Cosentino, the global company in the production of sustainable surfaces for architecture and design, takes another step in the development of its Hybriq+ technology, launched in 2020, with the introduction of Silestone XM. An evolution for the brand of hybrid mineral surfaces, Silestone XM distinguishes Silestone colours and collections brought to the market by having a maximum crystalline silica content of 10%.
The development of the pioneering Hybriq+ technology began seven years ago, and was introduced in 2020. This milestone reflects Cosentino's ambitious R&D&I commitment to the global sector of decorative and design surfaces. With Hybriq+, Cosentino completely transformed the nature of its Silestone product towards greater safety and sustainability.
Under this disruptive innovation, Silestone began to be manufactured through a sustainable production process with 100% renewable electrical energy and 99% recycled water. It also completely reformulated its composition by significantly reducing the crystalline silica content due to the introduction of new premium minerals and a minimum of 20% recycled raw materials, such as glass. All this while maintaining the same physical and mechanical performance, and the same high-quality design and colour depth as always.
As technology subject to constant evolution, last year Cosentino achieved 100% of the total production of Silestone under Q40, which reflects a maximum of 40% silica in its composition. At the same time, advancements were made with various colours under Q10, i.e. with less than 10% of crystalline silica in its formulation.
This year Cosentino marks a new turning point with the presentation of Silestone XM, which will include all of the brand's new collections that will be launched during 2024 as well as the other colours that were already manufactured with less that 10% crystalline silica. The company's goal is to be able to encompass the rest of the colours in the portfolio under this new brand. This achievement is Cosentino's greatest recent contribution to the evolution of its industry, and aims to set the surface industry on the path towards concrete values of greater sustainability, circular economy and safety within the value chain.
Unveiled for the first time at the last edition of the KBIS trade show in Las Vegas (USA), the most important event in North America for the Kitchen and Bath industry, as well as at recent events held in Spain such as the ARCOmadrid contemporary art fair or the C.Next Retail Iberia & Latam convention, Silestone XM will soon launch the EARTHIC by Silestone XM capsule collection, designed in collaboration with FormaFantasma, an Italian studio internationally recognised for research on design and the sustainable production processes of them. This collection will also be the leitmotiv of the EARTHIC LAB X FORMAFANTASMA installation that Cosentino will unveil next weeks at Fuorisalone during Milan Design Week.
Another of the collections under Silestone XM category this year will be Le Chic Bohème, an extension of the already acclaimed Le Chic series introduced in 2023, which was an advanced design exercise that recaptured the beauty of textures and classic style veined patterns in Silestone.
More information:
Cosentino
www.cosentino.com