Technology has provided a modern, long-lasting, sustainable alternative to timber: Richlite. The various colours and edges make Richlite an ideal countertop material for your handmade kitchen.
Richlite is made out of resin-infused FSC®-certified paper. It is heat resistant up to 176°C so you don’t have to worry about putting something down before putting your hot pan full of pasta or rice on the countertop! Richlite is also naturally antimicrobial and easy to clean, great for busy people who want to simplify their bespoke kitchens and lives!
Another big bonus of Richlite is its sustainability, as it is made of around 65% FSC®-certified or recycled paper content and 35% phenolic resin. FSC certification guarantees that the paper for the material comes from well-managed forests that have their own environmental, social and economic benefits. It is Greenguard certified, which means that it has met some of the world’s most rigorous and comprehensive standards for low emissions of VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Not only is Richlite FSC and Greenguard certified, but the company uses WE Technology to capture the energy from Richlite’s manufacturing process and recycles it back into the heating system as energy. This makes the process more efficient and more environmentally friendly.
Developed over 70 years ago in the aerospace industry, during the Second World War, Richlite has been used for decades in industrial settings, providing a strong foundation for industrial tooling and pattern-making. Richlite is now used across the marine, action sports, architecture, and design industries, and in machine shops and automotive manufacturing.
Creating Richlite is both simple and complex. Rolls of paper are soaked with a thermosetting resin before being cut and laid up by hand. Then, the sheets are carefully stacked, alternating the direction of the paper to provide the most stable surface. Once stacked, each stack is pressed, bonding the paper together and curing the resin. The stacks are then slowly cooled, producing a solid, stable sheet of material.
Richlite is available in many sizes and thicknesses, from 6mm to 75mm thick and sheet sizes up to 3660 x 1525mm, depending on the kind of finish you want for your kitchen.
Richlite is a premium, hard-wearing material that is trusted by many industries to provide much-needed durability, including restaurants and bars. It makes it the perfect material for a handmade kitchen that is used day in, day out for cooking delicious meals, baking desserts, and simply working and relaxing in the heart of the home.
Richlite’s natural color comes from the combination of the paper and the amber tone of the resin. But it also comes in a variety of colour options and edge combinations, from yellow to burgundy, making it a good fit for any style of handmade kitchen.
You don’t have to only use Richlite for your countertops in your bespoke kitchen, you can use this durable material for a variety of furniture and surfaces in your house. Its durability makes it an excellent choice for a kitchen or dining room table, especially if you have children who enjoy colouring outside the lines at dinner.
Papilio bespoke kitchens can arrange a design consultation to choose the best Richlite design for your handmade kitchen. Book your bespoke design consultation today.
