitchen and bath concepts that are fully accessorized is the best way to allow clients to truly conceptualize these designs and picture them in their own homes.”

JOHN FILIPPELLI w w w.ForResidentialPros.com

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Setting the standard

G60 Navarra Pine Grey with 514 Cherry Gloss

Rich in versatility and design, the Global Collection,

by Uniboard®, is a dynamic and luxurious colour palette that captures the leading architectural, commercial and residential trends.

The Global Collection enhances Uniboard’s comprehensive melamine collection and is available on all Uniboard particleboard and MDF panels, including the full range of NU Green® products.

Think all TFM is the same?

The Global Collection, made exclusively

by Uniboard in North America.

Think again!

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CALIFORNIA CLOSETS THE INDUSTRY’S BEST OFFERS

B Y

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nce upon a time, 35 years ago, home storage was down right primitive.

People were thrilled with any product that could bring a little order to their lives. So when an innovative 18-year-old college student turned the space saving solutions he used in his dorm room into a small business he found a very receptive customerbase. Raw particleboard shelves? Yes please. The year was 1978 and the fledgling closet company was called California Closets. By 1982 it sold the first of what would become many franchises.

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The California Closets story is essentially the story of modern panel processing. In fact, the entire closets industry, now a thriving North American market, was born out of, and grew up with, the advances in engineered materials, technology and design. Today’s California Closets systems are finished in the latest styles of textured TFM, highgloss rigid thermofoil or acrylic, translucent resin panels and even textiles. The particleboard and MDF substrates comply with consumer demands for environmentally friendly products. And the designs are all frameless and adorned with the latest in functional hardware from the big suppliers like Blum, Grass, Salice and others. Undermount slides and soft-closing mechanisms are becoming as common in closet systems as organizational baskets, tie racks and dividers.

As materials became more refined, so did the California Closets branded purpose, to create order by maximizing space with unique designs that allow customers to live and work exactly the way they want. This now includes several different lines of furniture-grade custom storage solutions that not only add functionality to a home, but are stand alone design elements that push fashion forward. “We built this company on the foundation of customer satisfaction, quality products and personalized solutions and we will strive to deliver that same level of service in 2012 and beyond,” says Bill Barton, President and CEO of California Closets. “Whether its customizing a walk-in closet or maximizing every nook and cranny of an older home, we will always put our best foot forward and make sure we meet the customer’s needs and provide the highest level of customer service and quality products.”

The Brand

“It is a completely different world once you are organized,” says Melissa Davis, Manager of Product Sourcing for California Closets Corporate.

“When there is a place for everything, it is easy to stay organized. We sell the whole experience.” This statement is true on many levels. The California Closets brand offers franchisees a proven system for designing, sourcing, fabricating and installing the very products that bring order to customers’ lives.

“The brand is the first thing,” says Ken Cleary who is both owner/operator of the New England franchise of California Closets and the Director of Franchise Operations for the corporate entity.

“I believe that there is a lot more expected of California Closets as far as the quality the franchise is expected to produce. We are always looking to stretch the edge of the product. We are the originators in the category and we are always lookKen Cleary ing for new and innovative things to do.”

Clearly California Closets is onto something. The brand has excellent recognition, a high factor of desirability and exceptional customer satisfaction that seems out of proportion to the small, dedicated corporate team. “Our products really transform the customer’s daily experience,” says Cleary. “Sometimes people have a little bit of sticker shock when they first see the product, but we are one of the few products that people like more after 30 days. By 60 days they are

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The California Closets story is essentially the story of modern panel processing.

Textured Beauty

Pentadecor® 3D Laminate films Wenge design with deep surface texture Beachwood and Boardwalk perfect for fixture and display, kitchen and closet

Beachwood WE/0202

Boardwalk WE/0201

Available now from SSI North America Matching TFM available from Tafisa in “Alto” finish Beachwood L550 / Boardwalk L551

973.598.0152 www.ssinorthamerica.com 24

devotees. And 90 days after installation they are completely enamored with the system because they see how it has changed their lives.”

In fact, California Closets consistently scores in the “excellent” range in Net Promoters surveys.

The Process

California Closets became a subsidiary of the innovative franchise company FS Brands in 1998, which helped to further refine the company’s successful model. There are currently 71 franchises. “Our processes are where we shine,” says Davis. “We have created really good processes and we have people who have been in the industry a really long time working on the model and improving it constantly. We want to continue to be the leaders and the innovators.”

The success of a California Closets brand depends heavily on two factors: The California Closets model for consistent quality and the franchise owners’ dedication to customer service. Each franchise does its own panel processing in house, and has it’s own showroom, in some cases many showrooms. John Riordan is the Manager of Product Development and Support for California Closets. His role is to make sure that the processes of design, fabrication and installation of custom home storage systems can be carried out flawlessly by every franchise.

“We have two models for franchisees depending on their level of knowledge and available space,” says Riordan. “We have more of an RTI set up with basic machines. Those operations are buying panels from distributors that are basically sized and edgebanded, and they are more adjusting them to fit the customer’s closets. Then there are some franchises that have full-blown manufacturing with CNC routers, beam saws, edgebanding, the whole works.” Generally franchises start off small and grow into more sophisticated operations. “We work very closely with Stiles, and also Biesse,” says Riordan. “Stiles knows our business, it is a true partnership. They don’t just want to sell machines, they want to make sure that the equipment is the right fit.

www.surfaceandpanel.com

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New Debut Series Designs Infused timeless color with luxurious native woodgrains that are influenced by urban and organic trends.

For more information, go to Roseburg.com

TF 800-245-1115 www.Roseburg.com Decorative | Construction | Industrial W O O D P R O D U C T S Duramine is a registered trademark of Roseburg Forest Products, Roseburg, Oregon

26 www.surfaceandpanel.com ROS_S&P_040912.indd 1

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And because different franchise owners have bought equipment over the years, Stiles knows what works and what doesn’t.” New franchise owners receive as much consultation as necessary to ensure that they get the right equipment for the business, and that the workshop is laid out for optimal production flow.

A California Closets franchise is a turn-key operation from consultation to installation.

Typically an in-house designer visits a client’s home to take measurements and an inventory of the items to be organized. A second meeting at a showroom lets customers see available designs and materials. From there a specialized CAD-based design program also creates a bill of materials, which is then sent through the production software at the franchise’s manufacturing facility. Once the custom home organization system is produced, in-house installers deliver it directly to the client’s home for installation. New franchises have the opportunity to test this process by designing, fabricating and installing their own displays for their showrooms.

FASHION FORWARD

Advances in materials technology are crucial to the continuing success of California Closets.

“For a business to succeed in this increasingly competitive economy filled with skeptical consumers, you need to adapt to the changing environment and provide superior quality, design and materials,” says Barton. “To ensure we deliver the best quality products, we scour the world for the best materials available.”

California Closets franchises are spread far and wide, so the corporate entity has a team dedicated to carefully selecting products and vendors. “Before we place any material or product on the approved list it is tested and vetted,” says Davis. “Within the sourcing department we also have our installations specialist. Our reputation is our brand, we have to put the best products forward, and they have to work.” Franchisees have the ability to choose which products and vendors they use from the approved list, depending on geographic location, logistics and personal preference.

Closets are proving to be an area of the home where consumers feel comfortable dabbling with newer materials and more daring aesthetics. “We’re very driven by fashion and trends,” says Davis. “It gives people permission to step away from traditional style and move into something with a little more punch. We constantly update our showrooms to show the latest.” California Closets’ showrooms currently display deeply textured melamine, thermostructured panels from Cleaf, acid-etched glass, high-gloss from Prémoulé and Northern

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Contours, and 3Form Ecoresins. In the near future look for increased use of integrated LED lighting innovations from several suppliers, including Element Design, ESI and Hafele.

LED technology is ideally suited for home organization systems because the fixtures are designed to be cool to the touch, a must in small spaces where clothing is stored.

California Closets’ diligence in choosing materials that reflect emerging trends is part of what encourages customers to explore new looks and new materials. The other part is the brand’s commitment to customer service. People trust the California Closets brand to come into their lives and create order. And in that relationship customers become more open to new ways of doing things. “The commitment to customer service wraps into the brand, and I think that makes us different,” says Cleary. “We have a quality product, we stay on top of new innovative products, but what we really try to pay attention to is the customer. We have an expression: We are only going to deal with suppliers that have the same value system we have when it comes to the customer.” s&p

C ALIFORNIA CLOSETS Ginny Snook Scott is the chief design officer at California Closets. She has over 25 years experience with California Closets and has helped over 1,000 clients organize their home. She spoke with Surface & Panel about fashion and design in home organizational systems.

S&P: What is the approach to designing an organizational system for the home?

GSS: Closets are an extension of style. As a company we are very focused on design. It is a strong differentiator in the category. Organizational systems are increasingly used in the main home spaces, in offices or as media centers. People are keen on something that enhances the design of their home, whether it is traditional or contemporary. If the bedroom has splashes of majestic purple, then people want to see that carry into the closet too. Also, people like the look and feel of a built-in product, it is not as casual as the mix and match look.

S&P: Where does California Closets look for inspiration?

GSS: We go to the European design shows, like The Milan Furniture Fair (Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano) and interzum. Our contemporary and higher-end lines reflect European styling, inspired by the likes of Studio Becker and Poliform.

S&P: What fashion trends are you seeing coming into the marketplace?

