We’re very excited to welcome a new partner to the Material Lab family; Kronospan, a leading manufacturer of wood-based panels. The company has an impressive footprint of 41 sites globally including a base in North Wales where they have been producing MDF, particleboard, melamine faced boards, laminate flooring and worktops for UK specifiers and designers for over 50 years.
Eager to learn more about our new partner, we sat down with Bridie Loveluck, Head of Specification, to explore what Material Lab visitors can expect from the brand, their sustainability initiatives and how leading interior trends are shaping their designs.
Welcome Bridie! As the newest Material Lab partner, what can visitors expect to see from you in the studio?
“From conversations with architects, specifiers and designers, we knew that Material Lab was a well-respected showroom providing a wealth of inspiration, samples and networking opportunities for the A&D community. This partnership will connect us directly with these professionals, enabling us to showcase new and current products in an inspiring, familiar and immersive environment"
“We have crafted a new display on the lower floor that gives designers the opportunity to get hands-on with Kronospan products. Many of our collections are very tactile so they are best appreciated when customers can touch them. Like our Harmony range, which has a Synchronised Embossed wood grain texture that captures the natural beauty of real wood."
K529 HU Gold Hudson Oak; K539 PN Fossil Arosa
“We have included a mix of materials ranging from large-scale boards to A4 laminates and coaster-sized samples, are available for visitors to take away as a convenient reminder of decors that caught their eye. There's also an interactive screen where you can learn more about Kronospan, or be inspired by decor combinations.”
It is clear to see that sustainable production sits at the heart of your business. What sets Kronospan and its products apart from others in the market?
“Timber is a valued raw material so we have always focussed on finding the most sustainable way of manufacturing and reducing our carbon footprint. Products produced at our North Wales factory are made from a mix of pre- and post-consumer recycled wood sourced from in the UK." “We have also invested significantly into our recycling and quality control processes, enabling us to achieve over 80% recycled wood content in our particleboard products. Our products are supported by environmental product declarations, which demonstrate the carbon negativity of our wood based panels, and support Architects and Designers in making sustainable material choices.. Our innovation has not stopped at the raw materials of the boards we make; it’s also the decors of the melamine-faced boards in the Kronodesign® range." “Our design teams observe and study the latest emerging trends to develop exclusive decors to excite and inspire the A&D community. This enables you to select the perfect palette from over 250 options, including ultra-realistic woodgrains, trend-leading colours, stone effects and premium metallics.”
Sustainability has been a prominent theme at various design shows this year. What are some of the main hurdles and opportunities you see in promoting eco-friendly manufacturing within the industry?
“For all of us at Kronospan, sustainability is not a trend, it's part of our DNA so it's promising to see more of the built environment prioritising sustainable practices. As awareness and education has increased, we are proud to be able to reach beneath the surface level of an accreditation or a certificate. Whilst we are obviously able to satisfy these needs, we have loved the opportunity to talk more about our vision and plans for making circularity a reality, working with like-minded industry professionals who are just as passionate as us."
“Our goal is to achieve Net Zero at our UK site with the installation of a new biomass CHP and solar panels. While these advancements require substantial investment, our team is fortunate to have the resources necessary to support these initiatives. We’ll be leveraging our new space at Material Lab to host more presentations and discussions around these crucial topics, hopefully inspiring industry-wide change across companies both small and large.”
What trends do you hope to see more of in 2024 and beyond?
"Following years of grey and glossy minimalism, warm natural colours have stolen the spotlight this year. This trend shows no signs of slowing down, and it’s easy to see why."
"Warm rusts and muted, earthy burnt tones are comforting and calming while still being interesting. They provide an ideal backdrop to play with texture and pair perfectly with other nature-inspired decors, such as woodgrains and stone."
For more information on Kronospan’s product offering, pop into the studio - no appointment necessary.
