Surface & Panel - Q3 2019

Q3 • 2019

& U N I T I N G M AT E R I A L S , T E C H N O L O GY A N D D E S I G N

EASY, FAST, AFFORDABLE WHERE BEAUTY AND FUNCTION MEET A DELIGHT FOR EYES AND EARS HARDWARE 2019

No matter how you look at it, has you covered.

Customers, designers, manufacturers and management finally agree on something:

Premeer performs! ÂŽ

Many people are involved in the development of decorative panels and surfaces. Designers must appeal to customers and meet their performance demands. Manufacturers are concerned with production efficiency and productivity. Of course, management has a laser focus on the bottom line.

CUSTOMERS

DESIGNERS

MANUFACTURERS

MANAGEMENT

Regardless of which perspective is yours, Premeer OPP decorative overlay by Interprint offers you exciting new advantages!

Premeer is designed and manufactured by Interprint. Premeer.com Interprint, Inc. 101 Central Berkshire Boulevard, Pittsfield, MA 01201 (413) 443-4733 Interprint.com

•

P U B L I S H E R

•

PRESIDENT, BEDFORD FALLS COMMUNICATIONS JOHN@BEDFORDFALLSMEDIA.COM 920-206-1766

New Beginnings It is my pleasure to welcome Patrick Adams and 526 Media Group as the new owner of Bedford Falls Communications, publisher of Surface & Panel magazine.

It is exciting to know that the company I started nearly 20 years ago will have the abundant resources of a larger company to take Bedford Falls to the next level. It’s comforting to know that something that began from scratch will have perpetuity. It is satisfying to know that Surface & Panel, launched when panel processing was simply a small vertical niche in the world of woodworking, focuses on the largest and fastest growing segment on the planet.

It always takes many months for acquisitions such as this to come to fruition. During that time, I have come to know that Patrick Adams is a man of integrity and honor. I am proud to call him my friend.

Why did I want to sell? I have three wonderful children and three beautiful grandchildren. It was my eldest daughter who got in my face one day and quietly said, “Dad, listen to me … you’re missing it.” I knew exactly what she meant. Her words hit me like a bus in the street. During 35 years in the media business and the constant traveling, I missed many of the precious moments as my children grew up. She was telling me that I was about to miss those precious moments with my grandchildren. I am not going to make that mistake again. Nothing is more important than family. This was my only motivation to begin thinking about a succession plan.

I love this industry and have learned a great deal along the way.

I’ve made many friends and am eternally grateful for their support, guidance and encouragement. Surface & Panel could never have been launched, much less been successful, without them.

I still vividly remember when my first advertiser took a chance on this fledgling publication. I met with Don Raymond, VP of marketing for Uniboard Canada, in the lobby of the Fairmont Hotel in Ottawa.

He expressed confidence in the concept and said he was with me from day one. Don may not realize the significance of that meeting and how important it was to me. His words gave me the confidence to move forward. To this day, whenever I have had a question or needed advice, Don is the one I turned to. He is a true professional, and those who know him will agree. I owe him a debt of gratitude

F R O M

T H E

JOHN AUFDERHAAR

“I’ve made many friends and am eternally grateful for their support, guidance and encouragement. Surface & Panel could never have been launched, much less been successful, without them.”

that I can never repay. He was the first person I called when 526 Media Group acquired Bedford Falls.

I also owe thanks to the exceptional team here at Bedford Falls, primarily Ryan Wagner, our vice president of sales and marketing.

Ryan and I will continue to lead the team through this transition and beyond, assuring we maintain not only our leadership position in the industry but, with the help of 526 Media Group, bring new resources and tools to our audience.

Panel processing is alive and well and rules the world. Every segment—from furniture and cabinets, to store fixtures and architectural woodwork, in both residential and commercial environments creatively uniting materials, technology and design to produce amazing products. The industry is global and has the pace and style of the fashion industry. I could not imagine a more interesting business. I want to thank the customers and friends I’ve been so privileged to serve.

I will be working side by side with 526 Media Group and Patrick Adams to ensure a smooth and seamless transition. I will be around for the foreseeable future, just with more time for my dear wife and partner, Chris, my children, Sarah, Anna and Adam, and my grandchildren, Asher, Zeke and Aria.

SURFACE & PANEL • Q3 2019

3

PUBLISHER John Aufderhaar President | Bedford Falls Communications 302 N. 3rd Street, Watertown, WI 53094 PH: 920-206-1766 john@bedfordfallsmedia.com CONTENT Scott W. Angus Editorial Director | Bedford Falls Communications 302 N. 3rd Street, Watertown, WI 53094 PH: 920-261-1947 scottangus47@gmail.com A DV E R T I S I N G Ryan Wagner VP Sales & Marketing | Bedford Falls Communications 302 N. 3rd Street, Watertown, WI 53094 PH: 920-261-1945 rwagner@bedfordfallsmedia.com Daniel Davidson Sales & Marketing Specialist PH: 920-261-1947 dan@bedfordfallsmedia.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Karen Leno Senior Graphic Designer | KML Design, Inc. kmldesigninc@gmail.com Mitch Tanis Graphic Designer/Photographer Bedford Falls Communications mitch@bedfordfallsmedia.com C I R C U L AT I O N / S U B S C R I P T I O N S 440 Quadrangle Dr, Suite E, Bolingbrook, IL 60440 subscriptions@cds1976.com PH: 630-739-0900, option 1 NEWS news@bedfordfallsmedia.com C O M P O S I T E PA N E L A S S O C I AT I O N MAIN OFFICE 19465 Deerfield Avenue, Suite 306 Leesburg, VA 20176 PH: 703-724-1128 FAX: 703-724-1588 Toll Free 1-866-4COMPOSITES www.CompositePanel.org CANADIAN OFFICE Post Office Box 747, Station B Ottawa, Ontario CANADA K1P 5P8 PH: 613-232-6782 FAX: 703-724-1588 I N T E R N AT I O N A L T E S T I N G A N D C E R T I F I C AT I O N C E N T E R 73 Lawson Road, Leesburg, VA 20175 PH: 703-724-1128 FAX: 703-724-1588 www.itcclab.org

V O L U M E

1 8

•

N U M B E R

3

•

Q 3

2 0 1 9

3 From the Publisher 10 Easy, Fast, Affordable Bush Industies’ mission is to provide easy, fast and affordable solutions to the commercial and residential markets.

18 Innovation Remains at Forefront after Broadview Buys Formica Surface & Panel interviewed Formica President Mitch Quint about Formica’s past and what the future holds after the $840 million acquisition.

2 4 Drawer Keeps Items Safe with Fingerprint Technology Industry-first cabinetry integrates innovative technology with aesthetic appeal.

26 Where Beauty and Function Meet Composit furniture brings Italian design, quality to North America.

34 A Lasting Commitment to the Community A respected non-profit invests in new office space designed to last. VT Architectural Doors finished with New Leaf Performance Veneers from Wilsonart fit right in.

40 A Delight for Eyes and Ears DePaul University’s new performance center features veneered boxes, ‘Wave Wall’.

48 2019 Hardware: Smooth, Soft, Stylish Innovative new products are being offered by the world’s top hardware companies. Here are some of those products with descriptions of how they make installation and life easier and better for all who use them.

56 The Importance of Moisture Measurement and Control Consistently accurate wood moisture meters are paramount for quality control in the manufacture of cabinetry, doors, surfaces and panels.

60 Resources 62 Builder Makes Extensive Use of FENIX NTM in Feature Home Homebuilder Erik Christenson knew the minute he saw samples of FENIX NTM that it was ideal for the kitchen cabinets of his new home.

64 From the Editor 6 6

Ad Index

O N T H E C OV E R : Composit furniture brings Italian design and quality to North America with its first “flagship” store in Austin, Texas. Shown here is the Day System, part of Composit's luxury line.

OCTOBER 6 • DENVER, COLORADO mtdsymposium.com

Surface & Panel is published quarterly by Bedford Falls Communications, Inc., 302 N. 3rd Street, Watertown, WI 53094, telephone 920-206-1766.

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, 440 QUADRANGLE DR, STE E, BOLINGBROOK, IL 60440-3455. Please direct all subscription questions to: Surface & Panel, 440 QUADRANGLE DR, STE E, BOLINGBROOK, IL 60440-3455; or call: 630-739-0900 option 1; or e-mail: subscriptions@cds1976.com

2019 Material, Technology & Design Symposium

T

he Mile High City Of Denver, where urban sophistication meets outdoor adventure, is the perfect spot for the 2019 Material, Technology & Design Symposium, presented by Surface & Panel and the Composite Panel Association.

A hub of style, creativity and frontier spirit, Denver boasts 300 days of sunshine, a thriving cultural scene, diverse neighborhoods and natural beauty, all of which make it one of the world’s most spectacular playgrounds. Those elements also make it a prime location for the decorative surface industry’s premier annual gathering.

The Material, Technology & Design Symposium is a highpowered, must-attend event that unites panel producers, surface material manufacturers, specifiers and end-users to learn about cutting-edge trends. Among many other things, it exposes the world’s finest interior décor materials to the specification and design professionals who will ultimately select and apply them in residential, professional and commercial environments.

The symposium features notable speakers, dynamic education sessions, broad networking opportunities and an exhibit hall displaying the latest in the panel processing industry.

The symposium hotel, the Grand Hyatt Denver, is in the heart of downtown, offering easy access to a wide selection of arts, entertainment and other prime attractions, including the 16th Street Mall.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

6

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

Introducing the Millennial Collection – a collaboration of 6 new designs created for today’s market needs. An exciting collection of designs colorized for your product applications.

Launched for your convenience, the complete package offers matching HPL, 3D films and edgebanding.

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6

What is the MTD Symposium?

The Material, Technology & Design Symposium @ CPA Fall Meeting is a high-powered, must-attend event that unites panel producers, surface material manufacturers, specifiers and end-users to learn about cutting-edge trends. Among many other things, it exposes the world's finest interior decor materials to the specification and design professionals who will ultimately select and apply them in residential. professional and commercial environments.

Who Will be There?

“The excellent speakers, diverse program and unparalleled networking opportunities have led to record attendance and rave reviews.”

Attendees include surface and panel suppliers; component suppliers; distributors; furniture, cabinet and fixture manufacturers; architects and interior designers.

JACKSON MORRILL, PRESIDENT OF CPA

THE SYMPOSIUM HOTEL, THE HYATT REGENCY DENVER, IS IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN.

Why Attend?

The event is a can't-miss gathering focused on innovation in materials, technology and design. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn, strategize and network to gain insight on specifying surfacing and substrate materials. They will leave with an understanding of cuttingedge applications for surfaced products. Armed with that knowledge, they will be able to let their creativity flow as they specify composite panels in uncommon and progressive ways. s&p

Mark your calendars and visit mtdsymposium.com for more information and updates.

8

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

Since our inception in 1974, Atlantic Plywood Corporation has prided itself on delivering the highest quality and best value to our customers.

This philosophy has helped us grow into a regional industry leader, distributing a wide range of quality hardwood plywood, lumber, and panel products and solutions throughout the Eastern United States. As our many satisfied customers have come to know, Atlantic Plywood offers not only products and services you can depend on, but also a convenient, cost-effective partnership that will help your business grow.

Woburn, MA / S. Windsor, CT / E. Providence, RI / Carlstadt, NJ / Farmingdale, NY / Albany, NY / Rochester, NY / Westbrook, ME / S. Royalton, VT / NEW! Bolingbrook, IL www.atlanticplywood.com

EASY, FAST, AFFORDABLE Bush Industries delivers when it comes to home, office furniture

B

BY SCOTT W. ANGUS

ush Industies’ mission is to provide easy, fast and affordable solutions to the commercial and residential markets.

