Sponsored by Smartstone
The creation of Smartstone’s new Sintered Collection was an exciting opportunity to offer the market a more elevated benchtop aesthetic compared to the traditional engineered options, says managing director Belinda Kelaher. Made of porcelain, it not only offers some stunningly realistic designs but it’s also 100% natural and a known quantity.
Smartstone officially launched its Sintered Collection in March; a new porcelain range that redefines surface aesthetics, performance and capabilities, continuing the brand’s 21 years of industry innovation. Created through an advanced ‘sintering’ process, the collection elevates the qualities of traditional porcelain to an entirely new level by delivering superior durability, advanced manufacturing capabilities and enhanced natural-stone aesthetics.
“The porcelain category does not fall within the government’s definition of engineered stone and is excluded from the ban,” said Belinda. “As porcelain can only be fabricated with water, it eliminates the risk of dry-cutting. Both porcelain and sintered stone products are fully compliant with the new government legislation.”
She says consumers have become more savvy when renovating and willing to use bolder colours and patterns. The way people can differentiate their property is in the fixtures and finishes they choose and the kitchen benchtop is often a showcase and an important part of the home.
Being a porcelain product, Smartstone’s new Sintered Collection, with 22 designs (and two more in progress), is excluded from the definition of ‘engineered stone’ under WorkSafe guidelines. Unlike engineered stone, it is a 100% natural material which contains no metal compounds or resins as binders.
Belinda says printing technology has come so far, the product is beyond convincing as natural stone, but with all the qualities and the often more affordable pricepoint of the manmade version. “Sintered stone is a really durable and beautiful alternative. The clarity and depth of the vein designs are incomparable – sophisticated and realistic.”
Smartstone has also been the first in the country to create a “full-bodied” product with veining going all the way through so, for example, when you have an inset kitchen sink, the edges are so much more impressive. “It gives the surfaces the authentic and realistic look of natural stone.”
Feedback so far from interior designers and architects has been very positive with many welcoming the bolder veins and choice of colours. The Calacatta Viola design, based on the Italian marble with dramatic grape-purple veins on a white base, is proving a clear early favourite.
To produce Smartstone’s innovative porcelain, the ‘sintering’ process replicates millions of years of the earth’s metamorphic processes by combining advanced technology with natural fusion techniques. Intense heat and immense pressure (30,000 tons) bind natural minerals to create an ultra-compact, extra-durable material that delivers exceptional performance, during both the fabrication and installation stages.
In terms of safety for trades, the sintered product can only be cut using a wet blade, so it’s not really possible for anyone to even choose to cut corners.
Other benefits include it being completely heat resistant meaning it can be used for applications such as fireplace surrounds. Because there’s no resin content, it doesn’t expand or contract in heat or cold. Of course this also means it can be used outdoors too. And for wall cladding, sinks, furniture and more. It has zero porosity and is 100% UV stable.
“Unlike some of the other new product out there as alternatives to engineered stone since the ban (which comes into effect on 1 July 2024) which are in some ways unproven, porcelain has already been proven to perform for many years,” Belinda notes.
There are three pricing categories from Pure, the most affordable range, to Classic and Deluxe, determined by the complexity of each stone’s manufacture. Every surface is of equal, premium quality. From benchtops and bathroom vanities to fireplaces and furniture, sintered surfaces are tested by NATA-certified TestSafe Australia as highly resistant to stains, heat, chemicals, chips, scratches, mould, mildew and bacteria.
While the Sintered Collection represents an exciting product evolution, the range maintains the many trusted qualities and values for which Smartstone has been renowned since 2002. And Belinda notes that all customers with their previous engineered stone products in their homes do not need to worry about them being unsafe, that their warranties still stand and they’re on hand to advise them at any stage.
The new range continues Smartstone affordability, to make the luxury of living with stone surfaces a more accessible and viable option with a rectified jumbo slab size of 3200mm x 1600mm x 20mm.
The Sintered Collection can be viewed on the new Smartstone website now, where samples can be ordered.
