Trespa Toplab Lab Benches

For decades, Trespa's Toplab has been the default choice for chemical resistant laboratory worksurfaces and laboratory benches in the UK. These high quality, hard wearing, durable, chemical resistant worksurfaces offer high scratch, wear and impact resistance whilst being easy to clean and offering strong resistance to common chemicals in laboratory use. For laboratory worktops in the UK, Trespa Toplab comes in two grades: Toplab Base and Plus Align. Both grades utilise a surface finish layer over a high strength homogenous core, formed under a specific combination of high temperature and pressure at Trespa's production facilities in the Netherlands; but both have key differences in their construction, manufacture and resultant properties.

Trespa Toplab Base Worktops at Writtle ARU College Writtle ARU - Lordship Science Centre

Toplab Base

To produce Toplab Base, sheets of natural fibres (paper and/or wood based including recycled materials) impregnated with phenol based thermosetting resins are layered between decorative surface finish layers impregnated with melamine based resins within a large heated press. Under tightly controlled temperature and pressure conditions, the layers are bonded into a high strength, homogenous panel. This panel offers excellent durability and good chemical resistance, making up the majority of laboratory worksurfaces installed in the UK market.

Trespa Toplab Base Worktops at the University of Edinburgh Roslin Institute Easter Bush Case Study | Trespa.com

UoE | Easter Bush Campus | Roslin Institute

At ALS Labs Ltd, during the processing of your order, we'll determine the optimal joint placement, before lettering each resulting worktop section. These are input into our optimiser, which determines the optimal cutting patterns for our Homag CNC beam saw, in addition to advising the required quantity of material. These patterns are digitally transferred to the beam saw, where our highly experienced team are guided through the cutting pattern by the saw, utilising specialist Italian Wirutex polycrystalline diamond saw blades to precisely cut each worktop, with a small additional margin to each visible edge. Each worktop is labelled as it is cut, with details of the project and the alphabetical code determined earlier. These panels are then transferred to our Homag Centateq CNC router. Here, high speed tooling "polishes" the cut edge to provide a superior surface finish, in addition to applying the overall edge detail, routing grooves to fit dogbolts, and any other necessary machining such as sink cut outs, drainage grooves, drip grooves, etc.

ALS Labs Ltd's Homag Centateq P-114 CNC Router | Credit Nathan Sprawling ALS Labs Ltd

Trespa Toplab is an extremely hard material, and many a fabricator has fallen foul of believing it akin to machining another HPL. We have extensive experience in the techniques and tooling required to achieve the best possible finish. Every worktop is visually inspected at each stage of this process under high intensity LED lighting for any defect. Whilst exceptionally rare, if any defect in the surface finish is found, the panel will be set aside and replaced, details recorded of the supplied sheet from which it was cut, and both Trespa and the distributor notified such that they can make their investigations.

Finished Trespa Toplab worktops at ALS Labs Ltd

Toplab Plus Align

At the time of writing, all UK market Trespa Plus is Plus Align. The specific manufacturing process for Toplab Plus Align offers a higher chemical resistance and denies bacterial growth, in addition to being a more sustainable material. Plus Align again uses high temperature and pressure to form a homogenous panel; the key differences are in the resins and surface layers used. In the Align grade, a majority of the phenol based resins are replaced with lignin based resins, which are impregnated into the core with the bio-based content of the panel exceeding 83%. This means the carbon stored within the panel exceeds that emitted from 'cradle to gate'; that is, inclusive of production, transport and ultimate destruction. Trespa is also able to use woodchip rather than the kraft paper more commonly used in the wider HPL market. Accordingly, all wood-based raw materials used by Trespa are sourced from FSC or PEFC certified woodland. This more sustainable worksurface is offered with no compromise to performance or durability. As for the surface layer(s), Toplab Plus is by default single sided with double sided by request. A decorative layer is included in the pressing process, before a transparent topcoat is applied and cured using Trespa's unique, in-house developed Electron Beam Curing (EBC) technology. This is a non-thermal process; high-energy electrons bombard the topcoat and decorative layer, hardening it and forming an exceptionally chemical resistant, cleanable, smooth, closed surface impervious to bacterial growth.

Trespa Toplab Plus Worktops at the University of Glasgow Advanced Research Centre

Beyond the production process, Toplab Plus/Plus Align is GREENGUARD Gold certified for low VOC emissions, ensuring indoor air quality once installed. Trespa also offers a Second Life programme, enabling the reuse of panels, ensuring carbon captured within the panels remains stored.

At ALS Labs Ltd, we have seen an increasing demand from our clients for materials to meet sustainability requirements. With Trespa Toplab Plus Align, we can provide the declarations and credentials required for modern new build construction works, which is important to clients aiming for high BREEAM targets.
In terms of processing Toplab Plus, this is much the same process as Base; however, in line with the higher chemical resistance of the material, Toplab Plus is typically joint using a machined 'v' groove which is filled with a chemically resistant resin. This ensures the joint cannot compromise the chemical resistance of the worksurface.

UoG ARC Case Study | Trespa

Uni of Glasgow | Advanced Research Centre

Benches & Furniture

ALS Labs Ltd offers Trespa laboratory benching, cabinetry and other joinery including shelving and bespoke works, all made in the UK in our own factory. Based in Essex, we supply Trespa lab furniture to laboratories across the UK.
We have a mix of benching systems and cabinet designs and can fulfill requirements ranging from individual panels for end users up to outfitting new build world leading research facilities with BIM coordinated modular service integrated laboratory furniture on behalf of main contractors.

We also offer whitelabel manufacturing services allowing our skilled and experienced team to produce under your branding, partnering with your existing team to develop the skills required to offer lab furniture packages within your existing business model.

Trespa Toplab & Aluminium rotating picking carousel for surgical equipment retailer Bespoke Picking Carousel | Blink Medical

Finishes

Trespa Toplab Base and Plus are offered in an array of finishes, although these are unique to each grade. Codes beginning E, W & S in the graphic below are Base finishes. Codes beginning T are Plus.

Trespa's appointed UK distributor holds a limited sub selection of the below finishes. Not all are UK stock. Non-UK stock finishes are by request and may be subject to lead times and minimum order quantity.

Trespa Toplab Finishes

Further Information

We're proud to see our previous works featured prominently by Trespa B.V. internationally both online and in print, as a testament to the quality of our workmanship.

Toplab Base Product Page Trespa Docs

Further case studies are available in our Portfolio. For further information on Trespa Toplab Base and Plus worktops and other products / furniture, please get in touch. We'd be happy to discuss your requirements and provide any required technical information.

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