Alphatape™ is a special edgetape for laseredge technology that consists of two layers – the ‘hard’ decor layer, and a meltable functional layer.
The quality of the edgetape largely influences the quality of the final product. Sage Doors has partnered with German manufacturer MKT to supply quality laser edgetape to companies throughout New Zealand and Australia.
Many things take part in creating the perfect seamless edge; however, the best place to start is by choosing a quality edgetape with a hard functional layer. A soft functional layer catches dirt and looks like a glue joint over time. The hard functional layer on MTK’s Alpha Tape Zero PP helps create a seamless edge.
As the first company in New Zealand to begin manufacturing doors and panels using laseredge technology, Sage Doors needed to source a laser edgetape before they could begin production.
They soon realised that not all laser edgetape was created equal. The quality of the edgetape used largely influences the quality of the final product. MKT, a German edgetape manufacturer was soon chosen for their high quality product.
Advantages of PP
Less shrinkage: hot air technology (airTec, Fusion Edge etc) uses extremely hot compressed air to melt the functional layer. PP doesn’t shrink during cooling like other plastics, ensuring a seamless edge with no step.
Co-extruded – to achieve the highest quality functional layer, Alphatape™ is coextruded as opposed to post coated. The outer decor layer and the functional layer are both extruded in the same line at the same time.
Rule of Thumb!
The hard functional layer on MTK’s Alpha Tape Zero PP helps create a seamless edge. A soft functional layer catches dirt and looks like a glue joint over time.
To test the hardness of the functional layer, dig your thumbnail into the functional layer or back of the edgetape. You should not be able to make any visible mark in a good quality functional layer.
Calender Method
To minimise variation caused by changing tooling for different width edgetape, the edgetape is manufactured in jumbo rolls 450mm wide. This ensures a consistency throughout the outer finish, as well as uniformity in the thickness of the functional layer and outer decor layer. The wide rolls of edgetape are then sliced into required widths such as 21mm, 28mm, 35mm, 40mm, and 63mm.
Corner welding
Alphatape™ is the only edgetape on the market that can fully weld to itself at the joint in the corners, which helps create an invisible, seamless joint. You can’t see which edge was applied first.
Environmentally friendly
PP is more environmentally friendly than alternative plastics like PVC or ABS. Less energy is required to manufacture it, and when burned, it produces only carbon dioxide and water.
As the edgetape is melted directly to the edge of the board, no harmful glues or cleaning products are required.
Colour and Finish Matching
With laser edgetape, two colour matches are required – the colour of the outer decor layer and the functional layer. These two layers must be perfectly colour matched to ensure an invisible and seamless joint. A wrong coloured functional layer can look like a glue line.
The outer layer also needs to have the correct texture to match the board – MKT offer many finishes from Extreme Matte or Extreme Gloss to rustic woodgrains with about 20 other finishes in between!
But, we’ve done the hard work for you!
Sage Doors has colour matched some of the most popular colours in the melamine ranges so you can simply buy them off the shelf (check out the colour range tab).
Colourfast
Colourfast edgetape is more than a pigment of imagination with Aphatape™. PP is much more colourfast than PVC or ABS.
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Please Note: These colours are for a reference only. Colours may differ from screen-to-screen. Contact us today if you require a sample.
SNOWDRIFT NATURALE
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Matches well With
Bestwood Perfect White
Bestwood Simply White
Prime Dezigna White
Prime Snow
Warm White Naturale (1.2mm and 2mm thick options)
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Matches well With
Bestwood Arctic White
Prime White
Prime Bianco
Feather white velvet
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Malibu Naturale
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Baikal Naturale
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Streetlight Naturale
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Antique wiluna white naturale
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 60mm
Matches well With
Bestwood Cloud White
Bestwood Brulee
Prime Chalk
Fog Naturale
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Seal Grey NATURALE
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Matches well With
Bestwood Mist Grey
Prime Frost Grey
Mist NATURALE
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Matches well With
Bestwood Moss Grey
Prime Tusk
Prime Quarter Napa
Bullet NATURALE
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm
Matches well With
Bestwood Carbon
Black NATURALE
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Matches well With
Bestwood Black
Prime Black
Rock Salt NATURALE
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Matches well With
Prime White Rock
Silver Vapour Pearl
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Matches well With
Bestwood Silver Haze
Melteca Brushed Silver
Prime Lite Aluminium
Silver Strata NATURALE
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Snowdrift Puregrain
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Matches well With
Bestwood Perfect White
Bestwood Simply White
Prime Dezigna White
Prime Snow
Seasoned Oak Puregrain
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Aged Ash Puregrain
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Burnished Wood Puregrain
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Black Timberland
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Snow White Matte
Widths Available: 21mm, 35mm, 40mm, 63mm
Coconut Matte
Widths Available: 21mm, 35mm, 40mm, 63mm
Eclipse Matte
Widths Available: 21mm, 40mm, 63mm
Possum Matte
Widths Available: 21mm, 40mm, 63mm
White Gloss
Widths Available: 21mm, 28mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Glacier Gloss
Widths Available: 21mm, 33mm, 40mm, 63mm
Black Gloss
Widths Available: 21mm, 40mm, 63mm
Charcoal Gloss
Widths Available: 21mm, 40mm, 63mm
Galaxy Gloss
Widths Available: 21mm, 40mm, 63mm
Timbalook Waiheke
Widths Available: 21mm, 40mm, 63mm
NOTE: We do not sell sheets of Timbalook (finished product only); however, this edgetape may be suitable for other uses.
Timbalook Hokitika
Widths Available: 21mm, 40mm, 63mm
NOTE: We do not sell sheets of Timbalook (finished product only); however, this edgetape may be suitable for other uses.
Timbalook Taranaki
Widths Available: 21mm, 40mm, 63mm
NOTE: We do not sell sheets of Timbalook (finished product only); however, this edgetape may be suitable for other uses.
Timbalook Rangitoto
Widths Available: 21mm, 40mm, 63mm
NOTE: We do not sell sheets of Timbalook (finished product only); however, this edgetape may be suitable for other uses.
Timbalook Matakana
Widths Available: 21mm, 40mm, 63mm