Cologne's major furniture exhibition (IMM, International Möbel Messe) ended last weekend, and we've just posted our photographic tour!

As always, the IMM is an overwhelming playground for design inspiration and materials use. Some quick observations:

• The dominance of all-white environments has eased from recent years.
• Several manufacturers were showing white HPL tops with very silky, smooth finishes - not unlike solid surface, but warmer to the touch.
• High gloss continues to grow, in both laminates (3DL and acrylic) and lacquer finishes
• Back-painted glass is also less prevalent.
• Warm browns and taupe are on the rise.
• Strong heartwood veneer cuts and laminate designs were EVERYWHERE.
• Lightweight panels are finding their way into more applications, and are being fitted with integral cable management systems and other functionalities.
• Push-to-open and soft-close hardware is finding its way into lower-priced furniture.
• LED accent lighting is quite the rage, perhaps overly so at the moment.

Stay tuned for more thorough coverage of these trends, and profiles on some of the designs and designers Material Intelligence encountered at IMM.

And make plans to visit the world's largest materials show, hosted also in Cologne: Interzum!

Traffic was heavy from open to close on both days of the show, thanks largely to the educational format of the Pavilions exhibits, and the unique opportunity to compare dozens of different materials without traveling to dozens of booths. One designer summed it up nicely: "It's about time somebody did this. This is great!"

Several experts from sponsoring companies were on hand to answer detailed questions from working designers and students from across Canada. And several designers and students attended  CEU presentation, "Sustainable, Cost-Effective Surfacing Solutions for Furniture and Interior Design,"

As part of the IIDEX Think:MATERIAL exhibit, the Material Intelligence Pavilion added an extra educational flair with tables designed by Facility One Inc. in Detroit.

Below, some images of the featured material samples to refresh your memory if you happened to be one of our guests at IIDEX, with links to more information on the materials and the suppliers. Please excuse the fingerprints...we encouraged many hundreds of hands to help themselves to our display!

See you soon,

Kenn Busch, Owner, Material Intelligence

Featured in the Material Intelligence Pavilion at IIDEX:

Composite Panel Association: Responsible, Sustainable Design

Balancing design, durability, sustainability and cost is no easy task.

In this exhibit, attendees found a range of decorative surfaces and engineered wood substrates that can be used throughout any commercial interior. With these materials, you can:

• Choose your palette from the collections of dozens of suppliers
• Match those designs across a variety of materials with specific performance properties
• Select engineered wood substrates that meet your project’s sustainability, indoor air quality, building codes and other goals
• Ensure quality and design consistency from project to project
• Control your costs

For more information, please visit decorativesurfaces.org

Coveright: Décors and Surface Performance for Laminate Surfaces Everywhere

As a leading producer of surfacing materials for the furniture, flooring, building, woodworking and automotive industries, Coveright Surfaces Americas has a Global reach and a regional presence.

Our mission is to be recognized as the market leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of surface material systems for decorative, flooring, and technical applications in all aspects of the TFM market for flooring, furniture, woodworking and automotive industries.

Uses: Performance décors for laminates.

Markets: Everywhere laminates are used.

http://www.coveright.com, (905) 372-1896

 Flakeboard Canada: TFM and Panels for Furniture and Interiors 

Flakeboard is North America’s largest manufacturer of composite panels, producing a multi-faceted range of particleboard, MDF, thin HDF and TFM decorative panels.

Flakeboard’s panels are CARB Phase 2 and EPP certified, and can qualify for up to 5 LEED® points. Also available: fire-rated, moisture resistant, countertop, door core, and VESTA no added urea-formaldehyde resin panels.

Our finished panels are available in a variety of textures that uniquely enhance these designs.  As a finishing touch, our TFM designs are coordinated with 3D laminates, HPL and edgebanding.

Uses: Vertical and horizontal surfaces; cabinetry, furniture, shelving, wall panels, store fixtures, office furniture.

Markets:Commercial, hospitality, retail, residential.

www.flakeboard.com, (800) 268-9830

Lamin-Art’s Distinctive High-Pressure Laminates

Lamin-Art, Inc., a U.S.-based privately held company, has supplied the commercial interior design and architectural professions with an exceptional selection of innovative design-statement HPL laminates and outstanding customer service for over fifty years.

Our exclusive patterns can be found in high-profile retail stores, hotels, restaurants, showrooms, store fixtures, trade show exhibits and more. Lamin-Art's philosophy is to research, develop and market innovative decorative surfacing materials that add value and a distinctive touch to your next project.

Uses: Vertical and horizontal surfaces; cabinetry, furniture, shelving, wall panels, store fixtures, office furniture.

Markets:Commercial, office, retail, residential, healthcare and hospitality.

www.laminart.com

Móz Designs Architectural Metals offer multiple surface product categories

Móz Architectural Metals which are utilized as rigid building components are impact-resistant and available in .063” to 1/8” gauge Aluminum, Perforated, Corrugated or Stainless Steel (for greater durability).

Móz Laminate Metals are designed and applied as decorative feature elements offered in .040 gauge aluminum in standard sheet sizes: 4’x8’ and 4’x10’. Custom sizes are also available.

Uses:Columns, walls, elevators, ceilings, room dividers and new feature art.

Markets:Commercial, hospitality, retail, residential.

www.mozdesigns.com

Olon NEXGEN™Door and Drawer Components

Olon Industries Inc. is the North American leader in the supply of 5 piece door and drawer components.  We offer the A&D community a diverse product line that includes NEXGEN™ laminates, custom architectural and stock wrapped profiles, accessory mouldings, drawer components and edgebanding.  Our products are available with FSC® and CARB/EPP certifications on request.

Olon offers manufactured moulding components in over 150 colors of our NEXGEN™ wrapping grade laminates that are exact color and texture matches to North American LPL and HPL from TFM manufacturers.  Olon Industries has the most comprehensive, complimentary program in the market.

Uses:Vertical and horizontal surfaces

Markets: Healthcare, store fixture, kitchen and bath, residential and commercial cabinet, closet and furniture.  www.olon.com, (905) 877-7300

ORGATEC: Cologne, 23-27 October 2012

ORGATEC is the leading international fair for office and facility interiors. Held every two years in Cologne, Germany, ORGATEC in autumn 2012 will in particular focus on the theme of “Modern working worlds.”

On the evening of 26th October 2012 within the framework of the fair, INSIGHT COLOGNE, the ORGATEC Night of Corporate Architecture, will be staged once again. Then, for the second time within the Cologne municipal area, successfully realized office projects with sophisticated, high-quality work and communication rooms and offices can be viewed and examined. A new feature will be Koelnmesse's own guided tours with more specialist information especially for the trade fair visitors.

http://www.orgatec.com

RE-Y-STONE Sustainable Surfaces, from Resopal

"RE-Y-STONE", it consists entirely of regenerative raw materials. Recycled core and decorative papers are saturated in a natural resin from sugars-production waste and then pressed in a special manufacturing process to leave a homogeneous bio-composite board. The judging panel of the "interzum award: intelligent material & design 2011" rated it "Best of the Best.”

