HOW SOLID SURFACE FABRICATION HAS EVOLVED OVER 25 YEARS

I can hardly believe that we at BSF Solid Surfaces Ltd, have achieved the milestone of being in business for 25 years, majoring in the fabrication of worktops, reception desks, wash troughs, and many other products using Solid Surface.

We have spent much of the last two weeks talking about the changes we have made to celebrate this achievement, including a full brand refresh and a new website.

BUT

What does it really mean?

Solid Surface was a relatively new product in the UK market when BSF Solid Surfaces was initially begun, as the result of a jolly to Las Vegas by the founders, David and Betty Bailey to attend the International Solid Surface Fabricators Association Convention (ISSFA).

Solid Surface...

Corian, was the very first Solid Surface, which was invented by Dupont and introduced into the UK Market by Geoff Baker of CD (UK) Ltd in 1979 at which point a whole industry in the UK was spawned.

As the original Solid Surface, Corian also had a patent, that prevented other suppliers from introducing their own version of the material.

Aristech was the first to buck this trend when they introduced their product Avonite into the market, which used polyester as a base material, as opposed to the acrylic used in Corian.

How it evolved

Initially we, at BSF, used it predominantly for kitchen worktops, fast food countertops, and tabletops, but the industry, and use of the products, have evolved greatly over time.

When I joined the business, it was in its infancy in 1999, and the key products we used back then were Corian, Wilsonart, and Surell. There were a few others that, sadly, no longer exist.

It was not until the tail end of 1999, into 2000, that other brands started creeping into the UK market, and the actual, exciting, possibilities of the material really started to be understood.

Are there many products to choose from?

In the UK there are now in excess of ten different brands available in this market, so there really is something for everyone.

To find out more about the different brands of Solid Surface now available in the UK, hop over to my previous newsletter here where I talk about all the brands and how to choose the right one for you and your project.

What is Solid Surface?

You see, Solid Surface is so much more than just a flat, nonporous, waterproof surface for worktops, that can be joined together with inconspicuous seams.

It is a flexible, malleable material that can be used to create bespoke, custom-made "art and sculptures". A product that can provide more than an average item, that can be heat treated (thermoformed) to create funky designs, curved shapes, and sizes.

To find out more about this amazing, ingenious product, take a quick look at my very first newsletter here where you can find out more about what it is and how it is made.

Three-dimensional thermoforming

We have fully embraced this amazing attribute of the material and over the last 25 years, not only have we heavily invested in the correct machinery to enable us to maximise these possibilities, including a C Axis CNC, 5 Axis CNC, Multi Therm Platten Oven, Fifty Tonne Water Cooled Press, Striebig Wall Saw, and Festool sanders and routers, we have also become an expert in how to create the art sculptures that Solid Surface can be used to create, which make the material so unique and very special!

Where have we worked?

I am sure, by now, you are wondering about where Solid Surface can be used, where might you have seen it, and I can say, truthfully, that we have been very fortunate to have been involved with some amazing projects. We have worked at Harrods, Heathrow Airport, Buckingham Palace, The Oxo Tower, Ugg, Molton Brown, and the Royal Court of Bahrain, to mention a few places where our work can be seen. To find out more about where you can see the material in action, so to speak, please take a peek at my previous newsletter, "Where can you find Solid Surface and what can be made from it?

I am incredibly grateful and blessed to have worked in the family business for the last 24 years, in this article , from 2020, I talk about when my brother and I first took the reigns, and although things have changed somewhat since then and both our parents have now retired, we are still very grateful for the opportunity.

25 years seem to have gone passed in a flash, and the world has turned in many funny ways, but we are excited about the future and what exciting opportunities lay ahead for us.

As always, if you have any questions, or would like to know more about the world of Solid Surface, our door is always open, just please feel free to get in touch, our email address is?[email protected] ?or give us a call at 01277 263603

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Nicola Barden is the Managing Director of her family business, BSF Solid Surfaces Ltd, offering exquisite bespoke counter surfaces from Solid Surface, a high-end, man-made stone, for commercial and residential projects, take a look at her website here ?????www.bsfsolidsurfaces.com

She can be contacted on?[email protected] ?or give her a call on 01277 263603.

In her spare time, she can be found with her husband, son, three crazy cats and bonkers dog.

They enjoy going to the cafe for " coffee and cake", walks, the woods, the zoo, the park, the rides, and anything that allows their energetic son to expend his endless amounts of energy!

#constructionuk ?#architecture ?#workplacedesign ?#officedesign ?#interiors