Whatever the type of office furniture you buy, it is most likely to include edge banding. Why?
Well, most importantly it looks good and improves the longevity of your office furniture.
The process of covering the raw edges of wood panels with a thin strip of wood, PVC, or resinous material is called edge banding. The narrow strips themselves are known as edge bands. Commercially, edge banding is done using industry-grade heat applicators and a hot-melt adhesive. For modular office furniture, the material used is mostly PVC which is easy to fix and has a long life.
Most Modular office furniture is made using engineered wood. As such, the wood is treated and made resistant to moisture by treatments. However, wood has a natural tendency to absorb water. This tendency cannot be removed completely – it can only be reduced. Edge banding protects the wooden panels in your office furniture from moisture, thus reducing the effects of atmospheric humidity and liquid spills. This means that the strength and durability of the wood increases. So, the next time you spill coffee on your table and it drips down the edge, thank the edge banding for protecting the wood.
Conventional carpenters use teak wood bands to cover raw edges of wooden boards. Edge band tape can be made from PVC, acrylic, wood or wood veneer. However, most modular office furniture use PVC edge bands. That’s because PVC is impermeable which means that it reduces water absorption to a large extent. Also, modular office furniture comes in a much wider variety of colors and shades than the options available for real wood. PVC strips can be produced to match the exact shade and finish of your modular panel, thus creating a seamless look. Also, as compared to real wood bands, PVC (and other commercially used edge bands) are easier to use on curved surfaces.
So in essence, the main reasons that PVC is such a popular choice for edge banding are:
PVC edge bands are impermeable
PVC edge bands come in varying shades and colours and can be custom-made
It can be easily used on curved surfaces unlike real wood bands
Essentially, an edge band is a thin strip of impermeable PVC that is cut to fit the size of a wood panel. It is then applied to the raw edge using a strong adhesive. A heat roller is then used to melt the adhesive and glue the edge band over the wood. The ends are trimmed flush and bent so that they cover the wood and do not have any sharp ends. Any surplus glue is scraped off and the finished edge is buffed to give a flawless finish. The machine that is used for this process is called an edge bander.
The most frequently used glues for edge banding is PVA (Poly Vinyl Acetate) and PA (Polyamide) hot-melt glues. These are pliable under high temperatures. They are also durable and tough under low temperatures. They dry clear and most importantly are water-resistant. A good office furniture provider will always make sure their pieces have the best glue for edge bands which will keep them from coming off and chipping easily. When you are making your purchase, you should ask the seller what kind of glue they use for manufacturing.
Yes. While you can use PVC bands for almost any type of wood, the thickness of the band will differ. It is important to use the right band for a particular material to ensure strength and durability.
There are a variety of edge bands available in the market; from pre-glued ones to 3D acrylic tapes. The best one for your office furniture depends on the type of material your office furniture is made of. Stellar which is the best office chair and office furniture manufacturer in China, uses top-quality, commercially available edge bands. Over 500 different finishes and patterns ranging from natural wood grain to solid finishes are available.
Hope this article has given you an insight into what goes into the manufacture of your modular office furniture. In case you have further doubts about edge banding, do leave a comment and we would be happy to answer your queries.
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