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HENRYBUILT DELIVERS VIOLA PARK KBIS HARDWARE ROUND-UP

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Zey eIChe hIDDensee BUChe kanDy JaCaranDa FIlo larnaCa Zypresse aBerDeen Cherry sylVens UChe palInka nero MarqUIna ManIpUr saTInwooD leTra aTaMI BaMBUs wallIs ZweTsChge salIsB larICIo pIne MarMara Maple sTroMBerg Maple asTorIa plUM BrICks alZey oak FelDBerg ahorn CaranDa shIno larnaCa Cypress aBerDeen Cherry sylVensTeIn Maple hIDDensee BeeCh palInka Mara Maple ManIpUr saTInwooD aTaMI BaMBoo VIrgInIa walnUT leTra FIlo salIsBUry oak CoBUr alInka Tessera VIChy apple DeleMonT pear sTroMBerg Maple IkeBana saMerBerg BUChe Berg lDaU akaZIe BUChe BaVarIa salZaCh BUChe ThansaU ahorn VanCoUVer ahorn noCe CreMona no CIlIegIo Tennessee Cherry MeMphIs Cherry oXForD MaInaU BIrnBaUM raVenna loCarno apFelB ahorn Tessera CoIMBra sTroMBerg ahorn BUChe BaVarIa asTorIa ZweTsChge BernsTeIn eIChe UChe kanDy JaCaranDa FIlo larnaCa Zypresse aBerDeen Cherry sylVensTeIn ahorn hIDDensee D leTra aTaMI BaMBUs wallIs ZweTsChge salIsBUry oak VIChy apFelBaUM larICIo pIne MarMara TorIa plUM BrICks alZey oak FelDBerg ahorn hIDDensee BeeCh kanDy JaCaranDa shIno larnaC rry sylVensTeIn Maple hIDDensee BeeCh palInka nero MarqUIna FIlo MarMara Maple ManIpUr VIrgInIa walnUT leTra FIlo salIsBUry oak CoBUrg oak larICIo pIne CanVas palInka Tessera VIC oMBerg Maple IkeBana saMerBerg BUChe Bergerle wenDelsTeIn eIChe MolDaU akaZIe BUChe B saU ahorn VanCoUVer ahorn noCe CreMona noCe MIlano noCe orVIeTo CIlIegIo Tennessee Ch Chge salIsBUry oak VIChy apFelBaUM larICIo pIne MarMara Maple FIlo asTorIa plUM BrICks al DDensee BeeCh kanDy JaCaranDa shIno larnaCa Cypress aBerDeen Cherry sylVensTeIn Maple ero MarqUIna FIlo MarMara Maple ManIpUr saTInwooD aTaMI BaMBoo VIrgInIa walnUT leTra FIl oak larICIo pIne CanVas palInka Tessera VIChy apple DeleMonT pear sTroMBerg Maple IkeBana TeIn eIChe MolDaU akaZIe BUChe BaVarIa salZaCh BUChe ThansaU ahorn VanCoUVer ahorn noCe oCe orVIeTo CIlIegIo Tennessee Cherry MeMphIs Cherry oXForD MaInaU BIrnBaUM raVenna loC DrIo MarMara ahorn Tessera CoIMBra sTroMBerg ahorn BUChe BaVarIa asTorIa ZweTsChge B aBarI eIChe alZey eIChe hIDDensee BUChe kanDy JaCaranDa FIlo larnaCa Zypresse aBerDeen Ch DDensee BUChe palInka nero MarqUIna ManIpUr saTInwooD leTra aTaMI BaMBUs wallIs ZweTsCh elBaUM larICIo pIne MarMara Maple sTroMBerg Maple asTorIa plUM BrICks alZey oak FelDBer h kanDy JaCaranDa shIno larnaCa Cypress aBerDeen Cherry sylVensTeIn Maple hIDDensee Be a FIlo MarMara Maple ManIpUr saTInwooD aTaMI BaMBoo VIrgInIa walnUT leTra FIlo salIsBUry o CIo pIne wallIs ZweTsChge leTra CoIMBra 25 Years of best-selling decors MarMara ahorn Te rg ahorn BUChe BaVarIa asTorIa ZweTsChge BrICks BernsTeIn eIChe IMaBarI eIChe alZey eIChe CaranDa FIlo larnaCa Zypresse aBerDeen Cherry sylVensTeIn ahorn hIDDensee BUChe palInka saTInwooD leTra aTaMI BaMBUs wallIs ZweTsChge salIsBUry oak VIChy apFelBaUM larICIo pIne rg Maple asTorIa plUM BrICks alZey oak FelDBerg ahorn hIDDensee BeeCh kanDy JaCaranDa s erDeen Cherry sylVensTeIn Maple hIDDensee BeeCh palInka nero MarqUIna FIlo MarMara Map aMI BaMBoo VIrgInIa walnUT leTra FIlo salIsBUry oak CoBUrg oak larICIo pIne CanVas palInka onT pear sTroMBerg Maple IkeBana saMerBerg BUChe Bergerle wenDelsTeIn eIChe MolDaU ak BUChe ThansaU ahorn VanCoUVer ahorn noCe CreMona noCe MIlano noCe orVIeTo CIlIegIo Ten Cherry oXForD MaInaU BIrnBaUM raVenna loCarno apFelBaUM noCe sonDrIo MarMara ahorn T rg ahorn BUChe BaVarIa asTorIa ZweTsChge BernsTeIn eIChe alZey eIChe hIDDensee BUChe kan Zypresse aBerDeen Cherry sylVensTeIn ahorn hIDDensee BUChe ManIpUr saTInwooD leTra aTa ge salIsBUry oak VIChy apFelBaUM larICIo pIne MarMara Maple sTroMBerg Maple asTorIa plUM g ahorn hIDDensee BeeCh kanDy JaCaranDa shIno larnaCa Cypress aBerDeen Cherry sylVensT h palInka nero MarqUIna FIlo MarMara Maple ManIpUr saTInwooD aTaMI BaMBoo VIrgInIa walnU CoBUrg oak larICIo pIne CanVas palInka Tessera VIChy apple DeleMonT pear sTroMBerg Map he Bergerle wenDelsTeIn eIChe MolDaU akaZIe BUChe BaVarIa salZaCh BUChe ThansaU ahorn Mona noCe MIlano noCe orVIeTo CIlIegIo Tennessee Cherry MeMphIs wallIs ZweTsChge salIsB M larICIo pIne MarMara Maple FIlo asTorIa plUM BrICks alZey oak FelDBerg ahorn hIDDensee hIno larnaCa Cypress aBerDeen Cherry sylVensTeIn Maple hIDDensee BeeCh palInka nero Mar ManIpUr saTInwooD aTaMI BaMBoo VIrgInIa walnUT leTra FIlo salIsBUry oak CoBUrg oak larIC Tessera VIChy apple DeleMonT pear www.schattdecor.com sTroMBerg Maple IkeBana saMerBerg lDaU akaZIe wallIs ZweTsChge VanCoUVer ahorn noCe CreMona noCe MIlano noCe orVIeTo CIl eMphIs Cherry oXForD MaInaU BIrnBaUM raVenna loCarno apFelBaUM noCe sonDrIo MarMara sTroMBerg ahorn BUChe BaVarIa asTorIa ZweTsChge BrICks BernsTeIn eIChe IMaBarI alZ SandP_April2010.indd 2 4/21/10eIChe 3:42 PM circle #01 on reader service card

y sylVensTeIn ahorn hIDhge salIsBUry oak VIChy aperg ahorn hIDDensee BeeCh Ch palInka nero MarqUIna oak CoBUrg oak larICIo pIne UChe Bergerle wenDelsTeIn F R O M T H E P U B L I S H E R reMona noCe MIlano noCe no apFelBaUM noCe sonDrIo TeIn eIChe alZey eIChe hIDhIDDensee BUChe ManIpUr e MarMara Maple sTroMBerg aBerno larnaCa Cypress Congratulations are in Order e ManIpUr saTInwooD aTaMI essera VIChy apple DeleMonT This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Composite Panel Association. The CPA represents e BUChe BaVarIa salZaCh BU- panel producers, decorative surfacing industry suppliers and other the North American composite business allies.

This association operates in direct alignment with the needs of the secondary nessee Cherry MeMphIs walpanel processing industry. Association president Tom Julia and the CPA staff work diligently on BrICks alZey oak FelDBerg critical issues like CARB standards and Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) legislation for BeeCh TeIn Maple hIDDensee the benefit of our entire industry…not just CPA member companies.

If you are a manufacturer T leTra FIlo salIsBUry oak of furniture, fixtures and cabinets or a supplier to the surface and panel industry, consider joining the CPA. The association and its members set standards for the le IkeBana saMerBerg BUChe products you use and specify everyday. Plus the spring and fall meetings are wonderful learnhorn noCe CreMona noCe ing experiences and the networking opportunities are endless. For more information, visit their website at www.pbmdf.com aVenna loCarno apFelBaUM in the industry is in one way or another connected to residential construction. Even eTsChge BrICks Everyone BernsTeIn from a personal perspective, we would all feel better if the value of our own homes were increaserDeen Cherrying.sylVensTeIn Higher home equity boosts confidence in just about every other financial decision we make.

Until values begin to rise in earnest, fear and uncertainty will linger. I believe this is the single most Is ZweTsChge salIsBUry oak important factor affecting the recovery, which is likely to be slow and choppy. Single family home k FelDBerg ahorn hIDDenstarts were down in March by .9% to a seasonally adjusted 531,000 units. That’s the bad news.

Densee BeeCh But palInka there may benero some light at the end of the tunnel as some activity is improving. Here are some of the key March statistics salIsBUry oak CoBUrg oak just released: Building permits were up 7.5% to an annual rate of 685,000 a ahorn Tessera • CoIMBra • Multi-family dwellings were up 18.8% Zey eIChe hIDDensee BUChe • Overall construction rose 1.6% to 626,000 units he palInka nero MarqUIna • February’s construction numbers were revised to a 1.1% gain from a 5.9% drop rICIo pIne MarMara Maple • Construction activity in the south rose 18.2%, the largest gain in 10 months CaranDa shIno larnaCa Cy- of Home Builders housing market index (tracking industry • National Association confidence) rose 4 points in April, the highest since September rMara Maple ManIpUr saTIn• The Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) indicates that remodeling as palInka Tessera VIChy appexpenditures will increase 5% in 2010 MolDaU akaZIe BUChe BaVarIa We will need to get through the constant wave of foreclosures to truly gain any traction. Yet resiIlIegIo Tennessee Cherry dential properties today might just be the “deal of the century” for any credit-worthy buyer with a down payment.

That is why I am insisting my youngest daughter, who until recently has not been ra ahorn Tessera CoIMBra focused on homeownership, look at numerous properties and get into her first home. Mortgage BUChe kanDy JaCaranDa FIlo rates are still low and properties are at all time lows. With inflation about to rear its head, today’s leTra aTaMI BaMBUs buyers with a wallIs long-term mortgage will be paying back with cheaper dollars while watching the value of their property rise.oak Five years from now she will thank me.

