Features

Helping Customers Keep Their Promises

They say that successful investing is about managing risk, not avoiding it. And for Laminate Works, investing in high-quality solutions has been worth the risk.

From flooring to furniture

Based in Gaildorf-Broeckingen, Germany, the BMK Group is one of the world’s leading suppliers of surface-coated and impregnated films. BMK recently partnered with PurChem Systems of Canada to offer an innovative single-layer decor, SilentTouch, featuring an anti-fingerprint, soft-touch surface. To learn more about BMK, SilentTouch and the company’s plans for North America, Surface & Panel posed a series of questions to Dr. Stefan Woerl, head of R&D and quality assurance at BMK, and Robert Clausi, president of PurChem.

A Strong European Influence on Door Manufacturing

European influence in North American kitchen and furniture design is more evident today than ever before. We’ve seen significant innovation in production processes, equipment, management software and more notably, easily available surface designs and textures. The availability of unique surfaces and finishes is vast and complicated; today we deep dive into what’s driving the adoption of European products and the roles we play to embrace innovation and change in the North American market.

Mile High Engagement

The panel processing industry converged on the Mile High City of Denver, Colorado in October for another successful Material Technology & Design Symposium. Held at the beautiful Grand Hyatt located downtown, the event was highlighted by a powerhouse panel featuring some of the largest furniture manufacturers in the world discussing what they are seeing in the industry in the coming years. The stage was set for panelists Kevin Sauder president of Sauder Woodworking; Michael Pitman, senior VP of sales at Ashley Furniture; Mike Evans, president & CEO of Bush Industries; and Arash Fasihi, founder of Cymax and CEO of Growthpipe Ventures, who discussed education on the future.

Enabling Collaboration

If you were to pick one word to describe what’s happening in the most progressive and productive work places today, it’s collaboration.

Steelcase is all over it.

With its Flex Collection, Steelcase offers an office furniture line that “creates dynamic team neighborhoods that are designed for spontaneity.”

“It empowers teams to reconfigure their space on demand, making it easy to shift from a brainstorm to a workshop or from a daily stand-up to a sprint review,” Steelcase says.

Right Place, Right Time

Dave Keck likes to simplify things when he talks about his business, Komponents Laminated Products, which makes casegoods, furniture and components in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin.

“At the end of the day,” Keck said during a recent interview, “we make laminated rectangles.”

“Some of them are tabletops. Some of them get built into cabinets. Some of them are store fixtures. To us, they are all just laminated panels.”

Exceptional Design in an Unexpected Place

Ironwood Manufacturing has developed a breakthrough interior furnishing. Rich and elegant, its components embody unique intellectual property designs, incorporating customized Italian technology for edgebanding and boring, all driven by a European design application not widely used in the U.S.

Tom Deady, general manager at Ironwood, describes one project, constructed for a large aerospace company. “It was intended to match the aesthetic of its private corporate jets,” says Deady. “The Etimoe veneer originated in North Africa, was fumed in Spain, then processed through Danzer Veneer in Indiana. The doorlites are from 3form, and encapsulate silk strands hand-woven in Nepal, between two layers of acrylic.”

3DL Surfacing Helps Walmart Break into Healthcare

Walmart recently opened its first health center in Dallas, Ga., taking its “Save money. Live Better” motto to the health care industry. The company is partnering with local providers and wellness organizations to offer affordable healthcare and transparent pricing for key health services. Patients will have access to primary care, labs, X-ray and EKG, nutritional services, counseling, and health insurance education and enrollment, regardless of their insurance status. The health center will also offer an array of learning resources including online education and in-center workshops to educate the community about preventative health and wellness.

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