GSS: In terms of finishes, we look for what people are intrigued with. One of the approaches we are seeing is the combination of materials in the finishes. We look at different ways to incorporate color and outside elements that are not traditional in closets. In addition to classic woodgrain we are beginning to work a lot with texture, high-gloss finishes and even fabric panels. Using different elements together allows people to bring in color and interest without having to build an entire piece out of bright red. In Milan this year we spotted a lot of calming, sophisticated neutral palettes, especially cashmere, grays and taupes. Last year we saw large portions of furniture and storage designs with swaths of bold, dramatic colors, contrasting with whites and blacks. This year, the subtle neutral palettes are highlighted with touches of color, most notably citron and a shade of red reminiscent of “fire

California Closets’ diligence in choosing materials that reflect emerging trends is part of what encourages customers to explore new looks and new materials.

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engine red.� Soft variations on gray are a common theme, and cube shapes are quite prominent as well, including color blocking on larger pieces. LED lighting is used to great effect in many media centers and display systems, often in colors that complement the piece.

Translucent works well with lighting, and is showing up in many components, including translucent accordion-style screen doors.

S&P: Are there other influences driving the closet industry?

GSS: I think one of the things we are seeing after the recession is that people are not upgrading to larger homes so it is common for them to sit back and reinvest in the home they are currently in. And storage is one of the areas that people are very keen on investing in. After location, kitchen, bath and storage are the three things that homebuyers look for, so it is where people put their efforts. Part of that is also creating multi-functional spaces, things like combination office and guest bedrooms. Things like pull out desks and wall beds allow people to have guests without the guests feeling like they are encroaching on personal space. Advances in hardware make that possible.

S&P: What changes have you seen in materials over the years?

GSS: Going back 15 years people had some strong opinions about melamine because it had such a bad name, and the units sold in the big box stores did nothing to help that impression. For a while our franchises spent time educating customers about the materials we use. But the products have advanced by leaps and bounds, and people are used to seeing the higher caliber materials. Right now we use a textured melamine we saw in Milan five years ago. It is just amazing. When people look at it they can’t believe it is actually a melamine finish. s&p

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221-2597_

tafisa

trendsetting texture

alto by tafisa Introducing ALTO, a brand new texture and stunningly tactile surface for decorative panels. Available in 10 new colors, the Alto texture is yet another exciting innovation from Tafisa—the company who leads the way in fashionforward interiors, touching off world-class trends right here in North America. And raising industry standards too.

Tafisa’s wood-fiber panels are manufactured using 100% recycled and recovered wood materials, saving millions of trees every year. Now that’s making a statement.

Find out about Tafisa’s green mission and see the new Alto colors at tafisa.ca Customer Service: 1-888-882-3472

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Wallbed Company Credits KML FOR

King Size

W W W. LEOVSA NTI AG O P O RTR A IT S .CO M

Retail Success

R

obert Pratt, owner of The Great American Wallbed Company, helps people conquer space. His comfortable beds remain cleverly disguised behind attractive cabinetry until it’s time to “hit the hay.”

Happily for Pratt, his Seattle area-based business is growing. Lingering economic challenges have more families and remodelers looking for cost-effective solutions – like wall beds – to optimize space in condos and other smaller homes.

However, the recent economy is not the only key to Great American’s growth. The recently earned “vendor exclusivity” status with a large national warehouse retailer has catapulted Pratt’s business to a new level.

See & Feel the Beauty

Introducing EDGEWOOD™ from KML— the surface that adds depth and texture to your designs.

KML’s latest textured finish, Edgewood, will transform your contemporary designs for: • Closets

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• Commercial buildings

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• and more Call or click today: 1-888-358-5075 www.kmlcorp.com

EDGEWOOD gives you the look and feel of real wood with KML quality— in virtually endless color combinations.

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W W W. LEOVSA NTI AG O P O RTR A IT S .CO M

The secret to this success? Kustom Material Laminators (KML Corp). “They have a buyer’s mentality,” Pratt states.

For Great American’s second attempt to pitch their products to the retailer, Pratt’s team brought in samples of KML decorative wood grain surfaces, thermo-fused melamine enhanced with special embossing to emulate real wood.

While the store’s buyers had been biased toward real wood, they were immediately impressed with what they saw.

The texture of KML’s melamine yielded the look and feel of natural wood, even under harsh warehouse lighting. It also promised longer lasting and more consistent colors without the need to varnish or stain.

Increased resistance to damage from scratches and daily wear was also a crucial factor. As Pratt notes, “It’s bullet proof.” And, finally, lower material costs allowed the beds to be sold at prices more affordable to consumers. The buyers were sold.

Before approaching the retailer a second time, Pratt knew he needed to find just the right material to really “wow” them. KML’s melamine was more than up to the task. Pratt worked closely with the KML team to develop the warm, wood-like surfaces using their unique embossing capabilities and high-fidelity pattern printing.

While the KML product was the home run Pratt needed, it was ultimately KML’s customer service that sealed the deal. The KML team worked tirelessly to ensure top quality and delivery, and to meet the price points Pratt needed for profitability.

“I get nothing but good feelings” working with KML, he says.

Great American is one of a growing number of companies discovering melamine as a costeffective, yet high-quality alternative for cabinets and furnishings. A recent study by Global Industry Analysts (GIA) confirms this trend, predicting that by 2015, the market for melamine will exceed 1.8 million tons.

Designers and manufacturers alike look to today’s melamine for its remarkable range of colors and textures.

And, like Great American, they’re also increasingly using it to mimic wood – while enjoying the reduced costs and increased durability it offers compared to solid or veneer wood panels.

And, melamine allows for a variety of green options, including substrates made from up to 100% recycled materials. s&p

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S TAY T U N E D . . . O U R L I B R A R Y I S G R O W I N G

A R C H I T E C T S

A N D

D E S I G N E R S

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JUNE 2012

MATTERS

THE REAL VALUE OF TRAINING HARBOUR CITY KITCHENS’ FINE FINISH POWDER COATING FOR WOOD PRODUCTS TRENDS: TRANSLUCENT LIGHT PANELS

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THE

Real Value OF TRAINING B Y

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n 2005 an MIT study conducted by economists from the Federal Reserve Bank, MIT, the University of Chicago, and Carnegie Mellon* resulted in startling findings about what truly motivates people. It turns out that the long-held presumption that increased pay increases performance is inaccurate, except for purely mechanical tasks. In fact, the research shows that using money to encourage performance for any task that involves even lowlevel cognitive functioning actually decreases performance. According to the study, replicated in different cultures throughout the world, people are truly motivated by three things: autonomy, mastery and purpose.

This research helps to identify the real value of technical training in industry. Allen Ellis is the Training and Commercialization

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Manager for Valspar North American Wood Coatings. He is an industry veteran with experience in distribution and he also heads Valspar’s educational effort, internally known as Valspar University. The program is dedicated to training distributors about the selection and application of technical finishes. “Education is so important to everything we do, on every level,” says Ellis.

“Through education distributors are able to better inform customers, and in turn customers have more success.”

Valspar began offering the training courses, typically identified as introductory, intermediate, advanced and custom subject matter, in 2010 as a part of their effort to make highly technical finishes available to smaller workshops through distribution. But finishing can be tricky. Not only do custom-

G I L D E R

ers judge products based on the finish, but it is generally the last step in production, after all the other value-added processes are complete. Choosing the wrong coating for the purpose, or not following the application procedure, can result in finish failure and the entire effort is wasted. While there is no denying that people are watching the bottom line all along the value chain, the study referenced above suggests that the motivational value of training goes beyond dollars and cents.

AUTONOMY

Each three-day class consists of 8-12 students, generally distributors and their customers. “It is an opportunity for the customers to review how the coatings are built and to see the product being produced in the plant,” says Ellis. “More importantly, they also get hands-on experience using the product in our training area.” Since distributors typically carry many product lines, having detailed knowledge empowers individuals to make recommendations based on what they truly feel is the best match for the customers’ needs. This quality of self-direction provides individuals within the distribution channel with more satisfaction than simply executing a transaction.

Trained representation in the distribution channel also adds to the customer’s autonomy. For the small to mid-sized shops that do not do enough volume to justify buying direct from the manufacturer, one option is to buy simple coatings off-the-shelf. But considering how important this finish is to the end-product, having access to the same technical coatings developed for large manufacturers is advantageous to smaller operations. Distributors that can confidently supply a variety of finishes and the knowledge of how to use them, provide their customers with more options of how they position themselves in the market.

www.surfaceandpanel.com

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Stiles Finishing Technologies is growing to meet the needs of our customers.

SM

Stiles Machinery Inc. has announced a major finishing program initiative to create a new generation of technology to fit the ever-changing needs of our customers. From start to finish, this team approach provides a complete range of the most advanced finishing technologies.

We have carefully researched industry trends and solutions to identify resources with technologies and products that best aligned with our customers’ needs. A combination of manufacturing partners comprise Stiles Finishing Technologies to further support our commitment to Total Production Solutions in wood, metals, plastics and advanced materials – from small shops to large production facilities.

For more information about Stiles Finishing Technologies, visit stilesmachinery.com/finishing or contact Stephan W. Waltman, Vice President, Stiles Machinery, at 616.698.7500 or swaltman@stilesmachinery.com.

stilesmachinery.com

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“Through education distributors are able to better inform customers, and in turn customers have more success.”