TorIa plUM BrICks alZey y sylVensTeIn Maple All the best, hIDDengInIa walnUT leTra FIlo salIsMBerg Maple IkeBana saMeraU ahorn VanCoUVer ahorn ge salIsBUry oak VIChy hIDDensee BeeCh kanDy JaCaJohn Aufderhaar nero MarqUIna FIlo MarMaPublisher, Surface & Panel • aufderhaar@charter.net oak larICIo pIne CanVas aMerBerg BUChe Bergerle eI rVIeTo CIlIegIo Tennessee MarMara ahorn Tessera eIChe SandP_April2010.indd alZey eIChe hIDDen3

©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/MARCUS CLACKSON

Everyone in the industry is in one way or another connected to residential construction. Even from a personal perspective, we would all feel better if the value of our own homes were increasing.

surface&panel

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V O L U M E

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ADVERTISING

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

Alycia Schulz, Director of Marketing Surface & Panel Magazine 1063 East Paces Lane, Atlanta, GA 30326 PH: 406.610.4780 FAX: 920-206-1767 aschulz@surfaceandpanel.com

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Northern Contours: Diverse Components, Exceptional Service Northern Contours produces high-performance, design-oriented components that are increasingly taking the place of traditional materials in many different markets.

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Simplified Across the Board Even if Innovative Home Storage Solutions didn’t display a black cutout of the word “simplify” in its showroom, its approach to custom-designed, furniture-grade organization systems would be just as obvious.

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Homeward Bound How one Ecoresin is breaking into the residential market.

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Kitchen Manifesto 2010 New economic conditions encourage creativity in methods and products for modern kitchens.

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European Invasion No, it's not the Beatles. It is the increased consumer interest in modern European kitchen design in the North American market.

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PUBLISHER

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

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Henrybuilt Delivers Viola Park In 2009 Henrybuilt launched Viola Park, a line developed to offer homeowners as complete a kitchen design package as possible at reasonable cost.

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KBIS Hardware Round-Up Here's the scoop on the new technology that top hardware manufacturers brought to the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show.

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Modern Apprenticeships In recognition of the need for trained craftsmen, Blum Inc., in conjunction with the Daetwyler Corporation of Huntersville, NC, developed the Apprenticeship 2000 program.

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[ D E P A R T M E N T S ]

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From the Publisher

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Industry News

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Regenerate US Biomass policy

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Software Review AutoKitchen

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About the CPA Including continuing education and resources for designers and specifiers

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Architect Spec Premium Design

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Advertiser Index

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From the Editor

CIRCULATION

Michelle Bruhn/Surface & Panel Magazine 1617 Country Club Lane, Watertown, WI 53098 PH: 920-674-6943 FAX: 920 206-1767 mbruhn@surfaceandpanel.com

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EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

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

Laura Rowlett/Surface & Panel Magazine 1617 Country Club Lane, Watertown, WI 53098 PH: 317-417-6624 FAX: 920-206-1767 lrowlett@surfaceandpanel.com DESIGN/PRODUCTION

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

Throughout the issue, keep an eye out for this “web extra” icon, an invitation to more information available at www.surfaceandpanel.com.

While you're there, check out the community site, where you can connect with industry experts and weigh in on discussions.

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ON THE COVER

This modern European kitchen design from Eggersmann uses HPL on frameless cabinet boxes to create a clean look that flows seamlessly into the rest of the home.

MAIN OFFICE

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

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

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

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

Please direct all subscription questions and mail to: Surface & Panel, 1617 Country Club Lane, Watertown, WI 53098 PH: 920-206-1766

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NeoCon World’s Trade Fair June 14-16, 2010 The Merchandise Mart Chicago www.neocon.com At NeoCon World’s Trade Fair, discover thousands of innovative products and resources for corporate, hospitality, healthcare, retail, government, institutional and residential interiors from more than 700 showrooms and exhibitors.

NeoCon is where the design world comes together – three days of pure energy, bursting with new thinking, new resources, and new products. For 42 years the Merchandise Mart has been home to North America’s largest design exposition and conference for commercial interiors, providing nearly 40,000 architecture and design professionals with more than 150 CEU-accredited seminars and association forums, top-notch keynote speakers, cuttingedge products, innovative exhibits, building and design resources and materials. ■

International Woodworking Fair August 25-28, 2010 Georgia World Congress Center www.iwfatlanta.com IWF is what’s new and what’s next for the woodworking industry. If the technology exists it will be at IWF 2010. Thousands of new products will be showcased by nearly 1,000 of the world’s top manufacturers of machinery, supplies and service. At IWF 2010 attendees will find solutions to the problems businesses commonly face in this economy. IWF is also the opportunity for attendees to gain new business with the face-to-face connections made at the 2010 Fair.

Learn new methods and answers to manufacturing challenges from industry leaders at the Technical Conferences with sessions in green solutions, industry standards and regulations, manufacturing techniques, production strategies, management, business development. All this in just four days in one place – Atlanta. ■

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The National Kitchen & Bath Association Reports Bathroom Styles for 2010 The results are in from a recent survey of designers conducted by the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) to reveal the key design trends for 2010. Below are 2010’s four bath trends.

BATHROOMS

1. In With the Old, Out with the New Traditional will be the most popular design style in bathrooms in 2010, as contemporary designs will be a distant second, followed by the Shaker style as an even more distant third. Beiges and bones will be the most common colors used in bathrooms, followed by whites and off-whites, and then by browns, indicating a somewhat subdued color palette this year.

2. Ceramic and Granite Ceramic and porcelain tile will be the dominant flooring materials in bathrooms this year, while natural stone will continue to prove popular as well. Though increasingly popular in kitchens, hardwood flooring won’t become common in bathrooms in 2010. For vanity tops, granite will remain king, with quartz and marble also proving popular options.

3. Simple Fixtures Perhaps more than ever, the most common color for fixtures will be white. Bisque and off-white will be the only other fixture colors at all common in new or remodeled bathroom.

For sinks, simple undermount models will be most popular, followed by integrated sink tops, drop-in sinks, vessel sinks, and pedestal sinks.

4. A Nickel for Every Finish Faucet finishes in the bathroom are similar to those used in current kitchen designs, with brushed nickel continuing to lead the way in 2010. Polished chrome and satin nickel will also be incorporated into many bathrooms, just as they had been throughout 2009. These faucet finishes will be followed by bronze and stainless steel. n

Builder Confidence Improves in April Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes improved significantly in April as consumers rushed to take advantage of home buyer tax credits set to expire at the end of the month, according to results of the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released today. The HMI surged four points to 19 in April, its highest level since September of 2009.

"Home builders reported some real improvement in current sales activity and traffic of prospective buyers through their model homes over the past month," said NAHB Chairman Bob Jones, a home builder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich. "While we remain cautious about what future months will bring, it's great to have this positive momentum at the start of the spring home buying season." s&p

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Decorative Surfaces Conference Coming to Montreal

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ark your calendars for the TCM Americas Decorative Surfaces Conference, to be held October 26-28 at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth in Montreal, QC. By uniting material, technology and design this conference will reveal the latest ideas from around the world in decorative surfacing, finishing, valued-added components and composite panel products. You won’t want to miss this important conference. TCM Americas is a joint venture between Bedford Falls Communications, Inc. and Technical Conference Management (TCM), located in Vienna, Austria. According to Bedford Falls Communications president John Aufderhaar, “The decorative surfacing industry is truly a global business. Surface materials used in Europe and Asia are often identical to those used in North America and the rest of the world.

There continues to be a great deal of innovation. New surface material introductions and techniques are steadily making their way into the market. The shift toward more environmentally acceptable products and the need for high performance are both drivers of that innovation. The Decorative Surfaces Conference is the perfect venue to learn more about surface material selection, application and design for furniture, cabinets, fixtures and commercial interiors.”

For more information and to register for the Decorative Surfaces Conference, go to www.tcm-americas.com

For more information on conference sponsorship opportunities, contact John Aufderhaar at 920-206-1766 or jaufderhaar@surfaceandpanel.com Our current sponsors include: Interprint | Southern Chemical | Hexion | DSM | Surface & Panel

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Specify

™

E-Gen

Performance through-and-through.

Innovation on

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Low/zero-emitting resins for wood panels • ULEF capable • CARB compliant • LEED contributing • Customizable for every operating window

Innovation on

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• Customizable • Delivered on demand

Arclin’s E-Natural™ and E-Sorb™ resins and decorative melamine overlays. E-Gen™-designated for compliance and sustainability.

Customer-preferred for superior product and supply chain performance.

One solution — inside and out.

One source. Arclin.

Arclin’s E-Gen™-designated products meet or exceed industry standards and help our customers meet market demand for green-certified products. More at www.e-gen.com.

Bonding & Surfacing Solutions for Commercial & Residential Building, Agriculture & Natural Resources Applications 1.919.542.2526 ext. 3020 info@arclin.com • www.arclin.com

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FROM LEFT MISSY SJERVEN, MARKETING MANAGER, HEIDI HANSEN, ACCOUNT/PRODUCT SPECIALIST, LARY SKOW, DIRECTOR OF SALES AND COURTNEY BECKMAN, MARKET & DESIGN SPECIALIST, MAKE UP NORTHERN CONTOURS' FRONT END DREAM TEAM AT THE COMPANY'S CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN ST. PAUL, MN

Northern Contours

DIVERSE COMPONENTS EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE B Y

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he term “industry leader” is often associated with cutting-edge technology and high-quality products. And Northern Contours, specialists in membrane pressed components since 1992, has these things. But what really differentiates the company is the service they provide. In fact, by reaching customers and helping them to develop design programs that are both unique and practical, Northern Contours has grown in capacity, product offering and market segments served. However, more important than size, Northern Contours’ service-based operating model results in innovation. By combining technologically advanced materials and equipment, Northern Contours produces high-performance, design-oriented components that are increasingly taking the place of traditional materials in many different markets.

In the beginning, Northern Contours focused on membrane-pressed thermofoil doors and components, which they produced in volume in a 20,000 –square-foot facility in Fergus Falls, MN. The guiding principle was simply the golden rule. “We set out to treat customers the way we would like to be treated,” says Mike Rone, CEO of Northern Contours.

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Northern Contours provides membrane-pressed RTF and veneer components, custom wood and flatlaminated high-gloss doors, and furniture and fixtures to the following market segments: • Kitchen

• Commercial Office

• Bath

• Office Furniture

• Home Organization

• Store Fixture

• Recretiaonal Vehicle

• Healthcare

• Manufactured Housing

• Hospitality

• Re-facing Residential/Multi-family

That customer-centric approach led Northern Contours to develop a wide range of product solutions, including custom products. Today the company operates in five different manufacturing facilities with over 500 employees, totaling about 400,000-square-feet plus corporate headquarters located in St. Paul, MN. Primarily a component provider, they offer a significant number of specific products to large manufacturers in every major industry segment, plus they have created their own standard line of components they offer on a custom or “kitchen at a time” basis to medium and small fabricators. Northern Contours in-house capabilities allow them to process a wide range of products: Membrane pressed thermofoil and veneer components, cut to size panels and sheet stock that may be used in cabinet fabrication, flat laminated high gloss acrylic components, custom wood cabinet doors with veneer center panels, a complete selection of accessory items such as frames, mouldings and fillers, plus an array of customer specific products for office furniture, store fixture and healthcare markets.

