THE GREAT KNOWLEDGE QUIZ - Duropal

ut 103 centimetres. “Even if one has a shorter partner:
more height is less strenuous for a shorter person than
too little height for taller people.” anyone who wants
things even more ergonomic can decide on soft opening
and closing for drawers and doors, which are also
available if required with electronic assistance. “this
dispenses with handles, and as a result looks simply
more aesthetic.”
according to Günther, functional solutions are becoming
increasingly important: dishwashers should
be quiet, the ice-crusher and coffee machine installed
in the same way — and the refrigerator should offer the
possibility of zone cooling: “that is what i have at home.
Here a lettuce keeps for around 14 days.” Specialists
consider the induction oven as a revolution in the
kitchen: “this is the latest thing. Particularly in France,
where people traditionally cook with gas.” Customers
are also increasingly placing value of ecological aspects:
“Electrical appliances must be energy-saving, water
resources must be spared and waste-separation systems
must be sensibly integrated. the subject of the environment
is very important to our customers at the moment.”
the signs of the times were also recognised at an
early stage at Schmidt Küchen when it comes to matters
of design. “the kitchen is becoming increasingly individual,
and the possibilities for such individuality even
better.” in other words: “a few years ago, it was still
unaffordable and in many cases not even possible to
produce an individual décor. We now have the technology.
the dream of the absolutely individual and yet still
QUaLitY
affordable kitchen has therefore now become a reality.”
For this reason, Schmidt Küchen is one of the few manufacturers
to recommend batch size 1: “in this i see an
enormous opportunity. and if the customer really wants
it, we can also produce for him his own personal Barbie
kitchen.”
Günther accordingly places great value on flexibility
in the selection of his suppliers. He considers himself
to be in good hands with duropal and wodego: “as an
commercial customer, we purchase the materials of
both brands through Pfleiderer industrie. these make
up around 50 percent of all the décors we use. i have
known this company now for 30 years, and have always
been satisfied. Every single one of our décor requests
is complied with 100 percent.” and what is particularly
important to him: “the colour match range from
duropal and wodego, and the consequent matching
décor combination of high-pressure laminates and
direct laminates. this is unobtainable anywhere else.
We can therefore offer coloured interiors to match the
fronts, which in terms of high quality is an absolute
must.”
How much Schmidt Küchen relies on the innovative
capabilities of duropal is demonstrated by the company’s
only showroom, covering an area of 3,000 m²:
the new gold leaf décor, like many others, practically
sells itself, and the surface texture innovation Crystal
Stone can be found on every other worktop. and there
is still much more to discover — in every individual
consultation studio.
HPL World _ 23