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Happy Birthday RAUKANTEX!

50 years of the RAUKANTEX brand: edgeband innovation at its best

10.08.2021

The RAUKANTEX brand is synonymous with polymer edgebands and has been a global success in the furniture world. In its anniversary year, REHAU is celebrating a product that still plays a major role in the furniture segment of the business. Andreas Albig, Executive Director Product Management Furniture Solutions Edgeband, thanks the many employees, customers and partners for their trusting cooperation. “We produce and deliver the perfect edgeband for all requirements – that is our promise to our customers for our furniture parts that appear as a whole, single piece.”

The first thermoplastic edgebands came off the production lines at REHAU more than 50 years ago. The RAUKANTEX product name was registered as a brand back in 1970 and has since developed into a perennial bestseller in the international furniture industry – while also exemplifying what it means to sustain product innovation over such a long period of time.

The economic growth in the post-war years caused fundamental changes in furniture production and there was much greater focus on design. Chipboard became the industry standard instead of solid wood – and a new invention was needed to make the cut edges invisible. Time and again, REHAU was able to replace existing system components with clever polymer solutions. RAUKANTEX, the brand name for REHAU edgebands, enabled chipboard with or without decorative surfaces to be transformed into coordinated furniture components. This caused a minor revolution for furniture production.

Andreas Albig, Executive Director Product Management Furniture Solutions Edgeband

Furniture components with a seamless look

RAUKANTEX has undergone many metamorphoses in its time, and the current invisible joint technology and the RAUKANTEX pro laser edgeband developed by REHAU has now transformed it into state-of-the-art furniture edging. REHAU started working with PVC, then moved via ABS to the environmentally friendly polypropylenes and alternative materials most commonly used today. Once RAUKANTEX had been registered as a brand, more and more new production sites were opened around the world. The RAUKANTEX family now extends all around the globe – always produced everywhere with the same ‘Made in Germany’ quality standards.

History of innovation – not just in products

Services are also continuously optimised, always with the aim of creating added value for customers. Today, it is primarily digitalisation that REHAU is looking to drive forward. And that’s not all – edgebands for special applications are also in high demand: edgebands for passive fire protection, edgebands with anti-viral coating and special edgebands for door rebates.

Towards greater sustainability

It is clear to see from the history of its materials that the issue of sustainability has always been a consideration at REHAU. This continues to this day – in production and packaging, as well as in the product itself. For example, the two sustainable product lines of RAUKANTEX eco and RAUKANTEX evo actively promote the increased use of recycled materials and reduction of _CO2 emissions, while RAUKANTEX basic edge supports resource-savings lightweight construction. REHAU has also launched various initiatives in its production to reach the ultimate goal of CO₂neutrality.

Seamless invisible joint technology

Specialist edgebands for door rebates

RAUKANTEX eco and RAUKANTEX evo

And what does the future hold?

When the first edgebands left the extruder more than 50 years ago, no-one could have foreseen that it would mark the start of an unbelievable success story. With its anniversary issue, “50 years of RAUKANTEX”, REHAU wants to put the spotlight on the edgeband for a moment and tell its business partners and customers a little bit more about the past, present and future of the edgeband. After all, without yesterday there is no tomorrow. Read more at www.rehau.de/raukantex-50.

Press contact

Cornelia Martin

Rheniumhaus, 95111 Rehau
Tel: +49 9283 772261
press@rehau.com