They add value to these products by offering everything from boring for hinges and adding hardware to highly complex machining operations that make the parts ready to use when a customer receives them. All of this while studying market and design trends and launching new service programs to keep their offering on the cutting edge of where the specific markets are headed.

So how do they pull it off? What enables Northern Contours to perform so many functions well is their ability to standardize and also customize. A very involved service team on the front end (sales and marketing, customer service and product engineers) communicates with customers on the outside, and also works closely with the product development and operations specialists on the inside. For ease of understanding, Northern Contours product offering can be generally divided into two main groups, cabinet component and doors (thermofoil, veneer, glass panel, mixed surface materials, and custom wood with veneer center panels) and furniture/fixture components.

Designer Doors

Northern Contours sells many innovative door components, primarily to kitchen cabinetmakers and home storage fabricators that sell systems under their own brand names. They also offer a custom “kitchen at a time” line. The sales and marketing/design team works with the customer from the onset. “We guide our customers to develop a unique program offering of our standard products, which can include specialty or exclusive variations,” says Heidi Hansen, Account/ Product Specialist for Northern Contours. “We also provide marketing materials and inclusive training to the customer’s entire team. It is an opportunity to share marketing strategies and educate them about our products; what their benefits/limitations are, and how to sell them and design with them.”

To stay in front of the trends, Northern Contours’ marketing and design specialists study what is happening in the world of color and design trends and work closely with other industry experts. “We rely heavily on information provided by designers associated with 3DL vendors (SSI, Renolit, Riken, Dackor, Omnova) and paper vendors like Schattdecor, to determine what is up and coming as far as colorways are concerned,” says Hansen.

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“As far as the cabinet market, we see trends toward the upper end, frameless, contemporary and transitional looks,” says Hansen. “There is a wider acceptance of European-like design.” In response to emerging demand, Northern Contours developed a program of mixed surface materials for cabinet systems called FUZE. The concept mixes exotic wood veneers, tone on tone doors and their recently added line of high-gloss, flat laminated acrylic panels called “Level.” FUZE allows customers to begin to integrate more fashion-forward door color and texture options with traditional looks, making it less intimidating for end users to deviate from conventional style. The advantage is that if a consumer tires of one aspect of the design, say the plum colored high-gloss accent, those faces can be replaced with different accents, while keeping most of the original design intact.

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When ordering ask for: Talas Cherry KB/0806 H01 SSI North America is a 3D laminate distributor offering vibrant solid colors, TFM matching wood grains and beautiful high gloss designs. Always in stock, full rolls or cut to length, with same day shipping.

What you need when you need it, we have you covered.

Membrane-pressed components can do a lot of things that are not possible with traditional laminating processes. The RTF films used wrap around any profile allowing for 3D lamination of curvilinear and contoured pieces. Additionally, the films, generally made from PVC or PET, are durable, scratch resistant and carry a higher print fidelity than paper.

They can be engineered for specific characteristics (such as being aseptic) and have no open seams, making them ideal choices in healthcare, commercial store fixture and office settings.

The furniture and fixtures segment of Northern Contours’ business is facilitated by the product-engineering group, that works with customers to develop specialty products. “The engineers are very gifted,” says Lary Skow, Director of Sales for Northern Contours. “They fully understand all the manufacturing capabilities and apply that to the customer’s needs. Through collaboration the client gets an innovative product that exceeds their expectations, and as their component provider, we get a design that can be made efficiently.”

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The Northern Contours customer service center, located in Fergus Falls, MN, is staffed by 15 highly trained representatives, and during business hours, a live person always answers the phone. All customers, NAUF -regardless MDF of market segment, are assigned to a dedicated service representative, who works on their behalf to make sure orders are placed corMC rectly and any issues are resolved in a timely manner. Customer service also works closely with plant mangers and the operations group so that orders flowSans through theformaldéhyde appropriate urée - MDF facilities in a way that optimizes production and distribution.

Although the production lines vary from facility to facility, Northern Contours has Wemhoner membrane presses, Hessemann wide belt sanders, Northwood and Komo routers, edgebanders Holz-Her NAUFby- Biesse, Melamine and Fletcher and a Black Brothers glue line, among other specialty equipment. The flexibility of the technology, and careful organization MC of workflow, makes it efficient for Northern Contours to do both large production runs and custom projects to order.

Quality assurance are also Sansmeasures urée formaldéhyde - Mélamine performed at many points throughout the manufacturing process. Membrane pressing requires the surface material to completely adhere to the substrate. Northern Contours uses Daubert Chemical as a supplier of adhesives to achieve consistent results. As materials arrive at NAUF the facility, they are tested & Melamine - Particleboard for quality. “On the front end we check incoming thermofoil shipments for UV stability and color match,” says Skow. Throughout producMC tion, pieces are randomly pulled and tested for heat resistance and adhesion. Northern Contours’ standard substrate is Flakeboard’s Superior Plus MDF, frequently TFM Particle brutwith aMélamine backer. Its homogeneous structure makes it

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➊ Mike Rone shows one of the curvilinear components produced at the Fergus Falls RTF facility, which features many pieces of hightech equipment, including:

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easy to machine, and its super-refined surface prevents telegraphing through the surface materials. “The MDF has less chip-outs and rejects than other products,” says Skow. “If you start with quality material your chances of ending with a quality product are better.”

What Goes Around Comes Around

ALL MEMBRANES. ALL THE TIME. It’s what we do and we do it well: top-quality Steinbach membranes in a huge variety of sizes, in both silicone and natural rubber.

Northern Contours’ service-oriented approach to manufacturing makes it possible to efficiently offer a vast number of products to a very diverse client base. By actively reaching out to customers and helping them to develop products and programs that meet the customers’ unique needs, Northern Contours is able to standardize their workflow and manufacturing processes. So much time investment on the front end also pays off in increased customer satisfaction, and reduced time lost to problem resolution. Which makes it possible for Northern Contours to apply their flexible capabilities to developing even more innovative product solutions. s&p

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OMNOVA Solutions’ Harmony Collection features popular designs created for color and design consistency across multiple product constructions - Paper, Flat, and 3D Laminates including surf(x)® 3D Laminates.

Benefits of the Harmony Collection include: • Uniform design for furniture and fixtures with coordinating laminates • Reduces development time and improves speed to market for new products

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• Simplifies supply chain, eliminating the need for multiple vendors • Controls end product cost by using a range of color-matched constructions based on functional needs There are no limits to design. The designs in the Harmony Collection are only the beginning; custom matches can be created.

To learn how OMNOVA Laminates can make a difference in your cabinetry, furniture or fixtures, contact us today! Or visit our online Design Center to see our broad offering, obtain additional information and order samples – www.omnova.com/designcenter.

Bottom photo courtesy of Hallmark Cards Inc. SURF(X) is a registered trademark of OMNOVA Solutions Inc. © 2010 OMNOVA Solutions Inc.

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Will US Biomass Policy Expand our Fuel Supply or be a Job Killer?

American energy independence is an objective all of us can embrace.

The laudable purpose of BCAP was to increase the supply of oth-

When it involves renewable, sustainable, carbon neutral fuels like wind,

erwise unused fiber that could be utilized as biofuel. Unfortunately,

solar or biofuel, it’s an especially good idea. So when the US Congress

instead of bringing new biomass into the fuel market, the USDA

supported the development of biofuels based on renewable crops and

designed a program last summer that subsidized the diversion of the

underutilized agricultural and forestry biomass, there was a broad

current fiber supply from established and productive uses and allows it

bipartisan consensus in favor of the plan. As a result, the Biomass

to be burned instead. The subsidized wood was the feed stock for US

Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) was born as part of the 2008 Farm

industries making cabinets, furniture, mouldings, doors, countertops

Bill, and Congress tasked the US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

and many other consumer products. This approach was contradictory

with creating the eligibility criteria and subsidy rules.

to the 2008 Farm Bill, which intended that such “higher value” wood should not be part of federal energy subsidy.

To make matters worse, the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation then authorized more than $500 million in taxpayer subsidies to be allocated in early 2010, a price tag exponentially larger than what Congress had originally considered.

Using arcane administrative procedures to rush through a preliminary BCAP rule, USDA did not assess the economic impact of its action, nor seek public comment or hold hearings. Instead the agency forged ahead with a rule that caught affected industries by surprise. What was most inappropriate was USDA’s awarding of a huge, dollar for dollar subsidy to wood residuals from mill operations and shift their use from manufacturing of finished goods to be burned as fuel.

Overnight, composite manufacturers and customers were faced with the prospect of paying double for their raw materials, threatening not only 21,000 jobs in the US composite panel industry but an addi-

©ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/CHRIS WOLF

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tional 350,000 directly affected manufacturing jobs.

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If the story ended there it would be a nightmare, but it doesn’t. The Composite Panel Association (CPA) and its member companies took the initiative last winter and lobbied the US Congress and to get USDA to rethink this mis-directed policy. And so far it has worked.

“It is one thing for BCAP to provide subsidies that contribute taxpayer monies toward a far sighted national energy policy, and quite another to divert even the smallest amount of those monies to compa-

“It is one thing for BCAP to provide subsidies that contribute taxpayer monies toward a far sighted national energy policy, and quite another to divert even the smallest amount of those monies to companies already producing those raw materials for an identified commercial use.”

TOM JULIA, CPA PRESIDENT

nies already producing those raw materials for an identified commercial use,” said Tom Julia, CPA president. “Congress never intended that USDA should dole out millions of taxpayer dollars for a program that will not expand the US fuel supply but will instead lead to the loss of American jobs,” he added. “The only way BCAP works is by expanding the sources of biomass, not diverting current biomass resources already going to existing commercial uses.”

Most American manufacturing industries agree with CPA, as do many biomass interests, and a broad based industry intervention was successful in getting USDA to suspend BCAP on February 3, and issue a proposed rule for public comment.

The proposed BCAP rule is a good first step, and CPA is encouraged by the USDA’s stated commitment not to subsidize materials intended for higher value products. However, the proposal is far from perfect and CPA was one of many to voice its concerns during the public comment period that ended on April 9, to be sure the intent of the Congress is not abused.

CPA still believes that a successful BCAP program that lives up to its ideals would be a good thing for the American economy and national energy policy. The CPA criticism of the proposal boils down to USDA providing a bright line on the list of materials eligible for a subsidy payment. The association believes these must be among the materials

RESOURCES Composite Panel Association (CPA) 703-724-1128 or tjulia@cpamail.org www.pbmdf.com www.BCAPreform.org

specifically exempted from a subsidy. The CPA comments to USDA provide specific recommendations that the agency can use to make sure its theory becomes a reality.

A final BCAP rule is likely to be announced later this year, along with a resumption of subsidy payments. For more information, contact CPA or visit BCAPreform.org. s&p

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Simplified Across the Board

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ven if Innovative Home Storage Solutions didn’t display a black cutout of the word “simplify” in its showroom, its approach to custom-designed, furnituregrade organization systems would be just as obvious. Flawless 3DL door and drawer fronts in rich wood grains meet clean white profiles on earth-toned walls. Behind each facade is a lifetime-warranted cabinet showcasing how glue-and-dowel construction melds form and function in sturdy perfection. And behind each project is a company whose depth of experience inspires seemingly effortless transformation to home spaces that work.

