SM'art Decorative Panel For Casework That Demands a Consistent Show Face
The SALT SM'art Empire panel brings a refined Manhattan finish to both faces of a 19 mm thermally fused laminate board, so every component in a run, whether a cabinet box side, a shelf, or a divider, reads as a finished surface from any angle. At 81-1/2 inch by 120-5/64 inch, this A/A panel is sized for tall runs and full-height applications where a standard 4 by 8 sheet falls short.
Key Features
- 13-hour water-resistant core — a vendor test result, not a wet-area rating, and useful where spills and humidity are routine.
- 50% post-consumer recycled core — half the core content is reclaimed wood fiber.
- CARB2 hardwood particleboard core — the substrate the decor is fused to.
- A/A grade construction delivers a finished decorative face on both sides, eliminating the need to orient panels away from view.
- Manhattan finish is a textured TFL surface that adds tactile depth while keeping the look understated and versatile.
- 19 mm thickness suits standard confirmat and hardware boring patterns used in production casework.
- Oversized sheet at 81-1/2 inch by 120-5/64 inch supports full-height cabinet components and reduces the number of seams in a tall run.
- SM'art collection offers matching ABS edgebanding in this color, so face and edge finish as one surface.
- CARB2 compliant core meets formaldehyde emission requirements on commercial and residential specifications.
Where This Panel Fits the Work
The Empire A/A panel earns its place wherever a cabinet component is visible on more than one face: open shelving units, room dividers, peninsula cabinet backs, and freestanding storage all benefit from a board that finishes cleanly on both sides without a secondary operation. The oversized sheet is a particular advantage on full-height closet systems and floor-to-ceiling cabinet walls, where a standard 96-inch sheet would require a seam on a tall door or side panel. Shops running production casework in contemporary palettes will find the Manhattan finish reads consistently across a range of lighting conditions, from warm residential to bright commercial environments.
Surface, Construction, and Finish Detail
SM'art panels are built on a thermally fused laminate construction: the decorative face is fused directly to the substrate under heat and pressure, becoming part of the board rather than a separate layer that can delaminate at the edge. The Manhattan finish on the Empire color provides a structured surface texture that diffuses light evenly and holds up well under the regular contact a casework interior or shelf face receives. At 19 mm, the panel pairs with standard 23 mm ABS edgebanding from the SM'art matching program, trimmed flush after application for a clean, monolithic edge. The CARB2 compliant core clears the formaldehyde emission threshold that most commercial specifications and many residential green-building programs require.
Who Orders This Panel and Why
Cabinet shops specifying a contemporary, neutral palette for multi-unit residential or commercial office work will find Empire a reliable production color: the Manhattan finish conceals minor surface contact that a high-gloss face would not. Designers working on built-ins and millwork where the inside of a cabinet is as visible as the outside rely on the A/A construction to skip the step of planning panel orientation entirely. Contractors sourcing for a remodel or fit-out who need full-height components without a mid-run seam should check the sheet size against their cut list before ordering a narrower panel from another source. The SM'art collection is one of the programs Wurth Louis and Company carries from SALT International, so matching edgebanding in this color is available alongside the panel.
What does A/A mean on an SM'art panel?
A/A means both faces carry the decorative surface to the same appearance standard. Either face can be the show face, which simplifies layout and eliminates a cutting error if a panel ends up oriented incorrectly during assembly.
Is matching edgebanding available for the Empire color?
Yes. The SM'art collection includes matching ABS edgebanding for this color. ABS is chlorine-free, which satisfies specifications that exclude PVC banding.
Does SM'art have a matching high-pressure laminate for this color?
No. Matching HPL is not available for the SM'art collection. If you need to carry this color onto a countertop or a post-formed surface, plan for an alternative or a complementary color from a program that does include HPL.
How does the sheet size affect my cut list?
At 81-1/2 inch by 120-5/64 inch, this sheet is wider and longer than a standard 48 by 96 inch panel. That extra dimension is useful for full-height doors and tall side panels that a standard sheet cannot yield in one piece, but confirm your saw capacity handles the width before ordering.
What core type does this panel use, and does it have water resistance?
The source data does not publish a specific core type or water-resistance hour figure for this SKU. For applications in moisture-prone areas such as vanity or under-sink cabinets, confirm the core specification directly before specifying this panel.
A Panel That Works Across the Whole Job
When every face in a run needs to finish cleanly, an A/A panel removes the planning step that trips up production schedules. Empire in the Manhattan finish gives you a consistent, contemporary surface on both sides of every sheet, with matching edgebanding available to close the edge and a sheet size that handles full-height work without a seam.
