BPMA Coating survey

[vibcol]

Just found that the BPMA have done a study on mugs and the BS standards... interesting reading.

http://www.productmediamagazine.co.uk/built-to-last/

[logobear]

that is a great article, - was it sposnsored by duraglaze?
If not, it is a great advert for Listawood

[GoonerGary]

So legally, unless I sell a Duraglaze mug, I can't call it dishwasher proof. So what is the definition of dishwasher 'safe'?

I'd happily buy Duraglaze mugs, but the quality of the coating is very poor. Huge amounts of dust and pinholes settling on the coating. Not just a random box, but over many months. RN coated mugs had this issue many years ago, nothing has improved since. I would suggest they get together with the Thai Raja factory and produce a super mug...Duraglaze on a 'Raja Rhino' mug. I'd pay extra for that.

[Andrew]

Listawood are probably the only one with their own coating that are actually paying members of BPMA. Their coating is very good but not sure how good the results are overall. A glaring ommision is that there is no RN coating. Probably the other one that would have had no fails which happened to be left out. Also, where specifically were certain mugs sourced from as there are differing qualities.

[GoonerGary]

.....................Also, where specifically were certain mugs sourced from as there are differing qualities.

The compliance also related to the "integrity of handle attachments and resistance to impact breakage in service."

I used Listawood mugs over Christmas and received three very noticeably different mugs. One style was so lightweight and thin handled that I had reservations about posting them. Listawood would state that it's all the same ceramic mug, whereas Rhino or Xpres mugs have not changed one bit in years.

[pisquee]

Raja produce their own ceramics, for lots of different end products, some of which are then coated in their Rhino coating for sublimation. There's a definite advantage to one company doing all the production, but this survey does worry me, as we use Raja for our mugs, so I have asked them for comment this morning.

[GoonerGary]

Perhaps we should be asking all the big suppliers for clarification in a formal manner as a collective group. "Our independent tests blah blah" isn't going to be good enough.

Are Xpres mugs a rebranded Rhino coating? Raja/ Rhino and Xpres mugs are extremely close, but they need to last more than 80 washes!

[pisquee]

Xpres' boxes are pretty similar too, which has led me to think Raja produce for Xpres, or certainly may have in the past

[GoonerGary]

Xpres 5013 made in Thailand. Raja made in Thailand. Identical ceramic and have the same consistent coating defects.

[Andrew]

Xpres used to have most of their mugs made in the Chentegh Factory which Raja own. I believe the vast majority including the standard mug is now made in China. I remember a few years ago getting a test report for Rhino and it showed a Pass on dishwasher use. Read the details for the test and it was for just one single wash. It obviously lasts longer than this but there has been no industry standard.