Once hardened, the bio-resin possesses the qualities of thermosetting plastic and, together with the natural fibres, forms a hard, highly stress-resistant, dimensionally stable board with a tough surface.

Uses: Horizontal and vertical surfaces, flooring.

Markets: Commercial, retail, residential.

www.resopal.de

3D Laminates and High-Gloss Acrylic, from SSI

SSI North America is a distributor of high quality 3D laminates, acrylic sheets for decorative surfaces. Pentadecor® 3D laminates are available in various gauges for most interior vertical and interior applications. Select from vivid solids and life-like wood grains with a range of surface embossing including, deep grain structure, wood ticking, soft satin, and high gloss. Now available with Antimicrobial surface coating! 

StyleLite^®, and Zenolite^® are high gloss acrylic sheets that are 100 PVC free with incredibly vibrant solid colors. Both materials are perfect for flat panel wall and cabinetry applications.

Uses: Vertical and horizontal surfaces (Pentadecor); wallcoverings, casegoods (StyleLite and Zenolite) www.ssinorthamerica.com

Textured TFM Panels, from Stevens Industries

Stevens Industries is the leader in Textured Thermofused Melamine panels, providing the latest designs and textures for the A&D community. We offer laminated panels, cut-to-size components and assembled cabinetry, all available with the highest Environmentally Green materials available today.

Textured TFM with unlimited décor choices is the latest in European design trend, and provides the highest wear characteristics available today. All core materials are 100% recycled materials and only from FSC suppliers, meeting any level of sustainability desired, from CARB II to FSC NAUF (no added urea formaldehyde).

Uses: Vertical and horizontal surfaces.

Markets:Hospitality, kitchen and bath, office, store fixtures, educational, recreational, healthcare. 

www.stevensind.com, (217) 540-3100

 Süddekor Décor Papers:  Adventures in Authenticity 

“Adventures in Authenticity” ties a diverse range of styles together that compliment any décor, be it rustic, traditional, or contemporary.  A selection of artwork and natural materials has been translated into unmatched print décors for Süddekor’s 2011 portfolio.  These designs not only reflect the beauty and tones of the earth, but also preserve it by using authentic sources as the inspiration for sustainable, durable laminates.

Süddekor LLC supplies decorative surfacing solutions to the North American laminate industry, and is the only company to offer North American laminate manufacturers a complete service, from design through to printing and treating.

Uses: Designs for HPL, TFM and other decorative laminates.

Markets:Commercial, hospitality, retail, residential.

www.suddekorllc.com

Thermofused Melamine (TFM) Decorative Panels

Tafisa Canada's TFM designs feature the most beautiful, true-to-life, natural woodgrains that lend value and environmental harmony to any project.

Offered in a wide range of dimensions, Tafisa's decorative panels consist of a particleboard core that is compliant with the strictest environmental standards:  FSC, CARB (Phase 2), LEED (up to 6 credits), SCS and EPP approved.  The panel's wood content is composed entirely of recycled wood fiber, 10% Post-Consumer and the remaining balance Pre-Consumer.  

Note: As shown, MDF may also be used as a core option.

Uses: Vertical and horizontal surfaces; cabinetry, furniture, shelving, wall panels, store fixtures, office furniture.

Markets:Commercial, office, retail, residential, storage/closet systems, healthcare and hospitality.

www.tafisa.ca

Wilsonart Contract's 2011 Designs

With a nod to the client who demands the most durable, high-performance yet trend-forward products for their interior space, Wilsonart Contract Laminate has unveiled 27 new HPL designs. The new designs offer myriad design solutions, featuring a portfolio inspired by rustic, classical and industrial influences that brings a chic accent to any interior.

Uses:Horizontal and vertical surfaces.

Markets:Commercial, office, retail, healthcare, hospitality.

http://www.wilsonartcontract.com/

Designers and students alike were inspired to browse, compare, play and ask questions. Nearby exhibitors praised the Pavilion as well, saying that its energy created increased traffic to their exhibits as well. 

Many visitors asked for additional information, so below we're sharing images from the Pavilion along with profiles of the great companies who helped make it possible.

Above: Grace Jeffers, curator of the Materials Pavilion Island, breaks into a joyful mambo to celebrate the great feedback we received.

Above: Designers and students alike found plenty to experience in the Pavilion.

Above: Visitors were encouraged to ask questions, take pictures, and immerse themselves in the unique educational, experiential environment of the Pavilion.

Featured in the Interiors & Sources Materials Pavilion at NeoCon:

Reception Desk and Display Tables by Facility One

The Materials Pavilion wouldn't have been been possible without the energy and creativity of Facility One, a custom fixture and cabinetry shop based in Detroit.

With major retail clients like Blackberry, and their work featured in such high-profile venues as the Canal Shops at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Facility One made for an incredible partner in realizing the Pavilion at NeoCon.

Materials used on the desk include FusionSwirl on the cabinet doors, FusionTech woodgrain on the front facade, VeneerBric on the center column, all from Advanced Technology.

www.facilityoneinc.com, (313) 371-3444

Bonlex PET 3D Laminates from Ambtra

Bonlex PET 3D Laminates is the healthy choice of top healthcare casegoods manufacturers and others that have a need to construct products that are free of PVC, plasticizers, phthalates and lead. Bonlex PET 3D Laminate is perfect for a broad range of applications where durability, cleanability, and the environment are primary concerns.  Bonlex PET 3D Laminates are manufactured by C.I. Kasei Co. and are distributed by Ambtra Inc.

Uses: Vertical and horizontal surfaces.

Markets: Healthcare, commercial, hospitality, retail, residential.

www.bonlex-PET.com      

LuxCore and FusionSwirl, from Advanced Technology

Luxcore: Translucent and opaque FRP laminates with the FusionTech process. Endless custom combinations are available on this ultra rigid, high impact resistant product. Shown: Frank Lloyd Wright, Oyster Veneer, Blue Geode and Tattoo Asian Fish.

FusionSwirl: As it plays beautifully with light, the multiple colors and unique swirled effect on aluminum make each piece a true work of art. FusionSwirl is perfect for any interior vertical application. You can choose from our library of finishes or submit your own for a completely custom look.

Uses: Vertical and horizontal interior applications.

Markets: Commercial, retail, hospitality.

www.advtechnology.com

Sustainable Hardwood Plywood, from Columbia Forest Products

Columbia Forest Products is North America’s largest manufacturer of hardwood plywood, a leader in sustainable forestry, and innovator of soy-based formaldehyde-free PureBond® technology. Columbia’s decorative plywood panels are used to build cabinets, furniture, fixtures and millwork in homes and commercial settings.

With Columbia Forest Products’ EPA award-winning PureBond® technology for decorative hardwood plywood, you can be confident that it was made with no added formaldehyde. PureBond panels are CARB Phase 2 compliant and can qualify for LEED® green building credits.

