Looking at high pressure laminates this decade
The ESD Environmental Sustainable Design Influence came into play significantly so new materials became very important so Low Voc, Formaldehyde Emissions and all indoor air quality factors were or are prevalent, so paint grade doors have been scrutinised to be low VOC.
I noticed that there were more up market private schools using HPL on entry doors as they were able to achieve thematic colour schemes in their School Colours or make them more appealing and created an intended friendly environment with also a hard surface entirely cleanable.
This was great, I thought. I was always thinking, Wow! Everyone could be using this if we could make it more affordable because its such great material in a fit for purpose nature and aesthetically.
In a company, I previously worked for, I won some specifications for Hospital usage for HPL on entry doors, this was always a bit of a bore for the designers as only a few decors could be produced in Chemical Resistant Grade which was needed and also the sheet sizes still weren’t good for Optimisation there was too much wastage.
But the European Brands such as Lamicolor and Duropal had it all sheet size optimisation, that could have saved some projects hundreds of thousands, Chemical Resistance, Group 1 Fire ratings and Anti Bacterial Certification.
Over the last 10 Years Laminate Innovations Trading as Lamicolor has grown in the Australian market.
I am now employed by Lamicolor Duropal, a very conscious move on my part as I know this company has the right products for the market. Their suppliers Lamicolor and Duropal are Big in Europe and the European Market is so big, thus enabling them to invest and develop products leading the decorative surfaces industry, properly, producing products that the world needs.