That sounds like a formula for success, but—as with almost everything— it all comes down to execution. Based on sales, which have grown 50 percent over the last two years, Bush is pulling it off.

Founded in 1959, Bush is both a manufacturer and importer of ready-toassemble and case goods furniture that covers the categories of commercial office, residential office, seating, bedroom, entryway, entertainment and occasional. It is based in Jamestown, New York, with distribution facilities in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Sacramento, California.

“We make the purchase decision easy for the customer with easy-toorder bundles,” said Mark Weppner, Bush’s senior vice president of product marketing, design and engineering. “Every product is in stock and ships the same day via small-parcel carriers or LTL for large orders with room-of-choice delivery.

“And we pride ourselves on offering the best value for the consumer with stylish, durable and safe furniture solutions.”

Bush’s sales are split between imported products and components and domestic-manufactured products in RTA and casegoods formats, Weppner explained. It is a leading supplier to the ecommerce market through

10

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

companies such as Wayfair, Amazon, Overstock and Cymax and has ecomUPPER LEFT: ECHO IS PART OF THE OFFICE BY KATHY IRELAND LINE. THE GRAY SAND FINISH IS NEW THIS YEAR. MODELO IS ONE OF BUSH'S NEW SEATING LINES.LOWER LEFT: CABOT HAS BEEN merce, contract and brick-and-mortar ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR COLLECTIONS IN ITS THREE EXISTING FINISHES (ESPRESSO OAK, deals with Office Depot and Staples.

HARVEST CHERRY AND HEATHER GRAY). WHITE IS NEW TO THE MIX. ABOVE: ATRIA IS PART OF THE OFFICE BY KATHY IRELAND LINE AND IS COMMERCIAL GRADE. Bush also directly serves the commercial contract dealer network, he said.

“All customers are offered the same services of same-day shipment, free space planning, and delivery and installation anywhere in the continental United States,” Weppner said, adding that Bush Efficient Process. High Performance Finishes. serves the Canadian market, as well.

Affordable Sustainability.

MARK WEPPNER The core of Bush’s business, he said, is “residential and small business solutions across the United States.”

Having all of its products available in stock and being able to ship them same day helps set Bush apart, Weppner said.

“Minutes matter in this business, especially to service the ecommerce market, which has exploded for us over the past few years,” he said. “Fortunately, Bush Industries was well prepared for the rise in ecommerce business as our brick-and-mortar partners asked that we ship direct to consumers over 10 years ago.

“This led to an enormous focus to create a delivery method that included enhanced packaging for small-parcel shipments, inventory levels to service the immediate need of customers and to scrutinize shipping and damage statistics over the years to get to a class-leading level of service.”

Just send us your drawings and we provide the rest!

Asked about the trends influencing Bush, Weppner said mixedDurable finished components that are ready for assembly. use material is especially popular to support the design genres of farmhouse, industrial and eclectic that customers are craving. Color Office & Education palettes have shifted toward shades of gray, both sophisticated and Retail & Healthcare rustic, he said.

Hospitality & More “The paper designers have done an excellent job by offering new and innovative finish designs, which have helped to meet this new Request your FREE sample today at aesthetic demand,” Weppner said.

POWDER COATED MDF

CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 ›

SURFACE & PANEL • Q3 2019

11

kathy ireland brands a perfect fit at Bush Industries Among Bush Industries’ furniture lines are the kathy ireland® Home and Office brands, founded by and named for the American model, actress, author and entrepreneur. Surface & Panel asked the kathy ireland team a few questions about the brands and the affiliation.

Q. Why is Bush Industries the right fit for the kathy ireland Home and Office brands?

A. Bush Industries exemplifies everything that our team at kathy ireland Worldwide looks for in a brand partner. They emphasize quality materials and manufacturing, chic design, a powerful value-cost ratio, and, of course, customer satisfaction. Bush Industries, which this year is celebrating its 60th anniversary, is a powerful leader in the furniture industry. From the very beginning of our business relationship, Bush has demonstrated that they are unwaveringly aligned with our company values, especially including our Millennium Development Goals. These goals, developed in concert with the United Nations, are a commitment to the betterment of humanity and our planet and include everything from promoting early childhood education and female empowerment to stopping human trafficking and ending HIV/AIDS. For more information, please visit kathyireland.com/giving-back.

KATHY IRELAND

KATHY IRELAND WITH THE BUSH TEAM

Q. What are the target markets for the kathy ireland Home and Office brands?

A. kathy ireland Worldwide started at our kitchen table with a simple mission statement: “Finding solutions for families, especially busy moms.” Thirty years later, that philosophy has continued to expand and streamline, simply becoming “Solutions.”

With this guiding principle, we always strive to find innovative solutions for all ... from moms, who are the CEOs of the home, to executives and working professionals in an office environment.

We are excited to present our newest collections for kathy ireland Home by Bush Furniture. These designs have now expanded into the critically important categories of entryway, bedroom and universal storage solutions, in all-new carefully curated lines: our Oakmont Collection, Universal Storage Collection and kathy ireland Home by Bush Furniture Meadow View Collection.

Q. How prevalent are laminates in the kathy ireland Home and Office products and how have advancements in laminates influenced the brands?

A. In any industry, leaders are always distinguished by one key quality, their ability to innovate. The furniture industry is no exception. The Office by kathy ireland Atria and Centura Collections are perfect examples of that characteristic—offering commercial-grade workspace solutions with stylish designs that will elevate any home setting equally well. Our integration of our newest laminate material, melamine, provides incredible durability, as well as a substantial increase in affordability. At kathy ireland Worldwide, we are confident knowing that our partners at Bush Industries are leading the charge to set the industry standard through powerful innovation. n IMAGES COURTESY OF KATHY IRELAND WORLDWIDE AND JON CARRASCO

12

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

WE ARE WOODGRAIN

SAME QUALITY. SAME GREAT PRODUCT.

One of the largest millwork operations in the world, Woodgrain has provided wood doors, moldings and windows since 1954. Woodgrain is a fully integrated company with its own premium particleboard plant in La Grande, Oregon, world-class manufacturing facilities, and a strategic distribution channel. Woodgrain is proud to be a family-owned and operated company for 65 years.

For more information visit www.woodgrain.com

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

SALINAS IS A BUSH FURNITURE BRAND COLLECTION. THE CAPE COD GRAY LAMINATE IS A NEW FINISH.

“Our biggest advancement has been to offer a greater variety of on-trend finish choices in our portfolio. It’s amazing how finish and color can dramatically change the design flavor of a line so that it can fit into multiple design aesthetics and appeal to more customers.”

Bush is especially excited to see continued growth in its core office categories, which it recently complemented with a commercial and residential style of BIFMA-grade office chairs in a number of formats, styles and finishes, Weppner said.

Storage and entryway solutions also continue to grow for the company, and it plans to launch several new categories soon that will be featured at the Las Vegas Market show in January.

Bush specializes in panel finishing and has “great relationships” with suppliers such as Toppan Intermamerica, Panolam, Interprint, Schattdecor, DNP, Chiyoda and others, Weppner said.

Bob Knothe, sales manager at decorative surface manufacturer Toppan, said the relationship between Bush and his company allows both of them to do what they do best in providing top-shelf service to their customers.

“Bush Industries is a great example where design and engineering converge, allowing them to meet the customer’s expectations on aesthetics, durability and value,” he said. “A product mix aimed at markets from SOHO (small office home office) to entertainment to bedroom may require different designs and product performance.

“This is where Toppan Interamerica excels. By creating cuttingedge designs for our customers and with our unique capability to print

BOB KNOTHE

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16 ›

INSERT HERE TOOL UP WITH CONFIDENCE Our precision-crafted, premium-grade insert bodies are heat-treated for durability and strength — meaning cost-efficient, longer tool life.

Same-day shipping available on in-stock inserts and bodies. Custom inserts and bodies available.

Vortex Tool is your Problem Solver — contact us to design the right tools to fit your needs.

800-355-7708 • vortextool.com American Owned and Operated

INSERTS 14

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

|

CUSTOM TOOLING

|

ACCESSORIES

|

SHARPENING

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 14

the same design on TFL, top-coated paper and 3D laminate domestically, this allows Bush to value-engineer furniture without sacrificing design and service,” Knothe said.

Bush sources components such as hardware slides and handles and other decorative items, including legs, to differentiate the products and to meet the design demands of its customers and consumers, Weppner said.

Bush has an office in China that works with several manufacturers there, and it balances imports and furniture made in Jamestown to meet its needs.

“We have been able to successfully balance the mix of product and production to choose the ideal manufacturing locations based upon the design and value goals of a particular product. Our growth comes from both our domestic and import business as we leverage the strength of both of these options,” Weppner said. s&p

FOUNDED IN 1959, BUSH IS BOTH A MANUFACTURER AND IMPORTER OF READY-TOASSEMBLE AND CASE GOODS FURNITURE. IT IS BASED IN JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK, WITH DISTRIBUTION FACILITIES IN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, AND SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA. BUSH HAS AN OFFICE IN CHINA THAT WORKS WITH SEVERAL MANUFACTURERS THERE, AND IT BALANCES IMPORTS AND FURNITURE MADE IN JAMESTOWN TO MEET ITS NEEDS.

MANASLU OAK

DRAMAS CALCUTTA

Surfaces for life

Our unique and diverse portfolio of designs allow manufacturers to develop cutting edge designs while choosing a product that is cost appropriate for their project.

Our products are used on all of life’s surfaces from furniture, cabinetry, laminates, flooring, wall panels and even architectural products, whatever the application we can create products that will fit your needs.

TOPPANINTERAMERICA.COM 770·957·5060 · info@toppaninteramerica.com

APPALACHIAN TILE

Innovation Remains at Forefront after Broadview Buys Formica In the wake of the sale of Formica Corp. to Netherlands-based Broadview Industries, which was completed in June, Surface & Panel interviewed Formica President Mitch Quint about Formica’s past and what the future holds after the $840 million acquisition.

Q. You’ve been the president of

Formica Corp. for almost 10 years.

Can you tell us a little more about your experience with the industry and how you ended up at Formica?

MITCH QUINT

A. I joined Formica in 2005 in a corporate planning and finance role, served as the vice president of North America operations beginning in 2008, and became president in 2010.

My early years with the company overlapped with the 2008 recession, which was a challenge to the entire surfacing industry. However, the recession afforded us the opportunity to streamline our processes and focus on our core HPL products that put us in a good position for when the market rebounded. The resilience the Formica team displayed through the recession laid the groundwork for the business we have today.

AN EXAMPLE OF FORMICA'S CONTINUAL INNOVATION WITH MATERIALS: TWO PAPER TERRAZZO PATTERNS UTILIZE SMALL FRAGMENTS OF POST-PRODUCTION SOLID COLOR PAPER FROM FORMICA® LAMINATE THAT WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE GONE TO WASTE. THE PALETTE INCLUDES THREE BUBBLE DESIGN PATTERNS (SHOWN HERE), IN WHICH PRINTING INKS WERE MIXED WITH SOAP AND BUBBLES, THEN BLOWN ON INDUSTRIAL GRADE PAPER.

18

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

For example, we were in the process of developing our revolutionary 180fx® laminates when the recession began.

We made the commitment to continue with this product launch because we believed in the long-term potential of that innovation.

Q. Formica has a history that dates

back more than 100 years. How has Formica evolved to address consumer and professional design preferences?

