by Case goods manufacturer says the product is formaldehyde-free and more durable and UV-resistant than previous conversion varnish
ARCOLA, Ill. — Solid wood furniture manufacturer Simply Amish is switching to a new finish that it said is more durable, is UV- and chemical-resistant and is formaldehyde-free, compared to its previous conversion varnish, thus eliminating the off-gassing of harsh chemicals into people’s living spaces.
The company announced it will transition to a made-in-U.S. 2K acrylic urethane finish starting Oct. 1, shifting from its previous conversion varnish it has used for many years.
Kevin Kauffman, owner and co-founder of Simply Amish, told Home News Now that the company has been looking to shift to a urethane finish for the past several years. The shift was made possible with a new supplier that develops and produces the finish materials in the U.S.
“These guys have developed this new 2K acrylic urethane finish over the last couple of years,” he said. “They brought it to market and have tested it and have proven that it works — so it’s a better product. And I am always looking to try and provide the best of the best. So this is a slightly better product in that it has a little more scratch-resistance, has got more chemical-resistance and it’s formaldehyde-free. Those were the three main reasons.”
He noted that during the October High Point Market the company will show the new finish on about three-quarters of the product it has in its High Point showroom in Space 102/103 of the North Court of 200 North Hamilton. The balance of the product will be shown in the previous finish.
“I actually kind of intentionally left part of the stuff in the showroom with the old finish,” he said, noting that he wanted to ease customers’ minds that there is no drastic difference in the way the finish looks or feels on the wood product line. “It’s a different finish, and it’s better and it’s formaldehyde-free and all that, but the nice thing about it is that it is developed intentionally to look and feel very similar to the (conversion) varnish.”
Below are some of the qualities the company identified as benefits to the new finish:
+ The hard and durable coating provides more scratch-resistance than other conventional finishes.
+ It also has UV-resistance that is “crystal clear and nonyellowing for the life of the furniture.”
+ It is less prone to cracking and chipping.
+ It also has resistance to moisture and chemicals, making it suitable for furniture in the line, including bedroom, dining and occasional.
+ It is available in clear and pigmented versions, offering “nearly limitless color options.”
“By adopting this 2K acrylic urethane, we’re reinforcing our commitment to creating furniture that’s not only built to last, but finished with materials that represent the very best in finishing technology,” the company said.
Kauffman noted that because the finish materials are more expensive, this will add roughly 2% to the cost of the product in the new finish.
“Urethane is more expensive no doubt, but when we look at the cost of what it adds to a big piece of furniture, it was minor. … So yes, it did add a little bit (to the cost), but it was definitely well worth it.”
