• Glossary – Furniture terms and material explanations from SA Möbler

    The furniture industry has its own language – filled with terms for materials, constructions and surface treatments. For those of you who are an architect, designer, purchaser or just curious about how sustainable and high-quality furniture is made, we have put together this glossary.

    Here you will find clear explanations of common and more specialized concepts in furniture production, such as ABS plastic, high-pressure laminate, edge banding, ergonomics and MDF . All information is based on our long experience of Swedish furniture manufacturing in Tibro, combined with knowledge from our employees, suppliers and industry standards.

    The aim is to make it easier for you to understand material choices, production methods and technical solutions – so that you can make informed decisions when choosing sustainable office furniture and interior design.

    Are you missing a term in the glossary? Please contact us at info@samobler.se – we will be happy to add more explanations.

  • ABS plastic

    ABS plastic is a copolymer consisting of varying amounts of acrylonitrile, butadiene and styrene monomer. The material has high impact resistance, good surface hardness and a fine finish. It is resistant to acids, alkaline solutions, grease, oil and alcohol, but is not resistant to solvents such as acetone. In our company, ABS plastic replaced the less environmentally friendly PVC plastic many years ago.

    Desk

    Desk is a general name for tables intended for one user, designed to integrate both technology and ergonomic solutions adapted to individual needs. The leg ends can be placed freely along the length of the top to optimize the work surface – for example, to provide more space for visitors or for ventilation and cable routing.

    Legboard

    Leg ends are the frames that support the table tops, usually one complete section per short side. Our leg ends are designed for easy attachment to the frame system, which makes them easy to move and reposition. The most common today is T-leg, with a centrally placed profile that goes down to a horizontal foot, which gives more legroom for the user.

    Stain

    Stain is a surface treatment that colors wood without covering its natural structure. After staining, a varnish treatment is always required. There are two main types: dye stains, which provide the color directly, and chemical stains, which develop the color through a chemical reaction with the wood's natural substances or added chemicals.

    Elbe gable

    A leg end with a built-in motor that allows you to adjust the height from sitting to standing with the push of a button. The most common technology is based on a threaded shaft that the motor moves up and down along.

    Ergonomics

    Ergonomics is the study of how work tools and the work environment affect people, with the aim of creating healthy and efficient working conditions.

    Veneer

    Veneers are thin sheets of wood that are cut or turned from logs. The sheets are joined together with glue or sewing. Common types of wood in public environments are ash, birch, beech, oak, cherry and walnut.

    High-pressure laminate

    A material consisting of several layers of paper impregnated with phenolic resin that are pressed together under high pressure. The surface layer can be embossed or solid-colored. Thickness: 0.3–1.2 mm, sometimes more in special production. Always mounted on a supporting board, e.g. chipboard or MDF.

    Edge strip

    Edgebanding protects and reinforces the edges of the board and improves its impact resistance. We use solid wood (1–3 mm thick) that is glued with environmentally friendly hot melt adhesive. For laminate boards, edgebanding in colored ABS plastic is sometimes used.

    Compact laminate

    A variant of high-pressure laminate with a thick core (often 12–16 mm) and a surface layer on both sides, making it a self-supporting board. Requires pre-drilling and special screws. The edges are broken and oiled.

    Conference table

    Tables adapted for meeting rooms, often deeper (1000–1200 mm) for face-to-face meetings or narrower (approx. 600 mm) for individual use. The leg ends can be placed freely along the top.

    Chromium

    A metallic element often used in alloys. When exposed to air, a protective oxide layer forms. Today, more environmentally friendly processes are used with biodegradable liquids and almost completely nickel-free treatments.

    Laminate

    A surface coating of several layers of paper impregnated with phenolic resin that is pressed together under high pressure, while being bonded to a supporting board.

    MDF

    Medium Density Fibreboard – a millable fibreboard that is sometimes used without an edge band if the colour of the board at the edges is acceptable. There are also solid-coloured variants.

    Plywood

    Also called plywood. Consists of several cross-layered veneer layers glued with phenolic resin and pressed under high pressure. Available as knife-cut or turned version.

    Powder coating

    A surface treatment for metal products where the product is first electrostatically charged and covered with color powder that is melted in high heat and forms a durable surface.

    Border

    A metal profile under the table top that relieves the pressure on the table top material and makes it easy to install leg ends.

    The Sensate

    A polyethylene plastic used as a sound absorber in screens. Suitable for incineration from an environmental point of view and can be manufactured in different densities (20–300 kg/m³).

    Sliding doors

    Space-saving doors that slide along fittings at the top (and sometimes bottom) edge. Provides half the cabinet open at a time but a more ergonomic solution.

    Swing doors

    Two door leaves mounted with hinges that open outwards towards the user.

    Particleboard

    Made from sawdust and glue, pressed into boards. Has a coarser core and is lightweight, cost-effective and more environmentally friendly by using more of the tree. Manufactured according to E1 and E0 standards.

    Tap

    A wooden bar made of birch with longitudinal grooves and beveled ends used to join two wooden boards together.

    Pull-out shelf

    A disc that can be pulled forward towards the user for easier access to cables and connections.

    UV varnish

    An emission-free surface treatment that is cured with ultraviolet light. More expensive than solvent-based varnish, but more environmentally friendly and completely free of evaporation.