ALLEN ELLIS, TRAINING AND COMMERCIALIZATION MANAGER, VALSPAR NORTH AMERICAN WOOD COATINGS

MASTERY

Those who come to Valspar University are granted access beyond sales and marketing outreach. “We have a lot of industry veterans, people who have been with the company 25 or 30 years or more,” says Ellis. “Attendees get to see our technical people, the color stylists in the color studio and the lab.” Introducing distributors to the industry experts may not directly translate to dollars, but it reinforces Valspar’s credibility and commitment to quality. And that creates a learning environment where distributors can effectively expand their knowledge and hone their craft. “The distributors that take the time to send their people to trainings, and the individuals that attend the sessions, are committed to continually learning,” says Ellis.

One of the takeaways that Valspar hopes to pass along to attendees is that as the coatings become more technical the rules become much more specific, and how those coatings are applied is very important. “We’ll show people more advanced products, but

they have to understand the guidelines, and be able to relay that knowledge,” says Ellis, “or the customer will have coating failure.”

PURPOSE

Everybody likes to feel like what they do matters. And regardless of what a person does, there are always opportunities to make a positive contribution. Distributors that complete Valspar University’s trainings come away with tools to help their customers

reach their goals. Maybe a shop requires a more durable finish, but does not have time in its production flow to apply more coats.

Maybe a small company has an opportunity for a large contract if they can achieve a certain aesthetic finish. Distributors who are well versed in the availability and implementation of technical coatings are equipped to help customers succeed.

There is also a more subtle level of purpose that comes from training sessions.

“The distributors meet their peers from other parts of the country and they bond,” says Ellis. “Often times they keep in touch after the session, sharing success stories and solutions to common issues they run across.

They help each other. That sort of intangible is every bit as important as the tangible benefits of the training,” One of the interesting things about motivation is that while people are not inspired to succeed by money, when they are given the opportunity to exercise autonomy, mastery and purpose financial success tends to be a by-product of their efforts. And that is the real value of training. s&p

An excellent ten minute animated video summarizing the research was created by RSA.org and is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc *The study can be found in its entirety here: http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/wp/wp2005/ wp0511.pdf 36

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Vlspar_Su

Do more than you ever dreamed possible with your woodworking jobs.

Valspar offers innovative, easy-to-use and apply products and superior support that help bring your ideas to life. So dream it, create it, and enjoy the results.

View how-to videos and find a local distributor at Valsparwood.com

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Harbour City Kitchens’

FINE FINISH F B

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or 30 years Harbour City Kitchens has served a relatively small and clearly defined market that encompasses the southern half of Vancouver Island. The local economy is built on high-tech industries, tourism and the arts; and reverence for the pristine natural surroundings is a guiding principle for the community. Over the years Harbour City has expanded beyond the original wood kitchen cabinet to include a panel processing operation and product offerings for the entire home (see Harbour City: A Perfect Market Match on page 10), making the company very agile and able to serve the residential market across any price point.

Yet in the quest to better serve the market, Harbour City has never abandoned its roots in fine wood cabinetry. In fact, four years ago the company made a significant investment in an automated finishing line that not only streamlined production of its current offerings, but also opened up the possibility for even more ways to expand. “There is opportunity to grow in the market,” says Craig Bryden, Production Manager for Harbour City Kitchens. “Everyone sees the visual side of casework, the exterior. People don’t generally open cabinets up and look on the inside to see how cabinets are built. They just look at the doors hanging on it and how the finish is. There is a big market in functioning as an OEM because finishing is always a bottleneck in the cabinet industry when it comes to getting product out on time.” In addition to building boxes, Harbour City’s investments in technology increase its overall production capacity, positioning them to reliably take on jobs in other segments, such as millwork and retail casework.

TECHNOLOGY

Four years ago Harbour City invested in a Cefla Unospray flat line finishing line to increase production.

“We used to do all our finishing by hand,” says Bryden. “Finishing was the biggest bottleneck in our company. We could not get enough product through finishing to keep up with demand. So we decided to commit and make the investment. It is probably the best piece of equipment we have bought, really. It allowed us to take on as much woodwork as we want to take on.” The Cefla Unospray has one head with four guns 38

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on it. Product moves from spraying to a sixtray oven at the end of the line. The finished product goes through each level of the oven, and when it comes out 20 minutes later it is dried and ready to sand, scuff and go back through for the final topcoat.

“Cefla came and installed the whole machine and did the training on it,” says Bryden. “At the same time our local rep from M.L. Campbell came out and worked with us.” Prior to the installation of the equipment, Harbour City was using spray and wipe stains. “With the automated line you have to do spray only, you can’t wipe it. So M.L. Campbell helped us reformulate probably 15 different stains colors.

The local guy was here, and they called in a tech from Vancouver. Then one of the head guys in Canada came too, to make sure things were working properly,” says Bryden. Once the new system was fine tuned Harbour City saw increases in the consistency, transfer efficiency, quality and speed of the finishing process.

the finishing experience

THE DIFFERENCE STARTS WITH A GREAT FINISH. THE CEFLA FINISH. MAKE IT YOURS.

Environment

Harbour City Kitchens is a third generation, local family business. Their business is built on relationships and the knowledge of what is important to their customers. The ethos of the market, which influences buying decisions, is one of environmental stewardship.

“We just started using M.L. Campbell’s new EnviroVar™ finish,” says Bryden. “It is a revolutionary new platform because is a solvent borne product that is GREENGUARD Certified. It works well for us because we have the automated spray line and we currently use all solvent based products, so for us to switch over to water borne when we do a project the requires no VOCs is quite a big hassle for us. We have to clean the lines out, get it all primed up and ready to go for using that product. So for M.L. Campbell to have this new GREENGUARD Certified solvent borne finish works out perfectly for us.”

• • • • •

Cefla Finishing has been in the US and Canada for over 25 years.

Our new Charlotte, NC facility houses sales, after-sales support, administration and manufacturing.

The state-of-the-art testing laboratory welcomes customers, fluid management and coating companies.

Extensive spare parts inventory ready for prompt shipment.

Factory trained technical engineers available to assist via phone or onsite support.

Cefla Finishing Group.

The preeminent source for surface treatment systems and solutions.

Come visit Cefla Finishing at AWFS 2011 - Booth 8729

Cefla North America 6125 Harris Technology Blvd. - Charlotte, NC 28269 - USA Tel. +1 704 598 0020 - Fax: +1 704 598 3950 E-mail: info@ceflaamerica.com

www.ceflafinishinggroup.com

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The “green” aspect of EnviroVar ™ translates to a safer working environment, and for some customers that is an important part of the story when it comes to supporting local, environmentally responsible businesses. “In some ways it is more of an educated sell,” says Lindsay Pattison, Operations Manager for Harbour City, “but we are lucky that people around here are pretty well informed and interested in that story.” In fact, because Harbour City competes across all price points in its market, from their Cabinets Direct cash-and-carry DIY line, to semi-custom and fully custom homes, the environmental back story is often a deciding factor for customers. There are also some direct benefits to using products with no VOCs. “In the past we would get calls from customers when the cabinets were first installed that specific stains smelled quite strongly,” says Pattison.

“We would have to ask the customers to leave the windows open for a while. That was many years ago, though. And the finish technology has come a long way.”

Craftsmanship

Historically Harbour City has utilized solvent borne finishes for their high-end custom cabinets. “The quality was always far superior to water,” says Bryden. “I know recently water has made pretty big strides in terms of the look of the stain, the finishing quality and the dry times, but in our 30 years of experience the colors seem to be a lot better with the solvent borne products.” And for Harbour City to compete it is not enough to just be local, their cabinets have to be high-quality and their service reliable. “We even use the Cefla finishing line to help with our custom finishes,” says Bryden. “When a specialty glaze or antiqued look is specified we run the doors through the line to prime them and apply the paint resistance, then we send them over to the hand spray booth where we have a couple of people who do the final steps of the specialty finishes.”

Over all, the automated finishing line makes Harbour City’s finishing more agile and efficient. “It allows us to do a lot more,” says Bryden, “and it opens the door to other opportunities. Plus it helps us in the market to be able to deliver product on time. Many of our customers are repeat customers in different phases of remodeling. That can be tough.

No one wants it dragged out longer than necessary. Our customers rely on us. Our investment in automated finishing technology helps us to take good care of them.” s&p 40

www.surfaceandpanel.com

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MLC3538

CLEAN CURE™ TECHNOLOGY

FORMALDEHYDE-FREE

SOLVENT BORNE

LOW ODOR

HAPs FREE

Innovation is in the air.

Formaldehyde-free Finishes from M.L. Campbell

Our breakthrough solvent borne technology platform provides acid cure formaldehyde-free amino-alkyd post-catalyzed and pre-catalyzed finishing systems that are both low odor and HAPs free, helping to create a safer work environment.

Products with Clean Cure™ Technology apply easily, cure at normal ambient temperature and dry to a smooth-touch finish with superior durability, depth, clarity and aesthetics. Both EnviroVar™ conversion varnish and EnviroMax™ pre-cat were specifically formulated to eliminate formaldehyde off gassing concerns from acid cure coatings on commercial and residential projects, improving indoor air quality.

Our formaldehyde-free products include:

ENVIROVAR™ ENVIROMAX™

See your nearest M.L. Campbell distributor for recommendations on which Clean Cure™ Technology products best suit your shop’s needs.

*

®

Smart People. Brilliant Finishes.

Expertise is the key ingredient in all we do at M.L. Campbell. Not only in formulating our products, but also in providing invaluable technical answers. Our expert distributors are the best in the business. And they’re at your disposal with unmatched product knowledge and training programs. Along with our easy-to-apply products and industry-leading marketing support, M.L. Campbell gives you the wood finishing results you demand.

