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Covering 128 pages, the "Room of well-being – RESOPAL® 2011>>" book, appearing in two languages, lends itself to architects, designers and planners as a current practical work medium. Furthermore it is a presentation medium providing Resopal customers with the opportunity to draw attention to successful showpiece projects. The assurance, communicated in the title, of long-term availability well beyond 2011, not only provides planning certainly but also fosters creativity from which Resopal, in turn, hopes to gain from the recoil effect. The book not least complements the publications that have been coming out since 2003, continuing the story of the company's culture and its product with a new chapter on the sustainability goal. |
100 % green
"RE-Y-STONE" revolutionises interior design
A world-first is now opening up a whole new range of options for interior design. The source of inspiration for this initiative is Resopal. At a press conference on 5 November 2010, Managing Director Donald Schaefer presented a jointly developed bio-composite board named "RE-Y-STONE". Consisting of regenerative raw materials only, it additionally expresses this natural quality in terms of looks. The innovation also helps customers pursue their sustainability activities on an architectural level.
"RE-Y-STONE" consists of recycled core and decorative papers plus a natural resin. The resin is produced on the basis of bagasse, a by-product of the sugar industry that is obtained on extracting the juice from sugar cane. As a fibrous matter that remains after crushing, 40 to 60 per cent of bagasse consists of cellulose, 20 to 30 per cent of a mixture of polysaccharides occurring in vegetable biomass, and 20 per cent of lignin, a substance that strengthens the cane while giving it a woody structure.
Resopal is developing, producing and selling the innovative composite material in co-operation with Dekodur GmbH & Co. KG, Hirschhorn, and Hans Schmid GmbH & Co. KG, Gronau. The "RE" part of the name indicates the exclusive use of post-consumer recovered papers, i.e. papers, cardboard or wood fibres collected and recycled at the end of their life cycle. "STONE" not only indicates the materials' natural origin but also describes the properties of the innovation. Once hardened, the bio-resin possesses the qualities of thermosetting plastic and, together with the natural fibres, forms a hard, highly stress-resistant, dimensionally stable board with a tough surface. Resistant to many common household cleaning products and chemicals, it is also extremely difficult to set on fire.
Combined with the "Y" and in its translation from Spanish, the name's "RE-Y" element verifiably claims every kingly quality in terms of sustainability. TÜV Rheinland has awarded the new product the "LGA pollutant-tested" label, demonstrating that its pollutant emissions fall well below the statutory limits. "RE-Y-STONE" is expected to excel at the end of its fundamentally long product life too. Given its high calorific value, it is suitable for generating carbon-neutral heat just as much as it is for being recycled into filler for wood-plastic composites.
Natural and aesthetically pleasing
For the first time, the product not only provides companies wishing to project a sustainability image with a green alternative for doing so at architectural level, it also offers them a wide range of design options. With a black or brown core, the board comes with a surface that reflects the many different faces of nature. Colour is provided by recycled decorative papers or natural materials; texturing is borrowed from dried root fibres, slate relief, tiny air bubbles, parchment, viscous tree resin or drops of rain. The three companies belonging to the "RE-Y-STONE" alliance can supply the board in a large selection of sizes, thicknesses and surface finishes. In thicknesses below 3 mm, substrate materials broaden the range of functions; in greater thicknesses, the boards show outstanding dimensional stability and flexural resistance, making them self-supporting.