Fabricators Gather in Pennsylvania to Upskill with ISFA

June 6, 2024—Fabricators from across the country gathered this week in McSherrystown, Pennsylvania, for ISFA’s second Solid Surface Fabrication Training event of the year. The hands-on, two-day session is designed to provide attendees with skills in all facets of the fabrication process, including layout, templating, seaming, support, sanding, edges, cutouts, backsplashes, finishing, installation and more.  

“I’ve been in construction my entire career but never formally trained on fabricating solid surface,” said Brian Beidler of the Reading Hospital Cabinet Shop. “I appreciate the opportunity to have formal training as we have a lot of solid surface in our facilities.”  

Participants completed a vanity application with an integral bowl sink, built-up edge profile, edge inlay and examples of coved and set-on style backsplashes. This week’s session, hosted by ASST, also included an expanded lesson on thermoforming. Known for their innovative, patented thermoforming technologies and product designs, ASST takes on project challenges others avoid, and the team there was happy to share their knowledge and experience to help others find success fabricating solid surface in an endless array of applications.   

“We had someone on our staff who knew how to fabricate solid surface, but he retired,” said Sean Murphy of ShowFab, a company located in New Jersey that specializes in creating immersive experiences for film and television, museums, retail, tourism and more. “We know there is a lot of opportunity with solid surface, so we need the ability to go after those projects. The expanded session on thermoforming helped me understand the techniques used to shape the material.”  

“I learned that solid surface is a surprisingly forgiving material,” added Ben Schneider of MOD Eugene Cabinetry. “Unlike other products, it allows you to make mistakes and still achieve great results.” 

ISFA’s Solid Surface Fabrication Training program is sponsored by Avonite Solid Surface, BB Industries and Integra Adhesives. ISFA would like to extend a special thanks to ASST for providing the venue for this training session.