* M.L. Campbell EnviroVar™ earned a Sequoia New Product Award for Green/Environmental Leadership in Wood Coatings at the AWFS® Fair 2011.

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Powder Coating FOR Wood Products

O

ver decades powder coatings have established a proven track record as the surface finishing technology of choice for aluminum and steel due to their cost efficient and environmentally friendly properties. However, industrial powder coating of wood-based machined components is a relatively young technology; and until recently, the lack of long-term field experience was obvious in inconsistent results.

That being acknowledged, powder coating shows enormous potential for finishing wood products in terms of economic efficiency, surface durability and the availability of a wide spectrum of color designs and effects. Plus the technology is environmentally friendly with zero emissions. In response, TIGER, a global leader in powder coatings technology, helped to develop a commercially viable process, called the TIGER Drylac® Wood Dual Powder Coating system, which adapts modern coating technology to industrially produced engineered wood, particularly MDF. The resulting powder coated wood products are suitable for use across the whole spectrum of applications in the furniture sector, ranging from kitchens, bathrooms, offices and children’s rooms to ready-to-assemble furnishings. The durability of the surface treatment, and the fact that components can be finished on all sides (no need for edge treatment) makes it an increasingly common specification for retail, office and commercial applications.

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The new TIGER Drylac® Wood Dual Powder Coating system allows for unprecedented consistency in powder coating application based on substrate material, desired coating characteristics and through-put speed. In order to appreciate the precision necessary to successfully implement powder coating for wood products it is helpful to understand some of the basics behind the technology.

WHAT IS POWDER COATING?

Powder coatings are solvent-free coating materials formulated out of resin, pigments and additives. The production of the material itself involves combining the ingredients, extruding the mixture and then grinding and results into a fine powder characterized by a defined particle size distribution. Electrostatic spray equipment applies this powder to the substrates, which may be flat or contoured. Finally, a curing process causes chemical cross-linking of the polymers. During this final step the powder becomes a thermoset coating with excellent performance properties.

www.surfaceandpanel.com

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SP_Q2_DVUV:SP_Q1BuyersGuide_DVUV

CARB Compliant REQUIREMENTS FOR SUCCESSFULLY POWDER COATING WOOD-BASED SUBSTRATES

For successful powder coating, the substrate material must meet three major requirements: 1. Electric conductivity.

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Page 1

SFI Certified MDF

Efficient Manufacturing LEED Credits

100% Recycled Content MDF

2. Smooth surface.

3. Thermal stability of the substrate material.

Engineered wood-based material properties such as density, type of binder, additives, type of fibers, etc. play a crucial role to provide good coating conditions.

A conductive substrate is required for powder coatings to guarantee grounding of the substrate and good electrostatic attraction of the electrically charged powder. The electric conductivity of the substrate material is mostly dominated by the moisture content. Wooden materials should have a moisture content of 5-7% and a surface resistance of 10^5 – 10^9. Lower moisture content will cause insufficient conductivity, higher moisture content will cause blisters in the coating due to outgassing effects.

Conductivity may also be achieved by adding conductivity-improving additives to the substrate or by pre-treating the surface with a specialized primer.

The final surface finish of the coating may be affected by the surface smoothness of the substrate. This is especially true for smooth and high gloss finishes, as well as edge treatments and contours. Mechanical surface pretreatments such as sanding or thermo-smoothing are recommended, and in some cases primer is a must.

UV-Cured Powder Coating Fast, Clean & Green

TM

No VOCs

Solvent Free

Non-Toxic

How Green Are Your Materials?

Let us help you GREEN up your products with our UV-cured powder coating for wood.

POWDER COATING AND CURING

For more than 30 years TIGER Drylac® Powder Coatings have been well known in the coatings industry. Today, TIGER Drylac® is produced in 10 locations in Europe, North America and Asia, with sales and customer service managed by a global distribution network. Now, TIGER is drawing from its long time experience in the metal coating industry to meet the challenges of successfully expanding powder coatings to the wood processing industry.

Powder coatings can be formulated for specific aesthetic and performance characteristics. Depending on the objectives of the coating, two different curing methods are used, each offering advantages:

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Store Fixtures, POP Displays, Healthcare, Education & Office Furniture You’ll love the results.

Contact us today & learn more or request a sample!

Watch our YouTube video!

4641 Hinckley Industrial Parkway Cleveland, OH 44109 216-741-5511 sales@dvuv.com

5/15/12 3:37 PM

TIGER Drylac® Wood Thermal Cure is a newly developed powder coating technology for heat sensitive substrates. The powder coating cures at a low temperature (250-300°F) with excellent results for fine texture and matte finishes.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF POWDER COATING WOOD PRODUCTS?

“...powder coating shows enormous potential for finishing wood products in terms of economic efficiency, surface durability and the availability of a wide spectrum of color designs and effects.”

Powder coating offers a wide range of colors and effects, including the potential to finish every surface of a component, as well as 3D applications. Once cured, the powder coated surface is very durable and resilient. Additionally, this powder coating system is solvent-free and the overspray can be recycled in the production process, thus allowing efficiency levels of up to 98% with no coating residues to dispose of. TIGER powder coatings do not contain heavy metals or halogen compounds.

TIGER combined knowledge gained in the fields of powder application, curing techniques, oven design, MDF quality requirements, test equipment and quality assurance to develop a commercially viable process for powder coating wood-based products.

Information is available through TIGER technical personnel. TIGER can assist companies interested in exploring the full potential of this modern MDF coating technology. It requires close understanding of the entire process parameters including powder coating system, MDF qualities and thermo-curing systems. s&p

T R A D I T I O N

M E E T S

I N N O VAT I O N

Since 1973, Funder America (FAI) has drawn from its centuryold Austrian heritage to bring vertically integrated innovation, technology and flexibility to customers throughout the U.S. Three strategically located TFM panel and component-manufacturing facilities include the Mocksville, N.C., headquarters, which houses Funder’s exclusive saturation business, large-volume panel lamination and full component capabilities. It’s also home to a recently added state-of-the-art powder-coating facility; MDF powder coating is a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly technology that offers design flexibility, seamless edges and an unlimited range of shapes.

Whatever your decorative surface needs, Funder has an innovative cost-effective solution.

Funder’s own Navigator Collection of 10 on-trend woodgrain designs brings excellent realism and rich character to panel-based furniture, fixtures and casework.

F U N D E R A M E R I C A AT A G L A N C E

■ Largest component fabricator in North America.

■ Vertically integrated company with a packaging division for labeling and assembly ■ Surface Synergies partner to provide exact matches for various laminates (TFM, HPL, thermofoil, edgebanding) 336.751.3501 | 44

www.funderamerica.com

www.surfaceandpanel.com

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6/7/12 3:04 PM

Rethink Design software

tradeshow

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ideas

creative

materials

technology

@ AUGUST 22-25, 2012 GEORGIA WORLD CONGRESS CENTER ATLANTA, GEORGIA USA

Register today for the International Woodworking Fair速 2012 and save $ by using promo code SP

www.iwfatlanta.com

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TRENDS:Translucent

Light Panels

T

here is no doubt that integrated lighting is an emerging trend that permeates interior, commercial and furniture design. This is in large part due to advances in light emitting diode, or LED technology, which in accordance to Haitz’s law, doubles in terms of efficiency and refinement every 36 months. LED is the light source of choice due to the extraordinary long life of the diodes, the ability to precisely specify color temperature and color rendering, and the fact that the lamps themselves can be sized for easy integration into nearly any application.

“There is a change in the way people are thinking of light, a paradigm shift,” says David Brooks, President in charge of sales and technical support for Evo-Lite, LLC. “Up until recently light has been thought of as a light bulb in a fixture. Except for lighting designers, people didn’t think a whole lot past that. What we are seeing now is that people are starting to understand that through illuminating colors, materials and textures light can be more than just a fixture, it can create feelings and precise aesthetics.” LED technology affords designers unprecedented command of light.

Innovative devices, drivers and controls are developing as quickly as LED technology itself, making it nearly impossible to compile a comprehensive, up-to-date report on the myriad ways to incorporate light. However, over the past six years or so several methods for integrating LEDs into flat, translucent pan-

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els have developed into commercially viable lighting solutions.

HOW IT IS DONE

There are many companies in the world that manufacture the actual diodes, which are essentially made from a variety of inorganic semi-conductor materials. The make up of the diode dictates the wavelength of light that is produced. For a basic overview of how LED technology works read “To LED of not to LED” at www.surfaceandpanel.com.

LEDs can be extremely small, making them an ideal light source to embed in other materials. An early version of this is the flexible LED ribbon that is often used to illumi-

nate small or difficult-to-reach spaces, such as under cabinets. Increased awareness of the energy efficiency and design potential of LEDs, has resulted in increased demand for the technology to illuminate larger areas.

This has led to the development of some interesting combinations of LED ribbons and translucent panels. One of the challenges to illuminating large surfaces has always been achieving even light. Companies that specialize in decorative LED panel technology have come up with some clever ways to eliminate unsightly hotspots. And with LED panels there are no dark areas where one bulb ends and another begins, like with the use of fluorescents.