Uses: Vertical and horizontal applications.

Markets: Commercial, hospitality, retail, residential.

www.columbiaforestproducts.com, (800) 637-1609

Coveright: Decors and Surface Performance for Laminate Surfaces Everywhere

As a leading producer of surfacing materials for the furniture, flooring, building, woodworking and automotive industries, Coveright Surfaces Americas has a Global reach and a regional presence.

Our mission is to be recognized as the market leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of surface material systems for decorative, flooring, and technical applications in all aspects of the TFM market for flooring, furniture, woodworking and automotive industries.

Uses: Performance décors for laminates.

Markets: Everywhere laminates are used.

www.coveright.com, (905) 372-1896

Composite Panel Association: Responsible, Sustainable Design

Balancing design, durability, sustainability and cost is no easy task.

In this exhibit, attendees found a range of decorative surfaces and engineered wood substrates that can be used throughout any commercial interior. With these materials, you can:

• Choose your palette from the collections of dozens of suppliers
• Match those designs across a variety of materials with specific performance properties
• Select engineered wood substrates that meet your project’s sustainability, indoor air quality, building codes and other goals
• Ensure quality and design consistency from project to project
• Control your costs

For more information, please visit decorativesurfaces.org

Flakeboard Canada: TFM and Panels for Furniture and Interiors

Flakeboard is North America’s largest manufacturer of composite panels, producing a multi-faceted range of particleboard, MDF, thin HDF and TFM decorative panels.

Flakeboard’s panels are CARB Phase 2 and EPP certified, and can qualify for up to 5 LEED® points. Also available: fire-rated, moisture resistant, countertop, door core, and VESTA no added urea-formaldehyde resin panels.

Our finished panels are available in a variety of textures that uniquely enhance these designs.  As a finishing touch, our TFM designs are coordinated with 3D laminates, HPL and edgebanding.

Uses: Vertical and horizontal surfaces; cabinetry, furniture, shelving, wall panels.

Markets: Commercial, hospitality, retail, residential.

www.flakeboard.com, (800) 268-9830

Interprint: Décor Papers for Laminates

Décor paper printer Interprint tracks global furniture and interior design, and has selected a sampling of  woodgrains that show a variety of approaches to the straight grain and texture trends.

Arroyo Zebra (2022843 and 2022840) – classic quartered zebra with good natural color variation and interesting exotic pin stripe graining.

Straight Oak (2023047 and 2023040) – Rift cut white oak with brushed tick effect, a great color carrier with high fidelity.

Walk the Line (2023089 and 2023127) – Saw-cut texture on a planked oak grain provides a heavy texture effect with both horizontal and vertical interest.

Phase (2022790 and 2022802) – Organic abstract based on the outline of river rocks, a natural for the office and hospitality markets.

Uses: Designs for HPL, TFM and other decorative laminates.

Markets: Commercial, hospitality, retail, residential.

www.interprint.us

3 Dimensional Components, from JB Cutting

Our 3DL panels can be produced in virtually any color or wood grain finish imaginable, and are available in color and pattern matches to many HPL and TFM designs.

Fabricated with high-tech CNC equipment, we offer an unlimited variety of profiles and shapes; if you can design it, we can make it.

Our manufacturing recipe combines the best quality TFM products with the most modern decorative 3DL films in the industry. Our products are increasingly preferred and specified by renowned architects, selected for state-of-the-art healthcare facilities and demanded by world-leading retailers.

Uses: Vertical and horizontal surfaces.

Markets: Healthcare, commercial, hospitality, retail, residential.

www.jbcutting.com, (586) 468-4765

Móz Designs Architectural Metals offers multiple surface product categories

Móz Architectural Metals which are utilized as rigid building components are impact-resistant and available in .063” to 1/8” gauge Aluminum, Perforated, Corrugated or Stainless Steel (for greater durability).

Móz Laminate Metals are designed and applied as decorative feature elements offered in .040 gauge aluminum in standard sheet sizes: 4’x8’ and 4’x10’. Custom sizes are also available.

Uses: Columns, walls, elevators, ceilings, room dividers and new feature art.

Markets: Commercial, hospitality, retail, residential.

www.mozdesigns.com

surf(x)® 3D Laminates from OMNOVA

surf(x)® 3D Laminates, by OMNOVA Solutions, can be membrane-pressed or vacuum-formed to contoured surface profiles eliminating the need for edge banding, visible seams and special edge treatments. surf(x) 3D Laminates provide the highest level of durability for horizontal surfaces with industry leading impact, marring, abrasion  and stain resistance. A broad design selection includes solid colors, realistic wood grains and abstract patterns. OMNOVA’s EFX™ 3D Laminates offer the same functionality and performance in a non-PVC construction.

Uses: High-wear, horizontal applications; Alternative to High Pressure Laminate and Melamine surfaces; Thermoformable for seamless 3-dimensional surfaces.

Markets: Office furniture, healthcare furniture, hospitality.

www.omnova.com,  866.332.5226

RE-Y-STONE Sustainable Surfaces, from Resopal

"RE-Y-STONE", it consists entirely of regenerative raw materials. Recycled core and decorative papers are saturated in a natural resin from sugars-production waste and then pressed in a special manufacturing process to leave a homogeneous bio-composite board. The judging panel of the "interzum award: intelligent material & design 2011" rated it "Best of the Best.”

Once hardened, the bio-resin possesses the qualities of thermosetting plastic and, together with the natural fibres, forms a hard, highly stress-resistant, dimensionally stable board with a tough surface.

Uses: Horizontal and vertical surfaces, flooring.

Markets: Commercial, retail, residential.

www.resopal.de

Laminate Textures, from Sandvik

One of the world leaders in textures for laminates, Sandvik creates the press plates that give laminates the “touch response” that’s moving that category into a new realm of realism. Their “SteelArt” collection displays variations in gloss levels, a design feature which, in combination with the corresponding décor paper, delivers a surface finish of real sophistication and character.

Designs include Linear Wood, Saw-Cut, the worn feel of Manoa Stone, and the universal Synchro-Wood, which brings a realistic wood texture to a variety of printed woodgrain designs.

Uses: Realistic and abstract textures for laminates

Markets: Everywhere laminates are used.

www.sandvik.com/surfacesolutions

Schattdecor Decorative Papers: A Global Design Resource

Founded 25 years ago, Schattdecor is by far the world's largest and most productive décor printer, serving the timber products, furniture and laminate flooring industries from twelve production facilities all over the world, including two currently in construction. 

 The company maintains its own base paper and ink factories and full-process decor development facilities.  In 1998 it took up furniture foil production as a second business mainstay. 

In the meantime, Schattdecor has also entered the field of digital printing. This marks not only the increasing importance of the company’s main competency – décor design – but also its ability to remain at the forefront of innovation.

Uses: Designs for HPL, TFM and other decorative laminates.

