U.S. – Arauco launched Prism, a new brand name for the company’s thermally fused laminate (TFL) products produced in North America.

Prism TFL consists of 67 designs (Woodgrains, Abstracts & Specialty Solids), targeting commercial and residential applications. All of the designs are available in nine different textures across North America.

Six new designs were recently introduced to the Prism collection: Bark Mherge, Cinder Mherge, Icy Mherge, Loft Reclamation Maple, Slate Mherge and Reclamation Maple Studio. Prism is available in MDF, particleboard and HDF substrates.

Arauco North America produces composite board panels in nine plants in the United States and Canada. “We’re investing in the value-added side of the laminate panel business,” reports Michael Rosso, Arauco North America Vice President of Manufacturing. “Adding the ability to impregnate decorative paper with melamine-based resin brings the control of TFL manufacturing in-house. That in turn allows us to optimize the manufacturing process and offer customers even more design flexibility.”

This new flexibility is further enhanced by the arrival of a new next-generation fast-cycle press to produce TFL products. The press will be located at Arauco’s Bennettsville, S.C. plant and is scheduled to be operational later this year. The press also includes inline registered embossing (EIR technology) capabilities.