A. The history of the Formica brand is rich with evolution. In 1913, our founders developed a resin process technology to produce electrical parts previously made with the mineral mica (thus the name “for” “mica”), setting the foundation for what is today’s laminate. The 1930s saw the material adopted for the first time as a colorful, durable and decorative surface for nightclubs and cafes. From there, we had the residential mid-century boom, and then the commercial market applications really ramped up in the latter part of the last century, building toward where we are today.

The driving force behind that entire history was innovation. For more than

“For more than a century, we’ve listened to the marketplace, researched global design trends and kept our finger on the pulse of the surfacing industry to continually introduce new products and designs that resonate with designers and consumers.”

a century, we’ve listened to the marketplace, researched global design trends and kept our finger on the pulse of the surfacing industry to continually introduce new products and designs that resonate with designers and consumers. Those innovations can be in the form of new product lines like ColorCore®2, 180fx®, and more recently, HardStop™ Decorative Protection Panels, or new décors such as our residential Living Impressions™ launches or our commercially focused SurfaceSet® collection.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20 ›

ORION METERS

PIN METERS

Orion® Pinless Wood Moisture Meters.

10 Times Faster Than Pin Meters.

FAST. DURABLE. ACCURATE.

NERO MARQUINA IS ONE OF FORMICA'S NEW DÉCOR PATTERNS FROM THEIR RESIDENTIAL LIVING IMPRESSIONS™ LAUNCH.

888-266-8073 | WagnerMeters.com

SURFACE & PANEL • Q3 2019

19

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

Q. Formica Corp. was recently

acquired by Broadview Industries.

What does this acquisition mean for the future of Formica?

A. The Formica acquisition by Broadview Industries was the best possible outcome for the future of Formica. This acquisition allows us to partner with an industry leader in surfacing technology with a long-term vision of how to support customers with excellent service and a continual stream of innovative technologies.

Q. What changes, if any, should

customers expect as a result of this acquisition?

A. In the short term, our focus is on the

HARDSTOP™ PANELS IN BURNT STRAND ADD A DRAMATIC ELEMENT TO HIGH-USE AREAS WHILE PROTECTING VERTICAL SURFACES FROM WEAR AND TEAR.

product lines we’ve introduced to the market recently, including HardStop™ Decorative Protection Panels and an expanded ColorCore®2 laminate collection, as well as the upcoming launch of SurfaceSet® 2020 and Intentek™ Wireless Charging Surface.

Beyond that, customers should expect Formica to remain focused on excellent customer service and to expand the reach and availability of proprietary products within Broadview’s portfolio, such as Trespa exterior cladding and Arpa/Fenix surfaces.

4. Tell us about some recent product

launches from Formica Corp. that have disrupted the industry.

A. Earlier this year we introduced HardStop™ Decorative Protection Panels, which feature a treated fiberglass core for added durability, strength and a class-A fire rating. HardStop panels are easy to install, have superior impact resistance and come in the full range of design selections available through Formica Corp. Since HardStop panels can be applied directly to drywall, they are ideal for hospitals, restaurants, schools and universities, airports, elevators and so much more.

INNOVATIONS CAN BE FOUND IN THE FORM OF NEW PRODUCT LINES LIKE FORMICA'S COLORCORE®2, SHOWN HERE IN DENIM TWILL.

We’re also very excited to bring Intentek™, our wireless charging laminate, to the market. In a day and age when we are constantly connected, businesses that offer wireless charging solutions become preferred destinations. Intentek sets itself apart from the competition because it features integrated phone charging technology within the decorative laminate surface for a seamless, clutter-free design and superior user experience.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 22 ›

20

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

RIGHT: FORMICA'S REVOLUTIONARY 180FX® LAMINATES

WERE INTRODUCED IN 2008. CALACATTA MARBLE CONTINUES TO BE A POPULAR PATTERN.

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20

Q. Where do you see the laminate and surfacing industry in 10 years?

A. Sustainability is key to our industry and will continue to grow in

SURFACESET® IS A NEW COLLECTION BASED ON THE BALANCE AND TENSION OF MAN-MADE MEETS NATURAL DESIGN, CREATED FOR COMMERCIAL SURFACES WITH FORMICA® LAMINATE, SHOWN HERE IN BLUE FELT.

importance and sophistication. Green and recycled materials are a critical first step. Longer term, the focus will include sustainable designs from surfaces that last longer. Laminate is a great option because it merges beautiful design with supreme durability, allowing designers to feel confident in a long-lasting solution that won’t need to be replaced or maintained every few years.

We are confident that the core attributes of HPL combined with our ongoing innovations will continue to make it a go-to material for designers long into the future. s&p

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT 101.

Stiles University is the industry’s only nationally accredited workforce training program. With over 20 regularly scheduled courses to choose from, Stiles University offers comprehensive, hands-on technical and application training designed to equip machine operators and other manufacturing professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive.

MACHINERY | PARTS | SERVICE SERVICE| TRAINING | TRAINING 616.698.7500 | www.stilesmachinery.com

22

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

• Your hometown team • Trend in design • World class technical • State of the art facility

ISO 9001:2015

KMI is the exclusive sales agency for Marathon & Heimbach press pads in North America

AS 9100:2016

ISO 9001:2015 / AS9100:2016

1755 S. Battleground Ave, Kings Mountain, NC 28086 United States Tel: 704-739-4227 Fax: 704-739-4223 www.kmiinc.net Email: sales@kmiinc.net

Drawer Keeps Items Safe with Fingerprint Technology INDUSTRY-FIRST CABINETRY INTEGRATES INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY WITH AESTHETIC APPEAL

D

iamond Cabinets has introduced the first-ever standard drawer with an installed self-locking mechanism on the inside to keep everything from prescriptions to passports and secret sweet treats safe.

The Secured Drawer features advanced sensor biometric technology from the Master Lock Co. and meets the aesthetic standards of Diamond Cabinets, a brand of MasterBrand Cabinets.

“Homeowners look for two key elements when designing their kitchens: beauty first, then function. The best feature of our new biometric drawer is that it meets a duel desire to enhance accessibility and provide peace of mind through security, without ever sacrificing the beauty of a clean and consistent cabinet front,” said Stephanie Pierce, director of design and trends at MasterBrand Cabinets.

Diamond’s Secured Drawer is the first in the industry to include sensor technology to see past contaminants and imperfections and assure fast, accurate scans that grant or restrict access with the simple touch of a finger. With no code required, the fingerprint reader can store up to 100 unique fingerprints, ensuring every household member can have access to the drawer.

To access the cabinet, the user simply pulls the drawer. The cabinet will open slightly, revealing only the fingerprint sensor and battery. Once the fingerprint is used to grant access, the drawer will open fully. The drawer comes with a manual key lock as a backup method of entry.

Diamond Cabinets Secured Drawer featuring Master Lock Biometric Technology is available in 18- inch, 21-inch and 24-inch-wide base drawer cabinets measuring 24 inches deep at Diamond Cabinetry dealers across North America. To find a local dealer, visit www.diamondcabinets.com/ dealer-locator.

MasterBrand Cabinets is the largest cabinet manufacturer in North America and offers designers a portfolio of more than 15 nationally distributed cabinetry brands. The Master Lock Co. is the leading global manufacturer of padlocks and related security products, providing a broad portfolio of mechanical and electro-mechanical security and safety products for consumer, commercial and industrial end users. s&p

©ISTOCK.COM/FUNTAP

24

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

RENOLIT 3D PET laminate in High Gloss and Supermatt

RENOLIT 2D PET laminate in High Gloss and Supermatt

Soft shell, hard core – the new PET laminate from RENOLIT for smooth and durable surfaces.

The new RENOLIT PET laminate “Made in Germany” impresses in High Gloss with optimum surface stability and a depth effect as if it were behind glass. In Supermatt it offers tactile pleasure and a look to satisfy both hand and eye. Both the 2D and 3D high-tech laminate are easy to thermoform and offer optimum durability. This perfect partner for applications in the furniture and caravan industries is also especially easy to clean and highly scratch and impact-resistant. Even with hard use over long periods of time RENOLIT PET laminate looks as new – for a kitchen that can take knocks.

PETlaminate.renolit.com | renolit.com/design | laminatefinder.com | info@laminatefinder.com | Tel. (856) 467-3800

Where Beauty AND Function Meet

26

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

COMPOSIT FURNITURE BRINGS ITALIAN DESIGN, QUALITY TO NORTH AMERICA

N

BY SCOTT W. ANGUS

ot surprisingly, the emphasis is on design at Italian furniture maker Composit. But it’s not all about design at the family-owned, Pesaro-based company.

In its company profile, Composit stresses that its products—and others historically made in Italy—are “a perfect union between beautiful and functional.”

Composit first began selling its stylistic kitchens and other furniture in North America 20 years ago. When Andrea Sorgente joined the company in 2013, he was confident that dealers and consumers here would appreciate the company’s innovative, European-style designs. It was the core material in the panels that concerned him.

Sorgente manages Composit’s North American sales.

In the end, though, the performance of the IDROLEB panels—their functionality, in other words—won over North America, and Composit has been enjoying success here ever since.

“Eventually, I found that all of the most advanced and open-minded dealers and customers in the States were happy to use this product,” Sorgente said of IDROLEB, which is 100 percent recycled wood, almost formaldehyde free and water resistant.

That acceptance cleared the way for Composit’s designs and styles to impress dealers and customers and find their way into more houses in the U.S. and Canada. The company now has 10 dealers in the U.S. and one in Canada. All are multi-brand dealers, and most carry Composit as their only European line.

Composit is about to open its first “flagship” store in Austin, Texas, in partnership with its local dealer, Brown & Beaux.

“I’m very excited to be partnering with Composit to build a flagship store with them,” said Nathan Brown, owner of Brown & Beaux. “The store will allow customers from Dallas and Houston to stay at the showroom to experience Composit and all that Austin has to offer as the property is part of a loft community that enjoys full amenities, as well as easy access to SOCO (South Congress district) and downtown.”

Composit’s roots go back to 1960, when three Belligotti brothers opened a 97,000-square-foot furniture production facility in the district of Pesaro on the Adriatic coast in northeastern Italy. In 1974, the Belligottis founded the Composit brand, and they since have expanded their footprint to 183,000 square feet to house the entire production cycle of their kitchens and Belligotti-branded wardrobes.

About 50 people are employed at Composit’s facility.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 28 ›

SURFACE & PANEL • Q3 2019

27

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 26

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 27

WITHIN THE LUXURY LINE IS THE LOUNGE COLLECTION, WHICH FEATURES A VERTICAL HANDLE, A STRONG GRAPHIC SIGN THAT CHARACTERIZES THE KITCHEN. LOUNGE COMBINES AND CONNECTS WITH THE REST OF THE HOUSE CREATING A CONTINUOUS ENVIRONMENT BETWEEN KITCHEN AND LIVING ROOM, IDEAL FOR URBAN SPACES.” COMPOSIT'S DAY SYSTEM OFFERS MODERN HOME SOLUTIONS THAT CONNECT ADJACENT ROOMS WITHOUT BARRIERS, CREATING A SINGLE SPACE WITH A HOMOGENEOUS LOOK.

28

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

Three generations of Belligottis have provided vision and direction for the company as it has grown to international status.

A section on the family in the company profile further explains: “It is a typical Italian family history where commitment to the development of industrial products with an ‘artisanal heart’ is the fil rouge (common thread) between the various developing moments of the company.”

Within its extensive kitchen lineup, Composit offers three lines—Luxury, Contemporary and Basic—that all are characterized by contemporary design. Luxury identifies aesthetic values and performance for clients for which luxury is a lifestyle.

