High And Mighty

When It Comes To Performance And Durability, High-pressure Laminates Have Become A Go-to Surface Material In The Construction Industry

- Carol Ferrao

Whether it’s capturing the beauty of natural wood or providing realistic designs in stone finish, the High Pressure Laminate (HPL) industry’s inventive streak has left architects and designers spoilt for choice. Often more economical than the natural materials, HPL solutions are easy to maintain with faster application process. Made of wood-based layers impregnated with resin, HPL has many layers of Kraft paper, with the final layer featuring high-quality printed design accents and decorative finishes.

“Categorising HPL as just another cladding material is a thing of the past,” says Ashwani Khanna, AVP-Marketing, Fundermax India. Today, HPL is being recommended for a variety of applications in both the residential and commercial areas. Think countertops, cabinets, furniture, and more. Given its multiple features, mainly high-performance durability and strength, the material is perfect for high-traffic areas such as offices, lobbies, restaurants, hospitals, stores, hotels and educational institutions.

According to a report by Market Research Future (MRFR) titled ‘Global Decorative High-Pressure Laminates Market’, the HPL market is expected to strike 5.3% CAGR to achieve a valuation of USD 14,857 million by 2023. The growing demand for the material stems from its use not only in flooring and infrastructural development, but also in ready-to-assemble furniture, cabinets, countertops, tabletops, case goods, wood panels and much more. Thanks to the booming construction industry in Asia Pacific, the market is anticipated to grow exponentially.