ISSUE ONE / APRIL / TWO THOUSAND + FOURNEAT CONCEPTS FOR INTERIOR DESIGN SOLUTIONS

www.neatconcepts.com

NeatThinking / 01

• Ideal for creating smooth, curved surfacessuch as columns, reception desks andcurved walls

• Can be finished in different ways,including paint, veneer and laminate

• Labour saving alternative to woodpanelling with the appearance of tongueand groove

• Available in a range of profiles, finishesand different panel sizes

• Decoratively routed MDF panels for useas radiator grills, partitions, screens anddoor panels

• Now available in 8ft x 4ft sheets- see feature story on page 3

AN INNOVATIVE PRODUCT RANGEFor those of you who are not entirely familiar with Neat Concepts’ versatile product range, here is a quick summary:

For further product information, please visit our website at www.neatconcepts.com, which gives details of our distributors. 1

The company supplies products not only across theUK, but also to the European market and NorthAmerica, with the Far East in prospect.

Chairman Philip Brading and managing directorJohn Beaugié, were formally presented with a‘Grant of Appointment and Award Emblem’ by thedeputy lord-lieutenant of London, Mrs Jenny Bianco,at the company’s premises in front of the entireworkforce and selected guests.

Philip commented, “We were delighted to receivethe award, which provides recognition for ourcompany and for all of our employees anddistribution partners. It is a fantastic endorsementof all that we have achieved, not only in the UK, buton a global scale.”

ROYAL APPROVAL FOR NEAT CONCEPTSNeat Concepts was given royal recognition when it receiveda Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the Foreign Trade categoryfor its export achievements - the business equivalent of theNew Year’s and Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The vast hull of the Mirabella V was constructedaround a giant mould made from Neat Concepts’Neatform Bendy MDF product. Commissionedby American businessman Joe Vittoria, the yachtcomprises six staterooms, a whirlpool bath,swimming pool and even an outdoor cinema.

Peter Holloway, project manager for the VTShipbuilding Group that manufactured thevessel, said, "We went to Neat Concepts andits distributor W.T. Eden to find a cost effectiveand workable solution for developing the hullof the Mirabella V. They suggested a mouldmade from Medite moisture resistant BendyMDF, which turned out to be the perfectsolution for this project."

John Beaugié, managing director of NeatConcepts, commented, "Bendy MDF is arevolutionary product for the trade, which isenabling fabricators and contractors to achievethe results they are looking for when curvedsurfaces are required."

SMOOTH SAILINGFOR THE MIRABELLA VWhen the world’s largest single masted yacht set sail on its maidenvoyage, the team at Neat Concepts took much pleasure in knowing thatthey had played their part in its construction.

I am delighted to bring you the first issue of NeatThinking, the newsletter from Neat Concepts, withnews and updates from across our business.

In this issue, we have news about our new website,which has undergone a major makeover and alsosome interesting case studies such as the story ofthe world’s largest single masted yacht, which usedBendy MDF in the construction of its hull.

The past 12 months have seen some significantdevelopments, including our Queen’s Award accolade,a new corporate identity and the appointment of aspecialist marketing consultancy to help raise ourprofile in the trade.

Our international business is looking very healthywith the North American market growing veryrapidly, and we are making good progress inboth China and Japan.

Closer to home, in both the UK and the rest ofEurope, sales are extremely buoyant and interestis escalating by the day as architects and interiordesigners, as well as the DIY market, discover themany uses and aesthetic benefits of our products.

Philip BradingChairman

WELCOME

The new site not only features moredetailed product information, includingspecification and technical details, but alsolists industrial and retail DIY stockists, aswell as providing web versions of brochuresand data sheets that can be downloaded.

In addition, the site features a news section,with case studies and photography of arange of interesting applications.

Martin James of Neat Concepts, says,"We wanted to provide our customers witha website that was even easier to access,with more detailed information and linksbetween sections.

"We are continually improving and updatingour site and would welcome any feedbackto help us ensure that it is as user friendlyas possible."

www.neatconcepts.comGETS A FACE LIFTTo make its website more user friendly and accessible,Neat Concepts has given it a complete makeover.

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Quality commercial woodworkingcompany, SRS Joinery, has usedNeatform Bendy MDF in a major£300,000 contract.

