10 Miles of Bad Road Found in Temple, Texas; Nevamar Announces the Winner of the First 'High Mileage Countertop Contest'.

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ODENTON, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 1, 2004

Nevamar Company, a leading manufacturer of high pressure laminates and other surfacings, announces the winner of the High Mileage Countertop Contest(TM). The company has been on a mission since last year to find the "worst of the worst" - countertops and work surfaces that "look like 10 miles of bad road."

Nevamar chose to run the High Mileage Contest to highlight the "invisible difference" their laminate carries - an extra-durable treatment that resists wear and tear called "Armored Protection(TM)." Todd Vogelsinger, Group Brand Manager for Nevamar, said that the Armored Protection difference is "like an insurance policy - it will help avoid the embarrassing and frustrating results of using weaker, inferior surfacing materials."

The entries, judged by a panel of construction and design professionals, were all worthy of the title "worst of the worst". The panel was both amazed and shocked at the condition of the worktops that people continue to tolerate in their homes and places of business. Some of their comments included "perfectly hideous", "that's condemnable!" and "positively abused".

In the end, the judges chose Wayne's Kwik Stop in Temple, Texas, for a series of tables used by local patrons to play dominos. Photos show how the original (non-Nevamar) laminate surfacing was worn clear through, exposing huge patches of brown where the color used to be.

Nevamar Laminate, with the exclusive Armored Protection(TM) finish, provides more than two and one half times the wear value of the industry standard for laminates. "The added advantage of Armored Protection keeps Nevamar surfaces looking newer longer - a major benefit to home and business owners," says Vogelsinger.

"If there's one thing we learned by running the first High Mileage contest," Vogelsinger said, "it's that people are really frustrated with inferior countertops that literally disintegrate after normal use. We hope that spreading the word about the Nevamar Armored Protection advantage, will help our customers select good-looking materials that provide the wear-resistance and the life-cycle they deserve - at an extremely affordable price."

Nevamar Company is a leading diversified manufacturer of decorative surface products, including high pressure laminates, low pressure melamine panels, metal laminates, plus other decorative surfaces and panels used in commercial and residential interiors, store fixtures, furnishings and graphic arts.

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