What is Fenix? A super-matte modern laminate
Perhaps you’re a big cycling fan and you already know the name Fenix, sponsors of the Belgian cycling team. Otherwise, chances are you might not have come across Fenix before, at least by name. We’re excited to introduce you to it if that’s the case, as it’s a material we love using at Wunsch.
What is Fenix?
Fenix is a thin laminate material that can be bonded to other materials, like plywood. It has a very distinct, super-matte finish that has low light reflectivity - making it a great material to use in a modern kitchen. It’s also really soft to the touch, almost velvet like, and is ‘anti fingerprint’ thanks to its unique structure - another reason why we love using it in kitchens.
In fact, all of its properties lend themselves perfectly to high-use, messy environments like a kitchen. It is:
water-repellent
resistant to impact and scratching
resistant to solvents
anti-bacterial
mould resistant
durable
And if the surface ever does get damaged, micro-scratches are repairable thanks to the dense grid of crosspolymers with their own memory. All it takes is an iron and a tea towel, and the scratches can be repaired by reactivating the crosspolymers with heat. Pretty neat!
Fenix is made from 60% paper and 40% thermosetting resin, hardened and fixed through an Electron Beam Curing process. They have a new line, called Bloom, which makes use of lignin, a renewable natural material, significantly reducing the amount of phenol included in the resin by 50%. The colours in the Bloom line are really beautiful, one of which (Rosso Namib) we’ve used in a recent utility room project.
Why do we love Fenix?
It looks and feels great.
Its matte surface is really unique, and it comes in some great colours. We love their Bloom range in particular – rusty red, mustard, aubergine… I challenge you not to feel inspired! It is also super soft to the touch - a big bonus with something as tactile as a kitchen. We love using Fenix alongside something more detailed and textural like oak or plywood, the two can contrast each other really nicely.
Fenix drawer fronts with an oak trim in our Middle Way kitchen
It's really hard wearing
Fenix is really durable - it’s resistant to both impact and scratching. And if it does get scratched? It can be repaired by applying heat. Great for the life of your kitchen and great for the environment. Long life means less waste and a saving in resources.
It’s really well suited to kitchens
It’s resistant to fingerprints - perfect for surfaces that get handled again and again, particularly with grubby fingers! Not only that, it’s mould resistant and anti-bacterial, giving you the confidence that you need that you can prepare your food in a clean, hygienic environment.
They are environmentally conscious
Fenix are carbon neutral, and have a long-term sustainability policy. Their selected carbon-captured projects are waste-to-energy facilities in which the methane gas released from landfills is used to generate electricity.
Rosso Namib in the Middle Way utility room
As you can tell, we love using Fenix. Take a look at our Middle way and Pellbrook Road projects to see what we have done with it recently. If you have some ideas for a project, please do get in touch!