The company, based in High Wycombe,England, was employed to carry out a majorrefurbishment for IT giant Advanced RiskMachines (ARM) at its headquarters in

Cambridge. The refurbishment includedthe construction of two distinctive curvedreception desks, which were built usingNeatform Bendy MDF.

Director of SRS Joinery, Richard Emms,commented, "We have used Neatform in otherprojects, so we were confident that we couldachieve the desired effect.

"The big advantage of Neatform over bendingplywood, apart from the fact that you getconsistent results, is the pre-sanded, smoothMDF surface. You can actually veneer or paintNeatform without the need to pre-finish thesurface, which delivers considerable timesaving benefits and assures better quality."

ARM IN ARM WITHCOMMERCIAL JOINER

Unlike other similar products on themarket, the range - which is used forapplications such as radiator grills,partitions and door panels - consistsentirely of routed MDF panels, givingcleaner edges and a finer definition tothe finished product.

The unique routing process used by NeatConcepts also allows greater flexibility andgives the opportunity to produce specialdesigns at a realistic cost.

Tim Green, general manager of NeatConcepts, says, "The feedback we weregetting was that our perforated MDF panels,one of our most popular ranges, would befar more versatile and deliver less wastagewhen supplied in an 8ft x 4ft format. So, thatis what we have done, and our customersare delighted."

Easily fitted to standard or bespoke radiatorsurrounds, the grills can be finished in avariety of ways for all environments.

NEATROUT PERFORATED MDFNOW IN 8ft x 4ftNeat Concepts is now offering its innovative range of perforatedMDF sheets in an 8ft x 4ft format meaning less wastage.

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‘NEAT’ SOLUTION FOR OHIO HOSPITALEstablishing itself as the premiersupplier of specialist MDF panelproducts across the US and Canada,Neat Concepts had its NeatformBendy MDF product specified in amajor reception area renovation atSalem Community Hospital, Ohio.

Bennett Supply, the exclusive distributor ofNeatform Bendy MDF in Pittsburgh, providedthe product after sub-contractor Vivo BrothersInc of Youngstown, had presented NeatformBendy MDF to the specifier.

Vivo Brothers Inc had previously avoidedtaking on projects which involved curvedsurfaces because they had been dissatisfiedwith the performance of other bendingsubstrates. However, they were veryimpressed by the versatility and flexibility ofNeatform, and how aesthetically pleasing thefinished product looked.

Martin James of Neat Concepts says,"This project demonstrates just one of the manyapplications for our product. It has numerousadvantages over bending plywood, including the120 grit pre-sanded smooth finish, consistentbending to 6" radius, exceptionally goodthickness tolerance and no exclusions."

Neat Concepts has distribution partners acrossthe USA and Canada, which have the combinedability to deliver Neatform to the majority ofcabinet shops across North America.

Neat Concepts Limited Hastingwood Trading Estate, Harbet Road, Edmonton, London N18 3LP, United KingdomTel: +44 (0)20 8807 5805 Fax: +44 (0)20 8884 4963 Email: info@neatconcepts.com Web: www.neatconcepts.com

After seeing the revolutionary product, itappears that the New Japan Yacht Co Ltdhas realised the versatile properties of BendyMDF, which is enabling fabricators to achievecurved surfaces that they never previouslythought possible.

Philip Brading, Neat Concepts’ chairman,recounts how the product first found favourin Japan, “We received a request from MrTakahashi at the New Japan Yacht Co Ltd forsome samples after they had seen it in amagazine, and we shipped out four sheets forthem to look at. We couldn’t believe it in theoffice when just a few weeks later we receivedsome pictures showing a fabulous receptiondesk, which was produced using our product.

“Asia’s commercial joinery and shop fittingmarket is enormous and we are currentlyin discussions with a number of potentialdistributors in Japan and China who are veryexcited about the prospect of being able tooffer Bendy MDF as part of their range.

“We can see the demand from the commercialand retail sector in Japan and China growingquickly as curved and elliptical work increasesin popularity and both installers and specifiersbecome more familiar with just how easilythese effects can be achieved.”

BENDY MDF TURNS JAPANESE ONNeatform Bendy MDF has captured the imagination of the Japanese- a country traditionally dependent on wood based constructions.

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