Markets: Commercial, hospitality, retail, residential.

www.schattdecor.us

High-Gloss Acrylic Capped ABS Films, from Senoplast

Recyclable Senosan materials from Senoplast Klepsch & Co GmbH are made in a four-layer construction process for unique gloss levels and depth of colors.

Available in solid colors and various wood decors, these materials are produced by laminating a transparent acrylic film on a décor paper. The deep surface gloss depth provided by the acrylic with the high gloss level give wood décors in particular a brilliant and high-value appearance.

Uses: Vertical and some horizontal surfaces.

Markets: Retail, commercial, healthcare, residential.

www.senoplast.com, (201) 448 5462

Texture from SESA Spa, Milan

Texture adds the third dimension to graphic images. It adds an aesthetic qualification for reality, decorative superiority or simply visual or tactile comfort in decorative surfaces.

SESA designs textures in collaboration with graphic designers and their customers. SESA then produces the molds used to impart the texture to decorative laminates. 

We are committed to introducing the design communities to the enormous potential in graphic images combined with 3D textures. This is a new frontier for decorative surfaces in North America, already a reality in many parts of the world.

Uses: Realistic and abstract textures for laminates

Markets: Everywhere laminates are used.

www.sesaplates.com, (207) 310-8814

3D Laminates and High-Gloss Acrylic, from SSI

SSI North America is a distributor of high quality 3D laminates, acrylic sheets for decorative surfaces. Pentadecor® 3D laminates are available in various gauges for most interior vertical and interior applications. Select from vivid solids and life-like wood grains with a range of surface embossing including, deep grain structure, wood ticking, soft satin, and high gloss. Now available with Antimicrobial surface coating! 

StyleLite^®, and Zenolite^® are high gloss acrylic sheets that are 100 PVC free with incredibly vibrant solid colors. Both materials are perfect for flat panel wall and cabinetry applications.

Uses: Vertical and horizontal surfaces (Pentadecor); wallcoverings, casegoods (StyleLite and Zenolite)

Markets: Healthcare, commercial, hospitality, retail, residential.

www.ssinorthamerica.com

Textured TFM Panels, from Stevens Industries

Stevens Industries is the leader in Textured Thermofused Melamine panels, providing the latest designs and textures for the A&D community. We offer laminated panels, cut-to-size components and assembled cabinetry, all available with the highest Environmentally Green materials available today.

Textured TFM with unlimited décor choices is the latest in European design trend, and provides the highest wear characteristics available today. All core materials are 100% recycled materials and only from FSC suppliers, meeting any level of sustainability desired, from CARB II to FSC NAUF (no added urea formaldehyde).

Uses: Vertical and horizontal surfaces.

Markets: Hospitality, kitchen and bath, office, store fixtures, educational, recreational, healthcare. 

www.stevensind.com, (217) 540-3100

Süddekor Decorative Papers:  Adventures in Authenticity

“Adventures in Authenticity” ties a diverse range of styles together that compliment any décor, be it rustic, traditional, or contemporary.  Using a very market specific philosophy, a selection of artwork and natural materials has been translated into unmatched print material for the Süddekor 2011 design portfolio. 

These designs not only reflect the beauty and tones of the earth, but also preserve it by using authentic sources as the inspiration for sustainable, durable laminates.

Süddekor LLC supplies decorative surfacing solutions to the North American laminate industry, and is the only company to offer North American laminate manufacturers a complete service, from design through to printing and treating.

Uses: Designs for HPL, TFM and other decorative laminates.

Markets: Commercial, hospitality, retail, residential.

www.suddekorllc.com

Tafisa’s Thermofused Melamine (TFM) Decorative Panels

Tafisa’s TFM designs feature the most beautiful, true-to-life, natural woodgrains allowing economical and environmentally harmonious solutions to any project.

Offered in a wide range of dimensions, Tafisa’s decorative panels consist of a particleboard core made from 100% recycled and recovered wood fiber, ensuring compliance with the strictest environmental standards:  FSC, CARB (Phase 2), LEED (up to 6 credits), SCS and EPP approved.  As shown, MDF may also be used as a core option.

Uses: Vertical and horizontal surfaces; cabinetry, furniture, shelving, wall panels.

Markets: Commercial, office, retail, residential, healthcare, residential/closet systems.

www.tafisa.ca

Wilsonart Contract's New 2011 Designs  

With a nod to the client who demands the most durable, high-performance yet trend-forward products for their interior space, Wilsonart Contract Laminate has unveiled 27 new designs. The new designs offer myriad design solutions, featuring a portfolio inspired by rustic, classical and industrial influences that brings a chic accent to any interior.

Uses: Horizontal and vertical surfaces.

Markets: Commercial, office, retail, healthcare, hospitality.

www.wilsonartcontract.com

Companies featured in the curated section of the Pavilion:

Unique amongst the major international fairs, the Italian exhibition isn’t afraid to mix commercial and residential furniture. Indeed, as the lines between work and home continue to blur, it seems the differences between the design and materials found in these once-very-different markets are fading fast. Manufacturers sell to both markets; most designers work in both markets; consumers live in both places. Why force everyone to run from one exhibition to another to make sure they’re seeing everything?

My photo essay of i Saloni is captures the readiness of Italian furniture designers to move their markets firmly toward the future, by helping, or even forcing, them to take an honest look at evolving materials and their excellent applications.

I’ll lead off with designer Lorenzo Damiani’s New Life Installation, an impressive focal point of the conceptual design show-within-a-show, Salon Satellite. It was a house-sized construct of composite wood, shown as panels, bowls, flasks, vessels and furniture.  

Damiano’s message: “Demonstrating the worth of ‘worthless’ materials in alternative ways, with the aim of protecting resources.”

In his own words: “Using resources and materials responsibly, striving to give dignity to materials normally perceived as worthless. Proposing alternative uses of existing materials: this is the challenge of today, and above all, tomorrow.

“This is why I chose to use pressboard [composite wood panels] in a different way. In the future, the distinction between valuable and less valuable materials will disappear, because they will ALL be valuable. Why not get ready now?”

Texture, accent and detail

Working from the same playbook, a representative from the first office furniture exhibitor I visited had an equally earnest message: “You’re a journalist? You have to help us show people how much TFM surfaces have improved, and how well we use it in high-quality furniture! People still have old ideas about laminates.”

The woodgrain textures were indeed impressive, with realistic grain ticking and a silky wood finish. It’s important to note that a great surface like this won’t stand on its own; the piece’s design and quality execution is also critical to convey the message, “This is first-class furniture.” In this case, higher value is built with metal worktop edges and corners (purely decorative), textured woodgrain TFM even on the insides of cabinet doors, and paper-foil wrapped contours on the underside of worktops.

Horizontal-grain textured edges

Using a heavy linear woodgrain TFM panel on full-height cabinet doors adds extra visual interest, and continuing the grain orientation with matching edgeband on the door edges is truly a standout execution.

Double edges, great woodgrain

A creamy white edgeband, topped with a second edge of textured matching woodgrain nicely defines these pieces, and actually draws more attention to the texture detail on the tops, doors and edges.

