| Product Design and Development |
The Formica Group has a long history of innovation in products and in design, a tradition which continues to shape our philosophy to this day.
We work closely with leading designers, manufacturers and forecasting bodies. This enables us to develop new products and designs in response to current customer demands, and to meet contemporary and future trends.
Our Fabrication Support Unit develops new techniques and approaches in the fabrication and installation of Formica® products by maintaining close ties with manufacturers of processing equipment, with suppliers of adhesives, and with the providers of our raw materials.
We also inform and inspire existing and new users of our products through initiatives such as design competitions and sponsorships. These provide a rich source of new ideas to drive our creative development.
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| The Product Offer from The Formica Group |
The Formica Group is a leading manufacturer of decorative high pressure laminate and surfacing materials.
Our product offer is comprehensive, varied and of exceptional quality.
High-quality Formica® laminate is among the most versatile of surfacing materials, providing an unbeatable low maintenance, durable and dependable surface that will continue to look good for years. It has potential for a huge variety of applications - such as worktops, wall linings, doors, cubicles and lockers - in many contexts, whether in the home, at work, in shops and offices, in private places or in public spaces.
This familiar high pressure laminate is constructed from surface layers of melamine resin-impregnated décor papers with core layers of phenolic resin-impregnated kraft paper; these are pressed simultaneously under high pressure and heat to produce a high performance decorative surfacing material.
High pressure laminate is available in several surface finishes, grades and sheet sizes, and comes in a variety of Woodgrains, Plain Colours and Patterns. Many of these designs are also available as Compact Grade, an impressively strong and damage resistant laminate with remarkable structural stability. New to the market for 2005 is our exciting development of Digital images, offering customers greater flexibility and the opportunity to create customised laminates.
Special products of outstanding quality and appeal are characteristic of the Formica brand. To see the possibilities in our Special Products look, for example, at Veneers, Metallics, ColorCore or Solid Surfacing in The Collection.
In addition to its extensive manufacturing activity, The Formica Group licenses third party manufacturers to produce a variety of components and full structural systems that incorporate Formica surfacing materials. These products include wall linings and shower panels, partitions and ducts, cubicle systems, worktops, adaptable furniture and construction elements, doors, flooring and ceiling materials, and exterior surfacing.
The Formica Group has a long and distinguished history of product and design innovation in the construction and furniture markets. A global organisation, the Formica Group has manufacturing facilities and commercial teams throughout Europe, North America and Asia, as well as holding one of the most instantly recognised and iconic brands in the market.
Inventors of the original high pressure laminate (HPL), the 21st century Formica® product portfolio also includes composite solid surfacing, real wood veneers and metallic laminates, exterior decorative cladding, chemically resistant surfaces, MFC and residential and contract worktop collections.
High-pressure laminate
Formica® laminate can be found in everyday use in healthcare, retail, education, residential, corporate, industrial, transportation and sports and leisure environments. Offering an unrivalled collection of colours, patterns, wood-grains and surface finishes, Formica laminate provides the perfect choice for architects and interior designers to create fashionable yet functional environments.
Latest laminate innovations include Formica AR plus® high gloss plain colours, a must-have to capture the popular interior trend for highly reflective surfaces offering advanced abrasion, scuff and mar surface resistance. Sculpted by Formica® is a premium texture that takes inspiration from carved, sculpted, scraped and wire-brushed surfaces.
Faux-metallic laminate
Formica DecoMetal® combines the colour and character of real metal surfaces with the lightweight, flexible and practical nature of laminate. Formica® Veneer integrates real wood veneers derived from harvest growing species into sheet laminate, to create beautifully natural premium wood surfaces.
Available in a variety of sheet sizes including: 3,660mm x 1,525mm, 3,050mm x 1,300mm, 3,050mm x 1,220mm and 2,440mm x 1,220mm.
High-performance solid-colour laminate
ColorCore® by Formica® is a high-performance, revolutionary, patented product with solid colour running throughout the laminate sheet. Ideal for heavy-duty worktops, high-traffic architectural doors, partitions, retail fixtures, signage and furniture, ColorCore® can be shaped and engraved and allows for exceptional edge detailing.
Offered in a selection of primary brights and soft neutrals in a velour finish, the latest ColorCore innovations include two new surface finishes: Gloss and MicroDot. The latter is a subtle grid of concave dots in a low sheen satin finish, offering a three-dimensional aspect.
Available in sheet size: 3,050mm x 1,220mm x 1.3mm.
Structural laminate
Formica® Compact structural laminate has been specifically designed for high performance applications. Its solid laminated core comprises multiple layers of resin-impregnated quality kraft papers, with a decorative surface on both sides.
Compact structural laminate is ideal for the construction of benches, worktops, lockers, and washroom cubicles, excelling in applications that require moisture and humidity and high impact resistance. The distinctive black edge of Compact structural laminate acts as a striking design feature.
Compact structural laminate is also available in a variety of specialist applications; Formica® Exterior Compact for building cladding offers a UV protected product perfect for ventilated facades, transforming the appearance of any architecture. Formica® Chemtop2TM is unrivalled for high stress environments that require resistance to harsh chemicals. Available in a 16mm thickness and matching postformable laminate for applications such as; laboratory benches, tables, splashbacks, screens, fume cupboards, cabinets, shelving and wall panels.
Available in varying thicknesses up to 20mm, standard compact sheet size: 3,660mm x 1,525mm, Exterior Compact available in a variety of sizes including: 3,050mm x 1,300mm
Bespoke laminate artwork
Our special custom design artwork service can encapsulate any bespoke artwork in Formica laminate using digital or screen printing techniques. Customised illustrations, images and graphics in vivid colours can be created for feature unique wall coverings and long lasting signage.
Available in sheet size: 3,050mm x 1,300mm.
Composite polymer material
Solid Surfacing by Formica® is a high performance composite polymer material for use in any interior environment where durability, aesthetics, hygiene and ease of maintenance are important. Resistant to staining, chemicals and heat (classified as B-s1, d0, Fire Performance requirements EN-13501-1), it is non-porous and microbiologically inert.
High impact resistance is coupled with a tactile impression of warmth and softness. Inspiring creativity, its inherent sculptural properties allow it to be cut, carved, drilled, routered and inlayed, ensuring that any number of design ideas can be realised. Colour matched adhesives allow a smooth finish with inconspicuous joins.
Standard sheet size 3,683mm x 760mm x 12mm and 2,490mm x 760mm x 6mm.
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| Exterior Compact, La Salve Bridge, Bilbao, Spain.
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Formica® Compact. Furniture, The O2 Arena.
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| Sculpted by Formica®. New texture inspired by carved, scraped and wire-brushed surfaces.
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| Solid Surfacing by Formica®. New range additions.
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| Formica DecoMetal®. New range additions.
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