Slate-Lite

About

Slate-Lite: A Journey of Innovation and Elegance with Decorative Thin Slate

Innovative Thin Stone Solutions by Slate-Lite

Founded in Germany, R&D GmbH has pioneered thin stone veneers and composites for over 20 years. The original Slate-Lite product was invented in the 1990s by Gernot Ehrlich, who developed a method to split slate into thin flexible sheets. R&D GmbH commercialized Slate-Lite in 2002, bringing thin slate to the global market.

Today, R&D GmbH is the leading global manufacturer of innovative thin stone products for interior and exterior building applications. Built on a foundation of research and a history of innovation with natural stone materials, R&D GmbH provides unique thin slate solutions that combine the unmistakable beauty of real stone with ease of installation and use.

Slate-Lite – Thin, Flexible Real Stone

Slate-Lite stone veneer consists of a thin layer of natural stone backed by a reinforced substrate. It retains the natural appearance, texture, and feel of real stone while weighing up to 95% less than conventional thick stone slabs. Slate-Lite comes in over 70 stone varieties and colors including slate, limestone, sandstone and marble.

Through a specialized manufacturing process developed over years of R&D, each sheet is handcrafted from selected stone into large thin formats up to 280x120cm. The stone surface is 100% natural and unique, while the composite backing makes Slate-Lite flexible and easy to install. At just 1.5mm thick, it provides the beauty and durability of stone in a lighter, more versatile product.

Key features and benefits of Slate-Lite include:

– Natural stone aesthetics, feel and durability for walls, floors, showers, facades
– Lighter weight and flexibility allows new uses compared to solid stone slabs
– Thinness saves transport emissions and costs, environmentally friendly
– Large sheets up to 280x120cm enable seamless stone surfaces
– Easy to cut, drill, and install with standard tools – no special skills required
– Suitable for wet areas including showers, pools, baths due to waterproof backer
– Can apply directly over existing tiles or surfaces, saving installation time
– Indoor and outdoor usage for walls, floors, decoration, furniture and more

Continuous Innovation

As the original inventor and manufacturer since 2002, R&D GmbH relentlessly innovates its thin stone product lines. Recent additions include UltraThin eco+, an extra flexible 1mm thick slate composite, and UltraThin Translucent, a translucent stone veneer for backlit designs.

R&D GmbH closely monitors product safety and performance with regular independent testing. Their R&D team is constantly improving manufacturing processes and developing new stone materials and finishes to expand the design possibilities.

Customer Partnership

R&D GmbH provides unmatched expertise and service for working with Slate-Lite and thin stone products. They support customers worldwide with technical advice, customization, and reliable on-time delivery. Large in-house inventories ensure fast supply of any order.

With over 20 years of experience pioneering innovative thin stone composites, R&D GmbH is the ideal partner for creative and cost-effective natural stone solutions. Whether for walls, floors, furniture, facades, or any other building surface, Slate-Lite delivers the beauty, performance, and sustainability of real stone in a remarkably thin, easy-to-use product.

During my visit to Bau Munich 2023 (Europe’s biggest Building and Construction Expo), I stumbled across a stand and product that I hadn’t seen before; a flexible stone veneer that was being used as a wallpaper, floor finish, and even external cladding surface. I thought this must be an artificial reproduction, a product that was made to look like real stone, a printed version perhaps.

My curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to wait my turn to speak with Marius, Slate-Lite’s representative, and company owner. Marius quickly brought me up to speed, telling me about the history of the collections, how his father pioneered the method decades ago of creating a real stone veneer from a real rock slab.
In my 35 plus years in the building industry I rarely get truly excited about decorative products anymore, but this time I was amazed with this extraordinary product line.

So, I now realised that Slate-Lite stone veneers represent a reinvention of natural stone – crafted using an ingenious process to produce beautifully thin and flexible real stone sheets. Comprised of a 1.5mm thick natural stone layer bonded to a reinforced backing, these veneers retain the unmatched aesthetic of real stone while offering versatility far beyond traditional stone tiles.

The range of colours and patterns available from Slate-Lite is extraordinary – from multi-hued slate to striking sandstone, subtle limestone to elegant marble. With over 70 unique stone decors spanning 5 distinct types, designers can select the perfect natural stone essence for residential or commercial projects.

Amazingly, they also offer a translucent, ultra thin version that can be used for lightboards and even lighting products. The lightboards exhibit unique light patterns when a light source is applied behind the stone sheet. This provides an innovative addition to a lighting designer’s creative arsenal.

I appreciate how Slate-Lite encourages customers to explore the possibilities firsthand by providing affordable sample sets. Perusing the samples alongside vision boards or material swatches brings designs to life.

As the original stone veneer innovator since 2002, Slate-Lite’s proprietary process has only been refined over the years. The result is an exceptional design object with the authenticity of hand-crafted natural stone in formats as large as 280x120cm.

During my work on projects worldwide, I’m continuously amazed by Slate-Lite’s diverse applications. From bathrooms to exterior facades, fireplaces to furniture, this thin stone veneer adapts beautifully. The self-adhesive backing on some of the collections even eliminates cumbersome installation.

The only potential downside for me is that we are dealing with a natural product that demands a certain amount of creativity to place two sheets next to each other, a problem that is not present when you’re dealing with patterned wallpaper. So the designer needs to create a negative detail or make the sheets look like tiles for me to really stand out.

If you want a stone look without the weight, cost, and very slow installation then I think Slate-Lite is a great natural alternative. I am certainly going to use it on a project soon, maybe even as a floor surfacing, or even on the ceiling – now that will create a lot of curiosity.

I’m impressed with Slate-Lite’s commitment to innovative craftsmanship, and promoting creative possibilities. Their stone veneers lend spaces a unique personality with the warmth and beauty of natural stone, something I really appreciate. If you have a residential or commercial project craving a striking stone statement, Slate-Lite’s innovative materials should be on your mood board.

I highly recommend Slate-Lite’s stone veneers.