Combinations working together

A flexible 2-D woodgrain-textured laminate on the worktop and end panel is complemented by an extremely well-executed panel edge done in paper foil.

Warmth and realism for the home

This residential collection, again TFM, is further testimony that a strong woodgrain on well-designed furniture raises its value exponentially.

Patterns and touch inspired by fabric  

Driving home the point that furniture is fashion, a TFM surface whose design and texture matches fashionable clothing. This manufacturer uses façade or surface texture (“Facciate Struttura”) as major selling point for its furniture.

Design Students Remap Material Genome

At team of students from FH-Aachen created "MaindMap," a standing/hanging puzzle entirely from compact laminate, one of the standout concepts in the Salon Satellite section of the show. Pictured, students Margarete Kainka and Daniela Eckert.

Visitors said they appreciated being able to peruse such a large number of samples in one space, and to be able to ask questions in a non-sales environment.

The Pavilion's success was made possible with the help of THINK:Material, and the generous support of GlobalShop show management.

Please scroll down for more information, images of the Pavilion's sponsored displays, and links to each of our sponsors.

We look forward to seeing you in the Pavilion at NeoCon!

Coveright: Papers and Design for TFM Panels

Coveright is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of surfacing materials for decorative, flooring and technical applications in the woodworking, furniture, flooring and automotive industries.

To meet your requirements from design to delivery, we offer an extensive range of high quality TFM (thermally fused melamine) products and solutions, broad production and distribution capabilities and customer support.

Coveright produces millions of square meters of surfacing materials each year, which are sold worldwide. So when you choose Coveright for your TFM needs you know your decision is right.

For more information, visit www.coveright.com

Composite Panel Association: Decorative Surfaces, Sustainable Design

Balancing design, durability, sustainability and cost is no easy task.

In this exhibit, attendees found a range of decorative surfaces and engineered wood substrates that can be used throughout any commercial interior. With these materials, you can:

• Choose your palette from the collections of dozens of suppliers
• Match those designs across a variety of materials with specific performance properties
• Select engineered wood substrates that meet your project’s sustainability, indoor air quality, building codes and other goals
• Ensure quality and design consistency from project to project
• Control your costs

For more information, please visit decorativesurfaces.org

Flakeboard Canada: TFM and Panels for Furniture and Interiors

Flakeboard is North America’s largest manufacturer of composite panels,  producing a multi-faceted range of particleboard, MDF, thin HDF and TFM decorative panels.

Flakeboard’s panels are CARB Phase 2 and EPP certified, and can qualify for up to 5 LEED® points. Also available: fire-rated, moisture resistant, countertop, door core, and VESTA no added urea-formaldehyde resin panels.

As design trends continue in a contemporary, natural direction, there is a fresh appreciation for casual woods, particularly natural heart-and-sapwood lumber and veneer. Straight grain woods and exotics continue to be strong; species are trending towards walnuts and pore-filled oaks.

Our finished panels are available in a variety of textures that unique ly enhance these designs.  As a finishing touch, our TFM designs are coordinated with 3D Laminates, HPL and edgebanding.

For more information, visit www.flakeboard.com.

Interzum: The World’s Largest Furniture Materials Fair

Interzum, organized by Koelnmesse in Germany, is the world’s largest industry event for specifiers for furniture and interior design.

Interzum takes place every other year; the next event is scheduled for May 25-28, 2011 in Cologne, Germany.

As a leading international trade fair, Interzum cologne is a mainstay of the professional world's calendar of events and has established itself as a magnet for the industry. Thirteen hundred  international exhibitors  from 63 countries and 47,000 attendees from 130 countries are expected to attend Interzum 2011, which will use 1.4 million sq ft of floor space.

Since 2009,  “Innovation of the Interior” exhibits and programs have drawn an increasing number of international architects and interior designers.

For more information, visit www.interzum.com.

JB Cutting: 3DL Decorative Components and Panels

JB Cutting is a full-service three-dimensional laminated components manufacturer with a rich 40-year history of supplying high quality components at an industry leading pace.

Our 3DL panels can be produced in virtually any color or wood grain finish imaginable, and are available in color and pattern matches to many HPL and TFM designs.

Fabricated with high-tech CNC equipment, we offer an unlimited variety of profiles and shapes; if you can design it, we can make it.

Our manufacturing recipe combines the best quality TFM products with the most modern decorative 3DL films in the industry. Our products are increasingly preferred and specified by renowned architects, selected for state-of-the-art healthcare facilities and demanded by world-leading retailers.

For more information, visit www.jbcutting.com.

KML: TFM Panels for Furniture and Interiors

Our TFM panels and components offer some inspiring possibilities for creating attractive and highly durable fixtures, cabinetry, custom closets, shelving, furnishings, and more. It's why architects, specifiers and manufacturers continue to count on the expertise of KML for quality panel components and construction.

Choose from nearly 70 popular designs and colors from the industry's top suppliers. Select matte, smooth, satin and wood surface textures, and complement or match virtually any other surface design.

KML is proud to be certified in accordance to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for our vigilant use of natural resources and our commitment to preserving a healthy environment. We are committed to manufacturing responsibly by using 100% pre-consumer recycled wood fiber. We stock core that has no added urea formaldehyde resins, and many of our products earn LEED® project points.

For more information, visit www.kmlcorp.com.

Schattdecor Decorative Papers: A Global Design Resource

Founded 25 years ago, Schattdecor is by far the world's largest and most productive décor printer, serving the timber products, furniture and laminate flooring industries from twelve production facilities all over the world, including two currently in construction. 

The company maintains its own base paper and ink factories and full-process decor development facilities.  In 1998 it took up foil production as a second business mainstay. 

In the meantime, Schattdecor has also entered the field of digital printing. This marks not only the increasing importance of the company’s main competency – décor design – but also its ability to remain at the forefront of innovation.

For more information, visit www.schattdecor.us.

Süddekor Decorative Papers: Adventures in Authenticity

“Adventures in Authenticity” ties  a diverse range of styles together that  complement any décor, be it rustic, traditional, or contemporary.  These designs not only reflect the beauty of the earth and its historic architecture, but also preserve it, by using authentic wood sources as the inspiration for sustainable, durable laminates.

Today’s trends point toward elegance paired with good value.  Bamboo, reclaimed and engineered woods are gaining popularity due to increased environmental awareness as well as their ability to blend into many different design schemes. There is also a return to the traditional form of oak, maple, hickory, walnut and cherry, but with added character.  The look is organic, inspiring, familiar and relaxing.

Süddekor LLC supplies decorative surfacing solutions to the North American laminate industry, and is the only company to offer North American laminate manufacturers a complete design service, from design through to printing and treating.

For more information, visit www.suddekorllc.com.

Uniboard Canada: TFM and Panels for Furniture and Interiors

Uniboard TFM has long been a leading choice for architects, designers, builders and manufacturers.