Contemporary offers designs and performance “based on innovation and research.” Basic includes a range of models that offer high performance and a “young design with great value.”

Each line has a series of collections that further define the design, style and intended settings for the kitchens. For example, within the Luxury line is the Lounge Collection, which Composit defines this way: “From the aesthetic point of view, Lounge features a vertical handle, a strong graphic sign that characterizes the kitchen. Lounge combines and connects with the rest of the house creating a continuous environment between kitchen and living room, ideal for urban spaces.”

With its continual emphasis on design, Composit collaborates with prestigious designers who

ANDREA SORGENTE, COMPOSIT

NATHAN BROWN, BROWN & BEAUX

come together with the company’s key people at its Research and Development Center in Pesaro.

“The result of this is a range of products of international reach, designed both for the residential market and for the contract market. Piergiorgio Cazzaniga, Roberto Lazzeroni, Enrico Cesana, Leone & Mazzarri are some of the world-class designers that contributed to Composit’s designs,” the company says in its profile.

Design is not an end in itself, though. Performance also is critical at Composit, the company says, and it works to guarantee the reliability and safety of its materials and products.

“Composit philosophy is geared toward the creation of kitchens that endure over time and that for this reason we have called ‘the kitchens of life.’”

Innovation obviously plays a central role at Composit—from its pursuit and use of non-toxic paints to the durability of its worktops in terms of resistance to scratches, heat, water and more.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30 ›

WATERBORNE EXTERIOR IMPREGNATORS SPECIFIC FOR DECKING AND FURNITURE Excellent foot traffic resistance.

Outstanding protection against weather conditions, mold, bacteria and UV rays.

Ideal for softwood, exotic wood and thermotreated wood.

Compliant to EN71-3 regulation on toys safety, they are as well recommended for children playground equipment.

Application by brush, manual roller, automatic impregnation machinery.

Surfaces coated with these impregnators can be renovated using the same products, without sanding.

Follow us

Available as Transparent base XWC5AA1 and in twelve pre-defined colors: XWT5102 XWT5110 XWT5112 XWT5116

Maple Larch Cherry Fair walnut

XWT5103 XWT5107 XWT5108 XWT5117

XWT5118 XWT5119 XWT5104 XWT5114

Burgundy Mahogany meranti Dark walnut Antique walnut

Iroko Rosewood Ebony Forest green

For more details on this and other solutions, visit www.milesi.com: you can contact us directly or receive assistance to find authorized Milesi Distributor nearest to you.

SURFACE & PANEL • Q3 2019

29

Collins Almanor Forest

Protecting the environment, one panel at a time. ‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 29

Cowhorn Vineyard & Gardens Photo: Claire Thorington Design Builder: Green Hammer

Proud to bear the label of

Collins Pine FreeForm® Particleboard

The company also stresses constant innovation in processes and production, Sorgente said.

The production model in Italy and at Composit is considerably different than in the U.S. Many American factories produce all of their parts in-house. That’s not the case in Italy, Sorgente said.

“In Italy, we work within our ‘districts,’ a key word in Italian industries. Cabinet manufacturers are in charge of design, quality control and final assembly. Most of the components, including cabinet doors, are outsourced to local, trustworthy suppliers, many of whom are literally next door,” he said.

“With this system, we can handle thousands of door finishes, for instance, and the quality will always be very high because each supplier specializes only in that particular process or that particular finishing, so it will always be up to date and can provide the best quality and service.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 32 ›

Featuring an exceptionally high percentage of western pine and produced in Klamath Falls, Oregon, FreeForm® is the first FSC-Certified Particleboard with no added formaldehyde. Along with the thirdparty NAF validation, it is also the first to carry

Forest Stewardship Council ®

Look for our certified wood products

the Declare Label. For highly moisture resistant applications, we offer a MR50 rated panel.

Visit us at Greenbuild in Atlanta, booth 1346.

The finest in responsibly sourced Hardwood, Softwood & Particleboard.

CollinsWood.com 800.547.1793 Since 1855

@collinswood_1855 facebook.com/CollinsCompanies

COMPOSIT STRESSES THAT ITS PRODUCTS—AND OTHERS HISTORICALLY MADE IN ITALY— ARE “A PERFECT UNION BETWEEN BEAUTIFUL AND FUNCTIONAL.�

I’ll miss “ your soft touch...

But at least I have my soft touch cabinets.”

Introducing new surf(x)® Matte Luxe laminates from OMNOVA Solutions.

Durable without masking and leaves no fingerprints, this matte, soft touch finish will add a sense of luxury, beauty and style to any interior space.

To learn more, or to order samples, visit www.omnova.com/matteluxe

laminates@omnova.com

|

866.332.5226

SURF(X) is a registered trademark of OMNOVA Solutions. © 2019 OMNOVA Solutions Inc.

COMPOSIT OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF STYLES THROUGH ITS VARIOUS COLLECTIONS.

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30

Besides TFL and HPL, Composit’s popular finishes include wood veneers, lacquered finishes and more exclusive options, including laminam ceramic surface.

In its company profile, Composit details the importance of its “strategic partners” and stresses that it works with “world leaders” in mechanical components, hardware and materials to achieve excellence and meet its goals for quality. Its top suppliers include Cleaf, Kaindl, Arpa Industriale, Blum, Salice and Bortoluzzi. It uses machinery from Biesse and SCM. Sustainability is also central to Composit’s business philosophy, and it recognizes the need “to do something right now to preserve our compromised ecosystem.” In its profile, the company identifies areas where it acts every day to employ production strategies and make

32

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

decisions that minimize its impact on the environment.

Composit exports more than 70 percent of its products, and they now are available in 53 cities on four continents. Composit’s sales network includes flagship stores and multi-brand authorized dealers, and the company backs its network with sales and post-sales support, customer service, continuous training and other services.

In Austin, Brown decided to open his own kitchen and bath showroom in summer 2018 after the store where he had worked as director of its design studio closed to focus on Dallas-Fort Worth. One of his passions at the previous store was bringing Composit kitchens to Austin to provide “a great higher-end offering.”

“I brought this line in as it has such a wide range of not only styles through the various collections—minimal, light industrial, modern craftsman, etc.—but the price range is also pretty wide, which allows it to be more accessible than you would think for a line of this quality level,” Brown said. “They are certainly a higher line, but there are lot of different options that you can use to value-engineer designs as needed.”

As for specific trends, Brown said: “Frameless cabinets with simple doors are becoming more popular as people continue to reach for modern high design. Often, the limitation is the current architectural style of that home that they are in … New custom construction is full of those styles, though.”

Brown said he’s seeing more use of black metal shelving support systems for a light industrial feel and interesting uses of various material thicknesses in the design elements of shelving units.

In terms of surface materials, the Fenix products are getting a good response for the way they feel, as well as their durability, while other laminates are popular on more budget-conscious projects, he said. Fenix is a material from Arpa Industriale that features nextgeneration acrylic resins.

“Composit also offers Ligna laminates or manmade veneers that are great as they are very authentic feeling,” Brown said.

Brown & Beaux sells Composit products exclusively because they meet the needs of the modern, high-end projects with high design demands in both form and function that are the store’s specialty, Brown said.

“A lot of our projects need solutions throughout the house, so we are involved everywhere, including the closets using the Belligotti closet system,” he said. s&p

Built for Borate

Exceeds the requirements of ASTM D6007-14 and CARB ATCM Phase 2

Advantage 460 is ideal for bonding HPL and wood veneer to fire-rated particleboard and fiberboard.

Franklin

Adhesives & Polymers

ÂŽ

www.FranklinAdhesivesandPolymers.com

Franklin International 2020 Bruck Street Columbus, Ohio USA 43207 T 1.800.877.4583 E marketing@franklininternational.com

01164_3794_LB

A Lasting Commitment to the Community Taking on a greater role in serving its Texas community required a respected non-profit to invest in new office space designed to last.

VT Architectural Doors finished with New Leaf Performance Veneers fit right in.

United Way of Central Texas 4 N. Third St., Temple, Texas SIZE: 6,000 square feet ARCHITECT: Neal Architectural Group, Temple, Texas PRODUCTS: New Leaf Performance Veneers, Plain Sawn Cherry in Slate on VT Dimensions Architectural Interior Doors LOCATION:

34

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

A NEW SPACE, A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR GROWTH When the United Way of Central Texas (UWCT) adopted a modern Community Impact Model that found it taking a more active role in meeting the health, education, income and basic needs of Central Texas residents, it led to significant changes for the organization: new programming, added staff—and the need for more space than its 2,400-square-foot facility offered. UWCT found an opportunity in the 6,000-square-foot Strasburger Building in downtown Temple. The size and location of the one-time USO were ideal. However, the interior required major renovations.

Space planning and interior design were headed up by Neal Architectural Group, also of Temple. Project Manager Megan Mondrik worked closely with the client and Gwen Petter, product design director at Wilsonart. As one of the region’s largest employers, Wilsonart has long been an avid supporter of UWCT and its community activities. To show its support for this project, Wilsonart contributed various materials to the new office renovation project.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 36 ›

Our resins make beautiful laminates

© 2018 Hexion Inc. All rights reserved.

When it comes to advanced resins and additives for laminates, Hexion is the global leader.

Our products’ processing and performance benefits, global reliability and customized technical service are second to none. Hexion can help you deliver the beautiful, functional and sustainable materials today’s designers, architects, builders and regulators insist on.

For extraordinary rooms, start with exceptional resins and additives.

Visit us at Hexion.com.

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 34

DESIGNING FOR FLEXIBILITY AND LONGEVITY The interior needed to accommodate the office activities of the UWCT staff, as well as the community programs operating out of the facility. In addition, the building needed conference spaces for meetings with partner organizations, donors and the board of directors. Last but not least, the facility would house the UWCT’s 2-1-1 Call Center—a 24/7 health and human services resource that handles more than 48,000 incoming calls each year.

From a design standpoint, the space needed to be comfortable enough for the employees and attractive enough to make a good impression on those visiting the space either as clients, partners or potential donors.

However, given that UWCT is a not-for-profit organization, it was essential that furnishings and fixtures provide lasting value to support the agency’s responsible stewardship of its financial resources. The design team sought a combination of a clean, comfortable aesthetic and practical, durable performance.

PERFORMANCE FINISHES IN THE SPOTLIGHT In addition to such durable mainstays as luxury vinyl tile flooring, high pressure laminate cabinetry and quartz countertops, Mondrik and Petter selected VT Industries CONTINUED ON PAGE 38 ›

3D Press Lamination 3D Press Lamination 3D Press Lamination

ADHERE ADHERE ADHERE RELENTLESSLY Flat Lamination Flat Lamination Flat Lamination

RELENTLESSLY RELENTLESSLY Profile Lamination

Profile Lamination Profile Lamination

Epoxy Lamination Epoxy Lamination Epoxy Lamination

Daubond PUR is Lamination At Daubert, our belief Daubond in lasting bonds begins our commitment to your success.

PUR is with Lamination Whether that means developing a custom formulation that'll keep your product together, Daubond PUR is Lamination At Daubert, our belief in lasting bonds begins our commitment toour your or traveling cross-country to learn about your with challenges in depth, you are onlysuccess.

At Daubert, our belief in lasting bonds begins with our commitment to your success.

We've thrived since 1935, not because we're the biggest adhesives companytogether, Whether focus. that means developing a custom formulation that'll keep your product Whether that means a custom formulation keep youryou product together, (we're not), developing but because we make your success thethat'll focus in of everything weare do,our or traveling cross-country to learn about your challenges depth, only the results speak forchallenges themselves.in depth, you are our only or traveling cross-countryand to learn about your

focus. We've thrived since 1935, not because we're the biggest adhesives company focus.