In 1985, owner Chris Radseck began building high-end closet systems and later expanded to offer cabinets for kitchens, entertainment centers, wet bars, laundry rooms, garages, mudrooms and pantries. For all of those 25 years, Innovative has made its home in Hamilton County, Indiana’s fastest-growing county and among the nation’s top 20. Its population increase of 47 percent between 2000 and 2008 dwarfed the state’s own by tenfold, according to the U.S. Census data.

That boom forced a spike in home construction and renovation, and, coupled with a movement toward upgrading instead of uprooting, a greater demand for high-quality home storage.

That’s good news for Innovative, as residential jobs from within about 20 miles comprise almost all of its sales. At a time when many locally owned and operated businesses

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are making concessions to stay afloat, Innovative continues to operate full-steamahead. New in 2007, its 33,000 square foot facility houses a 3,700 square foot showroom, the largest of its kind in Indiana. “The new showroom is huge for us,” says Paul Duwel, sales manager for the last ten years.

“It was a big investment on our part to put that much square footage into a showroom, but we bring 95 percent of our clients through it. The more we can show about what we are proposing, the better chance we have of selling the job – and we guarantee ourselves the

client will be happy when we’re finished.”

RESTORING ORDER

A prospective client’s path to practical storage begins when one of Innovative’s six designers visits a home to assess what about the space isn’t working. For instance, the after-school rush is a common frustration among parents. “The kids come charging in day after day with backpacks and layers of clothing, but there is no place to hang it all,” Duwel says. “Organizationally, that’s a parent’s worst nightmare.”

No matter what the project, a cure for the

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common clutter is all about asking the right questions to understand the complicated relationships between people and their stuff, explains Laura Leist, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers. “Up front people typically are not looking at their space from a perspective of its functionality – how they’re going to use it, what is the proper quantity of things and how much of that they need to have easy access to,” Leist says. “A professional can determine what is going to work best for the way an individual functions or thinks.”

For example, Duwel says developing a plan for the mudroom dilemma starts with asking questions about the kids’ ages, their arrival times and which doors they most often use.

This information gives the designer a clear pic-

ture of what storage configuration can actually solve the problem. “We don’t ask them to pick from a catalog of six cabinets because it’s our job to figure out what will work,” he says. “We build to fit their needs, to fit their space and to fit their budget as best we can.”

From there, the designer invites the client to the showroom to view a customized drawing created with Microvellum software.

“Oftentimes when they walk through the doors, they think they’re just after a home office, but when they see our showroom, they realize they want the bar in the basement, or the lockers in the garage or to change the closets to be much more efficient,” Duwel says. “We have 10 projects for one house. It’s contagious.

Once they get organized in one place, they see the power of it.”

“We don’t ask them to pick from a catalog of six cabinets because it’s our job to figure out what will work. We build to fit their needs, to fit their space and to fit their budget as best we can."

Paul Duwel, sales manager

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Guests get a hands-on encounter in each fully functional simulated space. Alcoves with walk-in closet installations beg exploration.

Entertainment center ensembles, some angular and stately in style and others more organic in shape, seamlessly marry display shelving, mantels and closed-storage spaces. Innovative pairs the advantage of customized designs with ten colors of 3DL door and drawer fronts, which Northern Contours manufactures, and a diverse selection of Hafele hardware. The home storage company locally sources solid surface and HPL (supplied by Wilsonart and Formica) from Rabb & Howe, a family-owned manufacturer and installer for 50 years located near downtown Indianapolis. “We show them everything we can to help them imagine what we are proposing,” Duwel says.

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Melamine Panels

Naturally Inspiring Design

NEAT MANUFACTURING

A single door thinly separates the showroom from a space as well puttogether as the product it creates. Duwel says he’s quick to offer a tour of the shop to any customer who’s interested in seeing where the magic happens. The shop’s six workers use an Optimat KDF 530 edgebander, a Weeke BHC 350 Optimat return conveyor, a Holzma HPP 350 Optimat saw and a Gannomat Index 280 Trend with a Beckhoff C3640 Panel PC to make carcasses from Flakeboard and Roseburg melaminesurfaced particleboard. “We simplify our entire process by doing as much as we can in-house,” he says.

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says it’s common to give up the family room or even the dining room for a functional, organized place where everyone can gather after dinner to do work, finish homework, check e-mail or play video games.

Technology is driving design in another area of home organization, too. The constant barrage of ads pushes bigger and better TVs, to say nothing of AV components and their related media, so it’s no wonder demand for built-in entertainment centers is also aggressive. “Today, the old 36-inch TVs are in master bedrooms, and new 46- and 52-inch models are in the family room or basement or both,” Duwel says. “All that stuff has to have a place or it looks like a bachelor pad.”

Simply Satisfied

Optimizer software tells the shop how to best cut the materials for work pieces while creating the least amount of scrap waste. “A brilliant person could spend all day trying to figure that out and wouldn’t come up with what the computer does,” Duwel says. “The technology is amazing.”

Efficient use of materials is no trade secret, but the company’s real competitive advantage lies in its glue-and-dowel carcass construction. “It’s the same cabinet whether it has a very plain front or no front up to our highest-end door and trim,” Duwel says.

“There’s not a low-end or inexpensive model.

They are all the same quality, and as long as you own it, we stand behind it.” Aside from the method’s time-tested durability, Duwel says the neatness of no-screw, no-staple construction can be a selling point. He says adding the Gannomat in 2007 has improved efficiency in production and consistency of quality.

Innovative shows every style, including even some modern glossy fronts in primary colors, but most clients stick with what they know, what is comfortable and what is likely to have a broad appeal when selling a home.

A design trend Innovative’s clientele has embraced, however, is expanding the home office beyond a 3-foot-long countertop with upper cabinets and a file drawer. Outfitted with up to four knee stations and three walls of work surface and storage space, family offices account for more of Innovative’s projects than any other area of the home.

Because most households have multiple computers and at least as many users, Duwel

Innovative has a lead time of about three weeks from order placement until installation day. And in an industry where reputation is everything, Duwel says one-day installation is important for customer satisfaction. “I’ve made it a practice to call my clients a day after installation to follow up,” Duwel says. “Many beat me to the punch and call the day of to say, ‘Money well spent!”

Custom-designed organization is a luxury some pass up in favor of necessities like a roof or furnace. Nevertheless, its undeniable lifestyle impact keeps clients coming to the showroom, where Duwel knows they’re likely to fall hard for the allure of simplified spaces.

And that gives Innovative something to hang its hat on. s&p Note: Innovative also offers real-wood cabinets and drawer fronts with a wood carcass made with the same machines and technology as the particleboard cabinets.

Opportunities to Design

The popularity of bold wall colors and the pervasiveness of white trim and casings make Northern Contours’ white RTF finish Innovative’s top seller with about 66 percent of overall sales. Leading in the style category is none other than the old standby, traditional, which makes up 90 percent of Innovative’s designs. This is Indiana after all, where a burgeoning population doesn’t always equate with progressive design preferences. Conversely, Duwel’s office is contemporary with frameless cabinets in Northern Contours’ Amata Walnut RTF and sleek brushed-nickel hardware.

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ROS S&P

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The wood at your fingertips

www.Roseburg.com The Place To Get Quick Answers For Your Projects Roseburg is one of the largest and most diverse producers of sustainable wood products in North America. Roseburg.com puts valuable information at the tips of your fingers.

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HOMEWARD BOUND: How One Ecoresin is Breaking into the Residential Market B Y

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MIXING MATERIALS

Chris Clemans, owner of Cabinet Fabrication Group (CabFab) in Syracuse, N.Y., is doing his part to shift the design paradigm. If he isn’t pairing wood and iron in antique tractor seat barstools or crafting a Curly Maple end table with embedded fossils from Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, he’s likely manufacturing residential cabinets with materials that align closer to the future than the past. His unique uses of 3form’s Varia Ecoresin translucent panels embody what he calls “art that works.”

As CabFab’s lead designer, Clemans pairs unlikely combinations of design-driving materials.

For example, a Shoji-inspired room-dividing screen he created for an Architectural Digest Home Show contest features “Hydrangea Thatch” impregnated Varia panels set in a sculptural Black Walnut frame, honoring the spirit of traditional Japanese architecture. But even typical uses of Varia – countertop surfaces, backsplashes and cabinet panel inserts – keep CabFab on the forefront of residential design, with 30 or so 3form jobs in its portfolio.

“We’re a boutique supplier, a high-margin, low-volume producer,” says Clemans. “A small market share wants something more, and that’s really what I go for.

I’m fortunate in that I get to use what I want to use.” A demand for one-of-a-kind kitchen spaces and a partnership with 3form since 2008 afford Clemans ample opportunity to realize his creative ambitions.

RIGHT: THIS SHOJI-INSPIRED ROOM DIVIDING SCREEN INCORPORATES VARIA PANELS IN "HYDRANGEA THATCH." A CONTEMPORARY-ORGANIC AESTHETIC MAKES "BAMBOO RINGS DARK" (TOP RIGHT) AND "PASSION CONNECTION" (BOTTOM RIGHT) THE TOP SELLERS WITH CALIFORNIA CLOSETS FRANCHISES.

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The Varia line is customizable layer-on-layer with limitless color, texture, pattern, interlayer and finish combinations. It can even incorporate high-resolution and screen-printed images as well as laser-cut patterns in a razor-thin wood veneer interlayer.

WISE USE OF PROGRAMS

BRINGING IT HOME

Residential projects currently account for only about ten percent of Varia Ecoresin’s use, according to Rick Shurtliff, 3form Direct Program Manager. He’s part of the company’s effort to increase Varia’s residential market penetration. “We’d like to make it affordable and accessible for anybody to give their home a new look,” Shurtliff says. “It can make a good mark on your home without an exorbitant pricetag.”

By developing special programs and forging alliances with regional shops, such as Clemans’ recruitment to receive on-site training at 3form’s Salt Lake City headquarters, 3form is making Varia easier to specify, more affordable and more accessible for residential applications. For example, in June 2008, a new relationship with home organization franchise California Closets introduced 3form to a wider range of price points. A selection of 15 pre-selected Varia panels is now a design option for California Closets door fronts. Shurtliff says the line is thriving on the U.S. coasts and in Canada but not in the Midwest or Utah, where 3form is based. A contemporary-organic aesthetic makes “Bamboo Rings Dark” and “Passion Connection” the franchise’s most popular designs. Performance features are also a selling point in the residential market; Ecoresin is 40-times more impact resistant than glass panels.

The Varia line is customizable layer-on-layer with limitless color, texture, pattern, interlayer and finish combinations. It can even incorporate high-resolution and screen-printed images as well as laser-cut patterns in a razor-thin wood veneer interlayer. The sheer extent of options can intimidate some specifiers, so 3form’s presentation “Demystifying Resins” educates prospective users through a lunch meeting with AIA and IDCEC CEU credit.

A program called Ready to Go offers a hassle-free way for architects and designers to use 3form. About 75 prepackaged, modifiable designs with accompanying drawings and specifications offer solutions for shelving, partitions, ceiling fixtures, sliding doors and tables.

Shurtliff says Ready to Go, historically popular for commercial work, caters to specifiers of residential projects who are interested in using resin panels but may lack the time or budget required to customize jobs with new materials.

