Ear to the Ground with Michelle Topping, Area Sales Manager for the North West.
Michelle gives us her insight into the latest Kronospan Trend Collection, which features cutting-edge embossed printing technology that creates a unique, repeat-free pattern across a whole board of oak décors. Other features include synchronised embossing and matching tops and fronts.
What’s Trending in the Trend Collection?
I would say the Harmony range with the new Primavera Oaks, which is a brand-new PV texture. You’ve got K694, which is Silk Oak in grey and beige – quite a soft décor. The K695 Straw has warm and natural tones, K696 Umber has rich and elegant features, and the K697 is a bold and rich colour, Cocoa.
We’ve had a lot of really good feedback on those – the textures give a premium feel with a repeat-free design and synchronised emboss texture, allowing the surface texture to align with the woodgrain design, which is creeping back into popularity in the UK. One of the oaks we’ve just mentioned has a printed, linear pattern, like a striped pattern on it. It’s not a deep texture, it’s just a printed line, which is again on-trend at the moment.
These finishes can be used in multiple applications, including frontals and full sheet materials. And they’re very affordable when you compare them to what else is out on the market to get the same desired aesthetic.
Kronospan Trend Collection
Premium Looks at Accessible Prices.
They are probably more than half the price of real veneer boards. The textures are as close to a real veneer board as Kronospan has achieved, offering a premium look at a very accessible price point. They’re durable and versatile too, designed for high-traffic areas and offering a pleasing aesthetic. They can be cut and edged for frontals, and we can supply them as full sheets. Veneers create extra work on them to get them fitted – no one piece is the same. I just think you get just a cleaner finish with the MFC oaks, and cost-wise, it makes more sense to use it, they are easier to process and match, which makes them a practical choice for manufacturing.
What are the Up-and-Coming Colours Among the Kronospan Trend Collection?
Kronospan has launched nine new colours in the PD (Pearlsand) texture and three are proving very popular.
They are:
- K684 Black Truffle
- K681 Macadamia
- K686 Powder Pink
These décors offer more choice when adding colour and the PD texture allows for an elegant décor with a higher scratch resistance to a standard uni-colour texture. People seem to be adding a bit more colour, so if they do want a dual décors design, these three décors work really well with the different wood grains that we have.
Do Some Trends Last Longer than Others?
The short answer is that trends usually go in cycles of two to three years. Dark blues, navy blues, and a lot of greens are very much on-trend at the moment. Some people thought green would have had its moment, but it doesn’t appear that way and Kronospan have just introduced their own version of a reed green this year, so there’s a strong case that green is still quite popular. When trends start to fizzle out, the manufacturers replace them with new colours and styles, so the fact that Kronospan has just introduced a green speaks volumes. Wall panelling is very popular, but I think that’ll have its day a lot quicker.
Matt or Gloss?
I would say the super matt bubble hasn’t burst yet. People who have come away from the Mirror Gloss that used to be all the rage for kitchen doors, or even bathroom or bedroom doors. We still sell quite a lot of the Mirror Gloss, but there seems to be more product development in super matts, with their scratch-resistant, anti-fingerprint benefits. Manufacturers are taking the whatever is the latest trend in uni-colours and replicating those as a super matt. We stock all the latest décors and colours in the Kronospan Trend Collection with the matching edge banding as well. Speak to your Area Sales Manager or get in touch with our sales office today.
Meet Michelle topping: Your Area Sales Manager for the north west