“If you hold LEDs up to the edge of a piece of glass or clear acrylic, the light will go right through it and only the edges will be illuminated,” says Beata Kiecha, Vice President of Marketing for Element Design, a company that distributes innovate materials including a product line called eluma which features several variations of LED shelving and panels. “In order to get the surface of the panel to light up, there has to be something to catch the light. For our glass products we use a special chemical etching process. When the light goes through it illuminates the etching.” Glass panels are typically specified for heavier duty applications where more durability is required. If an illuminated panel is being used primarily as a decorative element, then acrylic is the material of choice.

www.surfaceandpanel.com

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“What we are seeing now is that people are starting to understand that through illuminating colors, materials and textures light can be more than just a fixture, it can create feelings and precise aesthetics.”

DAVID BROOKS, PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF SALES AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR EVO - LITE, LLC

Evo-Lite is an affiliate of the Orb Light Group, which distributes LumiSheet, an LED illuminated acrylic panel manufactured by the South Korean company Dongbu Lightec. “They start with a clear acrylic panel and use a raking process to drag v-shaped blades across the panel at 90 degree angles creating gridlines,” says Brooks of the patented process.

“The deeper the lines become, the more light they capture. There is a proprietary algorithm based on the size and shape of the specified panel that determines the gridlines, and also how deep they need to be as they move away from the light source to bring that light evenly across the panel.” Dongbu Lightec manufactures the panels, and also the machines used to create the panels, including CNC routers and laser tables. “What sets LumiSheet apart is that the LEDs are embedded into a trough that is routed into the acrylic itself, rather than into a frame,” says Brooks. The troughs have an aluminum heat sink built directly in, and can be curvilinear, allowing for panels to take on any shape.

Acrylic panels embedded with LEDs are also available in the eluma product lines, though the technology for achieving even illumination is different. “We use a specially formulated acrylic that has particles in it,” says Kiecha. “The panel looks clear. When the lights are not on, you would never know it has particles built into it. But when you hold the LEDs next to the acrylic panel, the entire sheet lights up without any visible lines.”

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Diodes are embedded along the edge of the panel in an aluminum frame that works as a heat sink. The specialty acrylic is produced by the Performance Polymers Business Unit of Evonik Industries, a worldwide manufacturer of PMMA products, sold under the trademark ACRYLITE® in the Americas and PLEXIGLAS® throughout the rest of the world.

APPLICATIONS

There is enormous potential for the use of illuminated translucent panels in design. New developments in plug-and-play drivers and controllers from companies like Hafele make it easy to envision integrated lighting becoming increasingly popular in residential as well as commercial projects.

Illuminated translucent panels are specified as stand alone design elements, with overlays or inclusions, or as backlighting to other translucent materials. They can also be cut to size and built into furniture and fixtures. The diodes are made to emit precise colors and temperatures of light, allowing for designers to have more control over the overall aesthetic. “The most common is 5300 Kelvins, which is true white,” says Brooks.

“With that you get the true color of the overlay material with no color shift. The diodes can also be made for cooler or warmers color temperatures to emphasize the other materials.” It is even possible to specify an RGB panel that scrolls through the entire spectrum of visible light.

www.surfaceandpanel.com

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Many successes come from being unique.

To capture that concept Schattdecor has opened up a world of fascinating possibilities with our Digital Visions – a collection of decors for use in interior design, architecture, retail, and many other markets.

No matter what the project, from an individual furniture piece to a supersized interior space, we are at the ready with our creative potential, our flexibility, and our extensive technical experience to provide you with a unique printed dĂŠcor. Our designers will be happy to advise and support you as you pursue the perfect design idea.

Interested in more information? Discover more about the uniqueness of Schattdecor and digital VISIONS at www.schattdecor.com.

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NEXGEN™ LINK25 NEXGEN™ LINK25, in continuous rolls or 4' x 8' sheets, was developed by Olon Industries Inc. as a complementing laminate to TFM (Thermally Fused Melamine Panels) where exact color matches are essential. LINK25 is recommended for vertical or light duty horizontal surfaces.

LED illumination is already prevalent in hospitality, retail and healthcare applications simply because of the convenience factor. Considering that LED typically have a life span of between 50,000 and 70,000 hours (about 17 years at eight hours of use per day) the function of the lamp is bound to outlast the fashion of the project. But there are opportunities for cost savings beyond energy usage with LED illuminated flat panels. For example LumiSheet has a line of high output products called LumiSheet Lamp that are available in several sizes, including the size of the standard drop ceiling tile. For large, multi-story building projects the design generally allows for five or six inches of space between floors to accommodate recessed lighting. If translucent LED illuminated panels were specified for the overhead lighting, the necessary space between floors would be significantly diminished, as would the relative material costs. This same concept can be applied to any furniture or cabinetry design that is built around recessed lighting.

The development of easy-to-use panels and controls is driving the popularity of LED lamps in residential projects as well.

“Consider something like an illuminated quartz vanity top,” says Brooks, “it could be wired in to a motion sensor so that it fades on if someone takes a late night visit to the bathroom.” The technology is showing up throughout the home in backsplashes, countertops and storage systems. With proper heat sinking strategies in place, LED lamps that are integrated into translucent panels are cool to the touch, making them safe for use in enclosed spaces or in close proximity to heat sensitive items, such as perishable food products and clothing.

The trend toward integrated lighting is strong. Advancing LED technology allows designers unprecedented opportunities for illuminated creativity. With that increasing demand, suppliers and manufacturers are constantly driven to innovate and bring new materials to light. s&p

Postformable for edges, tops or corners, LINK25 is very workable and works well with adhesives. LINK25 is available in several finishes including matches to recently released TFM finishes making it ideal for both refacing projects and new installations.

Further information is available at www.olon.com or by contacting John Kozuch, Executive Director, Olon Industries Inc. at 847-922-2276 or jkozuch@olon.com.

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www.surfaceandpanel.com

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SNP_OMN

OMNOVA Solutions’ Harmony program facilitates design and color matching across multiple OMNOVA product constructions Paper, Flat, and 3D Laminates including surf(x)® 3D Laminates.

The program provides the best application of laminate based on cost and functional requirements.

Benefits of the Harmony program include: • Enables uniform design for furniture and fixtures with coordinating laminates • Reduces development time and improves speed to market for new products • Simplifies supply chain, streamlining product development • Controls end product cost by using a range of constructions based on functional needs To learn how OMNOVA Laminates can make a difference in your fixtures, contact us today! Or visit our online Design Center to see our broad offering, obtain additional information and order samples – www.omnova.com/designcenter.

OMNOVA Solutions is a leading designer and manufacturer of Paper, Flat and 3D Laminates including industry leading surf(x)® 3D Laminates Learn more at: www.omnova.com/laminates laminates@omnova.com 866.332.5226

HARMONY is a trademark of OMNOVA Solutions Inc. SURF(X) is a registered trademark of OMNOVA Solutions Inc. © 2012 OMNOVA Solutions Inc.

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I T- I S K I T C H E N – P R O D U C E R : E U R O M O B I L / D E S I G N E R : S I M O N E M I C H E L I

High

TRENDS:

Gloss

H

igh gloss finishes entered the realm of kitchen cabinetry several years ago via the top European design houses.

Since then the popularity of the look has increased, and high-gloss is becoming more prominent in everything from kitchens and baths, to closets and furniture. Materials technology has also advanced to bring high gloss to market across all price points.

At every level, high gloss has proven a very popular finish that will likely continue to thrive. Part of the allure is that the sheen can serve many different design functions. High gloss can create emphatic contrast, particularly when used with surfaces that reflect nature, like the dark, textured wood grains that are also waxing in popularity. A color trend that is increasing in popularity involves using high gloss for accent colors that really pop. But high-gloss can also be reductive.

Take the white high-gloss kitchen for example. It is a perennial favorite for its sleek, clean, modern sensibility. In such an application the high gloss not only minimizes the attention to the surface, but goes so far as to defer the visual back into the open space of the room.

There are many ways to achieve a high gloss finish, and some of them also support other kitchen cabinet trends. Look for high gloss door and drawer fronts that have contoured edges and either integrated handles or no handles at all.

impression.

Linear texture. Organic feel. Modern appeal. Itʼs our new line of textured melamine and thermofoil components in 5 pleasing colors.

Quality products. Affordable pricing. Responsive service.

Itʼs what Northern Contours can do for you.

Contact us today.

866-344-8132 | www.northerncontours.com

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www.surfaceandpanel.com

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in a vacuum press. This method allows the high-gloss surface to wrap around contoured edges or profiles.

There is no doubt that high gloss finishes have captured the imagination of designers and homeowners alike. The plethora of materials that offer the aesthetic give specifiers the flexibility to play with highgloss, whether they are just test driving the look as an accent, or committing to an entire project with materials that will stand the test of time. s&p

METHODS FOR ACHIEVING HIGH GLOSS

The classic approach to high gloss is to simultaneously apply paint and a high gloss lacquer to wood cabinets. This is best when it is professionally applied to ensure a uniform sheen. Lacquer is a good material for high-gloss finishes because it's easy to work with and can be sanded flat and polished to a high gloss. The problem with high-gloss finishes is that with crisp reflections surface defects are very obvious.

While undoubtedly beautiful, high-gloss lacquer is not the most durable or water resistant finish. Considering that the kitchen is an environment that is increasingly being utilized as living space, lacquer alone may not be the best approach to high-gloss. There are however some very intriguing hybrid applications, including the use of premium high gloss lacquers on top of thermoformed doors, which both ensures an ultra-smooth surface and improves the durability of the finish.

