Textures – Elite Global Solutions

Types of Melamine Finishes

June 30, 2022

Melamine, being a moldable synthetic material, is easily transformed into many shapes and finishes. The lifetime use of each melamine piece varies depending on three important factors of production. Let our design team guide your decision on which texture, decal, and material to use for your brand or business. Before envisioning your artistic conception, consider the intended use of the product and how that can affect the lifespan of the product. It is common to replace melamine pieces at one-fifth the rate of comparable stoneware pieces. This added benefit makes melamine the best option for many food service industries. Let’s go over some of the determining factors that lengthen life expectancy and minimize the replacement rate of melamine.

Common texture forms are linen, pebble, hammered, swirl, stone, slate, wood grain, geometric, and shell striped. These textures combined with unique shapes offer many custom possibilities. The finish on each texture is also available in either gloss, matte, or a mixture of both. Textures mixed with a decal create the illusion of hyper-realistic stoneware and wood pieces. Both methods elevate your display by playing a trick on the customer’s eyes while maintaining the cost-effective benefits of melamine.

The ideal texture for your application varies with the intended use. Some of the textures with the best masking abilities are rippled, speckled, bumpy, and rough designs. Glossy textures show wear quicker with heavy use. It is important to consider these design possibilities when picking the right plate or bowl for your business. Our design team has the capability of providing you with the best option for your desired application.

Decal designs also provide a masking quality depending on color, shape, size and intricacy of the artwork. Dark decals on a light surface tend to show wear quicker when compared to a dark decal on a dark surface. Consider how the underlying color can drastically improve the durability of a melamine piece. A full decal piece has more signs of wear when compared to a partial decal piece. Embossed designs are a clever way to add dimension to your melamine without diminishing the wear and durability.

The material options extend to the color and style of the material when considering adding dimension to your design. Melamine pulp is customizable to a certain extent. Speckled designs add a layer of depth to each piece which also helps hide signs of wear. The raw form of melamine is a colorless and odorless powder that is customizable through the coloring and dying of melamine pulp. The material composition of the melamine pulp also determines the color and durability of the product. Taking this into consideration can influence your annual average replacement rate. Ask our design team how you can minimize overhead costs while maximizing the promotion of your brand.

Melamine Information

Faux vs. Real

June 27, 2022

Stoneware, wood, and cast iron have become a staple in food service applications. With modern technology and materials, the food industry has adapted to using melamine, which has a similar aesthetic as naturally made alternatives, but without the cost. Melamine has become an unrivaled low-cost substitute for the fast-paced food service industry. Using melamine instead of naturally sourced elements benefits the environment as well as restauranteurs.

Featured above is our faux bamboo Fo Bwa collection.

One problem with using real wood instead of melamine is bacteria which resides on porous surfaces. Health departments prohibit the use of wood in most establishments due to safety issues. Although the look of wood is beautiful, the sanitary concerns are problematic. The cost of wood scales with supply and demand. If you select only the best-looking pieces, be prepared to pay a high price. Another issue with real wood is the lifespan of your tableware. Wood has the shortest life span due to warping, staining, and dulling. To protect your staff and prevent workplace injuries, consider replacing wood pieces with lightweight melamine faux wood. Natural wood is known to be much heavier than melamine and causes splinters, ouch!

Featured above is our faux stoneware Basalt Serveware collection.

Stone, while stunningly beautiful, is known to be one of the heaviest options for serve ware. Granite, slate, marble, and other forms of stoneware can be twice as dense as melamine without the added benefit of durability. These natural options are environmentally troublesome due to limited supply, cost of production, and disposability. The average melamine plate will outlast its porcelain counterparts when it comes to signs of wear, use, and abuse. A simple drop test would prove that melamine is shatterproof, chip-resistant, and superior at maintaining its like-new appearance.

Featured above is our faux cast iron Illogical collection.

While cast iron provides a unique look for your cuisine, it is known to be extremely hard to care for and wash. Each time you use and clean a cast iron pan, you must re-season with flaxseed oil to maintain a non-stick surface. The maintenance doesn’t stop there, every so often you’re required to season your dull or patchy skillet with a routine cycle of heating and oiling. This process can be avoided by replacing those cumbersome skillets with faux melamine cast iron. Preserve that rustic look and feel without sacrificing your precious time and resources. EGS melamine faux cast iron is lighter, easier to clean, and doesn’t rust!

Melamine is superior in the following ways.

- Lighter – Melamine is lighter than natural elements such as wood, stone and iron which reduces employee fatigue and injuries.
- Less Expensive – Compared to traditional materials such as stoneware, cast iron, and wood products, melamine has very low overhead costs. Additionally, EGS melamine is scratch and chip-resistant and shatterproof which greatly lowers the need for replacements.
- Easier to Clean – Melamine is commercial dishwasher safe, much faster, and simpler to clean than porous natural elements such as wood or stone.
- Durable – During production, EGS melamine is cured with strengthening compounds, becoming a shatterproof substance perfect for indoor and outdoor dining.