Another way 3form is improving accessibility is by making Varia less cost-prohibitive through its Cut to Order program. Ecoresin panels are typically shipped as unfabricated 4-by-8-foot sheets, but that can be impractical for a job requiring only a few panels. Shurtliff says the cost-effectiveness comes at a price -- Cut to Order limits the product offering to what is in stock – but is a good option for even small cabinet shops and remodel companies that want offer 3form materials but not fabricate them. In fact, he says the advantage of 3form’s own mounting hardware makes shower doors and backsplashes the most practical and easiest ways to use Varia.

Existing somewhere between Ready to Go and Cut to Order is the Reclaim program, which might have just as easily been dubbed Ready to Cut. Through Reclaim, an online inventory of remnants and panels removed from installation or damaged in production, 3form materials find new life in projects of every scale. Because CNC routers and panelshop machines can cut and heatform Varia, Reclaim stock is popular with cabinet makers.

Reclaim is in keeping with 3form’s comprehensive commitment to sustainability, but Varia contributes to potential LEED points per se, which has piqued the residential green building community’s interest.

GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality certified with a non-toxic composition of at least 40 percent pre-consumer recycled resin, Varia is a green choice across the spectrum of its more than 70 standard colors.

“Our model so far has been successful,” Shurtliff says. “We’re trying to branch out and diversify locally. We want residential customers to see Varia, want it and then go to their local shops and say, ‘This is what I want,’ and for cabinet shops to easily order it. That’s where we want to get to, but we’re not there yet.”

Until then, the pressure is on shops like CabFab to pioneer exploration of possibility in making Varia Ecoresin a household name. s&p

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"TING TING" ECORESIN PANELS COMPLIMENT THE NATURAL CHERRY IN THESE CABINET DOORS

WITH VARIA,

Any ‘Ting’ Goes "BIRCH GROVE" INCLUDES BIRCH TWIGS

"ITHEMBA" IS AN INTERLAYER OF COPPER AND TRADITIONAL BEADS WOVEN BY HIV-IMPACTED SOUTH AFRICAN WOMEN.

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ranslucent Ecoresin panels bring earthiness to clean-lined cabinets opposite a gorgeous lake view in a weekend house kitchen.

“The homeowners wanted an organic feel, but their taste is contemporary,” says CabFab owner and designer Chris Clemans. “It was a big jump for them to use natural cherry for the cabinet doors, and that’s why I suggested ‘Ting Ting’ for the panels.”

He says although many clients like the funky materials in the Ecoresin line, it’s not for everyone. “I offer it to about one in ten who come through the door,” says Clemens, whose 12-employee company completes about 40 kitchen projects per year. “When recommending it in a design, I think about optimizing the use of materials to try and use a full sheet.

For a couple of jobs, I’ve turned customers loose on the Reclaim program to wait for something they want to come along.”

On the topic of “practical green,” Clemans specifies regionally sourced hardwoods for cabinet fronts and Columbia Forest Products plywood for cases. CabFab also regularly passes on melamine and plywood scraps to schools and the community to use in recreational woodworking projects. Designing with Varia helps Clemans to support global sustainability, too. For example, he’s used “Ithemba,” an interlayer of copper and traditional beads woven by HIVimpacted South African women. Its role in Full Circle, 3form’s collaboration with a global network of artisan communities to produce handmade materials for interlayers, enhances the nature-inspired materials’ aura of positive energy.

Customizing existing Varia designs is another way Clemans is keeping it real with Varia. “I specified a backsplash that included birch twigs, but I tweaked it so the twigs stopped before the edge of the panel, creating the look of natural tree growth and not just sticks running through it,” he says. “And 3form now offers that panel. For that project, I could have ordered Varia with color infused into it, but I instead used theater gels with highlights and lowlights to create a dynamic light feature resembling a sunrise or sunset. Whether its natural or strategically placed, using light is probably the best part about designing with 3form products. If you don’t, you’re missing out on a ton.” s&p

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2010 Kitchen Manifesto

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ll right kitchen manufacturers, the new economy has arrived. According to Alan Beaulieu, president of the Institute for Trend Research and one of the country’s most accurate forecasting economists, the recession is over and the North American market is officially in recovery. Beaulieu says it will be a mild, rocky, scary recovery and that it will be hard work going forward, but that companies who are making it now will continue to make it. The leading question: Is it acceptable and sustainable to just make it?

There has never been a time where one market exists independently of other markets. Global trends and economies influence the North American marketplace. The production of many different goods is shifting for reasons that may not be obvious. Businesses need to know what is happening in other markets or risk becoming obsolete in this one.

Roughly 90 percent (!) of kitchen cabinets sold in the United States are traditional face-framed cabinets. While old styles and processes are in part due to consumer demand, new economic conditions encourage creativity in methods and products. Innovation always trumps price, yet too often strategic decisions focus more on cost than vision. Any time a product becomes commoditized, it also becomes vulnerable to competition from overseas where labor is cheap and regulations are minimal.

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When it comes to kitchen innovation, the world looks to Italy and Germany for design and manufacturing trends.

This issue of Surface & Panel includes a story about how Germany’s oldest family-owned kitchen manufacturer, Allmilmo/Eggersmann is adapting its European distribution model to bring distinctly- designed kitchens to the North American market. It also looks at two smaller-scale North American kitchen builders who are integrating practices from the European models into their own operations as a way of differentiating themselves from the competition and adding value to their products.

Although still a small section of the overall market, interest in European influenced cabinetry is growing among North American consumers, who are looking for less choice, and more clearly defined choice. All of the examples featured here tend toward the modern style, in part for easy reference to European kitchen trends but also because purist modern design is based on the use of modern materials, means and methods. This is not to say that traditional and artisan styles of cabinetry are tired and obsolete. In fact they can be quite fashion-forward and technically advanced. It is not about aesthetic preferences. Rather, the objective is to highlight how kitchen innovation can be found in materials, manufacturing processes and distribution methods. s&p

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European Invasion B Y

S U Z A N N E

V A N G I L D E R

No, it is not the Beatles. It is the increased consumer interest in modern European kitchen design in the North American market. Some people will disagree with this statement. The standard response from the traditional North American kitchen market is, “There is no demand for European-designed frameless kitchens, so we don’t (manufacture, distribute, sell many/any of) them.� In fact, by responding to consumers who, thanks to limitless access to all forms of design information via television, magazines and Internet, are seduced by the sleek look of European fashion kitchens, outsiders are beginning to address the conspicuous absence in North America of a kitchen style that dominates in other global markets. And European companies are beginning to recognize that demand and to work around the traditional cultural and logistical barriers that prevented them from entering the North American marketplace to begin with.

Allmilmo/Eggersmann Kuchen, the oldest family-owned kitchen manufacturer in Germany, has recognized this opportunity. Partnering with Inform Projects, a multi-housing interior environment design and distribution company located in Vancouver, BC, Eggersmann Canada entered the North American market. In addition to providing kitchens to higher-end multi-housing and single residential projects, Eggersmann Canada kitchens were installed in the Olympic Village for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Para-Olympic games. The development, Millennium Water, is now being sold as private residences. Eggersmann USA set up shop in 2009 with a flagship store in New York and soon opened another location in Florida.

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Us and Them

It is interesting to note that all the materials and technology necessary to make a reasonably-priced modern-Euro kitchen already exist in North America. What is missing is the innovative design.

That is not meant as an insult, but things are simply done differently in the two markets.

“Europe functions more on design and economy of size (a sensibility that is also creeping into the North American market). When a home is procured in Europe, the kitchen is essentially an empty room (rather than a built-in),” explains Harvey Reehal, principal of Inform Projects. “People buy their modular kitchens, which often stand on legs, and then when they move, they take them with. This practice fosters more of a sense of personal style and ownership over the modular components.” European kitchen manufacturers understand this and develop distinct designs that are recognizable as kitchen brands. Even Porche has a branded design. And while it is common to only manufacture a limited number of the highest end kitchens, it generates enough interest in the public to support their other offerings.

In the North American market when a home is built or bought, there is already a kitchen installed, and it is generally a conservative face-framed style. Commonly, even in higher-end developments, the kitchen is an area where project costs are cut, and the parts are pieced together from whatever is readily available and inexpensive. It becomes increasingly difficult for American manufacturers to thrive in this market. When cabinets all look more or less the same, and price is a factor, companies find themselves competing in an international commodity market.

arriving on-time and on-spec, and Eggersmann knows that the job is not only of a large enough scope to be worth the efforts but also will be installed by people who understand the product.

This multi-housing model built the in-roads into the North American market that have allowed Eggersmann to expand into single family residential markets in both Canada and the USA. It was the lack of accessibility and increase in demand that encouraged Michael Soltoff, CEO of Eggersmann USA, to partner with the renowned German kitchen brand in 2009. “Our focus is to establish a network of exclusive showrooms, dealers, architects and designers,” says Soltoff. “We know that our clients are interested in high quality and exceptional design at a great value.

Facilitating Kitchen Emigration

Reehal’s operation has invested a lot of time in organizing a system that gives developers access to the European kitchen brands that architects and designers increasingly specify to meet consumer demands. Eggersmann is not the only European brand they carry, but it is a good example of how brands enter the market from overseas.

“In general, Italian and German kitchen manufacturers are well-fulfilled in their European markets. Although they recognize the growing demand in North America, import taxes and shipping logistics make it cost-prohibitive to do business,” says Reehal.

“Add to that ordering and installation uncertainties, and concern that there will not be enough orders to justify the cost, or that there may be issues collecting payment, and it is easy to see why selling to North America was considered more trouble than it was worth.” From the North American perspective, there were also concerns with bringing in European brands. What if product doesn’t arrive in a timely manner? What if it doesn’t fit imperial specifications?

To eliminate these barriers, Reehal developed a business model that begins working with developers and architects when they are in the “unit-bubble” stage of a project, basically when they are drawing ideas on a napkin and figuring out the concept.

“We do a display studio, including the kitchen, for the developers who want to offer multi-family homes with premium cabinetry and fixtures. It is a very “Vancouver” concept of pre-sale. Most of the units are sold before construction even begins,” says Raheel.

Close collaboration enables Inform Projects to submit clean orders to Eggermann’s German manufacturing facilities far in advance of the project. The developers know they can rely on the product

Allmilmo/ Eggersmann Kuchen, the oldest family-owned kitchen manufacturer in Germany, distributes kitchens in the USA and Canada to meet the growing demand for European style modern kitchens.

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ATHLETES USED THIS KITCHEN (MANUFACTURED BY EGGERSMANN) IN THE OLYMPIC VILLAGE DURING THE 2010 WINTER OLYMPIC AND PARA-OLYMPIC GAMES IN VANCOUVER, BC. NOW THAT THE GAMES ARE OVER THE FACILITY, RE-NAMED MILLENNIUM WATER, IS PREMIUM MULTI-FAMILY HOUSING.

OLYMPIC FEATS OF ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE DESIGN

ALREADY HERE

Reehal notes, “Technology drives design, and design depends on technology to satisfy the wants and the needs of the consumer market.” Most North American kitchen manufacturers already have access to the materials and equipment necessary to engineer products that are, if not purely modern and European, more design-oriented. Not only is the technology available, and the market demand increasing for distinctive products, but North American manufacturing faces new threats (and opportunities) in the post-

recession global economy. The big question is, moving forward, what can be learned from the successful kitchen fashion houses of Europe that can be applied to the North American market?

