Paper or Plastic?

A common misperception of high-pressure decorative laminate is that it is made out of plastic.  In fact, one of the names you will commonly hear specifiers and fabricators use when referring to HPL is P-lam or "plastic laminate."  But decorative laminate is actually a paper-based material.  The actual composition of HPL is 87% paper and 13% resin. 

Two different types of paper are used: brown (kraft) paper, and high-grade printed decorative paper.  Two different types of resins are also used: phenolic and melamine resins.  The resins are used to impregnate the kraft and decorative papers.  When placed in a press at 300 degrees Fahrenheit (149 degrees Celsius), and 1,000 psi (2,068 kPa) of pressure for about 45 minutes, they react and turn multiple layers of paper into a rigid sheet of laminate.   So next time you specify or order "P-Lam", remember the P stands for paper, not plastic!

A Printing Primer

Now that we've established that high-pressure decorative laminate is made primarily of paper, let's talk a little about the process of printing those high-quality abstract designs and realistic wood reproductions that make up the Lamin-Art collection. 

The printing of our decorative papers is done through a process known as rotogravure (or gravure) high-speed printing.  Rotary gravure presses are the fastest and widest presses in operation, printing everything from narrow labels to 12-foot-wide rolls.  The vast majority of gravure presses print on reels of paper rather than on individual sheets.    Do to the specialty nature of our product line, Lamin-Art typically prints on 4 foot wide reels.

A computerized color separation of the motif is done, and that separation is then used to engrave copper cylinders with the specific motif for each stage of the printing process.  As the paper goes through the series of cylinders, each of them lay part of the motif on its surface.  The more stages, the more design complexity, definition and print clarity.   Many of our Abstract designs and Premium Wood Prints are printed in 3 or 4 stages which results in added depth, richness, and realism.

Four stages is currently the maximum you can do for decorative papers used in the manufacture of HPL, however, recent advancements in printing technologies are making 5-stage printing within reach. This opens the door to never-before-seen pattern complexity and clarity in the near future. 

Lamin-Art 24/7

If you haven't done so yet, be sure to create your own account on the new laminart.com.  Registered users of our website get access to some really useful advanced features such as:

                     

• A 12-month sample order history;
• Sample request order status reports and shipment tracking;
• The ability to group samples by project for easy reference;
• And a simplified sample ordering process.

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