REQUEST A QUOTE You know solid surface is thick, strong and completely nonporous, but you may be wondering, “Is solid surface heavy?” A material so durable and strong must have some drawback. Wouldn’t a product constructed entirely of this material weigh quite a bit?The answer is yes. Solid surface is heavy. But it doesn’t always have to be.Not…
Production doesn’t need to be complicated, so at SHIELD… it isn’t. Employing both digital fabrication and lean manufacturing has helped make our production process relatively painless and allows our products to be created on a convenient timeline. Never heard of digital fabrication or lean manufacturing? No worries, that’s why we’re here. Here’s a quick look at…
Our president Stephen Hopkins will soon be co-presenting an AIA Trends in Healthcare lecture on the future role of mass-customization in healthcare design and construction. Using the The Cambridge Tower as a case study of mass-customization implementation, Stephen and his co-presenters will discuss how this new technique works in practice.We interviewed Stephen on his source of…
Do a quick internet search of the best ways to boost creativity and you’ll find thousands of articles and posts bursting with suggestions. Everyone, it seems, has a different approach to channeling creative thinking, but there are a few repeated pieces of advice that always come to the forefront. We read through some of our recent creativity…
Everyone cares about price. We all want to save a penny when possible. It’s natural, then, that many people ask us about the price of solid surface. Is solid surface expensive?The quick and easy answer is yes. If you compare the price of solid surface to that of, say, laminate, it will be much more expensive.…
In mid-April, Steven Kilzer published a blog post on Maker’s Row about the benefits of manufacturing in America. Capital, the business Steven founded, designs and makes high-quality eyewear. Capital owns the factory where all it products are made, allowing Steven and his team to maintain control over every single detail of the product. He acknowledged that it’s hard…
Many of today’s healthcare facilities look like they jumped right off the page of a 1992 design catalog. They just aren’t that pretty. But they don’t have to be unappealing and, in fact, they shouldn’t be–at least for the benefit of the patients. Guest blogger Angela Mazzi explains the faults of most healthcare designs and…
Welcome to our first Q&A Tuesday—the day when we answer your most pressing questions about Shield. Ever had a question about us that you couldn’t find on the website? Ever wanted to know more specific information about solid surface, digital fabrication or our manufacturing process? Now you can ask! (Scroll down to submit your question.) Today’s…
Modern society is all about convenience. We want to buy things that make our lives easier. It’s why grocery store shelves are lined with instant coffee and freezer meals. It’s why plastic spoons and forks are stocked to the brim at fast-food restaurants. It’s why newer, better versions of phones are released seemingly every month. Products…
Remember a few (nine) months ago when we blogged about simplicity—a fundamental aspect of our company culture—and promised a follow-up post on flexibility and honesty? No? Well, ignoring the fact that we are just slightly offended that you didn’t remember our blog post from exactly 259 days ago, we are happy to inform you that…