Why Laminate Peels Off, And Why It Doesn’t Happen With Our Consoles

Laminate peeling is a common issue in traditional office furniture, especially in high-use environments. But why does it happen, and more importantly, why doesn’t it happen with our control room consoles?

The Problem With Ordinary Laminate Desks

Laminate, often referred to as “fake wood,” is a synthetic material used to create a thin, decorative surface on furniture. While it’s popular in commercial office settings for being easy to clean and resistant to stains and warping, it has a major drawback: it peels.

This peeling typically starts at the edges, especially on desks with sharp, right-angled edges where chair arms or users’ bodies frequently rub against the surface. Over time, this friction causes the laminate to lift, exposing the underlying material. Lower-quality desks made from chipboard or particle board are particularly vulnerable, especially when paired with thin or poorly bonded laminate layers.

Why Our Consoles Don’t Peel

Our control room consoles are engineered for durability and performance in 24/7 environments. Here’s how we prevent laminate issues:

1. Heavy-Duty Materials

Unlike ordinary desks, our consoles use high-pressure laminate bonded to MDF or steel-reinforced surfaces, ensuring a much stronger bond and resistance to wear. These materials are designed to withstand the weight and heat of IT equipment, as well as constant human interaction.

Example of one of our control room consoles equipped with multiple monitor arms.

2. Urethane Edge Protection

We incorporate a urethane edge around our worksurfaces. This not only cushions the surface from bumps and scratches caused by chairs, doors, or passing operators, it also protects the laminate from peeling. The urethane edge is especially important at touchpoints where operators rest their arms or move equipment.

3. Ergonomic and Rounded Design

Our consoles feature rounded edges, reducing the friction that typically causes laminate to peel. This design consideration enhances both durability and user comfort.

4. Built for Load and Longevity

Our consoles are built to support significant weight. For example, the Transit console can handle over 900 pounds across its surfaces, thanks to six 1200N actuators. This means the structure isn’t strained under the weight of monitors, arms, radios, and other equipment, reducing stress on the laminate and frame.

5. Lifetime Warranty

While most office furniture comes with a short-term warranty, our consoles are backed by lifetime warranties, reflecting the confidence we have in our materials and construction.

Are you renovating your control room? We can help you build a durable work environment.

Laminate peeling is a symptom of furniture not designed for demanding environments. Our control room consoles are different. They’re not just desks, they’re technical furniture built for mission-critical operations, combining ergonomic design, industrial-grade materials, and long-term reliability.

If you're tired of replacing peeling desks or dealing with maintenance issues, it might be time to upgrade to a solution built for mission critical environments. Contact us to know how we can help you.