Laboratory countertops
Selecting the right laboratory countertop is one of the most critical decisions in lab design. These surfaces endure constant wear and tear from chemicals, impacts, and heat. It’s important to understand that there is no universal “best” material; the ideal countertop depends entirely on your lab’s specific applications, ensuring safety, durability, and long-term performance.
Trespa worktop
TRESPA laboratory worktops are engineered from cellulose-reinforced thermosetting resins under intense heat and pressure, creating a seamless, monolithic panel renowned for exceptional durability and chemical resistance. Ideal for demanding environments, they hold international certifications for rigorous chemical resistance, low VOC emissions, and food-safe compliance, making them a versatile and certified choice for healthcare, educational, and industrial laboratories.
Epoxy resin worktop
Epoxy Resin is a premier laboratory benchtop material, engineered for maximum durability and superior chemical resistance. This modern surface is mechanically strong, stain-resistant, and easily decontaminated, while also offering excellent fire resistance and low flame-spread properties for enhanced safety. It is available in custom thicknesses from 19mm to 25mm to meet specific lab requirements.
Ceramic worktop
Ceramic laboratory worktops are engineered through a high-temperature process where natural clay, quartz, and feldspar are fired at 1240°C, creating a surface of superior density with exceptionally low liquid absorption. This results in greater overall resistance compared to standard materials, complemented by a specialized, chemically resistant glaze that withstands common laboratory chemicals. During firing, the integrated color pigments crystallize into the ceramic body, ensuring a durable and permanently vibrant finish.
Granite worktop
Granite is a highly durable igneous rock valued for its inherent toughness and significantly lower porosity than marble, making it a practical and long-lasting choice for laboratory worktops. Fabricated to a minimum thickness of 19 mm with a safety-focused round molded edge, each slab is ground and polished to reveal a smooth, lustrous surface that contrasts with the stone’s natural rough state. Composed of various minerals, granite offers a uniquely attractive appearance, ensuring no two worktops are exactly alike.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene worktops provide an exceptional blend of superior chemical resistance and ideal performance for moisture-rich environments, making them the preferred choice for specialized labs and applications involving acid-rich operations. Highly customizable, they are available in sheet thicknesses from 3mm to 15mm and are structurally supported with a plywood backing (18mm to 36mm) for stability, finished with a durable, hot-melt glued PVC edge for a complete and resilient work surface.
Solid surface (acrylic)
Solid surface material is a versatile choice renowned for its seamless aesthetics and fabrication flexibility, making it excellent for both commercial and residential settings like kitchens and reception desks. Its key advantage is the ability to be easily cut, shaped, and molded into seamless three-dimensional designs. A typical laboratory worktop is constructed using a 12 mm thick solid surface sheet supported by an 18 mm to 36 mm plywood backing, often featuring an integrated backsplash and downturn for a continuous, easy-to-clean surface.
Stainless steel worktop
Stainless steel worktops are a supremely practical and hygienic solution, prized for being largely inert to the acids and alkalis in common foodstuffs and additives. This inherent quality, combined with extreme durability, stain resistance, and an inability to chip or fade, makes them exceptionally easy to clean with minimal maintenance. Constructed from a 1.2 mm thick sheet of 304 or 316-grade steel backed by 18 mm to 36 mm of plywood and featuring an integrated 100 mm backsplash, these 100% recyclable worktops offer a durable, sustainable, and seamless surface for demanding environments.
Solid wood worktop
Solid wood worktops are ideally suited for mechanical or workshop benches that undergo significant physical activity, offering a durable and resilient surface. Their key advantage lies in the unique, natural beauty they bring to a workspace—an aesthetic that is difficult to duplicate with synthetic materials. Unlike many surfaces that show wear, a well-maintained wood worktop maintains its original splendor and character over time, and it is highly versatile, available in a wide range of thicknesses and finishes to match any functional or design requirement.
Melamine-laminated plywood
Laminated plywood worktops are a cost-effective and robust solution, primarily designated for dry environments like offices and computer labs. Their construction centers on a 24 mm Boiled Water Proof (BWP) plywood core, which is laminated on both sides with a 0.9 mm thick High-Pressure Laminate (HPL) using a hot press with a minimum of 90 tons of pressure to ensure permanent adhesion. For a durable and finished appearance, these worktops include 3 mm thick hot-melt glued PVC edging and, on wall-mounted benches, a 100 mm high glued backsplash.