We've since 1935, not your because we'rethe thefocus biggest adhesives company (we're not),thrived but because we make success of everything we do, (we're not), but because we make your success the focus of everything we do, and the results speak for themselves. and the results speak for themselves.

4700 S. Central Avenue • Chicago, IL 60638 1-800-310-9068 or 708-496-7350 • Fax: 708-496-7367 Visit our website at www.daubertchemical.com. Our email is dauchem@daubert.com

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 36

Flexibility, Quality and Reliability

KOMO Quality at an AFFORDABLE PRICE

FLEX TG

FLEX Get Help When You Need It KOMO’s toll-free customer service hotline is available 24/7/365 by calling 1-800-528-4570.

FUSION XL

KOMO MACHINE, INC. One Komo Drive, Lakewood NJ 08701 U.S.A. 1-800-255-5670 • 1-732-719-6222 • www.komo.com

38

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

Architectural Doors with New Leaf Performance Veneers for the 17 individual doors and two sets of pocket doors within the building.

Applied to doors, furniture, wall panels, case goods and more, New Leaf is an engineered, pre-finished veneer surface that takes the beauty, depth and dimension of natural wood grain and elevates it to a level of consistency and performance unimaginable with traditional veneers. Each species is created from an original exemplar veneer, then re-created in up to five different stains.

“The client was a big fan of New Leaf, and we were happy to specify it,” Mondrik explained. “We were certainly comfortable with the performance aspects of it— there were no issues there. And we were really excited about the way it looked.”

The Plain Sawn Cherry in Slate coordinated beautifully with the clean, modern look that Mondrik and Petter were aiming for with the finishes. Knowing that New Leaf is resistant to fading and discoloration, scratches, dents, wear and impact meant that they could count on the doors to last for years longer than traditional veneer doors without showing their age. Not only did it elevate the look of the space, it was a smart choice to maximize the long-term value.

SERVING ITS PURPOSE BEAUTIFULLY The staff, volunteers and partner organizations are delighted with the transformation of their new facility.

“The new United Way of Central Texas Center for Community Impact is a hub of activity for organizations working together to serve our communities,” President and CEO Stephanie O’Banion said. “The new facility provides a warm and welcoming environment that our design team created using strategic colors and quality materials. We hope that it will be a place of convening for years to come.” s&p

Visit us at Ligna Hannover hall 26, booth 58

Short-Cycle Laminating Lines for furniture, laminate flooring & HPL production

Registered embossing I Complete turn-key lines I Upgrade of existing lines

www.dieffenbacher-zaisenhausen.de

A

Delight

FOR Eyes AND Ears

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY’S NEW PERFORMANCE CENTER FEATURES VENEERED BOXES, ‘WAVE WALL’

40

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

BY BILL ESLER • PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK BALLOGG

A

once-in-a-lifetime music center project featuring state-of-the-art acoustical engineering is also gaining accolades for the elegance of its interior paneling. Like a fine violin or cello, the resonant new spaces at Chicago’s DePaul University are a delight for both eyes and ears.

The centerpiece, 505-seat Gannon Concert Hall, is enveloped in boxes veneered in quarter-sawn makore, including a mainstage backdrop of stunningly designed panels.

Founded more than a century ago, DePaul’s School of Music has become an international center for artistic and technical training in the musical arts. With 375 students and more than 3,800 alumni, the school is renowned for its programs in performance, composition, jazz, music education, arts management and sound recording technology.

Campuses in Chicago are plentiful, with the University of Chicago, Northwestern, the School of the Arts Institute and Loyola laying claim to sizeable tracts. But only DePaul has seen its name adopted as the designation for an entire section of the city. Yet its campus remained discreetly tucked away, somewhat below the radar, in a warren of buildings.

Seeking to more deeply engage with its home city while raising its architectural profile, university trustees adopted a long-term plan to establish a gateway to the campus. What better way to welcome the world than by erecting a center for the School of Music befitting its global stature.

Construction on the new music building started in late 2015. The 185,000-square-foot Holtschneider Performance Center, built at a cost of $98 million, features a concert hall, two recital halls and a jazz hall, as well as teaching studios and rehearsal spaces. The performance center was dedicated with a 10-day music celebration in November 2018 featuring Itzhak Perlman and other world-beater names in music.

Perlman played standing before that arresting makore “Wave Wall,” as it is informally known, which was erected in four tiers on metal supports. Individual components for each tier were hand-cranked carefully into position and attached to the supports to form the undulating-surfaced wall.

Also lining the Gannon space are facing walls of shallow rectangular boxes, each made of six layers of fire-rated MDF, as well as a noteworthy pair of balcony boxes covered in “clouds” of seemingly impossible CONTINUED ON PAGE42 ›

SURFACE & PANEL • Q3 2019

41

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 41

geometric complexity, all veneered in the same makore.

For the Wave Wall, individual components were veneered and then spliced together to form a near seamless whole. Also known as the Aalto Wall (a nod to Finnish architect Alvar Aalto), it is a signal engineering and woodworking accomplishment, one that also delivers optimal sound qualities while providing endless visual intrigue as the backdrop to the main stage.

DePaul University’s new center differs in purpose from a conventional public opera house or symphony center. It is designed for

teaching and performing all manner of musical modalities, and its educational activities run non-stop when school is in session.

Consequently, the arching red brick structure on DePaul’s main Chicago campus contains four performance halls–an intimate clubsize jazz space, a baroque music theater, a smaller concert hall and the soaring, 65-foot tall Gannon Concert Hall that can accommodate a full symphony and chorus. There are also dozens of practice rooms, along with teaching and recording spaces.

The likelihood that the DePaul School of Music’s 375 students would put any number of these many spaces to use at the same time brought structural and engineering challenges—especially how to keep the sound from one space from leaking into adjoining rooms.

(Imagine a coloratura soprano on one stage competing with overtones from a wailing jazz saxophone in the hall above.) The Gannon Concert Hall is essentially a free-standing concrete box suspended above the building’s ground floor and isolated with sound-dampening supports.

Because recital and performance are key to music education, acoustic considerations were paramount in the project. The university drew from Chicago’s best and brightest, with Bob Janis, vice president for facility operations at DePaul, overseeing the effort. General contractor Bulley & Andrews led the work, which was designed by architects Antunovich Associates, with acoustic design by Joseph Myers of Kirkegaard Associates.

The acoustics are also in great measure a product of the execution of interior design elements by one of the nation’s most revered millwork firms, Bernhard Woodwork in Northbrook, Illinois. The company CONTINUED ON PAGE 44 ›

WOOD VENEER with

UV-cured clear coat finish

features Environmentally friendly UV-cured clear coat Trending Reconstituted & Exotic veneer species Available for cabinet fronts, frames, floating shelves, overlays, mouldings & more Grain matching available

Endless design combinations, one source.

866-344-8132 | www.northerncontours.com

touchwood

TM

ARCHITECTURAL PANELS

CopyrightAvailable © Columbia as Forest Products. All Rights Reserved.

FSC® Certified upon request.

As shown: Clear Birch painted white with taupe stain

As shown: Clear Birch painted white with warm grey stain

Some of our best ideas go against the grain.

TM

Rough Sawn Faces

Textured, real wood panels that beg to be felt as much as seen.

We’re proud to debut our new TouchWood™ Collection with a series of Rough Sawn hardwood faces in Red Oak and Birch. These all-wood panels capture the natural warmth and authenticity of yesterday’s milled lumber, but in an efficient and abundant form. Both Rough Sawn faces are available in two styles, giving your ideas a broad range of visual expression. Finishing options — from painting and staining to clear sealing — offer even more possibilities for style and impact.

With a rich, tactile quality that pleases the senses, TouchWood provides an inspiring surface for today’s texture-driven interior trends. Order samples now to discover the real, Rough Sawn wood panels your customers have been waiting to get their hands on. Additional textures are coming soon.

Eastern US 1 800-237-2428 Central US 1 800-760-3341 Northeastern US & Canada 1 888-664-1964 • 1 888-525-1964 Western US/Canada 1 800-547-1791

TouchWoodPanels.com

FROM GLUING TO TRIMMING, SMARTECH HAS YOU COVERED.

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42

Info@SmartechOnline.com 704 362 1922

44

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

had reconfigured its manufacturing floor before the DePaul project began, adding SCM computer-controlled machining systems that allowed the numerous irregularly shaped surfaces to be calculated and cut with precision. The balconies and Wave Wall were particularly demanding, with irregular semi-cylindrical and hollow surfaces curving in multiple directions.

“The real challenge was, ‘How do you veneer in three dimensions,’” said Mark Bernhard, president of Bernhard Woodwork.

“We had never veneered anything that radical in shape,” he added, referring particularly to the balcony designs.

Indeed, before they were veneered in makore, the balcony cloud wraps were built out in plywood, then dry-fitted in the Bernhard workshop and test-installed onsite at DePaul. After adjustments, the fit was proved, and the components were returned to the woodshop to be veneered and finished.

Bernhard Woodwork has long mastered veneering, operating a longitudinal splicer and OTT veneer press for this work. Bernhard is Architectural Woodwork Institute Quality Certified for wood veneer paneling and casework projects.

This allows them to control and balance the grain, texture and color of each panel to bring out the characteristic beauty of the makore. Also known as African cherry mahogany, makore has striped figuring that shows consistently throughout the veneer faces at DePaul. The smaller concert areas were done in oak veneer, with “a lot of cool work in controlling that veneer pulling

sequence,” Bernhard noted.

To design the interiors of a performance structure, the project followed a classic trajectory, with close collaboration from the vision by Antunovich principal Stephen Long, in collaboration with Myers of Kirkegaard.

Myers set the requirements for sound performance—absorption, reflectance, reverberation, etc. Long then translated that into his designs.

From the outset, Meyers charted acoustic expectations. “DePaul chose to do it right.

The university was committed to an excellent outcome,” Meyers said.

“The nature of a project like this is that we describe what we are trying to achieve on the various surfaces of the room,” he said. “As you look around the room, we wanted surfaces around the performers that reflected sound – flat surfaces.

“We are also concerned with how the surfaces sustain sound,” Meyers said, and this was aided by “those balcony wraps that curve from top to bottom and from side to side. Square panels in the room do double duty here, too.”

From the undulating Aalto Wall, “we wanted a mid- and high-frequency tone, and it behaves very much like a pipe organ project.

When you deal with good designers, they will make it their own,” said Meyers, who charted those and other requirements–for sound to be scattered side to side, or sections of the space where the sound needed to be “tighter and a little more random”—and then handed them off to architect Long, who brought the acoustic requirements into practical designs.

“Projects like this don’t come along that often,” Long said. “For DePaul, the most important thing was that we were dealing with art and artists—people who care about aesthetics. The students have to be talented to get into the school.”

In designing the interiors, “the musical milieu sets up the character of the room,” he said. “We set different levels of formality. The least formal are the smaller performance spaces with large oak panels. The Gannon Concert Hall is the most formal, in terms of appearance and acoustics.”

Gannon Hall is 65 feet tall, so the sound in the Gannon Hall needs to be focused on the listeners in the seats. A plaster ceiling “cloud” and retractable felt curtains help to adjust the focal point, as does the Wave Wall.

“In designing it, I was talking with Joseph (Meyers), figuring out how to link the visual with the acoustic,” Long said. “We needed something that strongly reflected sound. The wall also gives a character to the room.”

