Over the last decade or more the number of solid surface options seems to have grown exponentially. Conglomerates, agglomerates, man-made composites … call them what you will, Compac, Dekton, Lapitec, et al, have increased their reach through a combination of aesthetic sophistication, larger formats for seamless applications, and effective marketing of the materials’ impressive technical performance.
As one of the most commercially astute companies in the tile world, the Porcelanosa Group was not about to miss out on this fast-growing market. The Group actually consists of eight different and powerful brands. One of them – System Pool – has specialised in shower, bath and wellness environments for almost 25 years. Around 10 years ago, System Pool drew on its expertise in the use of acrylic and similar materials, to develop Porcelanosa’s solid surface option: Krion.
This synthetic resin consists of two thirds of natural minerals combined with high strength resins. The resulting material is hard, compact, pore-free, homogeneous, fire-, frost-, UV- and chemical-resistant.
It is also seamless, repairable, easy to maintain, bacteria-proof, environmentally-friendly and antistatic.
Porcelanosa markets Krion in two forms. Krion Bath, only available in white, comprises a large collection of elements (basins, sinks, etc,) all with a matt finish and a velvety surface texture.
Krion Solid Surface, sold in panels, is ideal for customised projects. It can be cut, drilled, thermoformed, milled, bent and glued to create worksurfaces, wall coverings, façades, furniture and even sculpture.
Suitable for backlit installations, it comes in many different sizes and thicknesses, as well as in a multitude of colours.
For several years now, System Pool has been working on a new formula for a material capable of cleaning up the air: K-Life. This new generation of Krion features Eco-Active Solid Technology and works through photocatalysis: the activation of a semiconductor using the energy provided by light. The physical qualities, colour or potential applications of the product are not affected because this is not a surface treatment. The material itself is active and offers air purification, antibacterial and self-cleaning properties.
In contact with K-Life, a chemical reaction occurs that degrades nitrogen (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and transforms them into harmless products. Laboratory tests have shown that, over one year, one sq. metre of K-Life can purifiy the air breathed by 6.5 people.
And, as these photographs show, in the hands of talented designers, Krion and K-Life can bring a whole new dimension to today’s interiors.
A new post by Joe Simpson, Diary of a Tile Addict, September 2017.