Global restaurant chain Nando’s has recently started using vitreous enamel steel as a new material for its tabletops. The vitreous enamel steel for the tables is being supplied by vitreous enamel steel manufacturer and installer Vitrex.

Durban-based interior design firm Egg Designs discovered the unique durability and rugged nature of vitreous enamel steel and promptly decided that the product should be applied as bespoke tabletops for two new outlets of the Nando’s international restaurant chain.

Nando’s, established in South Africa in 1987, now has more than 1 000 outlets in more than 30 countries worldwide.

Vitrex sales and marketing director Cristian Cottino says Egg Designs approached Vitrex to provide the vitreous enamel steel tabletops for Nando’s OR Tambo International Airport and West street, Durban restaurants.

“The tabletops feature blue enamel graphics on a white background. The graphics were digitally printed prior to the final firing of the tabletops. Special graphics, such as those designed by Egg Designs for Nando’s tables, are no obstacle for our production line as Vitrex’s vitreous enamel steel services can incorporate virtually any graphics including the work of artists, or special effects such as metallic or wood grain finishes,” he states.

Cottino says the 32-mm-deep tops are 1 300 mm in diameter and factory fitted with a core to receive a set of crafted metal legs.

Egg Designs is handling the complete redesign of the interior of two Nando’s restaurants in South Africa, including the design and manufacture of various furniture elements. The two branches for which Vitrex supplied the tabletops were the branches that were revamped.

Egg Design founder Greg Dry says the Portuguese roots of Nando’s influenced his decision to opt for a ‘kitchen table’ concept for the new restaurant tables.

“We did some research and found that vitreous enamel steel had the hardwearing attributes we were looking for and that Vitrex could provide both limitless colour and print options. Vitreous enamel steel is also impervious and, therefore, the ideal material on which to serve food. We believe that the future design possibilities of vitreous enamel steel are limitless and are extremely excited about increasingly using it, not only in our designs for Nando’s but also in other interior designs as we continue our association with Vitrex.”

Dry says he believes that as vitreous enamel steel is increasingly seen in Egg Designs’ interior landscapes in future, the product’s relatively underused capacity in this creative field in South Africa will be discovered and increasingly specified by the design fraternity.

“Nando’s are pushing the boundaries in every aspect of design and allowing Egg Designs to implement this innovative application of an established form of architectural cladding shows the restaurant chain’s commitment to lead the field.”

The interior designer highlights that the “absolute passion, commitment and exceptional professionalism” displayed by Vitrex in the execution of this order bore testimony to the company’s success as a global player, Dry points out.

Cottino says several of the other major advantages of vitreous enamel cladding will also be important in the product’s new role as restaurant tabletop.

The benefits include the physical and chemical properties, which makes the tabletops resistant to high temperatures and corrosion; the mechanical properties, such as scratch resistance; the hygiene properties; the environmental properties, as the surface requires no chemicals for cleaning; and the durability of the cladding.