Another high-end option for high gloss cabinets is solid acrylic panels. This relatively new material is increasing in popularity in the luxury European kitchen houses. The material is specially manufactured so that the high level of gloss is consistent throughout the panel. While this may seem a bit like over-engineering for a surface aesthetic, the solid nature of the material allows for easy re-finishing and repair, suggesting a long product life cycle. Additionally, solid high-gloss acrylic panels are waterproof and will not warp or yellow in the sun.

At a more moderate price point, high gloss cabinetry can be achieved by laying up a thin panel of acrylic on top of a substrate, generally thin MDF. The surface aesthetic is the same as the solid product, but at a lower cost. The panels typically receive an edge treatment that seals them and the substrate material can be specified to be water resistant.

Traditional laminates, both HPL and TFM, offer high gloss finishes.

There are several ways that this is achieved, including specialty overlays and technologies that impart textures (including press plates, release papers and belts). Technical HotCoating is another method that is beginning to make its way into the North American laminates market. For this process PUR is heated and applied in an even coat directly over melamine. In all cases the panel is sealed. Laminates are typically scratch and water resistant, characteristics that are increased with HotCoating.

Three-dimensional laminates, also know as rigid thermo-foils are another option for high-gloss. These plastic films (typically vinyl, OPP and polyester based) are thermo-formed around the surface of a panel

Riken USA Corporation

Riken USA Corporation produces foils for 3D laminates for seamless cabinet doors, office furniture and store fixtures using Japanese printing technology. Vacuum and membrane press the most complex dimensional profiles on routered substrates in solid colors, patterns and woodgrains with satin, matte, desktop and contemporary high-gloss finishes.

See you at the IWF Show in Atlanta, GA on 8/22-25.

Riken USA Booth #1946.

New items – Gray High Gloss

Graphit HG

Achat Grau HG

Terra Grau HG

1702 Beverley Road | Burlington NJ 08016 | P : 609.387.2011 Katsu Mizushima | katsu@riken-usa.com | www.riken-usa.com surface&panel

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Great

Countertops

‹ BIO-GLASS Bio-Glass is made from 100 percent recycled glass coming from beer bottles, wine bottles, water bottles, and stemware gathered from recycling centers. It is 100 percent recyclable and available in white, light green, dark green, blue, and brown ... all colors are true to their source – there are no colorants or epoxies added to Bio-Glass. The material can be used for countertops, partitions, facades, and other decorative surfaces. The layers of compressed glass create a unique pattern through which light permeates. Bio-Glass has a hard non-porous surface, which makes it easy to clean – it does not stain and it is scratch resistant. ■

Criteria for great countertop surface materials include durability, ease of maintenance and a long lifecycle.

Countertops should wipe clean, resist stains, heat, and impact and not harbor bacteria. And of course, as a central fixture in a kitchen or bath, countertops should be beautiful. It is a tall order, but there are many materials, both natural and engineered, that can meet the task. Here is a collection of some of the materials gracing countertops today.

‹

CAMBRIA

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‹

Cambria is a stain resistant, nonporous, natural quartz surface that is hard, strong, safe and easy to care for. Its nonporous and nonabsorbent nature protects against more than just stains – it’s also extremely hygienic, making it a food safe choice for even the busiest of kitchens.

One of the new designs added to the Waterstone Collection is Armitage™. This design appears dark and deep with blends of black and gray, providing a neutral canvas for random hints of copper and orange. ■

PYROLAVE

The drama imparted by Pyrolave countertops goes deeper than their striking good looks – it goes to the story behind these extraordinary lava stone surfaces. The Volvic lava stone is extracted from the heart of volcanic craters in Auvergne, France. Using state-of-the-art technology, skilled engineers imbue the stone with gloriously-hued enamels and fire them at temperatures exceeding 1000° C. This work-horse of a countertop can withstand almost anything that comes its way – high temperatures, acids, corrosive products, making it ideal for many different uses, from residential and commercial kitchens to bathrooms, tabletops, swimming pools, fireplace facades, and outdoor living spaces. And it can be sculpted into extra-long lengths without any unsightly seams. ■

www.surfaceandpanel.com

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‹ ECO ECO is a new material by Cosentino that offers one of the most sustainable kitchen worktops available with Cradle to Cradle certification and makes an ideal substitute for natural or engineered stone. There are two collections with a durable surface made of 75% recycled content composed of post-industrial or postconsumer materials, such as industrial porcelain, ceramic, glass or metal and bound with an organic resin derived from corn oil. The two collections are The Green Collection with six colors composed mainly from recycled mirror, glass, porcelain and stone and The Revive Collection with four colors composed from recycled glass, mirrors and industrial furnace residuals. ECO™ by Cosentino continues to innovate in the field of materials for decorative and construction purposes. n

‹ Caesarstone Mirroring nature’s endless diversity, each of the exceptionally designed Caesarstone Supremo premium surfaces has its very own spectacular flow of color and pattern. This patented new technology is unique only to Caesarstone. With its natural look and feel, no two Supremo surfaces are alike. With a range of eight colors with names inspired by aristocracy and fantasy worlds each color carries meaning and beauty. From Swan Lake, a shimmering cream pattern which is both classic and refined; to Queen of Sheba a black surface with rich texture and subtle veining, Supremo’s palette of colors is sure to please. Translucent Supremo surfaces can be backlit creating a soft luxurious ambiance. n

‹ Radianz Radianz™ surface is composed of advanced polymer resins and pigments that are fused with 93% quartz, one of the hardest minerals in nature. Radianz™ Quartz is substantially harder than granite countertops which means it's not only more impact resistant, it also doesn’t require any periodic sealing, and also, Radianz™ Quartz is non-porous, making it nearly maintenance-free as it resists bacterial growth and stains unlike other natural surface materials. n

3form › With LineUp, a new striped pattern in the 100 Percent® collection, 3form increases sustainable product options for designers.

These high-­design architectural panels have low environmental impact. Each sheet is made from hundreds of post-consumer recycled bottles.

The panels are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles and can help projects earn LEED 4.1 and 4.2. LineUp, which can be used for tabletops, countertops, and other applications where robust surfaces are needed, adds a new flavor to the 100 Percent collection. n

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surface&panel Q 2

2012

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A r c h i t e c t s : P r o j e c t A 0 1 A r c h i t e c t s , Z T G m b H / Fa b r i c at o r : R o s s k o pf & P a r t n e r A G / P h o t o g r ap h e r : Na d i n e B l a n c h a r d

g r e at c o u n t e r t o p s

hi-mac

‹

HI-MACS® is an ideal material which will adapt to anything in the kitchen. Resistant to heat and chemicals and very easy to clean, HI-MACS® acrylic stone lends itself to anywhere devoted to culinary preparation. Whether a counter, a worktop, a table, coatings on fixtures and fittings and cupboards, the fact that it comes in 4 thicknesses (3, 6, 9 and 12 mm) means that it may be moulded perfectly to different requirements. HI-MACS®’s thermoforming qualities mean that it can be moulded to the most bizarre shapes. n

curava

Curava surfaces feature two recycled materials in addition to beautiful and plentiful seashells: 100 percent recycled glass and clay pottery fragments. These recycled materials are combined with a cement base to create a unique design that comes in an array of vivid colors and patterns.

Curava is sold as 56" x 114" x 1 1/4" slabs. n

‹ VT Industries ‹

paperstone

PaperStone ® is not just an attractive material that is produced in a socially responsible manner. Manufactured from 100% post-consumer recycled paper a proprietary PetroFreeTM resin, PaperStone ® is certified to FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) standards by the SmartWood program of the Rainforest Alliance. The material is extremely hard and practically impervious to water. It exhibits excellent chemical resistance, resists scratching and is highly resistant to staining. PaperStone ® is NSF certified as safe for direct food contact when used as a food preparation surface. n

56

VT Industries manufactures postformed HPDL countertops. By pairing premium edge profiles with laminate patterns from well known manufacturers (including Formica, Pionite, Wilsonart and Nevamar) the dramatic beauty of the countertop comes through with the design's large-scale patterns, movement and textures. Now more than ever, the look of real stone countertops is achievable in laminate countertops. n

www.surfaceandpanel.com

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Download our new iPad & iPhone app: www.arborite.com/mobile

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g r e at c o u n t e r t o p s

‹

thinkGlass

Image courtesy of J. A aron, LLC

ThinkGlass combines the art and science of glass craftsmanship. The thickness renders the glass as hard and durable as stone, with a soft, glowing radiance that no other material can duplicate. Made from 100% recyclable glass, each countertop is unique, with a huge selection of molded textures and hand- painted colors by glass artist Mailhot. Customers can select their glass thickness, edge treatments and even add LED lights. Although they appear delicate and almost ethereal, these countertops can endure high heat without cracking or scorching. Virtually maintenance-free, their textured finish hides fingerprints and is impossible to stain. Because glass is non-porous and requires no sealant, it is a healthy, hygienic choice for kitchen use. n

‹

‹

solid surface

Solid surface countertops are made primarily from acrylic with a few additives or from an acrylic/polyester blend. Most solid surfaces are nonporous which is what makes the countertop resistant to bacteria, mold, and germs. The acrylic can come in essentially any color or pattern imaginable, including designs that mimic common materials such as wood and stone. The countertop is first molded and designed and then can be welded together to form the solid piece countertop. Solid surface is dent-resistant, stainresistant and easily repaired, though it may be damaged by excessive heat. n

58

walnut

Walnut is an ideal wood for use as a countertop. It's a hardwood with terrific characteristics of stability and durability. With sealers ranging from 100% food safe to zero maintenance / waterproof spar varnish there’s something for every design. The island top shown is made from walnut in the edge grain construction style with a large decorative profile. It’s sealed using a mixture of 50 percent spar varnish, a very durable waterproof finish, with 50 percent tung-oil.