Domestic design/build firm Hufft Projects (see Architect Spec page 52) and kitchen innovator Viola Park (see page 38) understand that the market is shifting, that consumers appreciate stylish design and modern mate-

rials. Both companies have managed, even within a down economy, to innovate in ways that differentiate them from mainstream consumer kitchens. Perhaps more importantly, both have done this without abandoning their American sensibilities. Rather than imitating European fashion and processes that have evolved organically within a different cultural context, they have adapted them to fit their own market. s&p P H O T O G R A P H B Y B O B M AT H E S O N

Anybody who watched any of the 2010 Winter Olympics has probably heard Vancouver described as “The Greenest City on Earth.”

While that is subjective, it is true that within the city new construction is required to be at minimum LEED Silver-certified, with developers gaining extra benefits from the city if they achieve LEED Gold certification or better.

This attention to environmentally sound design likely helped Eggersmann win the bid to supply the Olympic Village (now known as Millennium Water) with 863 kitchens and 2,000 bath vanities. “This year in February, Eggersmann earned full FSC Chain of Custody certification,” says Reehal. “They are the ONLY kitchen manufacturer in the world to do that.” Eggersmann kitchens are built with textured HPL on top of primarily particleboard substrates (though MDF is used in more complex joinery). Their main supplier in Germany is industry giant Pfleiderer, who has invested heavily in production methods that allow them to meet FSC standards. In turn, Eggersmann has invested heavily in their manufacturing technology.

For a gallery of Eggersmann kitchens, visit www.surfaceandpanel.com

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Taking Care of Business For 45 years, Stiles has been helping manufacturers succeed by meeting the needs of a changing industry. Tasks once done manually can now be accomplished with the push of a button or a mouse click, allowing sophisticated software applications and CNC machines to work hand-in-hand with traditional craftsmanship and artistry. The world’s largest independent distributor of quality machinery, Stiles is focused on offering solutions that improve process technology and maximize production capacity. And, as the industry continues to evolve, Stiles maintains its passionate commitment to make your business a success.

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

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Henrybuilt Delivers Viola Park B Y

S U Z A N N E

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enrybuilt, located in New York and Seattle, designs and manufactures finely crafted furniture and kitchen cabinetry. The company was founded by Scott Hudson in 2001, with the intention to bridge the gap between two extremes. On one end of the spectrum are the best modular European kitchen systems, which offer superior refinement and functional solutions but lack warmth and flexibility. On the other end of the spectrum are the custom cabinetmakers, skilled in woodcraft but lacking the range of manufacturing and product-development capability to provide the sophistication of European systems. Henrybuilt caters to the rising trend in consumer attitude that it is better to have fewer things, but better quality things.

Increasingly people are buying elegant things and making them important purchases, acquiring with a sense of ownership and longevity. However, fine craft comes with a fine price. And many people with great taste are unable to find a well-designed kitchen product at a mid-range price.

In 2009 Henrybuilt launched Viola Park, a line developed to offer homeowners as complete a kitchen design package as possible at reasonable cost. The approach is similar to the European model, distinctly design-oriented kitchens manufactured in whole and delivered complete, but done on a smaller scale. To this end, Viola Park kitchen systems are made from a standard set of components designed to work in a wide range of situations without customization. Viola Park also deviates from the standard distribution model, utilizing Internet innovations and effectively eliminating the middleman.

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SynDeco

A Gap in the Market

Design-oriented homeowners have few choices for well- made, welldesigned products that fall somewhere between IKEA and custom.

“The few options out there are either very small companies that can service only a small market with a limited line, or larger companies that just don’t get it, and are producing the same product they produced in the ’70s and selling it the same way they always have,” says Hudson. “In many cases, product quality in the middle of the market has decreased considerably over the last 30-40 years. Rather than focusing on refining the product and the customer’s experience, most manufacturers have focused on cutting costs and adding “hardware.’”

Simple and Straightforward

As the economy heads into recovery, consumers are more specific about what they want and what they really don’t need. Quality becomes more important. Being personally involved becomes more important.

Keeping it simple becomes more important. According to Hudson, for these things to happen, distribution models need to shift. “The way kitchen cabinets are distributed in the U.S. is not unlike the way cars are distributed: big manufacturers selling through a network of dealers.

There are too many product lines with too little differentiation, all selling at very thin margins and offering little of distinction to the buyer.”

Viola Park does not sell through distribution, only direct via the Internet. The concept is that the customer gets a better product by dealing directly with the designer and maker of the product. Advancing Internet capabilities offer unique opportunities to innovate in the areas of product presentation, decision-support and distribution.

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

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

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

by AET Films converter customers.

No more water or moisture issues Because SynDECOR is an OPP-based film, it has all of the water resistance your applications will ever need. Meeting 24-hour test requirements is no issue, whether the laminates are based upon our 23, 32, 41 or 56 gsm products.

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

IF water-resistance, living-hinge and versatility are not

enough to convince you, then also consider these additional SynDECOR benefits: • consistent chemical bonds with today’s commonly used glues • superior print fidelity • converter-applied coatings that deliver exceptional mar, scratch and abrasion resistance • formaldehyde and melamine-free • polyolefin-based construction, widely considered the most sustainable of all plastics

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

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

The Hidden Advantage™

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THE BIG PICTURE

For more about counter/work surface materials and design, visit www.surfaceandpanel.com

One of the goals of Viola Park is to make it possible to arrive at an exceptional overall design with as little effort as possible. “American kitchens tend to be a collage of unrelated bits – counter, lighting, cabinets, backsplash tiles – that only occasionally work together,” says Hudson. “I think that kitchens designed as systems – more unified wholes – are absolutely the future. The way it is done now is a waste of economic resources, not very functional and much more likely to be replaced a few years later.”

By focusing on the whole kitchen system rather than parts, Viola Park is able to control costs, keep the designs simple, predict how the kitchen will turn out and still allow customers to make a personal statement. The design value comes both from the parts (Paperstone countertops, HPL, wood and wood veneers, lacquered surfaces and VGC bamboo over green board, glass doors and powder-coated steel) and the way they are configured. The overall look the components achieve is at once American, contemporary, approachable and refined.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE

Part of Viola Park is the idea that it is a very good thing for people to be connected to their homes through designing, planning and building projects to whatever degree they are able. In modern society few people grow up using tools, and even less take an active role in building or modifying their dwellings. Things like building codes, professional certifications and technical knowledge necessary to order materials and operate equipment are prohibitive for the layman. While it is important to use skilled trade professionals who are experts in those fields, some homeowners want to be more than the financier in their home improvement projects. To that end Viola Park has invested a lot of energy into developing a product and website that can support homeowners who enjoy being involved in their improvement projects.

Understanding how things work, what they cost and how to manage people working on a project can not only decrease the costs associated with improvements but also make homeowners feel more satisfied with the finished product.

Viola Park’s innovative approach to standardizing a custom product in order to meet the market’s demands for well-designed, well-built kitchen systems is unconventional. However, their business model that combines European modular kitchen systems and Internet technology to bring design-oriented products into a moderate price range just may be the beginning of a revolution in the way people buy kitchens. s&p 40

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With UltraStock™-Free from Temple-Inland,® architects, designers and manufacturers can now choose a CARB-approved, no added formaldehyde (NAF) MDF with emission levels just about as low as nature herself. Along with lower emissions, UltraStock-Free offers valuable credits in green building rating systems such as LEED, NAHB Green Building Standard, Green Globe, and C.A.R.B. Also, UltraStock-Free

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complies with CPA 3-08–earning EPP certification. And, whether a project is “green-sensitive” or not, UltraStock-Free delivers the excellent machining and finishing performance demanded for furniture, flooring and cabinets.

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Software Review Software plays a pivotal role in most businesses’ operations on both the supply side and the design side of the kitchen and bath industry, often providing market advantage.

Most manufacturers utilize proprietary functional software built on standard platforms to optimize production. And designers rely on rendering software to accurately create, as well as to communicate ideas to clients.

Susan Serra, CKD, CAPS writes the blog The Kitchen Designer. She shared her recent product review of AutoKitchen Kitchen Design Software with Surface & Panel.

AutoKitchen B Y

S U S A N

A little bit of shop talk here, but I’m happy to share news of this new kitchen design software and technology that I am using. It’s called AutoKitchen, and it’s truly state of the art! As with any product I review (in three years, this is my third review), it has to meet my own personal standards as a useful product with qualities that I feel have merit, otherwise, I decline to review the product.

In this case, the graphics (crazy photo realism) were noticeably better than my existing program. I didn’t “need” a new program. I was not looking for another program. In fact, I had just recently upgraded my existing program for a nice sum of money. But, when I

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looked at this program in more detail there is no question that I was immediately “wowed” by the super sharp graphics that AutoKitchen produces. It’s a significant enhancement to my business and an upgrade for my clients who will see their kitchen in better detail. I can also report that AutoKitchen’s customer service is superb, otherwise, that would surely be a dealbreaker for me. CAD compatability is a big plus too.

Having used a different program (with regular updates) for 18 years, I did not make this change lightly; the software had to produce compelling solutions for my business. After my careful analysis of AutoKitchen and its

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competition over the course of two months, it does. I very closely analyzed finished renderings of competitive programs (the ultimate issue for me), talked to industry colleagues, and took a hard look at my existing software as well, which involved several sessions with the manufacturer to make completely sure that I was familiar with its top quality renderings options. If my existing program had been comparable, I would not have made the effort

to learn a new program, which is extremely time-consuming and quite honestly, always slow-going at first. But as a designer, beautiful graphics are extremely important.

These images are from AutoKitchen’s files. If you are a designer and looking to make a change, I encourage you to take a look at AutoKitchen. There is no question in my mind that the time invested is, and will be, worth it. s&p

AutoKitchen's renderings are created with Compac Marmol and Quartz technological stone countertops. To learn more about the latest in countertop and work surface materials visit www.surfaceandpanel.com

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I N N O V A T I V E

P R O D U C T S

F O R

A

S U S T A I N A B L E

F U T U R E

About the Composite Panel Association

F

ounded in 1960, the Composite Panel Association (CPA) is dedicated to advancing the North American wood–based panel and decorative surfacing industries. CPA represents both industries on technical, regulatory, quality assurance and product acceptance issues.

CPA General Members include the leading manufacturers of particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF) and hardboard, representing about 95% of North American manufacturing capacity.

CPA Associate Members include manufacturers of decorative surfaces, furniture, cabinets, mouldings, doors and equipment, along with laminators, distributors, industry media and adhesive suppliers. All are committed to product advancement and industry competitiveness.

CPA is a vital resource for both manufacturers and users of industry products. The association provides leadership on federal, state and provincial regulatory and legislative matters of interest to industry, particularly those with environmental implications.

STANDARDS, TESTING AND CERTIFICATION

The CPA functions as an accredited standards developer, using its comprehensive technical expertise to develop, publish and maintain a variety of voluntary industry product standards through ANSI. In addition, CPA manages the following programs designed to recognize the environmental efficacy and green building claims of composite panel products available in the marketplace.

