Vandersluis first furniture manufacturer in the Netherlands to make use of more environmentally-friendly Chrome 3

Vandersluis is the first furniture manufacturer in the Netherlands to make use of the more environmentally-friendly Chrome 3. Up to now, all products were chrome plated with Hex-chrome, but the process from mining the raw material to the metal layer is harmful to the environment. Supplier Latour bv of Nijmegen has modified its production process and is the first plating company in Europe to be able to chrome plate products fully automatically with trivalent chrome. From today onwards, the complete Vandersluis collection will be chrome plated with Chrome 3. Chrome 3 meets the most stringent requirements of REACH and the CSR guidelines.

From Hex-chrome to Tri-chrome

Twan Vogel (director of Latour Galvano Techniek bv): “Up to now, we worked with Hex-chrome (Cr6+). We achieved excellent results with this. Hex-chrome has a major disadvantage, however: in the process from mining the raw material to the metal layer on the product, Hex-chrome is harmful to the environment and even injurious to health in certain forms. In cooperation with our preferred supplier Enthone, we have found an alternative in a layer of Tri-chrome. This material has the same colour, but is a lot less harmful to the environment. In order to be able to offer Tri-chrome, we have modified and modernised our production process. Outwardly, the difference is barely visible. However, if you look very closely you will see that Tri-chrome gives better coverage than Hex-chrome. The main difference is not visible: Tri-chrome is more environmentally-friendly than Hex-chrome. Tri-chrome meets the most stringent requirements with respect to REACH and CSR guidelines.”

Big step towards a more environmentally-friendly product

Kristel Verwimp (commercial director of Vandersluis bv): “As a manufacturer, we are already very much concerned with sustainability, but we are continually trying to find ways of improving. In addition to the ever-increasing market demand for more environmentally-friendly processes, we find it important, particularly from the CSR perspective, to continue to look for new and more environmentally-friendly (raw) materials. There is great demand for chrome frames, because chrome is not susceptible to scratching, for example when stacking chairs. In addition, chrome not only gives the product an attractive look, but also a long life. We are therefore very pleased to be able -in collaboration with Latour - to take a big step towards a more environmentally-friendly and sustainable product.”