COLOGNE, GERMANY - Completely new perspectives could arise for designing furniture and interiors if laminate were as flexible as foil. A world première presented at Interzum 2013 in Cologne lets this wish come true. Resopal presents an innovative material which combines the advantages of laminate with those of foil. Its name: "Recurv3d".

The material’s hygienically sealed, translucent surface meets all the requirements expected of a high-quality laminate: it is impact-proof, scratch-proof and resistant to water and heat, but far more flexible than HPL or CPL. This flexibility is attributable to a nonwoven polymer material soaked in melamine resin – just like the decor paper on laminate – and then pressed into shape under heat and pressure. The impregnated fabric, however, expands much more readily than the paper-based HPL.

This innovation opens up completely new perspectives for application. It can be universally used in composite materials; "indeed, it may possibly even be used to produce mouldings," says Resopal's managing director Christof Rauen enticingly before all the tests are complete. The material can be dyed or printed to produce an aesthetic appearance.

"Recurv3d" has made Resopal one of the winners of the internationally reputed "interzum award: intelligent material & design 2013". The jury of leading experts commended the innovation's high product quality.