• INTERNATIONAL TESTING AND CERTIFICATION CENTER (ITCC) in Leesburg, Virginia, is an ANSI, NVLAP, IAS accredited facility for testing traditional and ultra-low emitting products for California’s tough new regulation on formaldehyde emissions (the so-called “CARB rule”), as well as other green standards.

• GRADEMARK CERTIFICATION PROGRAM is the largest and most stringent testing and certification system for North American composite panel products.

• ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE PRODUCT (EPP)

program certifies products that contain 100% recycled or recovered fiber and meet low formaldehyde emission limits.

• EPP DOWNSTREAM program for processors and fabricators who use EPP certified materials.

DOWNSTREAM

LICENSED FACILITY PRODUCED IN A FACILITY THAT PURCHASES AT LEAST 50% CPA-CERTIFIED EPP PANELS.

All of the above programs make it easy for fabricators and specifiers to identify how composite panel and decorative surfacing materials qualify for LEED, BIFMA and NAHB Model Green Home credits, as well as meet regulations promulgated by CARB and other government agencies.

Visit CPA’s web site for a list of companies that are EPP-certified and CARB-certified.

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Continuing Education and Resources for Designers & Specifiers

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roviding educational opportunities, technical information, and sourcing guides are just a few of the many ways the CPA supports innovative products for a sustainable future.

Materials technology is constantly advancing.

To keep architects and designers up-to-date on the latest developments in wood-based composite panels and decorative surfacing materials, the CPA is partnered with Surface & Panel to help foster education about industry products and innovations, as well as to serve as a medium for disseminating critical publications and programs.

These include the annual CPA Buyers Guide, continuing education units (CEU’s) about woodbased composite panels and decorative surfacing materials, and the latest information on industry standards, technical specifications, and relevant environmental issues.

BUYERS GUIDE

CPA publishes an annual SURFACE & PANEL BUYERS GUIDE which provides the most comprehensive product information available about North American composite panel and decorative surfacing products. The Guide includes in-depth descriptions of the various types of composite panels and decorative surfaces available, as well as the many standard and specialty products offered by major producers, making it easy for designers to evaluate the best materials for specific applications.

The Guide is available in print and in an up-tothe-minute digital format at www.pbmdf.com.

CEU’S

CPA sponsors an AIA accredited continuing education unit (CEU) program. Each unit is crafted to educate designers and specifiers about the technical and performance characteristics of specific materials.

2009 Voluntar y Compend ium of Standard s for Decorativ e Overlay s

SPONSORED

DECORATIV

E

C OM PO SI TE

CEU’s are available at www.decorativesurfaces.org and in print or online with Surface & Panel magazine. An overview unit entitled “The Evolution of Sustainable, Cost-Effective Decorative Surface Materials” is already available and approved by the AIA. Additional units focusing on green substrates (particleboard and MDF), TFM, 3DL, hardboard, decorative foils, HPL and coatings are in development for 2010. Upon completion of a CEU, architects earn credits necessary to maintain their professional standing.

The CPA understands that fabricators, designers and architects will not specify materials if they do not understand their technical and performance characteristics.

In response the CPA maintains a Compendium of Standards for Decorative Overlays and a wide range of technical bulletins about wood-based composite panel products, available at www.pbmdf.com.

BY

SURFACES C OUNCIL of the

P AN EL A SS OC IATI

ON

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Composite Panel Association 19465 Deerfield Avenue, Suite 306 Leesburg, Virginia, USA 20176 703.724.1128 www.pbmdf.com www.DecorativeSurfaces.org

surface&panel

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2010

HARDWARE ROUND-UP Surface & Panel has the scoop on the new technology top hardware manufacturers brought to the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. For more information, visit kbis.com to view the list of exhibitors and connect with others who find inspiration in the technology that drives design.

Hettich Hettich’s new Sensys Silent System, a hinge for automatically softclosing furniture doors from a wide opening angle of 35 degrees, is available for all door-mounting styles.

Also on Hettich’s roster are two new products for drawers. One, Full Access Quadro joins the Quadro line to give 20 percent longer travel than the partialextension slide. It boasts a load capacity of 75 pounds, has excellent lateral stability and offers quiet operation. Hettich calls it an affordable alternative to the full-extension runner. The other, InnoTech DesignSide, is a drawer platform without railings that provides visibility of drawer contents. It is available in grey, charcoal and white, and it is designed to use glass or other trend-setting materials. ■

Grass Grass was happy to display its new family of functional hardware, Kinvaro Lifter System, which combine European design with spring power-assisted opening capability for MDF, glass and wood cabinet doors. Within the Kinvaro line, the T-series of integrated, adjustable lift hinges with damped closing action is popular for its spring force adjustment range. Other Grass product highlights are electronic drawers called Sensomatic and Sensotronic as well as a new generation of undermount drawer slides, DynaPro. Also look for design-inspiring generation of concealed hinges, Tiomos, which premiered at Interzum last year. ■ 46

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Hafele Hafele America presented its KV Line Premium Waste & Recycle Series, featuring Knape & Vogt’s most advanced slide technology, in frosted nickel and white finish options. The KV Line offers full-extension, overtravel slides that are bottom-mounted and soft-closing. The solid base and backsplash eliminate climbing into cabinets on hands and knees to clean spills from the bin’s sides. Top- and bottom-mount wire systems are also available in the series. Also, Synergy Elite is new to Hafele’s Synergy line of closet hardware. These allmetal accessories include tie, belt and scarf racks and valets in 12-, 14- and 18-inch lengths. Decorative finishes include nickel matte, dark oil rubbed bronze, chrome and brass polished. n

Knape & Vogt

Blum Blum presented its new CLIP top BLUMOTION concealed hinge, available with improved fit for thick doors and optional deactivation for small or lightweight doors. It is compatible with other CLIP mounting plates. n

Turnstyle Designs Ltd. Turnstyle Designs Ltd. has a new “Leather Composite” decorative hardware product that’s created in a silicone mold to look identical to leather. n

Knape & Vogt’s recent development, the Premium Waste & Recycle Series, came to KBIS thanks to KV’s deal with Hafele. “This new top-of-the-line product is really revolutionary,” says Steve Beckwith, senior marketing manager for KV. “Hafele saw it and said, ‘That’s perfect!’ They bought the entire line.”

Also appearing at KBIS was Knape and Vogt’s new MuV and MuV34 Soft-Close Undermount Drawer Slides, which eliminate drawer bounce characteristic to air-filled cylinders and allow for deeper drawers. MuV technology uses a special mechanism for keeping inset drawers true.

Also highlighted was Knape & Vogt’s Birch Lazy Susan Drawer Systems for corner cabinets, featuring adjustable baskets in heavy-gauge Frosted Nickel and a pull-out center unit.

It offers full-extension, In-Line undermount slides fitted with soft-close technology and 1/2-inch thick, UV-cured clear coat finished shelves. n

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2010

HARDWARE ROUND-UP

Salice

Rev-A-Shelf New in home storage hardware is Rev-A-Shelf’s Lazy Shoe-Zen, designed for a 24-inch-deep corner. The threeand five-tier versions are made to fit closets heights up to 55 and 96 inches, respectively. Both can be modified to fit shorter-height applications. Other features include individual shoe height adjustment as well as adjustable, 360-degree-rotatating, clear acrylic shelves with detenting shoe horns. ■

Salice’s new Smoveholder, designed to eliminate noise produced by closing cabinet doors, is the latest addition to its Smove line.

When fixed to an adapter on the mounting plate, the Smoveholder’s decelerator works by bearing against the flange of the hinge.

A series of Smoveholders complements a range of adapters, available in four heights corresponding to the four hinge arm cranks. It is available in three strengths to accommodate doors with one, two or threeplus hinges. Adjustable stroke allows the same deceleration effect for doors of varying weights and sizes. Also joining the line is the Cruciform Smoveholder, a decelerator that can be mounted on the top or bottom panel of a cabinet. Available with or without assembly stop devices, it also comes in three strengths with adjustable stroke. The hinge model determines suggested placement of the device within the cabinet. s&p

Short Run Pro, LLC Custom metals manufacturer Short Run Pro, LLC introduced its new line of countertop brackets, Federal Brace, at KBIS. Bridging panels and surfaces in high fashion, the decorative and functional supports are available in 17 styles, including standard, hidden and elevated varieties in brushed stainless or paintable steel finishes. ■

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PEACE restored by Salice

MAKE A LOT OF NOISE

Introducing Futura from Salice, the concealed runner suitable for all drawer applications, available in partial and full extension openings.

BY KEEPING QUIET.

Futura is available in 3 versions: • Smove decelerated closing • Integrated Push opening for cabinets without pulls • Traditional Self-closing As a leading innovator in concealed hinge technology, Salice brings the same superior quality and respected customer support to the Futura line. Easily installed and dependable, customers receive advanced technology, innovative design and solid construction.

Specifications: • Exceeds ANSI TESTING 156.9 load capacity • Safety feature to prevent drawers from turning over during transport • Drawer height adjustment (+3 mm) • Finish – bright zinc plated • Lifetime warranty

For detailed specs, availability and pricing, contact us by phone or visit www.saliceamerica.com.

Salice is the proud recipient of the Business Marketing Association “2009 Best of North Carolina” award for excellence in B2B strategy and creativity.

2123 Crown Centre Drive | Charlotte NC. 28227 | 800.222.9652 | 704.841.7810 | www.saliceamerica.com circle #23 on reader service card

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ModernApprenticeships Adding Value to the Work Force Education is crucial in any technical field, and so is experience. Yet in the traditional educational model it is increasingly rare to find technical curriculum that supports the trades and hands-on opportunities are very basic at best.

When young adults leave school unprepared to work in professional trades it is difficult for them to find work. When they are hired the company is faced with the burden of training novices and integrating them safely into operations.

In recognition of the need for trained craftsmen, Blum Inc., a leading manufacturer of functional hardware, located in Stanley, NC, has taken a pro-active approach. In 1995 Blum, in conjunction with the Daetwyler Corporation of Huntersville, NC, developed the Apprenticeship 2000 program. This innovative approach offers high-school seniors a

technical education including college credentials and on-the-job training. After four years students who complete the program are skilled CNC machinists, tool-and-die makers, injection molding specialists, and machine and electronics technicians. They are also guaranteed a job in their selected career field.

Apprenticeship 2000 is unique in the sense that a consortium of companies, as well as local areas school systems, supports the program.

Curriculum

Each year information brochures introducing the program and its areas of specialty are distributed in area high schools. The Apprenticeship 2000 program is an 8000-hour program that spans 4 years of training. Upon graduation students earn an AAS (Associates in Applied Science) degree in Manufacturing Technology and a Journeyman’s Certificate from the state of North Carolina.

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A typical course of study for students working with Blum begins in the senior year of high school when students spend four school hours a week studying technical curriculum and four hours inside a partnership company.

After high school graduation, students transition from part time to full time apprentices. At this point each apprentice spends four days training inside the partnership company as a full time employee, as well as one day and one evening class per week at Central Piedmont Community College. At Blum, students are paid to attend day classes as if it were a normal workday, which encourages regular attendance. By the end of the program participants experience four years of company-related training and earn 1600 hours of college credit.

Proof and Performance

Throughout the program, Blum apprentices are supervised by training instructors that monitor progress and ensure safety.

