Translucent Foil Creates Excitement
In mid-October, 700 exhibitors from 35 countries gathered in Pordenone, Italy, to showcase the latest innovations in the furniture supply industry at SICAM. Continental was among them, presenting exciting new products under the theme “Every shape tells a story. skai® – the 3D experience” – a perfect blend of design, functionality and sustainability
From the growth rings of trees and the textures of stone to the uniqueness of a human fingerprint, every shape found in nature tells a story. At this year’s SICAM, surface specialist Continental put these stories in the spotlight. Authentic stone-look decors such as Travertine (skai® Otranto) and Terrazzo (skai® Nuvolento), along with modern wood designs like Tropea Oak nature, Riva pure nature and Wright Walnut brown, impressed visitors – especially when paired with deep-matte, soft-touch solid-color films like skai® Perfect Solo, skai® Perfect Touch and skai® colore ULTRA.
The show’s theme also came to life in a striking three-dimensional furniture exhibit featuring deeply milled shapes and generous radii. Finished with skai® 3D PET and vinyl surfaces, the piece demonstrated new possibilities for organic forms and premium furniture fronts. “Our new skai® 3D furniture surfaces combine technical innovation with emotional design, enabling maximum creative freedom,” explains Patrick Holz, product manager for interior living in Continental’s LivTec business segment. “The combination of functionality, sustainability and aesthetics makes our skai® surfaces a true value-add for the furniture industry.”
Looking ahead: bio-based foils drive R&D
The undisputed highlight of the trade fair was the translucent furniture foils skai® PureLux 3D Touch mercury and skai® Riva pure nature, which create stunning light effects. The latter combines translucency with a natural wood look, unlocking a completely new approach to furniture front design when paired with lighting. These products are already featured in the “Evolution of Senses” kitchen, developed by Continental in close collaboration with nobilia.
Continental rounded off its trade fair presence with new solid colors in coordinated palettes, 3D PET-printed furniture surfaces and bio-based concepts. Visitors also got an inside look at Continental’s R&D efforts, which are currently focused on sustainability, recycling and innovative materials.