LAMINATE
P lastic laminate has ben part of our surroundings for decades yet most people don't know much about the product, that is found virtually everywhere - homes, restaurants, hospitals, and even bowling alleys!! The name itself - "plastic laminate", can lead to misunderstandings. High pressure decorative laminate (HPDL) is made by saturating sheets of decorative and core paper with resins, then pressing them under high heat, fusing the layers into a single sheet. Surprisingly, a sheet of laminate is only 18% plastic resin; the rest is paper. Laminate sheets are bonded, using special adhesives, to "substrates" made of plywood, fiberboard or particle board which give the final product its strength and substance. The laminate surface provides resistance from wear and impact.
Here are some interesting "Factoids" about laminate. Laminate was originally invented as a material for electrical insulation. "Woodies", the wood paneled station wagons popularized in the 50's and 60's, were actually sided with woodgrain laminate. Today, most bowling alleys are surfaced with laminate. Wood lanes can be warped by the weight of bowling balls; plastic laminate lanes allow for a more accurate bowl. We sell Formica, Wilsonart, and Pionite brands of Laminate.