In the sanitary ceramics industry, the so-called traditional "old four" products typically include toilets, squatting pans, urinals, and wash basins. However, in recent years, a new category has emerged—bathroom cabinets. These cabinets usually consist of a sink (such as a thin side basin, an above-counter basin, or an under-counter basin with a composite countertop), a cabinet, a decorative mirror, a faucet, and a drainage pipe. While the old four products have high comparability, their pricing is limited. In contrast, bathroom cabinets are more complex due to unique designs and varied materials, making them one of the most profitable product lines for many sanitary ware manufacturers.
This article focuses on the innovation in bathroom cabinet materials. Initially, I believed that ceramic materials were highly complex, while wood products lacked technical value. However, after speaking with Shang Gao, the Executive Vice President of Sanitary Ware, and visiting the company’s “Foshan City Waterproof and Environmentally-friendly Bathroom Cabinet Engineering Technology Research and Development Center,†I discovered that wood-based bathroom cabinets also offer significant room for innovation.
In the market, common materials used for bathroom cabinets include MDF, particleboard, PVC boards, stainless steel, solid wood finger-jointed boards, and solid wood multi-layer boards. Among these, solid wood finger-jointed and multi-layer boards are particularly popular among Chinese consumers. Due to differences in climate and usage environments between China and Western countries, material choices vary significantly. In China, solid wood materials are preferred for their waterproof and anti-deformation properties.
MDF and particleboard cabinets are cost-effective and allow for colorful paper lamination, but they tend to swell or crack when exposed to moisture. PVC board cabinets are water-resistant, durable, and easy to clean, but they lack the natural feel of wood and may crack at joints. Stainless steel cabinets are long-lasting, resistant to rust and mold, but they can be thin and prone to showing soap and shampoo residue. Solid wood finger-jointed cabinets are elegant and eco-friendly, but they are expensive and vulnerable to weather changes. Solid wood multi-layer boards combine style, durability, and water resistance, enabling mass production, but they are still affected by environmental conditions.
The standard multi-layer solid wood panels in the market are made using non-waterproof adhesives, which often fail to meet bathroom cabinet waterproofing requirements. In contrast, waterproof multi-layer boards are manufactured with high-grade waterproof glue, precise thickness control, and multiple layers of pressing and sanding, ensuring minimal deformation and excellent quality. They comply with GB/17657-1999 standards for physical and chemical properties of artificial panels.
High-quality waterproof multi-layer boards are made from premium eucalyptus or mixed wood veneers, pressed with advanced technology to ensure structural stability and resistance to warping. The vertical and horizontal gluing process, combined with high temperature and pressure, eliminates internal stress and deformation issues. Eco-friendly adhesives ensure low formaldehyde emissions, meeting national safety standards.
Using high-water-resistance, low-deformation solid wood multi-layer boards alone isn't enough to create premium bathroom cabinets. It's also crucial to focus on innovations in assembly techniques. For example, triamine press technology applied to solid wood multi-layer boards creates high-standard laminated boards. New blister processes have been developed, allowing solid wood laminates to be processed like plastic, which requires extremely flat surfaces and compact structures. Only high-density MDF meets these demands. Additionally, UV lacquering technology from the flooring industry can replace traditional paint methods, offering better environmental performance, higher efficiency, and lower costs. Unlike solvent-based paints, UV coatings eliminate odors and improve user experience.
Technological innovation is everywhere, and the more we practice, the faster progress becomes. China’s high-speed rail system leads globally in mileage, and companies like the North Locomotive Group have achieved international recognition. China also has the most tunnels with complex terrain, and its tunneling technology is world-leading. With the country being the top producer of ceramics, there is great potential for technological leadership in the future. We hope entrepreneurs will aim higher, not only for profit but also for advancing the industry’s technology and pushing boundaries.
Paint computer color quality control software，Textile computer color quality control software，Plastic computer color quality control software
CHNSpec Technology (Zhejiang)Co.,Ltd , https://www.chnspec360.com