Custom Benches
A bench that combines beauty and durability
A fully custom-made tile bench, tailored to the customer's needs. Depending on the installation location and intended use, we can incorporate flexible designs and functions, creating a bench that blends beauty with durability.
Characteristics of Custom Benches
Custom benches are distinguished by their high design flexibility. At X-iS, we utilize EPS (flame-retardant expanded polystyrene) as the core material, reinforcing it through hand carving and resin mortar to craft exceptionally durable tile products. This custom tile technology not only allows for the design of large shapes, such as benches and sculptures, with complete freedom, but also offers the added benefits of reduced lead times and cost savings. We create custom-made products designed to suit your purposes.
What is EPS (flame-retardant expanded polystyrene)?
EPS (flame-retardant expanded polystyrene) is a type of expanded plastic insulation material originally from Germany, commonly referred to as 'expanded polystyrene' or 'styrofoam.' It is shaped by placing polystyrene resin and a foaming agent into a mold, where they expand by 20 to 80 times their original size (the lower the expansion ratio, the harder the material.)
Advantages of EPS
-
- Lightweight with excellent compression resistance.
- It is lightweight, making it easy to transport. It also has excellent compression resistance and high tensile strength.
-
- Superior insulation and water resistance, with excellent workability.
- Thanks to its excellent insulation and water resistance, it can be used as a substrate material in both indoor and outdoor spaces, including wet areas. It offers great workability, as it can easily be cut with a cutter or a specialized hot wire for expanded polystyrene, allowing for a wide range of designs.
-
- It is fire-resistant and has low toxicity when burned.
- Thanks to the addition of flame retardants, it is less flammable than conventional resin products, and the toxic substances produced during combustion are minimal.
Custom Benches Creation Process
Park bench production process
01 Design Plan
Four Seasons design plan
Based on the request to install four benches in the park, illustrations representing the four seasons were created, and each different design was suggested.
Structure design plan
A structure made from a lightweight, easy-to-transport, and easy-to-install special foamed material, finished with tiles, is proposed. Everything, from structural strength tests to the construction method, is considered, and design plans are created.
02 Craft
Structure finish / Substrate layer
To reinforce the structure made of special foamed material, a tile substrate is prepared.
Picture tile
The prototype of a tile featuring the mascot of Tajimi City in Gifu Prefecture was created through multiple iterations. After this, the silhouette of the mascot is carved onto the square-shaped base.
Grouting
Normally, a contractor handles the tile installation and grouting on-site, but our company manages everything in-house, from preparing the substrate to tile installation and grouting.
03 Completed work photos
