Textured surfaces are hot as tactile qualities – the “haptic” character of wood surfaces – rise in popularity. Haptic, which refers to the sense of touch, connects with consumer preferences for natural, rough-hewn materials drawn unpolished from nature. But it also connects with technology: Consumers rely on the “haptic effect” to interact with their video games, smart phones and tablet computers, which buzz and vibrate to confirm commands and data entry.

Kustom Material Laminators (KML) says its Edgewood collection of textured surface panels has proven very popular. As the name suggests, Edgewood – a TFM (thermally fused melamine) paneling – features deep grains found in real wood. This offers architectural millwork shops, designers, cabinetmakers and architects expanded options in contemporary designs.

Edgewood textures are available in 14 standard designs but can be matched with over 800 optional designs that also are available to KML. A variety of woodgrain finishes such as maple, oak and mahogany are also available for paneling.

To keep up with these and all the latest design trends and styles, KML invested in a new press. This new equipment allows the company to meet manufacturing demand for wood-look textures for panelling closets and other home surfaces. The addition of the new, higher volume press has allowed KML to produce larger jobs in substantially less time.

The 5- x 18-foot press was installed in KML’s manufacturing facility in Tacoma, WA. This facility, along with its California subsidiary, allows KML to produce more than 4,000 textured panels daily, including Edgewood and bistro wood finishes as well as smooth, satin and diamond textures for panels.

This newest press, says KML, coupled with its 11 presses on the West Coast, represents its innovation and design within the TFM industry.

Both manufacturing facilities also contribute to KML’s ability to offer machining capabilities for slot wall, edgebanding, shelving, contour, vector, drilling and other custom components for paneling and surfacing. In addition to DesignLam, its broad name for TFM panels, KML also produces high pressure laminate (HPL) bonded panels.

HPL, useful for high-traffic surfaces such as school desks or countertops, can be blended on projects with visually compatible versions of TFM. For example, a restaurant may need HPL for counters or tabletops but TFM for wall or door panels or other custom fixtures. KML sources laminate from leading suppliers including WilsonArt, Formica, Arborite, Nevamar, Pionite, LaminArt and Abet Laminati.