Arfinio® is the new material for strong, repairable, lightweight, sustainable surfaces

Covestro, a polymer manufacturer, and Arcesso Dynamics, a producer of customised polyurethane components, launch Arfinio®, an innovative solution based on injection and reaction moulding (RIM) on polyurethane. Arfinio® is a material made by injection moulding high-performance liquid polymers and unique minerals to design and manufacture seamless objects and shapes. The technology brings together the advantages of aliphatic chemistry, injection moulding and solid surfaces: mechanical strength, durability, light stability, easy repairability, low weight, high technical-performance characteristics, and broad design freedom. Moreover, being a mono-material, it can be shredded and recycled.

shower-plate ESTOLI-made-with-arfinio-technology by Covestro -pic
Estoli’s shower plate is the first item designed for and built with Arfinio®. The breakthrough technology gives the plate a lower weight and improved slip resistance - improving safety during installation and use and reducing the amount of material needed. ©Estoli

New application possibilities

A range of properties is opening up new application possibilities. These include the Estoli shower tray, which is 50 per cent lighter than those made from traditional solid surfaces and has a higher anti-slip coefficient; the seating system by designer Thomas Schnur: injection moulding allows the faster production of complex structures without any joints. In addition, the thermal coefficient of Arfinio® makes it a material that is warm to the touch, and textures and colours can be customised; the Alt_Bat washbasin: here, antibacterial additives can be added to the basic formulation of Arfinio®, which improves hygiene.

-design-chair Thomas Schnur-made-with-arfinio-technology by Covestro-pic
The chair system by designer Thomas Schnur is the first application of Covestro’s Arfinio® solution in furniture, and demonstrates the technology’s potential to enable lighter, truly seamless furniture with organic and clean shapes. ©Thomas Schnur

Benefits for the market

Joan Miquel García Martinez, Senior Project Manager at Covestro explains: "We are proud to have joined forces with Arcesso Dynamics to bring the benefits of aliphatic polymers produced via RIM to the market. Arfinio® will open up new possibilities for manufacturers and designers, and we look forward to exploring how it can be used in many more applications."

washbasin ALT_Bath-made-with-arfinio-technology by Covestro-pic
The injection-molded Arfinio® material from Covestro enables greater design freedom in the new Alt_Bath washbasin, as well as a low weight and excellent impact and abrasion resistance. In this way, it will enable bathroom furniture manufacturers to offer more attractive, longer-lasting solutions. ©Alt_Bath

Meeting the challenges of the future

Ernest Montón, CEO of Arcesso Dynamics adds: "It was great to work with Covestro to bring this innovative product to life. The partnership has enabled operators from different industries to solve many challenges. Together we will continue to develop new Arfinio® products designed to meet the needs of our customers and end users".

#Furniture #Design #Bathroom #Seats
fb messenger tel

See
also

Contardi Lighting's arch-decorative lighting for the living area
#DESIGN

Contardi Lighting's arch-decorative lighting for the living area

Fantini renews the domestic water-related wellness ritual
#DESIGN

Fantini renews the domestic water-related wellness ritual

Riflessi: light reflections
#DESIGN

Riflessi: light reflections

Vimar's positive energy at the service of health
#ARCHITECTURE

Vimar's positive energy at the service of health