The mixture is perfect for wood countertops because the tung-oil thins the spar varnish allowing it to soak deeply into the wood bringing with it resins in the spar varnish that then harden to produce a very durable, zero maintenance and water tight finish. n

‹ Richlite Richlite is made with both Rapidly Renewable FSC Certified paper and recycled paper fibers.

It can be milled easily, like wood, but is much more dense, durable and long lasting. The color of Richlite surfaces is determined by the paper color used in the manufacturing process. The resin used in the manufacturing process darkens the color giving it deep, rich tones that run through the thickness of each sheet. It is stain, water and scratch resistant, and will not degrade or off gas. n

www.surfaceandpanel.com

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G R E AT C O U N T E R T O P S

‹

FOUR SEASONS

Stainless steel countertops are tough. They are highly resistant to damage from water, heat, and many corrosive materials. While they can receive dents and scratches, such occurrences don't damage the functionality of stainless steel. It is also the most hygienic material available.

Four Seasons is a fabricator that can cut and form stainless into virtually any shape. A variety of thicknesses, rolled corner and edge finishes, decorative surface finishes, seamless onepiece designs, and recessed welded-in sinks provide endless design options. ■

‹ SUBERRA

‹

Suberra is made from 100% post-industrial recycled cork grain, compressed with a polyurethane binder. The material is naturally resistant to water and stains, and it does not foster bacterial growth or off-gas. Suberra can be cut, routed and sanded with woodworking tools, and seamed with any adhesives. It is both lightweight and durable Cork is composed of cellulose, lignin and – most of all – a waxy substance called suberin which is impermeable to water and air. Most of the cork in the world is sustainable harvested from protected forests in Portugal. ■

SILESTONE

Silestone is a compound made of natural quartz, which makes it extraordinarily hard and resilient. This is the one and only countertop made of quartz with bacteriostatic protection, giving it hygienic properties that are not to be found anywhere else on the market.

It is an excellent surface for kitchen countertops, bathrooms, floors and wall cladding using the minimum number of joints.

In addition, it comes in a variety of different shades of color, offering a number of decorative possibilities from a single kitchen countertop to projects throughout the home.

Silestone is an investment for the future.

Silestone is forever. ■

ECO-TERR › Eco-Terr slabs create a modern, contemporary look for residential and commercial applications. Eco-Terr slabs can be used as counter or worktops and are available in 12 different colors in both polished and brushed finishes. Made from 70% recycled marble and granite chips with a cementitious binder, slabs measure 100" x 50" x 1¼". Durable, zero VOC materials, non-porous cleanable finish does not support microbial growth, nor allow moisture to accumulate, helping to maintain a mold-free environment with improved indoor air quality. ■

‹ SQUAK MOUNTAIN STONE Squak Mountain Stone is a fibrous-cement material comprised of recycled paper, recycled glass, and low-carbon cement. Material is hand-cast into “slabs” as an alternative to natural or quarried stone. The density and performance of Squak is similar to other calcium based natural stones. The tools needed to fabricate the material are similar to granite or marble. s&p 60

www.surfaceandpanel.com

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Now Appearing.

™

New patterns from the market innovator in decorative melamine overlays.

Grey Lines

Excellent Cherry

Pen Pine

Rift White Oak

Brown Zebrano 7779 View the entire portfolio at arclin.com/dmo.

Perfect for particleboard, MDF and specialty plywoods. Thermoset for maximum durability.

Ultra-low emitting and GREENGUARD for Children & Schools SM-certified.

Design-forward. Distinctive. On-demand.

1.877.689.9145 www.arclin.com

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SynDeco

NEXT GENERATION

Decorative

INTERPRINT’S SWISS ELM DESIGN AS PREMEER (LEFT) AND AS DÉCOR PAPER (RIGHT)

Overlay

PremeerTM by Interprint is a next-generation decorative overlay that combines excellent board protection with high fidelity prints in a product that’s versatile and environmentally safe.

I

nterprint, the global designer and printer of decor paper for the laminate industries, developed Premeer at its Pittsfield, Mass. production facility with partners Applied Extrusion Technologies, Inc. (AET), MinusNine Technologies and Energy Sciences, Inc. (ESI).

Compared to a vinyl overlay, Premeer provides superior water and wear protection to all types of boards. The protective coating developed by MinusNine is cured via ESI’s electron beam system (EB) on AET’s SynDECOR® oriented polypropylene substrate (OPP) to give Premeer its superior 72-hour water hold-out characteristics. The depth and content of the coating can be adjusted to meet a wide range of wear resistant specifications. At a medium weight of 12 gsm, Premeer’s coating protects to 250 grams in a Hoffman Scratch Hardness Tester, ten times the protection vinyl can achieve.

PREMEER WRAPS TIGHTLY TO MOLDINGS WITHOUT CRACKING OR DISTORTION

PREMEER’S SYNDECOR® SUBSTRATE IS TOUGH, WATER RESISTANT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE

MINUSNINE’S COATING AND ESI’S CURING PROVIDE PREMEER EXCELLENT WEAR RESISTANCE 62

Premeer offers a manufacturing versatility that thicker overlays cannot. Available with a substrate base thickness of 0.9 to 2.2 mil, Premeer can be profile wrapped, mitre folded, bladder pressed or flat laminated without creasing, cracking or distortion. It does not shrink, stretch, distort or creep under 180° C of heat and is compatible with all EVA and PUR adhesive systems.

The smooth, non-porous characteristics of Premeer’s OPP substrate combined with Interprint’s on-site cylinder laser engraving results in photo-realistic rotogravure décor printing. High-resolution graphics engraved at high line screens with variable cylinder cell depth ensure stability across the entire tonal range. Through advanced registration and tension systems, Interprint is currently producing Premeer with multi-color décor patters that print as consistently as single-unit solids.

Where polyvinyl chloride emits the highest toxic emissions of all common man-made plastics, Premeer’s OPP base emits the lowest.

The release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is avoided by printing with organic, water-based inks, and a EB curing process that releases no VOCs. A board encapsulated with Premeer safely retains more of its formaldehyde than a board covered with vinyl.

For furniture manufacturers, Premeer’s all-surface versatility and roll-to-roll consistency eliminates the need for multi-product color matching. As a supporting overlay, Premeer compliments thermally fused melamine (TFM) panels best because it can be printed with the same inks and cylinders on the same press at Interprint.

Because it is shipped from Interprint in Pittsfield without further processing or treating, Premeer’s water and wear resistant characteristics are currently serving the furniture and ceiling panel industries directly.

A line of Premeer flooring products is currently in development. s&p

www.surfaceandpanel.com

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CONGRATULATIONS TO INTERPRINT ON THEIR PREMEER™ INTRODUCTION

SynDECOR®-based overlays: The next great thing in decorative laminates!

SynDECOR®, a biaxially-oriented polypropylene (OPP) based film, provides cabinet and RTA furniture producers an exciting, cost-effective alternative to today’s laminate substrates. This thin, strong barrier film is UV-stabilized and modified to chemically bond to glues for lamination.

SynDECOR is surface printed and e-beam or UV-coated

by AET Films converter customers.

No more water or moisture issues Because SynDECOR is an OPP-based film, it has all of the water resistance your applications will ever need.

Meeting 24-hour test requirements is no issue, whether the laminates are based upon our 23, 32, 41 or 56 gsm products.

Its “Living Hinge” is ideal for miter-fold construction Unlike most materials, polypropylene actually strengthens when it is flexed. This inherent, high resistance to flexural fatigue, combined with SynDECOR’s high resistance to tear-initiation, allows and inspires product designs that include foldable backs, v-grooved cabinet carcasses, lightweight panels and shelving. Furniture and cabinet producers can now improve product design and appearance while reducing the overall costs.

IF water-resistance, living-hinge and versatility

are not enough to convince you, then also consider these additional SynDECOR benefits: • consistent chemical bonds with today’s commonly used glues • superior print fidelity • converter-applied coatings that deliver exceptional mar, scratch and abrasion resistance • formaldehyde and melamine-free • polyolefin-based construction, widely considered the most sustainable of all plastics

Wrapped profiles and five-piece doors MDF and SynDECOR-based overlays are made for one another. The thin, yet strong SynDECOR-based laminate will highlight the intricate detail of routed products.

Five-piece doors can now be produced with one substrate and one print surface, delivering consistent design with improved durability. The functional surface of SynDECOR chemically bonds to the PUR or water-based glues.

The Hidden Advantage™

www.SynDECOR.com For more information on SynDECOR, call 1.800.688.2044.

AET is a proud member of the CPA and we truly believe that SynDECOR - based laminates are an “Innovative Product for a Sustainable Future.”

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Congress Wrestles with Energy Policy and the Future of Wood B Y

T O M

J U L I A

PRESIDENT, COMPOSITE PANEL ASSOCIATION

A

s you read this, the US Congress is considering the reauthorization of the federal Farm Bill, including its definition of renewable biomass.

This is consistent with a generally accepted view that America’s alternative energy sources should be expanded. Unfortunately, the effort of some in Congress is turning into an assault – unintended or otherwise – on traditional uses of wood as a highly valued construction material and the key component of millions of American-made consumer goods, and on the free market itself.

