Santos products' pass comprehensive quality control testing

The kitchen design franchise is proud to meet and exceed European testing regulations across its range of top-quality products.

Santos has been designing high-quality, built-to-last kitchen furniture since 1952. The brand is committed to the creation of durable products, and has shared details of its extensive testing process in order to demonstrate this. All the kitchen franchise’s tests are carried out in line with European standards, and additional, optional tests are also completed to totally ensure quality, safety and durability.

Cabinets are constructed using structural boards, and these boards make a huge difference in terms of the lasting power of a kitchen. These boards must be resistant to wear, bending or scratching - all things they would be exposed to in a normal kitchen.

Each batch of boards that arrives at Santos’s factory is inspected carefully for inconsistencies in tone, colour, and density. If multiple boards produce incorrect or patchy results, the entire batch is rejected. Once batches pass this stage, a board sample will be put through a series of laboratory resistance tests...

1. Bend resistance

This test measures whether the board is strong enough to withstand heavy loads. Weight is applied to the sample, and the force required to bend the board until it breaks is measured.

2. Perpendicular traction resistance

This test measures the strength of the adhesive connection between the glue and the board. The sample is glued between two wooden blocks, and perpendicular traction is exerted until the sample breaks, confirming whether or not the adhesion is strong enough.

3. Surface tear resistance

This test measures the force required to detach the outer surface of the board, usually melamine or laminate. If the adhesion is strong enough, the surface won’t detach from its board in a kitchen environment.

4. Screw removal resistance

This test measures how easily screws are removed from the board. If a screw is removed too easily, the material is likely not strong enough, and parts of the kitchen finish are at risk of detaching if screws come loose and fall out.

5. Scratch resistance

This test measures how scratch resistant the laminate/melamine surface of the board actually is. A diamond stylus is gradually loaded with more and more weight until the board gets scratched, determining if the finish is durable enough.

Find out more about becoming a franchisee with Santos by visiting its page, linked above.