Originally, “I conceived it as oak,” he said. “By making it cherry mahogany [makore] and going darker, it made it more visually pleasing.”

The design was complicated to execute. “That was even technically more complex, doing the assembly on site and putting it up. There is a lot of millwork in that job,” Long said. “There were a lot of things that had to be figured out.”

From these designs, the millwork and carpentry crews of Bernhard Woodwork distilled workable solutions that are at once functional and exceptionally beautiful throughout the building, including public spaces.

Meyers noted that Bernhard Woodwork “did a beautiful job.” s&p

THE POLYMER SHEET THAT WORKS LIKE WOOD The Polymer Building Sheet That Lasts a Lifetime

King StarBoard® ST is the smart choice for furniture, cabinets, lockers, outdoor kitchens, retail displays, and decorative panels. The sheets will never warp, rot or delaminate. No painting or refinishing required.

Custom sheet sizes, gauges, and colors available. Contact us to find your nearest distributor today.

www.kingplastic.com | Made in U.S.A.

SURFACE & PANEL • Q3 2019

45

Dedication to Continuous Improvement Results in Manufacturing Success A growing, nationally recognized cabinet door and drawer box manufacturer was at production capacity and needed to adjust to meet their growing demand. In addition to adding two new CNC machines, they saw the opportunity to review their current machinery and technology and explore what could be done to optimize their entire operation. The manufacturer had been working with Leitz for tooling service and met with their representative to discuss what else they could be doing to get the most from their current machines.

Their Leitz representative recommended moving from an insert tooling system to the Leitz diamond routers and the Leitz ThermoGrip tool holding system. The newly implemented diamond routers system reduced machine downtime and increased tool life. Additionally, the ThermoGrip tool holders gave the customer a cleaner cut without the lines and imperfections they were experiencing with their other tool holding system, cutting down on multiple run throughs and rework of the product.

With better quality cuts and increased tool life from the diamond tooling, the customer is not only saving money but has expanded their production capacity by approximately 50% on their current machines, more than doubling the number of truckloads of product they dispatch daily.

Additionally, the customer achieved a 30% improvement in tool life using the ThermoGrip system.

Form a Partnership for Continuous Improvement Consultative approach

Application expertise

Superior tooling

Staying competitive in today’s fast-paced manufacturing environment requires comprehensive solutions from your tooling supplier.

At Leitz, we help our customers continuously improve efficiency and productivity with innovative tooling technology, optimized application solutions, and a full range of support services, including: • Tool and application engineering • Machine tooling setup • Manufacturing consultation

• Precision tool reconditioning and repair • Product design consultation

Leitz guidance is based on insight gathered from our multi-industry, worldwide perspective, and experience. Our expert review, fueled by our belief that we can improve any cutting process, backed by our unconditional quality and performance guarantee, ensures our partner customers achieve the continuous improvement vital to their future.

The right tool results in quality and productivity.

The right service ensures long-term success.

Leitz Tooling, 4301 East Paris Avenue S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49512 800.253.6070 • 616.431.4096 • insidesales@leitz.org • leitztooling.com

Smooth, Soft, Stylish Those are three of the many words that describe the innovative new products being offered by the world’s top hardware companies. Here are some of those products with descriptions of how they make installation and life easier and better for all who use them.

Vauth-Sagel VS SUB COMFORT This storage space solution, which has already won four awards, makes it easier to access the lower two storage levels of cabinets with doors. The product impresses with innovative technology: When the cabinet doors are opened, two trays slide out directly toward the user. Things that are needed most frequently are stored on the upper tray and can therefore be conveniently accessed as soon as the cupboard door is opened. If you want to access the lower level, you can simply push the top level back in. Thanks to its clever kinematics, both trays slide softly back into the cupboard when the doors are closed. The system can be integrated into cupboards with one door as well as cupboards with two doors. n

Salice SILENTIA+ Silentia+ allows a perfect and constant closing of the door in any condition, use and application.

Integrated soft-close technology with two silicone oil dampers guarantees an exceptional regularity of the decelerating strength, providing a perfect closing to any kind of door and condition.

Silentia+ is also equipped with an innovative switch to delay the decelerating action. The activation of this switch allows small and large doors the ability to obtain the ideal decelerating speed.

The innovative soft-close technology guarantees excellent performances to the complete range of hinges.

Silentia+ has identical dimensions and shape as the previous generation, in spite of the new double-piston technology and the deceleration switch.

This feature allows the complete interchangeability both inside the cabinet and during the drilling process and the insertion to the door. n 48

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

2 0 1 9 H A R D W A R E

Blum AVENTOS HK TOP Opening, closing and constantly dodging wall cabinet doors can disrupt a good flow in the kitchen. With AVENTOS HK top, doors lift up and out of the way, providing easy access to everyday kitchen items, maximizing efficiency, style and storage space. The uniqueness of this lift system enchants anyone, beyond design to overall product experience. A self-positioning template is built in to the mechanism making for easier, more confident installs, reducing the number of callbacks.

This easy-to-implement innovation saves time on installation, while meeting customer demands for a highly functional kitchen. n

CONTINUED ON PAGE 50 ›

Hafele IXCONNECT SPREADING CONNECTOR When it comes to connections, they’re not always permanent, nor do they need to be. With the all-new Häfele Ixconnect Spreading Connector SC 8/60, large pieces of furniture can be assembled and disassembled as needed for transport.

Custom Components to Complete Cabinetry Ÿ Tenon, Miter or Slab Cabinet Ÿ Doors & Drawer Fronts Ÿ Ÿ Wood, Thermofoil, Laminate Ÿ & Acylic Products Ÿ Ÿ Drawer Boxes, Pullouts & Ÿ

Insert Options

Custom AOS Cabinet Boxes Refacing Products Thousands of Moldings Superior Finishing Much More!

The SC 8/60 is almost completely invisible once assembled, leaving a clean look with this connection. It spreads out and pulls furniture parts together with a 180-degree turn using a hex key. Machining is a standard 8 mm bore, with no glue or clamps needed, and a simple hex key allows you to take apart or put together your project as needed. Panels can be as thin as 15 mm.

Working in concert with the SC 8/60, the Ixconnect Rear Panel Connect RPC S 15/25 screws in the rear panel from the front side with no drill hole required. The connector is used with standard 15mm holes and serves as a mounting aid for the rear panel.

The Ixconnect Spreading Connector SC 8/25 is ideal for putting together small furniture and/or associated drawer boxes with no tools or glue. All you need is a few 8 mm holes to get started. Furniture is efficiently assembled with the SC 8/25 and won’t come apart. A definite must-have for any woodworking project with scale of production. n

Quality Committed, Timely Delivered, Environmentally Driven

1-800-665-0623 www.eliaswoodwork.com

Elias Woodwork-S&P-Sept-Dec 2019

SURFACE & PANEL • Q3 2019

49

2 0 1 9

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 49

H A R D W A R E

Titus

T-TYPE PIE CUT CORNER HINGE Titus now offers the T-type pie-cut corner hinge with an EasyFix solution to ensure a wide opening for easy cabinet access. The EasyFix hinge cup features pre-mounted 8mm expandable dowels and can be simply mounted just by a quarter turn of the screwdriver onto the standard 35mm drilling pattern, with no edge drilling required.

The combination of the EasyFix cup and the T-type hinge 3Way snap on mounting feature provides for both quick and precise installation of the hinge and intuitive, firm door attachment to the cabinet.

TEKFORM SLIMLINE DRAWER This new generation Tekform Slimline drawer system provides thinner side panels and combines an elegant appearance with maximum drawer space.

Tekform Slimline drawer is simple to mount and is integrated with our patented Titusoft damper that provides consistent lifelong performance.

Cutlery trays and inserts are also available for additional drawer organization. n

CONTINUED ON PAGE 52 ›

Small, Medium and Large.

Roller Coaters and Laminators – We’ve Got You Covered!

Union Tool has been designing and building Roller Coaters and Laminating Equipment for over 73 years. We offer these machines in many different sizes from our small (14” wide), to medium (50” wide), to large (110” wide), and all sizes in between.

Our Roller Coaters are known to apply a controlled and consistent amount of adhesive to various foam materials for the bedding industry. These Roller Coaters can apply the adhesive to one or both sides of the foam.

Standard Features Include:

• Single hand wheel adjustment with indicator readouts • A.C. variable speed drive • Chrome plated rolls • Safety guards with interlocks

The Union Tool Corporation 574-267-3211

E-mail: sales@uniontoolcorp.com

50

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

Contact Union Tool today to receive a quote on a small, medium or large Roller Coater.

www.uniontoolcorp.com

OPENING LIFTING SLIDING STORING… ALL FROM SALICE

For every type of movement… the answer is Salice. A comprehensive range of products that combines excellence in research-based design and technical expertise to provide solutions for every cabinetry application.

-Hinges & mounting plates -Lift systems -Sliding systems -Runners & drawers

saliceamerica.com

2 0 1 9

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 50

Richelieu

H A R D W A R E

QANTO ELECTRIC LIFT-UP SYSTEM The QANTO Electric Lift-Up System is the ultimate cabinet storage solution that maximizes space and accessibility. This innovative system adds functionality and style to usually difficult-to-access areas such as base corner cabinets in L-shaped and U-shaped kitchens and end cabinets of kitchen islands.

Ergonomic, QANTO is composed of two trays that rise from inside the cabinet at the push of a button, displaying their contents in full view and making everything easy to reach. Push the same button to make them descend back inside the cabinet. The trays are designed with an elegant crystal-glass effect rim that outlines the QANTO on the countertop.

The QANTO system comes pre-assembled in a complete cabinet with adjustable legs for easy integration. The unit simply plugs into a standard 120 V outlet.

Optimize every corner storage space by taking full advantage of the effortless movement to store heavier small appliances or a concealed serving station. n

Grass ARTRA UNDERMOUNT SLIDE SYSTEM Grass America is pleased to introduce Artra, the newest member of our undermount slide family. Artra is a concealed, modern undermount system that creates a minimalistic look while offering easy access to the drawers’ contents.

ATRA FEATURES: • Support roller for uniform drawer front height • Fully enclosed liquid damper softly glides drawers to a stop

EDGING EDGINGSOLUTIONS. SOLUTIONS. EDGING SOLUTIONS.

• Height, side, and depth adjustments are possible via the front locking device.

We pay attention to details, just like you. attention to the details, WeWe paypay attention to the the details, justjust like like you.you.

• Face frame and frameless applications

Consistent color ΔE <1.

Zero-joint Consistent color Zero-joint Consistent color ΔE ΔE <1.<1.

Zero-joint perfection.

Shop 10,000+ SKUs and perfection.

Shop 10,000+ SKUs perfection.

Shop 10,000+ SKUs andand we’ll ship as little as 100 ft., today. we’ll ship little today. we’ll ship as as little as as 100100 ft., ft., today.

• 90lb load rating • For drawer widths up to 48" • Supports drawer material thickness of: 12.7mm (1/2") to (5/8") 16mm slide. Then (5/8") to (3/4") 19mm slide.

Find your match and Find match and your match orderyour a Find free sample at and order a order free sample at a free sample at rehau-marketplace.com rehau-marketplace.com rehau-marketplace.com ©2018 REHAU ©2018 REHAU

52

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

©2018 REHAU

Artra’s fluid motion offers easy opening and soft close without any added hardware. Synchronized for optimal open and close motion, as inspirational as a work of art. n CONTINUED ON PAGE 54 ›

Designed to move you AVENTOS HK top

Introducing AVENTOS HK top by Blum, the first lift system to be installed in one easy motion. By requiring no measuring, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve elevated the lift system with easy installation and maintenance, allowing you to create spaces that give the performance of a lifetime. Visit blum.com/hktop to learn more.