Perfect for corporate, retail, residential and institutional applications, our high quality melamine panels are available in our extensive collection of colors, ranging from cool and neutral wood grains to exotic and linear designs. Our collection includes more than 90 design-inspiring colors and 7 surface finish options, including Bistro – a modern, linear woodgrain finish that accentuates the look and feel of real wood..

NU Green® 2 particleboard and MDF cores have no added urea formaldehyde (NAUF), and are made using 100% pre-consumer recycled or recovered wood fiber, which saves trees and avoids landfill.

The NU Green® zero NAUF particleboard core – the most environmentally friendly solution on the market – is FSC and EPP certified.

For more information, visit www.uniboard.com.

The first thing kids see when they’re brought in is the reception area, in soft, festive colors, anchored by circular desk, and framed in flowing lines. To the right is the intake, or transition room – it’s every kid’s fantasy playroom, filled with toys, a life-size tree with a fort in its trunk, video games, books and a TV. Further down the hall there’s a complete medical exam room, and behind the reception area is a large dining hall with a large mural. This main building also houses classrooms and administrative and staff offices. Bedrooms are distributed throughout five other buildings on the 5-acre property.

“A Kid’s Place has to be a comforting environment because a lot of these children come from abusive situations, and their behavior can be unpredictable,” says Mary Currie, whose firm, Edge Architecture, designed the facility, largely on donated time. “They might be hyperactive, rambunctious, or even violent.”

Currie, a licensed interior designer in Florida, had a few basic requirements for the materials used to create the space: they had to be extremely durable, easy to clean, and available in great, kid-friendly colors and designs.

“After touring other facilities for abused kids we found that the materials used were not adequate, and looked very bad after just a couple of months of wear. Many of the fixture and furniture surfaces were painted, which just doesn’t cut it in an environment like this.”

The search for more durable surfaces in great colors and designs led Currie to Wilsonart Laminates.

“Wilsonart’s colors and textures are very appealing, and they always seem to have a great variety,” says Currie. “We also get a sense of comfort because the company has been around so long, and have always had great service.

“We wanted this space to have nice colors and visual textures of different scales, combined for a good sense of balance. We started with primary colors and expanded on that theme, to soft oranges, purples and greens, all calming colors – nothing too intense that might make kids more excited. These are colors they can relate to, and combined help create a space that’s both soothing and engaging.”

Beginning with the reception area, flowing lines run from the reception desk to the walls to the ceiling, with white tiles revealed like clouds through a green forest canopy opposite an earth-brown floor.

“The transition room is a little cozier and more calming with browns and greens,” says Currie. “The tree signifies a family tree, because all kids need to have family. This is the first place the kids go, where they’re assigned a counselor or an intake person. It’s where counselors talk to and observe the children.

“From there a lot of them need a physical exam. Rather than move them again, adding to the trauma, there’s an exam room and treatment room right down the hall. It’s done in blues and browns which, again, are very calming.”

These themes and materials are echoed throughout the facility’s administrative, educational, and residential areas.

“Our client is very happy because it’s been over a year now, and word continues to come back that it still looks like it’s brand new,” says Currie. “That’s what we were going for, a space that’s very durable enough and engaging for the kids. Working with laminates also helped keep us easily within the tight budget of a not-for-profit operation like this.”

Edge Architecture normally specializes in corporate headquarters, medical labs and office buildings, office environments and retail spaces. Currie says Wilsonart figures heavily in many of their projects.

“Great colors and patterns aside, we like working with Wilsonart because of their service,” says Currie. “We will not spec’ materials for projects if the supplier hasn’t visited our office. If they’ve taken the time to meet with us, then we know we’re going to get good customer service.”

The firm prides itself on using the latest in technology and materials in its projects, and using them in harmony with their clients’ goals.

“When we do both the building and the interior  design we like to bring the outside inside, so we usually take one or more of the elements you see outside and we take it inside, so you can recognize the lines, shape, color scheme, sometimes even the same materials. For instance, in the Promutuel Insurance Building in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, the front counter has basically the same shape as the main entrance canopy.”

The materials themselves played an important role in delivering a cozy, classic interior with just a touch of modernity for the owners of the Hotel Le St-Martin in Bromont. Bromont is about an hour east of Montreal and is an outdoor recreational paradise for those wanting to escape its bustle and congestion, with downhill and cross-country skiing, horseback riding, hiking, golfing, mountain biking and other fresh-air pursuits. The Le St-Martin also caters to international business groups and meetings, so the décor must also balance its rustic setting with a certain amount of elegance.

“They wanted something conservative, but with a newer color scheme,” says Courteau. “The brown color of the TFM panels and mouldings is actually a modern trend, especially when mixed with white, but the panel layout and the shapes of the mouldings are more conservative, more traditional. So it’s a nice mix of classic and modern, right down to the other elements in the lobby, like the lighting and the plants.”

Tafisa was chosen as the TFM supplier, mainly because of the high quality, realism and richness of color of their woodgrain patterns. In this case the pattern used on wall panels throughout the lobby, conference room, breakfast/lounge area, as well as in the cabinetry in the rooms and on the fireplace mantles, is Tafisa’s L-444, “Chocolate Pear Tree,” a gentle pearwood in a luxurious warm brown.

Mated with mouldings profile-wrapped with matching decorative papers, the TFM panels create exactly the kind of elegant décor that fits the owner’s vision.

“We use Tafisa materials in each and every project, because the woodgrain is so real,” says Courteau. “Their surface finishes allow the woodgrain design to show through like a photograph; they look very good, very realistic. And the overall quality of the product is so good that the “They tell us, ‘If you can use Tafisa, please do, we never have problems with it.’  And for us, it’s always available – we can always get what we want from stock.

“In commercial projects, TFM is a stronger material than wood, easier to maintain and clean, so we’ve never had any clients ask why we don’t use ‘real wood.’ It’s also much cheaper, and the price makes the difference in commercial work.

“We use it everywhere, for cabinets, work tops, banquets. We love it! I’ve worked at other design firms, and many still don’t know what a durable great decorative product TFM is. I’m surprised, but there are still many designers specifying materials that cost more and don’t perform nearly as well in commercial projects.”

“The effect of the design using  Tafisa’s panels is fabulous,” says Jocelyne Desourdy, owner of the Le St-Martin Bromont. “The reaction from our guests is really great; they feel right at home, and they like the color and feel of all the wood. It’s really very homey and cozy, and they feel like they’re being treated special. Which, of course, they are!”

Architects, designers, and design students at IIDEX (Canada’s NeoCon) were hungry for information and inspiration, and the Material Intelligence Materials Pavilion delivered.

The Pavilion’s sponsored collection of TFM, 3-D laminates, HPL, veneers, and samples of texture and design concepts inspired IIDEX attendees to linger, learn, and chat. Solutions to many of the challenges they face, and ideas they have for taking their designs farther, hinge on smart use of materials.

