LG Hausys, which makes Hi-Macs solid surfaces, today (2 March) launches a range of patterned slabs called Hi-Macs Structura.

It comes in 10 standard colours (most of them whites) with 10 standard designs, although the material can be made with customers' own designs, including raised lettering and drawings.

The standard colours are Nordic, Alpine, Diamond, Arctic, Satin and Ivory whites, cream, grey and red. In the standard patterns are relief decoration such as the hexagonals of Hive, pebble-like Zen and undulations of Dunes.

Structura comes in 12mm thick slabs 3050mm long, 760mm wide (Alpine White is also available in 9mm and 6mm thick slabs, with the 6mm slabs 2490mm long). Like other Hi-Macs, Structura can be shaped by thermoforming (heating). Interestingly, the makers of engineered quartz have also lately been promoting the possibility of thermoforming quartz by immersing it in hot water.

The fact that Structura can be made with virtually any surface patterns will allow architects and designers to create their own bespoke surfaces, which has tended to be the province of high end marble processing.

Hausys says Structura offers a better finish and can be more cost-effective than creating a pattern on Hi-Macs using a CNC workcentre. Watch a video on YouTube and find out more about the new material on the Hi-Macs website.