2 0 1 9 H A R D W A R E

Berenson

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 52

Sugatsune LATERAL DOOR OPENING SYSTEM Sugatsune’s Red Dot Award winning LIN-X1000 Lateral Door Opening System is designed to provide smooth movement with a soft-close feature that operates on large doors weighing up to 200 pounds.

Providing four-way adjustability to ensure a flush, clean look when closed, the LIN-X1000 allows doors up to 43 5/16" wide to swing open in a small radius, making it a great application for custom pantry doors, closet storage rooms or other applications where space may be a constraint.

The LIN-X1000 system features a clip-on system and has fewer parts than conventional systems, making it much easier to install. n

HEARTHSTONE COLLECTION The Hearthstone Collection is a traditional style of decorative hardware with bold lines and flared posts. As homeowners look to add character to their home, Hearthstone offers a design that complements that. When used in the black finish, it offers the farmhouse charm a lot of people are looking for in their kitchens.

Hearthstone is offered in a variety of finishes and lengths, including an appliance pull. n

Rev-A-Shelf BOTTOM AND SIDE MOUNT SOFT-CLOSE UTENSIL BIN BASE ORGANIZER The company that provides your home with endless organization options now brings you the 449UT Series. Designed for 9" and 12" full height base cabinets, these two shelf units with three removable stainless-steel bins are TSCA Title VI compliant, feature natural maple construction, BLUMOTION bottom and side mount soft-close slides that maximize stability and patented door mount brackets with micro-adjustments. The face frame units feature a patent-pending foldable slide set for easy installation and fits 1-3/4", 1-1/2" and 1-5/8" frames while the full access units fit 3/4" and 5/8" side walls. s&p 54

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

DYNAPRO

LUXURY IN A 2 - DRAWER Luxury comes in many styles but none quite like the innovative DYNAPRO undermount. High-end comfort in the opening and closing is provided by the sychronized movement of the rails. Heavy loads of 100 - 132 pounds donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t affect the outstanding running performance of DYNAPRO. All the added features are included: 3 and 4 dimensional adjustment, soft-closing action, versatility for face frame and frameless cabinetry with inset drawer capabilities. DYNAPRO, luxury everyone can afford.

www.grassusa.com

The Importance of Moisture Measurement and Control

S

BY RON SMITH

uperior manufacturing of cabinetry, doors, surfaces and panels begins and ends with stringent quality control procedures that adhere to the highest standards.

Customers demand products that are timeless and maintenance-free. Factors such as function, elegance and durability often determine whether a product and perhaps the product vendor succeeds or fails.

A NOTE FROM THE DOCTOR Gene Wengert, professor emeritus at the University of WisconsinMadison, known to woodworkers worldwide as “The Wood Doctor,” has authored eight practical books and published over 400 articles relating to wood’s relationship with moisture. Drawing upon his years of expertise, Wengert states that “...at least 75% of wood manufacturing problems are moisture related.” That’s a significant statistic to consider for any woodworker. But perhaps his most important and relevant statement addressing how wood reacts to moisture is simply that “...the change in width (across the grain) will be about 1% for a 4% moisture content (MC) change (depending on species).”

When fitting pieces that require tight tolerances, it’s easy to visualize how deviations of only a couple of percentage points can lead to potentially catastrophic consequences. For medium density fiberboard (MDF), it is, perhaps, more critical for accurate moisture measurement since this type of bonded fiberboard reacts in a more exaggerated fashion. In conditions where normal wood shrinkage would be .05%, MDF shrinkage has been shown to be .25%.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 58 ›

56

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

Quality Materials for Creating Quality Products Thermally Fused Laminate Panels / Particleboard / Medium Density Fiberboard Hardwood Plywood / Shelving

3660 Gateway Street / Springfield, Oregon 97477 / 800.245.1115 / Roseburg.com

“...at least 75% of wood manufacturing problems are moisture related.”

GENE WENGERT “THE WOOD DOCTOR”

‹ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 56

Ron Smith is a sales manager for Wagner Meters and has over 30 years of experience in instrumentation and measurement systems in different industries. In previous positions, he has served as a regional sales manager, product and projects manager, and sales manager with manufacturers involved in measurement instrumentation. Call Wagner Meters today at (888) 266-8073 and ask for Ron or visit www.wagnermeters.com

RON SMITH

INTRODUCING MATCHING 3D LAMINATE TO ROSEBURG

3D LAMINATE COLLECTIONS HIGH GLOSS | MATTE | SATIN NEW SUPERMATTE | DESKTOP

RIKEN USA WWW.RIKEN-USA.COM INFO@RIKEN-USA.COM 248-513-3511 58

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

ACCURATE MOISTURE MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS Success or failure is often determined by the difference of a couple of percentage points of MC. Therefore, using a consistently accurate wood moisture meter is paramount for quality control personnel concerned with mitigating the risk of moisture-related defects in finished goods or components.

Up to this point, moisture meter manufacturers have provided a calibration reference wherein, if the user suspected that the meter was out of calibration, they could determine the extent to which the meter was out of calibration. If the meter was shown to be out of calibration, the user faced a choice of either sending the unit to the manufacturer for calibration or purchasing a new meter. Both choices required extra money and time.

A NIST-TRACEABLE SOLUTION Wagner Meters, an industry provider of moisture measurement instrumentation since 1965, has introduced a new line of Orion handheld pinless wood moisture meters that include an exclusive device that allows the user to calibrate the meter at their location in approximately 30 seconds. Named the “On-Demand Calibrator,” the small plastic platform distinguishes itself from a “calibration reference” that merely informs the user of the calibration condition.

The On-Demand Calibrator provides the means to truly calibrate the Orion pinless wood moisture meter instantly with the press of two buttons. The Orion On-Demand Calibrator is an external and solid calibration standard, more reliable than “internal calibration checks” that can be subject to the same harsh conditions as the meter and don’t test the entire system. Wagner Meters offers a NIST-traceable version of the On-Demand Calibrator to assist companies that align with strict ISO standards of excellence.

KEY COMPONENT Wood and MDF are both hygroscopic materials that interact with moisture, either by direct exposure or in the presence of ambient relative humidity levels. Tremendous care must be taken to monitor and control the MC during the many inspections needed along the manufacturing and assembly process of cabinets, panels, doors and surfaces.

Consistently accurate and calibrated handheld moisture meters are critical to the manufacturing process to ensure that moisture-related defects are minimized, therefore helping minimize in-process waste and customer complaints and returns.

For more information about the Orion line of pinless wood moisture meters and their on-site calibration capability, visit www. wagnermeters.com. s&p

Eco-Certified Composites are Among the Greenest on Earth.

Certified. Sustainable.

T R U S T E D . A U D I T E D . I N T E R N A T I O N A L LY R E C O G N I Z E D .

SUSTAINABLE TO THE CORE! Look for the Eco-Certified™ Composites (ECC) seal for assurance that composite panels, specifically particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF), hardboard and engineered wood siding and trim have earned the strict ECC Sustainability Standard and Certification.

Composite panels that carry the ECC seal are manufactured in facilities that are certified to meet rigorous environmental requirements utilizing objective-based criteria and annual on-site audits. The standard specifies that three or more of the following requirements are verified:

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

■

Carbon Sink / Net Carbon Storage

■

Locally-Sourced Wood Fiber

■

Recycled / Recovered Wood Fiber

■

Over 97% of Wood Raw Material Utilized

■

Valid Wood Sourcing Certification

100% EPA & CARB COMPLIANT – 100% OF THE TIME! An ECC-certified facility must ensure that 100% of its production meets the EPA TSCA Title VI and California Air Resources Board (CARB) formaldehyde emissions requirements for 100% of its panels 100% of the time. ECC-certified mills are not permitted to sell products that exceed EPA and CARB emission requirements in any market, even if panels are sold in countries where these regulations do not apply.

TRUSTED STANDARD ECC is a voluntary industry standard developed by the Composite Panel Association (CPA) in 2011. With over 40 mills earning certification, auditors conduct on-site assessments to ensure facilities meet the standard’s strict criteria and verify compliance. CPA administers ECC as a third-party certification body accredited to ISO/IEC 17065 by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

LEED CREDITS Panels from ECC mills may help achieve LEED credits in eight material and resources (MR) categories and one environmental quality (EQ) category.

Resource ProDucts

DEERWOOD FA S T E N E R S PMK SYSTEMS IMEAS

Deerwood Fasteners Introduces WOODMASTERâ&#x201E;˘ Woodmasterâ&#x201E;˘ is a new innovative thread design by Pan American Screw that has the cutting and self-drilling features rolled right into the thread. The patented cutter design offers easier driving, eliminates splitting while offering maximum holding power

when compared to standard Type-17 cutter point thread designs. This is the perfect thread design for decking and other wood applications because it works in a wider variety of materials.

WWW.DEERWOOD.COM

Discover Something New Materialicious is a user-submitted visual curation platform for creators of all kinds but especially those focusing on architecture, interior design and photography. The site features the latest styles and products while aiming to provide viewers with daily inspiration and homemade solutions. Visit materialicious.com to get inspired or to become part of a community of creators and influencers eager to share their work.

@materialicious

The PMK C-1203, C-1205, and HSK models The PMK C-1203, C-1205, and HSK models provide a new solution for coping and endmatching without chipping, splintering or blow-out. Because we use two counter-rotating spindles, our systems do not need a chip breaker or blow-out piece. Place workpieces

on the table and activate the machine. The workpiece is automatically clamped securely to the table and moved past the cutter heads, which are located behind a safety barrier. With our system quality, efficiency and safety are greatly improved.

PMKSYSTEMS.COM

IMEAS Full Control System (FCS) IMEAS Full Control System (FCS) is a recipedriven sander setup control package allowing fine positioning (1/100 mm) of the sanding heads to precisely control their working set-point, individual stock removal and final board thickness. Possibility to store and recall “recipes” (such as unit position,

panel thickness, production speeds etc.) for different panel types for a quick setup of the sanding line.Advanced diagnostics, trends and direct access to the operating manuals, as well as configurable warnings, alarms and user privileges.

WWW.IMEAS.IT

ShopBot. Your path to profitability.

ShopBot manufactures CNC tools that inspire people to turn their ideas into something tangible. When we see cabinet makers put our tools to work in innovative ways, it reaffirms our commitment to the mission of making digital fabrication technology readily accessible and usable for everyone.

Silvia Oliva & Giuseppe Di Domenico • SOM Design Studio • Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia Tool: ShopBot PRSalpha 144” x 60”

We make the tools for making the future.

SURFACE & PANEL • Q3 2019

61

Builder Makes Extensive Use 0f FENIX NTM in Feature Home

W

hen you like something, you like it. Homebuilder Erik Christenson knew the minute he saw samples of FENIX NTM that it was ideal for the kitchen cabinets of his new home. The next-generation nanotech matte material for vertical and horizontal surfaces is opaque, anti-fingerprint and pleasantly soft to the touch, yet durable.

“I saw the matte finish and knew it would work well for the modern style I was after,” said Christenson, owner of Trademark Homes in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He and interior designer Ruth Ann Scott put their heads together and decided that the FENIX NTM surface would also be ideal for lockers in the home’s mudroom and for cabinets in a basement wet bar.

“I wasn’t familiar with FENIX before this project,” said Scott, owner of The Living Door, a Sioux Falls interior design firm. “I had seen stuff similar to it, but nothing of this quality. I like how sleek it is and how there is no wood grain. It’s certainly different than what everyday cabinets look like.”