If this sounds like the battle waged three years ago over the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), then you’re right. BCAP, proposed in the summer of 2008, was a federal subsidy program that was prepared to give away more than $500 million even before a regulation had been vetted with stakeholders and without Congressional oversight. The Composite Panel Association (CPA) and many others argued that BCAP was both bad economic and bad environmental policy because federal money would be used mainly to subsidize the diversion of wood from its current, “higher value” uses to instead be burned as fuel. Rather than expand America’s wood fiber base to promote biomass energy, BCAP was crafted in a way that would divert existing wood fiber with federal subsidy payments and discourage the expansion of fiber resources.

In 2009, after vigorous lobbying amid bipartisan concerns, the Obama Administration stopped BCAP subsidy payments and later that year released a much-improved BCAP regulation, one that specifically recognized “higher value” products and jobs that should not be put at risk.1

“While we support the development of alternative energy sources, US energy policy should not divert wood used by industries that account for millions of American jobs.”

JOHN K AUFMANN, SR. DIRECTOR, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, KIMBALL INTERNATIONAL

So why are some members of Congress now promoting language to once again put American manufacturing and service industry jobs at risk through definitions to be included in the Farm Bill and in some energy legislation as well?

Good question. The current iteration of the Farm Bill defines renewable biomass as “any organic matter that is available on a renewable basis.” By-products such as bark, sawdust, shavings and woodchips are considered renewable biomass in the federal defi nition and would be eligible for subsidies in programs promoting bioenergy. Manufactured products such as composite wood used in wood-based furniture, cabinets, doors, flooring, architectural moulding and millwork and other commercial uses such as landscape mulch and commercial growing media rely exclusively on these wood by-products as their only available raw material.

If Congress fails to amend the definition this year, these and other industries would be put at risk by misdirected energy subsidy programs. For some, it will mean a higher cost of business. Others will simply leave the United States and take their jobs offshore. Still others have made clear they don’t have that option and will go out of business.

Congress should look at Europe as an example of the unintended consequences of subsidizing wood for energy. A review of the past ten years clearly shows that woody biomass subsidy programs in Europe are driving up wood prices and starving those industries that have traditionally used this material for a higher value product.2 Numerous studies in Europe point to a tenfold multiplier when using wood in value added products as compared to burning it for fuel -- both in jobs created and overall economic benefit.3 A recent U.S. study concluded that the solid wood industry created eleven times more jobs then the biomass energy sector.4 There is a reasonable solution to all of this. Congress should embrace a federal defi nition of renewable biomass that excludes materials that could be used for higher-value products, including, but not limited to, com1 2 3 4

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“Emphasizing the use of truly unmerchantable and unused materials – including forest thinnings, stumps and agricultural waste – would protect existing jobs while still allowing the US to meet its laudable and ambitious alternative energy goals.” posite wood panels, lumber, finished or other manufactured wood products, mulch, nursery media, paper and packaging.

In doing so, federal policy would recognize that forest and wood mill by-products are essential feedstock’s for existing industries supplied through an established, competitive and sustainable free market. A definitional exclusion of biomass for goods already used in higher valued products would eliminate the incentive to divert basic raw materials away from existing industries. At the same time, it would encourage the expansion of America’s fuel supply and the development of new sources of renewable energy.

Architects, designers, builders and other users of wood should demand a level playing field when it comes to specifying their material of choice. That means all usable wood fiber should be used first for products that sequester carbon – including wood used now in homes, commercial interiors, furniture, cabinets, and for architectural applications.

It also means that only wood that cannot be processed into a higher value product or specifically grown for energy should be incentivized to be used as a fuel.

Emphasizing the use of truly unmerchantable and unused materials – including forest thinnings, stumps and agricultural waste – would protect existing jobs while still allowing the US to meet its laudable and ambitious alternative energy goals. Now that’s a sensible national energy policy! s&p More information is available from the CPA at www.CompositePanel.org.

Federal Register, Volume 75, No 207, October 27, 2010 “Biomass Subsidies,” The British Furniture Confederation, November 2011 Survey research by the European Panel Federation (EPF) “Jobs creation in FPI and Energy Alternatives in the United States,” RISI, June 25, 2010

www.surfaceandpanel.com

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A

PAGE

D V

E

R

T I S

E

R

I N

Arborite 800.361.8712 www.arborite.com

31

Olon Industries, Inc. 905.877.7300 www.olon.com

61

Arclin 877.689.9145 www.arclin.com

51

Omnova Solutions 866.332.5226 www.omnova.com

6–9

Blum, Inc. 704.827.1345 www.blum.com

68 (BC)

Panolam 203.925.1556 www.panolam.com

5

Boise Cascade 888.264.7372 www.bc.com

15

Plummer Forest Products 208.777.2202 www.PlummerFormFree.com

39

Cefla 704.598.0020 www.ceflafinishinggroup.com

53

Riken USA Corporation 609.387.2011 www.riken-usa.com

16–17/32

Composite Panel Association 866.4Composites www.DecorativeSurfaces.org

26

Roseburg 800.245.1115 www.roseburg.com

43

DVUV 216.741.5511 www.dvuv.com

67

Salice 800.222.9652 www.saliceamerica.com

44

Funder America, Inc. 336.751.3501 www.funderamerica.com

49

Schattdecor 314.400.6100 www.schattdecor.com

28

HR Wood Specialties 269.628.2181 www.hrwood.com

47

Stevens Industries 217.540.3100 www.stevensmelamine.com

2 (IFC)

Interprint, Inc. 413.443.4733 www.interprint.us

13/35

Stiles Machinery, Inc. 616.698.7500 www.stilesmachinery.com

45

IWF Atlanta 301.662.7319 www.iwfatlanta.com

24

Surface Source International 973.598.0152 www.ssinorthamerica.com

12

JB Cutting Inc 586.468.4765 www.jbcutting.com

63

Syndecor/AET Films, Inc. 800.688.2044 www.syndecor.com

19

KCD Software 508.760.1140 www.KCDsoftware.com

29

Tafisa Canada 888.882.3472 www.tafisa.ca

25

King's Mountain 704.739.4227 www.kmiinc.net

14

Thermwood 800.533.6901 www.thermwood.com

30

KML-Kustom Material Laminates 888.358.5075 www.kmlcorp.com

21

Uniboard 800.263.5240 www.uniboard.com

59

Lamitech S.A. 571.644.9898 www.lamitech.com.co

37

Valspar 612.851.7000 www.valsparglobal.com

41

M.L. Campbell 800.364.1539 www.mlcampbell.com

20

West Fraser Sales Ltd. 780.413.8900 www.westfraser.com

52

Northern Contours 866.344.8132 www.northerncontours.com

The Hidden Advantage ™

surface&panel

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Perfecting motion

D

Q2 2012

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F R O M

T H E

E D I T O R

Just Right One of the shifting paradigms of modern manufacturing is that bigger is not necessarily better.

In fact that philosophy, a remnant from the industrial revolution, has proven that “bigger, faster and more” is not always the most profitable. Instead successful operations are moving toward finding the optimal; where specific consumer demands intersect with lean production. This contemporary model relies on precise automation, access to and an understanding of a wide variety of materials and an intimate knowledge of the market being served.

It also means that a person doesn’t have to be J.D. Rockefeller to be in business. Case in point is California Closets’ carefully constructed and easily replicated franchise model (see

“...successful businesses recognize that ‘better is better’ and that bigger is only important if demand justifies growth, and growth does not compromise quality.”

page 22). While it is full of all the things that make manufacturing exciting: high design, automated machinery and consumer demand, the franchises are also accessible to anybody who has the desire to succeed and a dedication to customer service. Franchisees rely on a combination of machinery that fits their size/level of expertise and distributor relationships to meet the needs of any customer.

Optimizing is more about tailoring production to the market served than trying to sell as much of a generic product line as can be produced. Harbour City Kitchens (page 10) is a great example of this. Their success does not rely on beating out all the other players in North America’s highly competitive kitchen cabinet industry by offering a limited product line to a saturated market. It relies on precisely serving the needs of a very finite local population. This requires agility. So the company invests in automation and keeps their distribution close to home. In doing so they are able to serve a broad range of local market segments appropriately and cost effectively.

Another key to finding the optimal fit is choosing the right materials for the application. The wide variety of materials available makes it possible to manufacture products with very precise characteristics. Suppliers are constantly developing new and innovative products (check out “Great Countertops on page 54, “Trends” starting on page 46, and “Next Generation Decorative Overlay on page 62). And in many cases distributors are taking on the role of educating and helping with specification (see “The Real Value of Training” on page 34).

This is not to say that there is no room for large enterprise, economy of scale has a place in every operation. But rather that successful businesses recognize that “better is better” and that bigger is only important if demand justifies growth, and growth does not compromise quality.

What does successful modern manufacturing look like to you? Share your thoughts with the “Surface and Panel” group on LinkedIn or Facebook.

Kind Regards,

Suzanne VanGilder • Editorial Director • svangilder@surfaceandpanel.com

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www.surfaceandpanel.com

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P IECE

AND QUI E T

Achieve your clients’ dreams without sacrificing functionality and style. Salice has renovated the silent industry with our newly-designed Futura drawer slide. Thoughtful design allows seamless installation, with the smooth close you’ve come to expect from us. Finally, it all comes together.

THE SILENT HOME.

2123 Crown Centre Drive | Charlotte NC. 28227 | 800.222.9652 | 704.841.7810 | www.saliceamerica.com

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