Durostyle

Contemporary cabinetry: the high-end solution that rivals lacquer

One of the popular options for manufacturing kitchen cabinetry used to be to spray-lacquer an MDF board. That’s no longer the case with the latest developments in surface technology. We heard from Panelform about contemporary cabinetry methods.

Alfie Allison

Published on 2020-07-31

When vinyl-wrapped cabinetry was first released about 25 years ago, the technology that made it possible was new and, at that time, inferior. With some manufacturers’ products failing, this style of cabinetry was somewhat overlooked in its early days. That’s completely changed with the latest technological advancements and vinyl-wrapped doors now rival lacquer in terms of high end cabinetry finishes.

“We are one of just a few manufacturers in New Zealand who can offer this precision technology to create seamless, high end cabinetry,” Panelform’s Alfie Allison says.

“The process we use to create these doors is known as thermoforming, with the cabinetry range made this way called Durostyle. Thermoforming is a process that begins with an MDF panel in its raw form. From there, it is machined to the desired profile and put through a process during which a vinyl (or foil as it is sometimes known) gets applied to it under both heat and pressure creating a seamless, edge-free finish.
“While architects designing high end homes often used to specify lacquer cabinetry in these styles of house, Durostyle doors are now rivalling lacquer due to their unique performance and durability attributes as well as their aesthetics and textures and finishes available.”

While lacquer has its attributes, Durostyle thermoformed doors offer an enviable range of benefits unique to this style of manufacturing, Alfie says. “With traditional lacquer doors, the paint can chip relatively easily exposing the MDF core at which point water is able to get inside the cabinetry. In contrast, due to the way the vinyl wrap is applied under heat and pressure, Durostyle doors are highly unlikely to scratch or chip and therefore offer a superior durability and water resistance.”

“Durostyle doors are also more cost effective than lacquer and bring a new range of textured finishes to the table. With Durostyle there is everything from ultra high gloss to satin smooth, and velvety textured finishes which could never be achieved with a paint finish.”

Alfie Allison

Published on 2020-07-31

Durostyle

7 Fascinating Facts About Thermoformed Doors

While you might be familiar with thermo-formed doors, there are several lesser-known aspects of this innovative door solution that can surprise you. In this blog post, we'll delve into 7 intriguing things about thermoformed doors that you may not know.

Care & Maintenance

Caring for your Durostyle Doors

Durostyle (Thermoformed) doors are a popular choice for cabinets and other furniture due to their durability and versatility. Durostyle doors are created using a thermal laminate which is bonded under heat and vacuum pressure onto pre-moulded moisture-resistant MDF substrate. While Durostyle doors are durable, they still require proper care and maintenance to ensure they last as long as possible. In this article, we will discuss some tips on how to care for your Durostyle doors.