[Davis Linder]

We have been contacted about doing four tables in a medical office and they have specified a product called Trespa or Chemsafe countertop surface. Does anybody know about these products? Where I could get more info? Could Solid Surface or some form of natural stone be substituted? This is the first I have heard of these and need some info.

[Jon Olson]

Chemsafe is a plastic type surface. very durable. It has the feel of a plastic milk carton. If there asking for something like that .You will not be allowed to use Granite. Solid Surface can be used.

I suggest you google the products in question.

[Shane Barker]

Trespa comes in four different types (that I know of) TopLab, Athlon, Meteon, and Virtuon. This product is large flat panels based on thermo-setting resins homogeneously reinforced with wood fibers or, depending on the product line, with Kraft paper and manufactured under high pressure and temperature. Trespa Meteon and Trespa TopLab consist of 70% soft wood fibers from farmed European forests and 30% binding agents. Trespa Athlon and Trespa Virtuon are made of 70% Kraft paper and 30% binding agents. The phenol resins used as binding agents have similar chemical structure as the lignin in wood, and during the thermo-curing of the panel they react together with this natural structure.

For more information cal 1-800-4-TRESPA or go to http://www.trespa.com/

Shane

[Davis Linder]

Thanks for the info. I did google both names and didn’t get anything direct. If Solid Surface will work I would like to use it instead of running down the Trespa and chemsafe.

[Nick]

http://www.trespa.com

Shows a pic. Very sterile looking. Perfect for a medical office I guess.

[Jon Olson]

Before you change the spec to SS. You should make sure there isn’t some type of chemical being used that could harm SS.

[Wags]

All laminate mfg make a thick phenolic panel. Chemsafe is a chemical resistant product, I believe made by WilsonArt but im not sure. Trespa is a similar product, but I don’t believe its chemical resistant. Solid surface MAY be a good substitute but not if chemical resistance is needed . The product is basically the same as reg laminate but made thicker and with chemical resistant phenols. You cut it with carbide tooling, you can “polish” the edge with sandpaper. Do not screw into the edge, but need to tap the product. It will come in varing thickness from about 1/4″ to 1″ typically.

Let me know if you need more information.

[Tom M]

Better hurry.

I can’t remember if its Formica or WilsonArt, but at least one of them is making it harder to get. They’ll need a big order.

We just don’t use them much, but when they work, they kick *ss.

Templates, signage, toilet partitions – rigid, flat and strong as heck.

*sniff*

Tom

[Tom M]

Wags,

WilsonArt calls it Chem-surf. Great stuff, pretty easy to form, if you know how.

Tom

[Matt Dufinetz]

Formica offers a Thick Stock with Chemtop II on it. Large quantities are not required in order for us to make this product. Your local Formica distributor can get you pricing and availability.

[Steve Lefebvre]

Trespa is nothing more than a thick sheet of plastic laminate. Trespa Toplab is their labratory grade chemical resistant product. I usually go through a few tons of the regular stuff every year, the sheets are HEAVY. The product is cut to size and just the edges are sanded/polished, usually with a slight bevel. You will need good tooling to cut this stuff because it is very abrasive. Fabricators have had pretty good luck with Festool saws and straight edges. Another good source for chemical resistant phenolic sheets is Pionite. I think they will produce an order for just a few sheets. We used them on a hospital lab last year.

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