New Zealanders enjoy an enduring love affair with high-pressure laminates (HPL) — and not without reason. HPLs are adaptable and durable so they’re in it for the long-haul. Here’s the thing though: even the best relationships need an injection of excitement every now and then. That’s why Laminex New Zealand, an Australasian market leader for more than 80 years, has refreshed and evolved their HPL range.

Following years of research and development, on October 1 2019, Laminex NZ presented a streamlined selection of their much-loved Formica and Laminex brands — including 14 brand-new decors to pep up the palette.

Giving you the edge

The joy of HPL is that they achieve a stylish, practical finish without costing the earth. It’s a combination that Kiwis instinctively respond to and why Formica grew to be such an iconic and treasured part of Laminex NZ's history.

While the Laminex and Formica collections were trimmed down in October, the top sellers — timeless styles that never date — remained. That means there are still close to 100 options.

To enhance the end-user experience, Laminex NZ also introduced merchandising boards that draw together samples in a coherent story for a cleaner, more modern look. Bigger sample sizes allow the designs room to breathe and fewer samples make the choice less overwhelming. A classic case of less is more.

Here’s what else Laminex NZ has learnt over eight decades: the delight is in the detail. And sometimes it can make or break a project. Laminex New Zealand has invested in edgetapes created in Germany to match, as precisely as possible, 80% of the HPL offering. This finishing touch makes the joins all but invisible, and with the introduction of 25 LPL Melteca colours to tie in with the decors in Laminex’s HPL range, it’s so much easier to achieve a cohesive look.

Express it well 

This next generation of laminates opens up an exciting world of expression. In collaboration with a team of local architects and designers, Laminex NZ has developed 14 brand-new decors. These
range from Nero Graphite — a darkly beautiful addition to the 180FX collection and Smoked Birch Ply in the woodgrain finish, to on-trend metallic Rose Gold which can be used to highlight features such as negative details, the back of open shelving or selected panels.

Fast facts

• A refreshed range comprises the Classic Collection (78 decors) and the Specialty Collection (19 decors)
• 14 new decors: Rose Gold, Smoked Birch Ply, Nero Graphite, Elemental Ash, Limed Concrete, Raw Nickel plus a selection of Whites and Neutrals
• 80% of the Laminex range has matching edge tapes
• 25 matching Melteca (LPL) decors for cabinetry