Our bespoke MiniTec solutions require a range of supplementary products to fully enable a choice of comprehensive systems. One such component is a table-top, a seemingly innocuous part of the puzzle, but also one of the most important, which is why we tend to opt for a product called Trespa®.
What is Trespa?
Trespa is a flat panel based on thermosetting resins, homogeneously reinforced with wood fibres and manufactured under high pressure and temperature. Using special techniques, the panels have an integrated, decorative surface with melamine impregnated paper. The resultant properties make the product particularly suitable for a wide range of applications.
What makes Trespa so unique?
- Trespa is extremely wear-resistant and not adversely affected by moisture.
- High chemical resistance withstands cleaning with aggressive disinfectants with neither the properties nor the appearance of the panel being affected.
- A favourable combination of flexural strength and elasticity make Trespa impact resistant.
- The panel surface has a closed structure, dirt doesn’t cling, making it inherently clean and easy to maintain.
- The fire behaviour is excellent as it does not melt or drip and retains its stability for a long time.
- Standard tungsten carbide tipped tools for hardwood can be used for any kind of processing such as sawing, drilling, and routing.
Where can Trespa Base be used?
Trespa was specially designed to last in tough environments:
- Resistance to moisture makes this ideal for use in moisture-prone areas.
- Unaffected by aggressive cleaning agents and disinfectants. This is vital in areas such as operating theatres, laboratories, and pharmaceutical and food production environments.
- Easy-to-clean surface along with its exceptional scratch and impact resistance, low maintenance with good chemical resistance.
- Highly self-supporting due to its flexural rigidity. This property in combination with high scratch and wear resistance makes the material ideal for all kinds of furniture and fittings.
- Applications such as laboratory, office and educational furniture, reception desks, cabinets, tables and custom industrial workstations in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, electronic and food production environments.
Excellent Properties and Ideal for intensive use
As an extremely versatile material, with excellent properties, Trespa is ideal for use in all public and leisure building and for furniture subject to intensive use. It fulfils the requirements for HPL products as defined in BS EN 438-2/91. No edge banding is needed and it will not delaminate.
Resistant to wear
Tests in accordance with BS EN 438-2/91 – highly resistant to wear, making it ideal for installations where heavy use and frequent cleaning are expected.
Impact-resistant
Tests in accordance with BS EN 438-2/91, the dynamic ball indentation test, proved its day-to-day practical use. A solid, homogenous core with a hard surface based on melamine resins gives the panel exceptional impact resistance. e.g. as wall cladding public rooms and rooms susceptible to vandalism, or as bumper rails in hospital corridors.
Scratch-resistant
The special surface structure and durability provides excellent scratch resistance. Even in heavy-duty use, the panel retains its appearance for a very long time.
Simple to clean
The closed, non-porous surface of Trespa does not attract dirt. The panel can easily be cleaned either with normal cleaning agents or even with strong disinfectants because the material is chemically resistant. It’s also easy to clean graffiti, for which an organic solvent should be used – there’s no danger of affecting the colour.
Chemical resistance
Trespa has a high resistance to organic solvents such as acetone, toluene, xylene and similar substances. The panel is also resistant to disinfectants and cleaning chemicals as well as food juices and dyes, which affect neither the properties nor the appearance. However, where concentrated, strong acids are frequently used we recommend the extremely chemical resistant Trespa Toplab.
Moisture-resistance
Trespa is not adversely affected by moisture and is not susceptible to weathering, mould or rot. Thermosetting resins used for the surface and core make them impervious to moisture. The dimensional stability and workability are comparable to those of hardwood.
Safe fire behaviour
The surface of Trespa is, in accordance with BS EN 438-2/91, highly resistant when in contact with burning cigarettes. The material does not catch fire and flake off. The fire behaviour of both types of Trespa is comparable to that of hardwood. The panel material does not melt, drip or explode and retains its stability for a long period of time. Trespa is self-extinguishing and U.L classified and labelled.
Suitable for applications in the food industry
Trespa conforms with the requirements of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for direct contact with foods.
Anti-static
Trespa is designated as an anti-static material – in accordance with DIN 51 953 and DIN 53482. This makes the panel particularly suitable for applications in clean rooms, as computer furniture or in the optical industry.
Radiation
Trespa can be penetrated by X-rays, so it is often used in the medical treatment sector.
Trespa and the environment
Panel waste can be disposed of or used just like normal building or demolition waste. If it is burned in industrial furnaces (at a temperature of > 720 °C), no hazardous, corrosive gases are released. This is also a good method of recovering energy.
