Which Are The World?s Leading Surfacing Companies?

Posted by Deepak Kumar on March 29th, 2017

In the past few years, with the emergence of the aspirational middle class and individualism as the source of most artistic and design inspiration, and this has been reflected in the world of laminates as well, with some of the leading surfacing companies in the world taking up the mantle of being the most customizable and versatile designers and laminate manufacturers. Laminates have become both extremely decorative in nature and functional in character, with them finding applications in kitchens (as counter tops, cabinets), bedrooms (cupboards and bedsteads) and even living rooms (bookcases and shelves). Laminates are versatile, durable, customizable and are much lighter on the budget as compared to traditional finishes.

Laminate companies in India have caught on to this trend permeating through the rest of the world as well. Formica is a brand of laminated composite materials which are made and distributed by the Formica Group, with its base in New Zealand. Since its inception it has come to be closely associated with the entire category, so much so that the word Formica immediately brings to mind the term “laminates”. The company name was made famous by its most characteristic product – a plastic, composite, water and chemical resistant laminate sheet which can be used in almost all furniture applications. Formica has always been the pioneering laminate manufacturer in the world. It has recently started operations in manufacturing out of a plant in Gujarat, thus becoming a force to reckon with for other Indian laminate manufacturers.

Some of the other renowned laminate companies in India are, namely, Sunmica, GreenLam and Merino.

Formica has made natural and seasoned designs famous all over the world. Laminate companies in India have tried to emulate the success of naturally inspired pastels that have been brought into the market by the expertise of Formica. Laminate manufacturers are trying to incorporate simple and complex hues in decorative and designer laminates. Finishes inspired by hardwood and mahogany have been common, but now people are increasingly going for designs that are quirky and inspiring, like suede or moss. The age of plaid designs is gone and taking the lead in bringing in the change among laminate manufacturers is Formica.