“So many of the specifiers we talk to at these events are frustrated because they feel like their materials options are too limited,” says Kenn Busch, founder of Material Intelligence. “They say they can’t get the performance they need from materials with the designs they want, that the quality of some materials is too inconsistent from job to job…or they just can’t get the look they want within their clients’ budgets.

“When they see the materials in our Pavilion, it’s like they’re seeing laminates for the first time. They’re not expecting the range and quality of designs and woodgrains, and the great textures available now are a big surprise to them.”

The ability to get exact matches on several different types of surfaces is also news to designers, says Busch.

“While ‘value engineering’ has become a bit tired as a buzzword, it’s still a harsh reality for A&D specifiers. Being able to get cabinets and doors in TFM and 3DL that match the HPL on a transaction counter, for instance, can save a ton of money while getting exactly the design and durability they want on each surface. It’s truly a win-win-win.”

In addition to the Pavilion, Busch presented a CEU seminar during IIDEX, “Value Engineering Decorative Surfaces Without Compromise.”

The Materials Pavilion debuted at NeoCon Chicago last June. Organizers say they intend for it to become a regular fixture at major design shows across North America.

A&D specifiers say they're looking for relevant, current information on new materials that can help solve their design, durability, budget and environmental challenges.

While the old Material Intelligence site offered great background on many different materials and examples of their use, it wasn’t all that easy to search for specific types of projects, or uses of certain materials in those markets.

The new site offers this kind of functionality, and much more. We invite you to explore our content, and return often for updates...heck, we’d even love to work with you on feature stories!

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas.

The six–story, $55 million project, bolstered by a $10 million gift from Madison–based American Family Insurance, is a pediatric teaching hospital linked by a walking bridge and a service tunnel to the main UW hospital. But despite their physical proximity, the Children’s Hospital is a different world than the main facility, which opened in 1979.

“We’ve always had a children’s unit, but it was a hospital within a hospital, which is typical of most university hospitals,” says the UW Hospital’s internal architect Ardis Hutchins, AIA, IIDA, AAHID. “We decided that we really wanted to reflect more of the children’s own identity. We were also tight for space in the main building, so by moving them out we created more space for the adult population. It was a win–win.

“It was important to be linked to the main hospital so we didn’t have to duplicate services. It is also more convenient because we are a very busy teaching hospital, and the link makes it more convenient for the students and the faculty.”

Hutchins says the new project has benefited greatly from the university’s experience making incremental improvements to its existing facilities.

“I saw this as a real opportunity to take some of the lessons that we’ve learned from our main hospital and incorporate them into a new facility. This is the first time in over 35 years we’ve done any major new construction in the inpatient areas. There is always remodeling going on, but you have to deal with constraints, so starting fresh with new construction has really been wonderful.”

Design for the project was a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics and the Omaha architecture and engineering firm HDR. Most of the interior design was driven by Hutchins.

Creature Comforts for Families and Staff

“There were some important guiding principles for us as we approached this project,” says David Berry, vice president of the children’s hospital. “We wanted a facility distinctly for kids and families that was unique, not embedded in another hospital. We wanted larger private patient rooms, 300 sq. ft., up from 120 to 150 sq. ft.; we wanted an enhanced and better outpatient facility; and we wanted to grow to a facility with 80 beds.

“Our goal is to deliver family–centric care. We already offered excellent care, but what we didn’t have was a really good space in which to deliver it. The current hospital was designed in the 1970s, before family–centric care was even a concept. Family–centric care refers to creating spaces that are more comfortable with homelike qualities, and allowing choices for families – they can stay in the room and sleep on a sleeper sofa bed, the siblings can stay in the room or in sibling care area, they can entertain guests in the rooms or in a central living room area, and they can cook and eat together in a kitchen and dining room.

“It’s about providing homelike characteristics, but at a more fundamental level it’s about providing choices for families,” says Berry. “In most hospitals their choices are stripped away – what they eat, what they’re going to do when. So what we attempted to do was identify a way to return control and a sense of hominess.

“A children’s hospital has to create a space that’s childlike and whimsical without being childish. The finishes, the design, and the theming all has to convey a sense of wonder and whimsy, but not so much as to offend patients that are older, 16 or 17 years old, who don’t want to be in a world of trademarked rodents.”

Patient rooms are laid out in three specific zones, for the patient, the family, and the caregivers. Berry and Hutchins worked with patients and their families, people who would be “living” in the space, to find out what amenities and elements would make them the most comfortable. They also talked to child–life specialists, professionals who work with sick children to help create a sense of normalcy, distraction and play. And of course, caregivers were consulted as well.

“We agreed we wouldn’t change the space based on someone else’s feedback unless we went back to the ‘owners’ of the space, the patients and their families, for their approval,” says Berry. “Here’s a good example of how this project worked: many non ‘owners’ were convinced that the patients and their families would want refrigerators in their rooms, but in a focus group what they said they really wanted was storage. Kids travel with stuff, so a little nightstand next the bed made sense. Families travel with stuff, so we designed a bank of cabinets in the family zone.”

“In the patient rooms, the lengths of stay can be quite long,” says Hutchins. “We have a cancer center with some very sick children who may stay months and often come back for different surgeries, so families actually ‘live’ at the hospital. We wanted to be sure to have plenty of storage for them, so we put a lot of thought into the design of the cabinetry.

“The sofa bed was going to be right up against half of the cabinet, so we created an opening from the hanging closet side big enough to slide a suitcase into. That way we’re not wasting that space. There’s a drawer with a digital locking safe for personal possessions, the clothes hangar bar extends out, there’s a computer desk area…families can even check out laptop computers and use our wireless network.”

Hutchins and her colleagues have taken lessons learned and turned them into functioning, ergonomic solutions in the new hospital. One of the realities of the healthcare world is that the nurse population is getting older, with a median age in the mid 40s. And because nursing is physical and stressful work, designing facilities and fixtures that improve their efficiency makes common sense.

A common goal in designing medical facilities is to keep the distance between a nurse’s major duties to within 80 footsteps. Nurse servers – innovative wall cabinets that allow access from both the corridors and patient rooms – are a concept pioneered at the UW Hospital that help reduce the amount of walking nurses must do in their daily responsibilities.

“They store all the medical supplies that the caregivers will need,” says Hutchins. “They also hold clean linens, gowns, towels, washcloths and those kinds of things. In addition, they have an area for soiled linens and a soiled utility tray for anything that might need to be autoclaved or sterilized between each use.

“There are doors on each side with drawers that open in both directions. They are stocked from the corridor and accessed from the inside of room, which saves time and steps for the nurses and supply personnel. It also limits the number of people who need to go inside the patient room.

“We used the two–way drawers because of what we learned in the main hospital. There they used Tupperware bins on shelves that could be stocked from the corridor and pulled from inside the rooms, but our ergonomics team decided that the repetitive motion of lifting and replacing the bins was not healthy for the nurses.

“There’s also a pull–out work surface in the new nurse servers, not unlike a kitchen cutting board, which the caregivers can use to prepare meds or make chart notations. There’s a focused LED light in the ceiling right above it for when the room is dark and the patient is resting.”