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Once per month each participant is evaluated in the following areas: Job Knowledge, Quality, Efficiency, Dependability, Initiative, Adaptability, Team Ability, Safety and Punctuality. Each topic is given a score and then rated. Every six months these scores are combined with the student’s GPA at Central Piedmont College. As students gain experience and knowledge their pay rate increases, giving students a direct role in their success.

Blum feels very strongly that helping young people in the community is a benefit not only for the company’s success, but for the individual as well. By taking an active role in improving technical training in the private sector, and providing schools as much support as possible, Blum is able to train its own workforce to fit its technical needs, while at the same time contributing to the economic health of the community. And with an 80% retention rate for Blum apprentices, who are never asked to sign or commit, it is clear that participants find value in the program as well. s&p

Tenino from KML An expensive European look without an expensive price.

The Tenino Collection of thermo-fused melamine comes in six chic tones to meet your high-end pattern requirements: Rosewood, Wenge, Oak, White, Grey and Walnut.

Fine wood grain pattern detailing, exquisite shading and natural colors give the appearance of expensive Italian inspired designs with the added benefit of exceptional cost.

Available on FSC Certified substrates and NAUF substrates for environmentally responsible applications.

Call or click for more information and a distributor.

Therm O Web is the One-Stop-Shop for all your Edgebanding Needs

KML – 888-358-5075 www.kmlcorp.com CIRCLE #22 ON READER SERVICE CARD

Our full line of edgebanding products includes PVC, veneers, pre-finished veneers, polyesters and adhesives. Therm O Web also has a complete line of hot air and glue pot edgebanders and can help you find one that fits your needs. Please visit us online at www.thermoweb.com or call us at 800-323-0799.

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PremiumDesigned and Built Kitchens

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M

atthew Hufft is the president and creative director of Hufft Projects and Make Studios, a custom design/build company located in Kansas City, MO. The firm expanded beyond design into fabricating to have tighter control over the entire process, resulting in faster turn around times and better quality end-products that are closer to the design intention. Make Studios recently added a CNC studio featuring an Onsrud Panel Pro Router to their metal and woodworking skills. The additional capabilities show Hufft’s ability to evolve with the industry. Contemporary architecture education includes more fabrication curricula, encouraging designers to cultivate in-depth materials and mechanical sensibilities. Hufft shared his observations about material and design trends in residential kitchens, and throughout the home.

S&P: What other lifestyle trends influence your kitchen design?

Hufft: Our stuff tends to be a little more minimal, more natural. It ages a little better, which is appropriate to the North American market where people want longevity and classic design regardless of whether they favor modern, traditional or artisan style. People only create a kitchen once or twice, particularly now, so they want quality and real value.

Stainless steel is popular. We also do a quite a bit of glass and dish storage in large drawers below the counter vs. cabinets above the counter. We use a lot of Blum; they make an array of different systems to organize and sub-divide drawers. I think from an ergonomics standpoint there may be an advantage to transferring dishes laterally instead of raising your arms above your head. Still, probably about half of our clientele is unsure about big lower drawers. The nice thing about doing that is the design freedom you get when the backsplash is freed up to do other things.

S&P: What happens to upper space without cabinets?

Hufft: You do something really beautiful with your backsplash like a cool piece of glass. Another trend that may not be new but that is gaining in popularity is things that hang off a wall, like sleek shelves and fixtures. They have kind of a dramatic look, but also keep things really clean and open. It really makes the kitchen look bigger and flow more freely, sometimes approaching complete integration of surfaces, from cabinetry and backsplashes to appliance faces and out into the rest of the home.

S&P: Hufft Projects’ body of work is definitively Euro-Modern with local sensibilities.

What is the philosophy behind that?

Hufft: It is creative preference. That is what I like. Since modern is our maxim, we preach that things should be made of modern-day materials and of modern means and methods. The more traditional styles of cabinets are of old ways, means and methods. They were conceived in an era when people cut a tree down, they milled their tree and then they built their cabinets. Veneer plywood was not available. Laminates were not available. European hinges were not available. In my mind, that whole system is antiquated. Not to say that it is wrong, but just to say that it can be done in a much more efficient way today just from a functionality standpoint.

S&P: What does modern look like?

Hufft: Clean Euro-style panel cabinets and designs that speak more about material than ornament and decoration. The simpler look of big slabs, of beautifully finished wood, is gaining popularity over ornate raised-panel doors.

Another thing I see, that is fairly new, is the movement toward more surreal or whimsical surfaces coming out of European cabinet companies. They have started doing things with prints and patterns using specialty laminates and stylized surface finishes. I forecast that to continue.

S&P: If all the surfaces in a kitchen are matched panels, do you think the design suffers any emotional collateral damage? Can kitchens become so integrated that they miss a sense of kitchen-ness?

Hufft: I think for some people, yes, but for others it is wonderful. Some European companies are going so far as to have fold-down covers for the cooktops. Ultimately, I don’t think the desire for clean, smooth surfaces is going to go away, but it still plays into the role of kitchen as the gathering place. I have yet to have a client come to us and request totally separate formal cooking, living and eating spaces. They say they want kitchen, living and dining to be one big open space, period. That is not the trend. It is the common thing now. It is how people live. The reality is, no matter the size of the home, people congregate in the kitchen.

So why not celebrate that kitchen as a living space?

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S&P: What materials do you like to use?

Hufft: We use almost exclusively plywood veneer, primarily supplied

by Columbia Forest Products, though we source from Eggers Industries for higher-end matched and sequenced panels. In our opinion it is really a better way to construct things than solid wood, especially with big openings and big doors. It doesn’t crack or warp. Species is heavily client-driven. Being located in the Midwest, oak and walnut veneer plywood are two we look at a lot for kitchens because they are very local, affordable and I think beautiful. Particularly rift-cut oak goes well with our style; it is very clean, all the grain lines up perfectly.

In bathrooms we have a little more fun, choosing things like bamboo, ipe and teak; materials that are better for wet locations. People really view their bathrooms, particularly the master bath, as a true oasis not a room just for shaving and brushing teeth. It is an escape and should be treated as such. Its design aesthetic is much more in tune with a work of art.

In specialized locations or higher-end kitchen and bath we also use Tree Frog HPL veneers, and HPL from Formica and Wilsonart because it is more durable than veneer. We use melamine-backed particleboard from Roseberg for nearly all of our interior carcasses. For substrates we use primarily Sierra Pine’s Medite/Medex for low-emitting or NAUF. Columbia is FSC Chain of Custody Certified, and although we are not, it still means a lot to many of our customers. We have experimented with wheat board and other bio-fibers, but so far, they have not caught on with clients. The guys in the shop are interested in Durat, and are always on the look out for new materials to experiment with. s&p

Matthew Hufft holds two advanced degrees in architecture and design. He received his Bachelor of Architecture at the University of Kansas, where he graduated at the top of the class and was the first in the university’s history to receive the acclaimed Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill Traveling Fellowship Award. He received his Master of Science Degree in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University where he also graduated with high honors. He has been a professor of Architecture and Media at Pratt Institute. Currently he is a LEED Accredited Professional and NCARB Certified.

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The ITCC builds on 40 years of independent, reliable testing services and CPA’s designation as “TPC-1” – the first agency in the world to be approved as a Third Party Certifier by the California Air Resources Board.

CIRCLE #24 ON READER SERVICE CARD

Setting the Global Standard for Quality Assurance CPA’s International Testing and Certification Center (ITCC) in Leesburg,

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In 2009 the ITCC added six new ASTM D 6007 Small Chambers. The

Specializing in Particleboard, MDF, Hardboard and Hardwood Plywood Chamber Testing Capacity Significantly Increased in 2009 Offering Daily QC Testing for Panel Manufacturers Accepting New Clients for Product Certification and Informational/ Screening Tests

ITCC also features three Large Chambers, Perforators, Desiccators and a full compliment of physical, dimensional and mechanical property testing.

CPA’s Grademark Certification Program for panel products is the largest and most comprehensive in North America. CPA also offers certification to mill specifications as well as the Environmentally Preferable Product (EPP) Program.

CONTACT THE ITCC TODAY TO SCHEDULE SERVICES ITCC | 73 Lawson Road, Suite 101 | Leesburg, VA 20175 | 703.724.1128 Director of Laboratory Services: bharrington@cpamail.org Director of Certification Services: csurak@cpamail.org NVLAP LAB CODE 100418-0

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Go Forward

© ISTOCKPHOTO.COM/JAMIE VANBUSKIR

“...the only way to go is forward”

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How to Thrive in a Bumpy Recovery If you are still breathing while you are reading this, there is hope. I recently heard respected economist Alan Beaulieu proclaim that the recession is officially over. He said the recovery would be scary and slow but a recovery none the less. And if a company is making now, it will continue to make it. But questions remain. Is it enough just to make it? What else has changed in the market place while the US economy was holed up trying to stay solvent? To answer the latter question, it is necessary to step out of our own reality and peek into what is happening in different parts of the world and across different market segments. I received some nourishing perspective this spring at the not-for-profit Executive Briefing Conference (EBC) hosted by Stiles Machinery. The event's theme "What's now? What's new? What's next?" invites critical thinking.

Now The EBC is designed to be an industry-wide forum for sharing information and ideas. I found this format to be very powerful, particularly considering that the social networking model is the way business is moving into the digital future. Strategic planning begins with a thorough assessment of the state of affairs. What is working? Where are there opportunities? What is the best way to neutralize threats? Without exception, every person in attendance of the EBC shared some valuable innovation. While there is no one right way to do things and business has many variables, there are some unifying factors shared by companies that stayed strong during the recession.

New One indicator of business health is the willingness to learn. Innovative ideas can be mined from within a company, an industry or from different markets. Many companies that not only survived the recession but also grew regularly attend trade shows and industry events. Rapidly advancing technology requires every business to look forward just to stay current. Another good reason to stay up on equipment and material innovations? The competition from emerging markets that have traditionally used cheap labor as their primary advantage are beginning to invest heavily in technology, in some cases even acquiring one-off capabilities. In order to compete as the North American manufacturing industry, it is crucial to adapt global capabilities to the local market in ways that outsiders cannot replicate. Part of this is making strategic choices based on how to compete. Companies that make decisions based on cutting costs compete as commodities. To compete on value, it is imperative to invest in innovation.

Next Another common trait among businesses thriving under current conditions is their capacity to both standardize and customize. These seemingly contradictory concepts actually reflect derivative thinking. That is to say, they require at least two degrees of infrastructure to produce more sophisticated products.

It can be intimidating to venture into new methods. As a professional in the publishing industry, I can tell you this from personal experience. But as S&P has invested in digital technology to supplement our print product, we have found many new opportunities to better serve our industry.

And we have brought on new expert staff members to help optimize all our fancy communications tools. It has been a lot to take in, and there is still plenty of work to do. But S&P is growing into an on-line association of sorts, to better standardize our digital space for easy use and custom-

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ize it to meet every member’s exact needs. Regardless of specialty, the only way to go is forward.

By

we Suzanne VanGilder • Editorial Director • suzannevangilder@sbcglobal.net

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Our biggest innovation in 2010 is also our smallest.

By integrating our BLUMOTION quiet-closing system into the hinge cup, we’ve achieved a more versatile, lower-profile hinge.

Visit us in booth S1260 at K/BIS. 800-438-6788 / blum.com

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