Laminating Materials Association.OVERVIEW The Laminating Materials Association (LMA LMA left mentoanterior (position of fetus). ) is a trade association representing manufacturers and importers of man-made decorative overlays (excluding high pressure laminate) and edgebanding that are applied to a wood substrate. The overlays represented by the LMA find application in furniture, cabinets, case goods case goods pl.n. 1. a. Pieces of furniture, such as bookcases or chests of drawers, that provide interior storage space. b. Pieces of dining or bedroom furniture sold as sets. 2. , wall paneling, and etc. The producers and importers of these decorative overlays provide vital shipment statistics about the products they sell. These members are known as Reporting Members. The Association also has members that produce substrates, adhesives, laminating equipment, and laminated products. Because these companies do not provide production statistics, they are known as Non-Reporting Members. Recently the LMA has expanded the size of its Board of Directors to give a greater voice to Non-Reporting Members. Current members of the LMA's Board include: Mike Phillips Mike Phillips may refer to
MARKETING COMMITTEE During the last LMA meeting a new committee was formed to help increase awareness within the industry of the products and services offered by the LMA. The Marketing & Promotions Committee, headed by Bill Waters (Decorative Products Div. of IP), will work to promote the goals of the LMA, and will focus on how the Association can be of better service to end users and others within the industry. If you have any suggestions for the Committee or wish to get more information about the LMA, please stop by our booth (3E-11) at the IWF IWF Interworking Function IWF Internet Watch Foundation IWF Independent Women's Forum IWF International Weightlifting Federation IWF Internationaler Währungsfond (German; IMF) IWF Independent Wrestling Federation show in Atlanta. MEMBERSHIP There are two classes of membership in the Laminating Materials Association. A Reporting Member is a company or individual manufacturing and/or importing one or more of the products covered by the Association. A Reporting Member is obligated ob·li·gate tr.v. ob·li·gat·ed, ob·li·gat·ing, ob·li·gates 1. To bind, compel, or constrain by a social, legal, or moral tie. See Synonyms at force. 2. To cause to be grateful or indebted; oblige. to report production and/or import statistics. A Non-Reporting Member is a company or individual having a product or service related to the materials produced by Reporting members. This includes substrates (particleboard par·ti·cle·board or particle board n. A structural material made of wood fragments, such as chips or shavings, that are mechanically pressed into sheet form and bonded together with resin. , hardboard hardboard: see composition board. , MDF (1) (Main Distribution Frame) A wiring rack that connects outside lines with internal lines. It is used to connect public or private lines coming into the building to internal networks. , etc.); adhesives (hot melts, water/solvent based, and epoxies); laminating equipment. etc, Laminators, equipment manufacturers, and others may also be Non-Reporting Members. The Association has a single dues structure for all members. Dues for the 1993-1994 fiscal year (November 1 to October 31) are $500. Members are entitled to a copy of the Annual Statistical Report, one or more listings in the Association's Source of Supply Directory, inclusion in this Annual Insert, and participation in any activity undertaken by the Association. RELEVANT STATISTICS Production of decorative overlays rose over 15% in 1992 and continued this strong growth in 1993, rising nearly 12%. This would seem to indicate that, at least for decorative overlays, the recession is finally over. The Association tracks shipments of decorative overlays, excluding high pressure laminate, and total U.S. supply jumped past the 7.7 billion square foot mark, excluding higher total overlay pressure laminate, exceeded the record high set in 1992 by 805 million square feet and surpassed the 1990 recessionary low by 1.7 billion square feet. Most of the products represented by the Association experienced excellent growth in 1993, as shown in the graph on page 37. The most impressive growth in 1993 came from saturated papers, which maintained their 21% growth from 1992. These decorative surfacing papers generally weighing between 60 and 130 grams per square meter Noun 1. square meter - a centare is 1/100th of an are centare, square metre area unit, square measure - a system of units used to measure areas , and are saturated with reactive resins and partially cured at the point of manufacture. Final curing is done at the time of hot press lamination lamination a laminar structure or arrangement. when the resins form a hard crosslinked thermoset A polymer-based liquid or powder that becomes solid when heated, placed under pressure, treated with a chemical or via radiation. The curing process creates a chemical bond that, unlike a thermoplastic, prevents the material from being remelted. See thermoplastic. material. The paper formation is similar to the sheet used for high pressure laminates. These products are self-bonding; that is, the resin in the paper flows into the surface of the board during lamination, creating a permanent bond. Thus, no adhesives are required. Vinyl film, made of polyvinyl chloride polyvinyl chloride (PVC), thermoplastic that is a polymer of vinyl chloride. Resins of polyvinyl chloride are hard, but with the addition of plasticizers a flexible, elastic plastic can be made. (PVC PVC: see polyvinyl chloride. PVC in full polyvinyl chloride Synthetic resin, an organic polymer made by treating vinyl chloride monomers with a peroxide. ), is used for decorative surfacing and may be either clear or solid color an even color; one not shaded or variegated. See also: Solid . If it is clear, it is printed on the reverse side to protect the print. If it is a solid color, the printing is on the top. There are six categories of vinyl films. Viny vin·y adj. vin·i·er, vin·i·est 1. Of, relating to, or having the nature of vines. 