Lapitec: Silica-Free Stone Available in Australia

Silica-free and CE certified, Lapitec® is a safe stone solution for your clients. Lapitec® is a stylish, 100% Crystalline silica-free and Amorphous silica-free stone that has all the beauty of nature without any of the health risks that come with engineered stone products.

GALLERY  

From July 2024, most states in Australia will ban the cutting of engineered stone to protect stonemasons and fabricators from life-altering silicosis, the condition caused by inhaling small fragments of silica dust. Silicosis sees the lung tissue scarred, which can lead to exhaustion, difficulty walking, sleeping and eating, and even death. Silicosis also increases the risk of tuberculosis, emphysema, kidney damage and lung cancer.

Thankfully, there’s an alternative silica-free stone on the market — and it looks amazing.

“Unfortunately, many tradespeople have been exposed to the risk of silicosis by companies who have not adhered to the strict safety rules,” Samuele Tosi, Lapitec Australia’s Managing Director, says. “But this risk can now be removed with Lapitec® stone which provides a totally safe alternative to existing building products.”

Lapitec is the world’s first and only 100% silica-free stone. This innovative product is designed and manufactured in Italy via the sintering process. A mix of natural minerals free of silica, inks, resins and petroleum derivatives are subjected to heat and through the patented vacuum-vibro-compression process to create Lapitec®, resulting in a product that looks good and measures up when it comes to durability and design.

The safety and quality of Lapitec has been proven internationally. Lapitec® has been recognised by the European Commission as the first and only sintered stone in the world (CE mark). Today, Lapitec® is present in over 70 countries worldwide.

In addition to this, in June 2022, Lapitec was tested by TestSafe Australia and certified to be a crystalline-silica free and Cristobalite-free stone product.

This is a huge breakthrough for the industry and a game-changer for Australian stonemasons and fabricators who now can create beautiful stone products without risking their lives — and just in time, too, ahead of the ban in July.

Yet Lapitec is about more than just safety. This high-quality product has many benefits.

Lapitec® is hygienic, antibacterial, stain and scratch- and chemical-resistant, as well as being strong enough to withstand heat and frost. It’s easy to clean, UV stable and is a full-body material with through veins, no print, ensuring it’s diverse enough to suit a range of applications. Of course, it’s also silica and resin free. Lapitec® is also VOCs-free (volatile organic compounds) which means it can be used in commercial kitchens as well.

Lapitec® can be used in the kitchen, with benchtops and splash-proof cladding available. In the bathroom, elegant Lapitec’s non-porous, non-absorbent, moisture-resistant qualities make it inhospitable to mould. It’s also non-slip, ensuring safety for the end user.

Elsewhere in the home, Lapitec® is suitable for indoor flooring, indoor cladding, customised furniture pieces and fireplaces. Externally, think building cladding, pools and spas, outdoor kitchens — even yachts and boats.

Lapitec comes in a range of colours and six different textures/finishes, ensuring it will suit any design aesthetic.

Choose safety and style in your next project design. Visit the Lapitec website today to find out more.

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