The nurse server design was modified for ICU rooms. Instead of having built-in drawers, a rolling cart of drawers was specified so caregivers are able to roll the cart from a bay in the two-way cabinet to right beside the bed.

“We have rooms we can use as isolation rooms throughout the hospital, which requires special nurse server supplies. We roll the soiled linen cart into the room and bring in another cart stocked with isolation supplies – gowns, masks, cleaning sprays. This makes it easy if a room needs to be changed over to isolation. All they have to do is tell central supply to bring up the correct cart.”

Smoke–seal weather stripping on the corridor–access doors and rubber bumpers on the patient–side doors keep ambient and operational noise to a minimum.

Consultative Cabinet Design

To create the nurse servers and the patient room storage cabinetry, Hutchins and her team collaborated with Techline USA, a high–tech manufacturer of furniture and fixtures to the medical industry. Techline also supplied cabinetry for nurse’s stations, administrative areas and exam rooms throughout the hospital.

“The people at Techline have been wonderful to work with,” says Hutchins. “Their whole history has been working in the medical field. They’re used to having clients who are interested in the details because they know how important functionality and durability are in a hospital setting. When we ask for multiple mockups, or for them to redo something, they’re absolutely cooperative.

“They also bring so much knowledge to a project because they’ve helped solve so many problems on other projects throughout the years. They’re the ones who showed us what to use to keep our nurse’s station shelves from bowing under the weight of reference books and binders – thicker shelves were already their construction standard.

“We love the edgebanding on all their casework, even on the inside of the cut–out panel for the suitcase cubbyhole. It really adds to the durability and longevity of the cabinets, not to mention to the finished look. They can do this because they have a very high–tech plant, which we’ve visited. Their quality is just exceptional, and they have a great knowledge base to pull from.”

“We base everything we do with an eye toward sustainable design and cost of ownership,” says Paul Duren, VP and general manager of Techline USA. “People want a product that’s going to last longer than anything else in that room. They’re going to replace the carpet or the vinyl, they’re going to move things around, but our cabinets are going to last.

“That’s important because they don’t want to install a product that will need to be replaced in five or 10 years because the edging falls off, or because it can’t be moved and reinstalled elsewhere because it was designed just for that room. This is an expense that won’t have to be incurred again in 10 or 15 years, which saves our clients money and is good for the environment.”

Nearly all of Techline’s cabinet components are fabricated from thermally fused melamine (TFM) panels, which are 45–lb density particleboard sheets with woodgrain design melamine laminates thermally fused to the surfaces. Most of the casework in the American Family Children’s Hospital is Kensington Maple; some cabinets are also in American Cherry. Duren estimates that Techline has done 3,000 to 4,000 medical industry projects over the years.

“We’re AWI certified, so all of our work meets or exceeds that spec’ in terms of board quality and thicknesses,” says Duren. “One thing we know all too well from working for so long in this industry is that standard casework doesn’t fit into the footprint of patient rooms. You have to consider wheelchair access, patient bed dimensions, the visitors that have to be accommodated and the way the caregivers need to do their jobs. It’s all custom furniture.

“Our manufacturing line is one of the most advanced systems available, built by the German manufacturer Homag. We’re able to maintain tolerances of 0.2mm throughout our plant, and with the use of manufacturing software and CNC machining centers we get the highest possible yield from our materials, which minimizes waste and gives our customers the highest possible value. We can efficiently produce pieces in single–digit batches; our line automatically sets itself up for different dimensions in 30 seconds or less.

“The particleboard and TFM we use meets our demands for consistency of thickness, density and structural stability, and the TFM laminate surfaces can stand up to the heavy use and cleaning they get in a hospital setting. There’s really no other material that offers anything close to this kind of value for our clients.

“Cabinetry can be vulnerable at its edges and corners in such high–use applications, which is why we pay a lot of attention to the quality of our edgebanding. We use 1.4 mm PVC edges on most of our panels, applied with hotmelt glues under very stringent temperature controls. Although we’re able to apply any thickness, we’ve found over the years that the 1.4 mm is highly durable without being wasteful, and it will stay on for the life of the product.”

“There is also very little waste in the processing of our particleboard and TFM panels,” says George Polnow, VP of sales. “The 5’ x 12’ panels we purchase give us the highest yield in our manufacturing plant, which lets us provide the best value-engineered solutions for jobs the size of the Children’s Hospital. All told, we delivered over 4,000 cabinets for that project.

“We also try to always take a step beyond what other suppliers might offer. We seal all four edges of our adjustable shelves and the edges on the backs of our cabinets with edgebanding. A lot of companies won’t do that. We know that cabinets are going to be repurposed over their lifespan, pulled off the walls and reinstalled somewhere else, and if those back edges aren’t sealed they can break and chip.”

“Sealing all surfaces of the particleboard also minimizes any formaldehyde off–gassing, for anyone who is still concerned about that,” says Duren. “I’ve found that most designers understand that the levels of formaldehyde in particleboard are lower than other materials they work with, especially carpeting. But for those who want it, we can now specify particleboard without added formaldehyde from most of our suppliers.”

Techline’s connections helped them locate a tambour door for cabinets designed to conceal the array of gases and gauges at the head of each bed.

“We wanted to hide the gases from the children, who can get stressed when they see all that apparatus hanging there,” says Berry. “Kids will pick up on these things; hiding them keeps the room more home–like.”

“We have the same gases on each side of the bed,” explains Hutchins. “The vertical tambour doors are our own design. In the main hospital they were installed horizontally, but we didn’t have enough clearance in this area to install them that way. Caregivers don’t like hinged doors because they want to keep that space clear and open, they don’t want to contend with any obstructions.”

The collaboration with Techline led to other innovative solutions as well. Overhead cabinet doors have an extra inch of drop, eliminating the need for pulls. On the corridor side of the nurse servers special door pulls lock nearly flush with the doors, thus avoiding damage by beds and carts as they’re rolled through the halls. Computer–based charting workstations made from HPL and TFM are positioned between patient rooms to lower traffic. And Techline suggested hinge substitutions that improved durability, allowed for an extended warranty and resulted in significant cost savings.

Techline also supplied the high pressure laminate (HPL) and particleboard work surfaces in the nurse’s stations, but the millwork there and the accent lighting in the patient rooms – mirrors and headboards – were fabricated by Carley Wood Associates.

“We used matching laminates over particleboard cores for the patient–room lighting fixtures,” says Robin Carley, owner and project manager. “We were able to create the curvilinear pieces on our CNC router, and the cut–out designs with our pin router. This was a great project to be involved with.”

“We selected our materials very carefully, working with the architects and our internal maintenance and housekeeping people,” says Berry. “Everything meets our standards for durability, cleanability, as well as healthcare standards and codes. It also helps us create a sense of warmth and a homelike setting. Nothing in the rulebooks says a hospital has to be ugly white and institutional green. We wanted materials that families can relate to, that they would find in their own homes.”