2. Overgrown with or abounding in vines. films can be used for wall paneling, case goods, stereo cabinets, and other applications. The use of vinyl for wall paneling rose nearly 46% in 1993 following a number of years of declines. Overall, the entire vinyl film category rose 13% in 1993. Low basis weight papers, sometimes referred to as "micro-papers" or "rice papers", range in weight from 23 to 30 grams and are sometimes pre-impregnated with resin. Acrylic, polyester, and other resins can be added during the paper making process to improve the internal bond strength of the paper. The paper is then printed and generally coated with polyurethane, urea, polyester, acrylic or melamine resins, or a combination thereof. Total U.S. supply of these papers rose 12.7% in 1993. Low basis weight papers are usually divided into two categories, standard or industrial. Standard grade papers contain a lower amount of resin in the base paper, and offer an economical laminate for use on low wear surfaces, such as wall paneling. Growth in wall paneling applications rose nearly 40% in 1993. Industrial grade papers have a higher resin content, greater internal bond strength, and experienced a 5% increase in production in 1993. Decorative foils was the only overlay category to experience a decline in production in 1993, falling 6% since 1992. These cellulose papers weigh between 40 and 140 grams per square meter untreated, though they may be impregnated im·preg·nate tr.v. im·preg·nat·ed, im·preg·nat·ing, im·preg·nates 1. To make pregnant; inseminate. 2. To fertilize (an ovum, for example). 3. with melamine melamine (mĕl`əmēn'), common name for 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine. Melamine is a trimer (see polymer) of cyanamide, H2NC≡N, and is synthesized from calcium carbide. thermosetting resins. Treating may add 20 to 40 grams of weight or more, depending on the basis weight of the paper. Decorative foils require an adhesive for lamination. These papers are generally referred to as "finished foils" in Europe. In the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. they have been called melamine papers, intermediate weight foils, and impregnated foils. They are all of intermediate weight, but so are most of the saturated papers. And, "foils" are not all finished, nor are they all impregnated. Impregnation impregnation /im·preg·na·tion/ (im?preg-na´shun) 1. fertilization. 2. saturation (1). impregnation 1. the act of fertilizing or rendering pregnant. 2. saturation. , or lack thereof, and the percentage of resin used, have a direct effect on the internal bond strength of the paper, as well as the porosity, cutting qualities, and machinability. LMA -- GOALS The goals of the Laminating Materials Association have grown and changed as the organization has matured. The primary goal will always be: * To provide accurate statistical information on the total North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. supply of decorative overlays, with the exception of HPL HPL - Language used in HP9825A/S/T "Desktop Calculators", 1978(?) and ported to the early Series 200 family (9826 and 9836, 68000). Fairly simple and standard, but with extensive I/O support for data acquisition and control (BCD, Serial, 16 bit custom and IEEE 488 interfaces), . Over time, other goals have been identified and achieved by the LMA: * A Source of Supply Directory listing the products and services of its members. * A Glossary of Terms for the laminating industry to promote better understanding and a common use of laminating terms. * Voluntary Product Standards covering the overlays and edgebanding materials represented by the Association. Source of Supply Directory The Association maintains a current Source of Supply Director, which allows member firms to list the products they offer. The Product Finder Product finders are information systems that help consumers to identify products within a large palette of similar alternative products. Product finders differ in complexity, the more complex among them being a special case of decision support systems. section of this Guide is based on the LMA's Directory, which is available free by calling Association headquarters. Glossary of Terms In an effort to arrive at some standardization of terms used within the laminating industry, the LMA produced a Glossary of Terms in 1987. The Glossary has been recently expanded and reprinted and now includes definitions of decorative overlays, edgebanding, adhesives, substrates, and equipment. Anyone wishing a FREE copy of the entire Glossary of Terms should Circle #253 on Reader Service Card. Product Standards The Laminating Materials Association has generated eight voluntary product standards. The three edgebanding standards were published in the 1990 Laminating User's Guide. The standards for vinyl films and low basis weight papers were printed in 1991. The new standard for decorative foils was printed in 1992s Guide and the heat transfer foil standards was included in last year's Guide. The new standard for thermoformed overlays is located in this year's insert. The Association publishes a single reference volume containing every standard produced by the LMA, as well as the Permalam standard for Thermoset panels, which is included with permission of the American Laminators Association. The book is an excellent source for anyone wanting the test methods and other information about overlays. The price schedule, which includes postage and handling, is: PRODUCT MEMBER COST NON-MEMBER COST Vinyl Films $ 4.00 $ 6.00 Low Basis Weight Papers $ 4.00 $ 6.00 Decorative Foils $ 4.00 $ 6.00 Thermoformed Overlays $ 4.00 $ 6.00 Heat Transfer Foils $ 4.00 $ 6.00 Edgebanding Materials $ 2.00 $ 2.50 Complete Standards Book $15.00 $22.50 ANNUAL MEETING The Laminating Materials Association holds its one annual meeting during the second week of November each year. In 1994 the meeting will be held at the Hilton of Santa Fe, in Santa Fe, NM from November 9 through 11. There is a welcoming reception on Wednesday night, followed by a day and a half of meetings. The meeting features noted speakers, panel discussions, and breakfast meetings for everyone on Thursday. There is an active program for spouses, plus recreation for those who are interested. The meeting is open to members as well as non-members, and if you are interested, or if you would like any additional information, please contact LMA headquarters. Call or write: George Carter Executive Director Laminating Materials Association 767 Park Avenue Oradell, NJ 07649 USA Phone: 201-265-7766 FAX: 201-262-7303 |
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