Many builders use FENIX NTM for cabinet doors, but Christenson decided to use the surface for the full cabinets in all three rooms.

Sherry Long, a designer with Sioux Falls Kitchen & Bath, which manufactured the cabinets, explained: “Many of our customers are going for the sleek, modern look that FENIX provides and also want it on all exposed sides.”

Christianson selected FENIX NTM Nero Ingo for the 30 kitchen cabinets. The dark black color accentuates the room’s brick walls and a metal back panel on the kitchen island and metal crowns.

In the adjoining mudroom, Christenson chose FENIX NTM in Blu Fes for five lockers. Instead of glass doors, which are common, he used wire mesh for a unique look that held true to the mix of modern and rustic that runs throughout the house. For the basement bar’s 10 cabinets, Christenson chose Grigio Bromo.

The distinctive colors used in the project bring a fresh look to each of the three rooms while maintaining a high-end feel that FENIX NTM cabinets are noted for.

Christenson’s home is one of the most extensive uses of FENIX NTM in a single-family home. Long said she appreciates that FENIX 62

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

NTM is available in sheets larger than 96 inches, which competitors’ products are not. She adds that FENIX also ships quicker. Sioux Falls Kitchen & Bath built the cabinets and ordered the doors from REHAU cut to size with perfectly matched adhesive-free REHAU LaserEdge for a seamless finish.

“Sioux Falls is beginning to adopt a lot of the modern look and materials,” Long said, adding that the FENIX line is flexible enough to fit a number of different styles that homebuilders are after. “Its durability is an added benefit that every homeowner appreciates.”

Construction on Christenson’s home—a two-story with a walkout basement—began in August 2018 and was completed in April 2019.

It was one of two designated featured homes on the Sioux Empire Spring Parade of Homes out of more than 70 homes in the spring showcase. s&p

Create-A-Bed

®

Adjustable Murphy Bed Mechanism... designed and engineered for the closet professional

Create-A-Bed

®

Visit this link to see how it works: www.wallbed.com/adjustable

Until now, adjusting a murphy bed that was “too heavy” or “too light” meant taking the murphy bed apart in order to add or remove one or more bulky, hazardous metal springs. (Heavy gloves and eye protection were a must.)

It’s one of the many reasons why manufacturers and customers prefer state-ofthe-art gas springs instead of old fashioned metal springs.

• Standardized mounting position... mechanism hardware mounts in the same position on EVERY bed • Adjusts in SECONDS without removing the bed from the wall or taking the murphy bed apart • Commercial-grade gas springs / pistons are rated at 50,000 revolutions • Gas springs can be replaced in seconds without disassembling murphy bed • Limited Lifetime Warranty on all mechanism components • Protected by U.S. Utility Patents #8,850,637 & #8,898,831 • Internationally Patented

C.A.B., Inc.

And now – thanks to the patented Create-A-Bed® Adjustable Murphy Bed Mechanism – a murphy bed that is too heavy to lift easily or too light to stay on the floor can be adjusted in seconds to be perfectly balanced and effortless to lift and lower... WITHOUT removing the bed from the wall, disassembling the bed, or even removing the pillows!

1-877-966-3852

www.CreateABed.com info@createabed.com

R

• EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, BEDFORD FALLS COMMUNICATIONS SCOTTANGUS47@GMAIL.COM • 920-261-1947

F

SCOTT W. ANGUS

O M T H E

64

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

R

VERY DURABLE • VARIETY OF SHAPES & SIZES • MADE IN USA

412-262-3950 • www.pinnaclesystems.com • sales@pinnaclesystems.com

O

Scan me

T

Safety Mat Systems (NSD) & Safety Light Curtains for Machine Guarding

I

When I became Surface & Panel’s editorial director nearly five years ago, I knew a bit about the business, and by the business, I mean composite panels with decorative surfaces—otherwise known as laminates.

I had written a few stories for the magazine and done the appropriate research for them. I had also spent much time hanging out with S&P’s publisher, John Aufderhaar, who is one of my oldest and dearest friends. Anyone who knows John knows his passion for decorative panels, and he examines and talks about them at every opportunity.

So I had a great mentor when I stepped into the job, and I quickly learned through Aufderhaar’s tutelage and my work for the magazine how beautiful and functional these materials have become.

Now, some 20 issues later, I’m an unabashed fan and advocate of TFL, HPL, 3DL, finish foils and all of the rest.

All I have to do is review any of the magazines and articles, and I see all over again why laminates are taking hold in North America in the way they gained popularity in Europe and much of the rest of the world years ago. Just look at the latest versions of TFL with gorgeous fidelity and synchronized textures, for example, and you’ll be hard-pressed to tell them from solid wood. And that’s saying nothing of their functionality, durability and cost-effectiveness.

In this issue, feature stories on Italian furniture company Composit and Formica include images that display just how far the materials have come and just how stunning they are. It’s no wonder that consumers in Austin, Texas, are keeping Composit dealer Brown & Beaux busy filling orders for upscale, European-style kitchens.

It’s not just the materials that make this business special. From

D

Once you get to know this business, it’s hard not to be passionate about it.

E

Materials, People Make This One Special Business

suppliers to distributors to fabricators to designers and more, I’ve worked with so many helpful and supportive folks. Without exception, they’ve been willing to answer those extra questions that help make things clearer for me and, I hope, our readers. Interestingly, two of my favorite people are cabinetmakers whose interviews and stories nearly bookended my time at Surface & Panel. Chris Lefeber of Quest Engineering and Steve Schoenacker of Nexis3 epitomize how fabricators have recognized the value of panel processing and built their operations to take full advantage of the technology and materials.

In case you haven’t gathered it by now, I’m retiring—again. This was a second career for me after 36 years in newspapers. It was a great way to bridge the gap between my first retirement and the real one coming up. I had been considering this move for a while, and the timing seems right with Aufderhaar selling the company. After meeting new owner Patrick Adams and my successor, Stephanie Ornelas, I’m confident Surface & Panel will be in great hands. I do, however, hope to continue to tap what I’ve learned by being a regular contributor.

I’m excited to pass the reins to Stephanie, who has been a key cog at 526 Media Group for five years. She’s a bright young star full of enthusiasm for the new challenge. To be honest, that’s just what this magazine needs. I envision nothing but better and bolder content in issues to come.

As for me, family, old friends, travel, golf and a little writing will more than fill my days in the weeks, months and years ahead. I loved my time at Surface & Panel, however, and I want to sincerely thank all who helped, guided and educated me along the way. It’s been a pleasure.

EXCLUSIVE OLON COLLECTION OF ULTRA-MATTE SOLID COLOURS EIGHT COLOURS • DOOR MOULDINGS • ACCESSORY MOULDINGS • 5/8” & 3/4” PANELS FLAT PANEL DOORS • 6MM MDF PANELS FOR 5 PIECE DOORS • DECOLINK LAMINATE

1.800.387.2319 www.olon.com

A D V E R T I S E R S

PAGE

5

Arclin 877.689.9145 www.arclinTFL.com

38

Komo 800.255.5670 www.komo.com

9

Atlantic Plywood Corporation 1-800-360-3923 www.atlanticplywood.com

46â&#x20AC;&#x201C;47

Leitz Tooling 800.253.6070 www.leitztooling.com

54

Bainbridge Manufacturing 509.745.9555 www.bainbridgemfg.com

29

Milesi +39 0384 2544.1 www.milesi.com

53

Blum 704.827.1345 www.blum.com

42

Northern Contours 866.344.8132 www.northerncontours.com

7

BMK Group 336.731.1425 www.melamine-papers.com

65

Olon 800.387.2319 www.olon.com

21

Canon 800.842.4534 www.csa.canon.com

31

Omnova Solutions 866.332.5226 www.omnova.com

30

Collins 800.329.1219 www.collinsco.com

61

PMK 865.922.0262 www.pmksystems.com

43

Columbia Forest Products 800.637.1609 www.cfpwood.com

36

R&B Tool Supply 877.247.7320 www.rbtoolsupply.com

59

Composite Panel Association 866.4Composites www.ECCproduct.org

52

Rehau 800.247.9445 www.rehau.com/us-en

63

Create-A-Bed 877-966-3852 www.createabed.com

25

Renolit +1.973.706.6912 www.renolit.com

58

37

Daubert Chemical Company, Inc. 866.368.3983 www.daubertchemical.com

Riken 248.513.3511 www.riken-usa.com

57

60

Deerwood Fasteners 800.438.5146 www.deerwood.com

Roseburg 800.245.1115 www.roseburg.com

51

Salice 800.222.9652 www.saliceamerica.com

61

Shopbot 888.680.4466 www.shopbottools.com

44

Smartech 704.362.1922 www.smartechonline.com

22

Franklin International 800.877.4583 www.franklinadhesivesandpolymers.com

Stiles Machinery, Inc. 616.698.7500 www.stilesmachinery.com

16

Grass 336.996.4041 www.grassusa.com

Tafisa Canada 877.882.3472 www.tafisa.ca

17

Toppan 770.957.6447 www.tia.toppan.com

15

IMEAS +39 0331 4630 11 www.imeas.it/en/

Uniboard 800.263.5240 www.uniboard.com

50

Interglobal Forest 800-214-4551 www.interglobalforest.com

Union Tool Corporation 574.267.3211 www.uniontoolcorp.com

14

Vortex 800.355.7708 www.vortextool.com

19

Wagner Meters 888.266.8073 www.wagnermeters.com

68

Wilsonart 800.433.3222 www.wilsonart.com/discover

13

Woodgrain 888.264.7372 www.woodgrain.com

39

Dieffenbacher Zaisenhausen 770.756.1309 www.dieffenbacher-zaisenhausen.de

11

DVUV 216.741.5511 www.dvuv.com

49

33

55

35

61

67

66

PAGE

Elias 800.665.0623 www.eliaswoodwork.com

Hexion 888.443.9466 www.hexion.com

2

Interprint, Inc. 413.443.4733 www.interprint.com

45

King Plastic 800.780.5502 www.kingplastic.com

23

Kings Mountain International 704.739.4227 www.kmiinc.net

SURFACEANDPANEL.COM

POLYLAC, through extensive testing, has proved MIRROR LIKE levels of glossiness and the highest level of scratch resistance on the market.

by • HIGH GLOSS PET WITH MIRROR LIKE FINISH • VERY SCRATCH, STAIN, HEAT, AND CHEMICAL RESISTANT • EASY TO MAINTAIN & CLEAN • CERTIFIED ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES • ECOLOGICAL MULTI-LAYERED PANEL • LIMITLESS DIGITAL, COLOR & PATTERN OPTIONS

Other Gizir Products:

SuperMatte Ultra High Gloss

*All products available FSC Certified & TSCA Title VI Certified

FIBRABEL MR NAF Light MDF MR50 Rating Moisture Resistant No Added Formaldehyde

FIBRALUX MR BLACK High Density MDF Moisture Resistant Colored throughout

FIBRABEL ULTRALIGHT Ultralight MDF 4x8 & 4x10

FIBRABEL FR Light MDF Class A Fire Rating

FIBRALUX MR FR NAF High Density MDF Class A Fire Rating Moisture Resistant No Added Formaldehyde

All Products Imported by:

Quality Wood Products from Around the World SEEKING DISTRIBUTORS NATIONWIDE

Contact us at info@interglobalforest.com | InterGlobalForest.com for more information

DISCOVER MORE wilsonart.com/quartz

QUARTZ | NORTH CASCADES Q4035

We are equal parts art and engineering. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why our materials are as functional as they are unforgettable.

Discover how we are changing the story.