The trade show presentation is themed “When out at sea, count on skai.” The portfolio includes solutions for a range of performance and price requirements as well as interior and exterior applications. In addition to technical properties, skai offers a wide selection of colors, grains and textures. Material samples at the booth allow trade visitors to compare the look, feel and processing properties firsthand.

“Our portfolio provides a solution for every challenge and a product for every need. We offer materials that perform particularly well in heavily used exterior areas, as well as materials with easy-to-clean surfaces that demonstrate their strengths in interiors. In this way, we combine application-specific functionality, a wide range of designs and reliable quality from a single source,” says Christelle Perico-Darras, Head of Hospitality, Healthcare & Public Areas EMEA at SSL.

Cool Colors: greater comfort in direct sunlight

The skai cool colors Venezia and Valero product lines are a key focus. Special color pigments reflect some of the incoming near-infrared radiation. As a result, the material surface heats up less in direct sunlight than comparable dark surfaces with conventional pigments. This can increase seating comfort, particularly for exterior upholstery. At the same time, the materials are designed to meet the requirements of outdoor and marine applications. At the booth, Continental will use a demonstrator and a thermal imaging camera to make the temperature difference visible.

The finish makes the difference: resistant upholstery materials for interiors and exteriors

For interiors, Continental will showcase selected materials featuring staynu technology. The surface finish makes many types of everyday stains easier to remove, helping reduce cleaning requirements. The solutions on display include skai Toronto EN with a fine leather grain and skai Tovega EN with a microporous texture. Both materials were developed for high-traffic interiors such as hospitality and public-area applications and are available in a wide range of colors.

With skai Neptun Pescara, Continental will also present a material with a classic cowhide grain for exterior and marine applications. A surface finish developed using nanotechnology increases resistance to UV radiation, salt water and stains. The easy-care surface is designed for use on boats, yachts and cruise ships.

With its wide range of on-trend colors and modern textile grain, skai Misuna EN has become a classic among skai surfaces. The UV-resistant and saltwater-resistant material has recently become available for marine applications.

Material concepts with documented shares of renewable raw materials

Materials with documented shares of renewable raw materials will also play an important role in the trade show presentation. For suitable interior applications, Continental will present skai Evida and skai Evida Fiber. According to the product specifications, skai Evida contains up to 80 percent renewable raw materials, while skai Evida Fiber contains up to 90 percent. In each case, the figures refer to the specific product and its defined material composition. Continental is thus expanding the range of options for customers who consider individual sustainability criteria, such as the share of renewable raw materials, alongside technical and design requirements in their purchasing decisions.