Arfinio® enables safer, more durable shower plates

Bathroom furniture manufacturer Estoli was looking for a shower plate with the high-end appearance and performance of conventional solid-surface materials, but with additional features such as a lower weight and improved slip resistance.

Estoli found that most materials available could not meet these needs. Many required a separate coating to perform well, were too heavy, or did not deliver the extra-high wet slip resistance that Estoli was aiming for.

To overcome this challenge, Estoli decided to use Arfinio®, a manufacturing technology being developed by Covestro and polyurethane manufacturer Arcesso Dynamics. Arfinio® works by adapting the RIM process to aliphatic polyurethanes – previously considered impossible.

Estoli supported the technology by basing the design of its shower plate around Arfinio® and investing in prototyping molds at an early stage of development. It was the first company to do so, and the resulting single-material shower plate is the first item designed for and built with Arfinio®.

Thanks to the patented Arfinio® technology, the shower plate has similar properties to a solid surface, but has improved wet slip resistance and can be made 50% lighter than those using standard solid-surface materials. This reduces the amount of material needed and the risk of safety incidents during installation. Because of Arfinio®’s high thermal coefficient, the plate is warm to the touch, and the Arfinio® formulation can also be supplemented with antibacterial additives on request.

In this way, Arfinio® offers improved safety levels during installation and use, and an improved user experience.

In addition, Arfinio® provides excellent impact and abrasion resistance, enabling a long service lifetime. And, as a monomaterial, the shower plate can be easily repaired and recycled. In this way, the technology enables bathroom furniture manufacturers to reduce their environmental impact.