Valchromat is an innovative and award-winning engineered fibreboard, available in the UK through James Latham, that has been extensively used in the interior fit-out of a spectacular new cultural venue in South London.

A focal point of the venue’s stunning interior is a high-impact, 12.5m long bar, featuring 80 individually machined, 1200mm vertical strips in bright Red Valchromat, which run across the front of its entire length. The bar, which also used Black Valchromat for the carcassing, was designed, manufactured and installed by Birmingham based, bespoke joinery company, Cre8ive Joinery.

Cre8ive Joinery also used Valchromat to make the Integrated Panel Systems (IPS) for the toilet cubicles which saw the cubicle dividers and doors colour-coded; Red for male, Blue for female and Yellow for disabled. The panels were also treated with a clear Morrells lacquer to provide additional protection from moisture.

In total, more than 70 sheets of Valchromat were supplied to Cre8ive Joinery by James Latham’s Dudley branch and as a relatively new customer, Cre8ive Joinery Director, Phil Lewis was really impressed. “The team at James Latham are fantastic and they really know their stuff. They are extremely knowledgeable about their products and are always on hand to offer advice when needed. We have only been dealing with Lathams for a few months and I never realised the sheer breadth and range of both panel and timber products they offer.”

Ed Latham, Valchromat Product Manager, James Latham commented, “Its always fascinating to see the many and varied applications for the products we supply and the innovative ways in which they are used. Catford Mews is a fantastic project and one which allowed the team at Cre8ive to demonstrate perfectly the versatility and workability of this unique material.“

Available in 10 striking and vibrant colours, Valchromat is completely unique, in that the colour runs throughout the entire board, enabling almost limitless decorative applications. Valchromat also boasts a number of time and cost saving features and benefits; It’s easy and quick to finish - no edging is required, and being moisture and UV resistant, non- toxic and load resistant, the applications are endless. Plus, its extremely durable, scratches and marks on the finished product go largely unnoticed because the colour runs evenly throughout the board.

Plus, all the wood used is FSC® certified and is sourced from forest waste, residue from timber mills, pine and recycled pine. Valchromat is available in the following board sizes; 2500mm x 1850mm/1250mm and in 8mm, 12mm, 16mm, 19mm, 25mm and 30mm thicknesses.