Man and ivory, thousands of history years.
For thousands of years, man has been working ivory, teeth and mammalian defenses, such as mammoth, rhinoceros, walrus, narwhal or phakochere ... elephant ivory being, by far, The best known, and the most famous, appreciated and not only for its incomparable white color, its opacity, its reflections, but also its texture. The latter has acquired, over the centuries, a prestige image - especially as at the modern era, before its ban, it was a very rare, and expensive material. Indeed, the elephant is a threatened species, with an estimate of 20,000 elephants killed each year for this "white gold". The elephant ivory trade was first strictly controlled (by the CITES Convention - Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species), and then completely prohibited in France since the decree of August 16, 2016.
Responsible alternatives.
Following these upheavals, and to empower the practices, alternatives made their appearance: the vegetable ink, but also the celluloid. However, because of its great flammability, the use of this material has been gradually abandoned, without replacement ... until Bachmann sends the problem, to propose a solution that combines ease of use, incomparable aesthetics, and respect for the environment: the elforeyn. Appearance slightly textured, color, touch ... This material, designed by the company, looks like to misunderstand the white gold.
The elforeryn ... but not only
In addition to this responsible alternative to white gold, Bachmann has developed many plates with various patterns and colors, grouped under the name "Juma". That you are looking for original patterns, bright colors or sobriety of camouflage, you will find what to dress up your handles knives from this range!
What is the strength of Elforyn and Juma products? How are they working? What is the approach behind the company? As many questions we asked in Pascal Julien, managing Director of Bachmann, who let himself be taken at the game of the interview. Follow the guide !
Hello Mr. Julien! To begin, could you introduce us Bachmann ?Can you tell us more about you and your business ?
Pascal Julien: " Bachmann Kunststoff Technology (BKT) » was founded in the early 1980s by Mr. Bachmann. The goal was to develop high performance plastics for various industries. Elforyn and Juma products are only a small part of the BKT range of products. At the base, these two composite materials were used for the formation of ivory sculptor in the specialized universities of Germany.
How do you choose the colors of your products? How do you create your motives? Where are you looking for inspiration ?
Pascal Julien:Our main inspirations come from the creative bubbling of our development teams. We are inspired by fauna and flora, minerals and precious stones. The production of Juma's reasons is a very complex manufacturing process and a commercial secret, based on 40-year experience in plastic treatment and development.
What prompted you to create animal prints (Snake, Dragon) or Environmental Tours (Woodland, Marshland, Desert) ?
Pascal Julien:Animal prints were created to offer a new product line that was not yet on the market and be able to offer an alternative to plastics and exotic woods usually available. The military collection, meanwhile, borrows the patterns and colors usually used in camouflage.
I deduct that the protection of endangered species and the ecological dimension of your products represents an important part of your approach ?
Pascal Julien:The protection of wildlife, and in particular elephants, is very important for us and for future generations. Why use elephant defenses, a threatened species, when we offer a sustainable, ethical and qualitative alternative ?
Do you book some new features for the coming months? Maybe a little taste for our readers ?
Pascal Julien:This is a question that is often asked us. We are constantly working on new materials, new colors and new patterns, but it's a long process before you have a high quality final result. We can still reveal nothing at this stage ... but we should be able to start announcing our news in the second half of next year !
A wide range of products and reasons, adapted to all tastes and needs
What is hiding behind the names elforeryn and juma? Are there materials that work easily? Are there any special provisions to take ?
Pascal Julien: The Elforyn Super Tusk is the nearest material to the authentic elephant ivory. Indeed when we made it, we have been very attentive to the technical and mechanical properties so that they are excellent and get closer as possible about our model. Color, grain, schreger lines (NDLR: Light lines visible in the cross-cuts of ivory) the imitation of the characteristics of the ivory is almost perfect, visible even on the smallest uses.
The elforeryn like juma (NDLR: the other range proposed by Bachmann, declining more varied and original patterns and colors) are indeed easy to work, suitable for drilling, milling, grinding and polishing. The Juma has been developed to bring color, in addition to the ivory shades of the Elforyn.
In curiosity, what are the reasons that meet the most success ?
Pascal Julien:Most colors purchased are the Super Tusk Elforyn and Juma Golden Dragon. The Super Tusk as well as the Golden Dragon, once worked, give an inimitable aesthetic to the finished product.
Do you do "custom"? Similarly, if someone, tomorrow, has an absolutely great pattern idea, do you propose the realization of totally new pieces ?
Pascal Julien:As the production of structures and alignment of pigments and minerals are very complex and difficult to achieve, all ideas unfortunately can not be achieved ..... but we are of course open to all ideas !
(So, if you do not find the dimensions you are looking for, do not hesitate to contact our team!)
How to use and work elforeryn and juma ?
What can be the applications of your platelets in Elforyn and Juma ?
Pascal Julien:As the production of structures and alignment of pigments and minerals are very complex and difficult to achieve, all ideas unfortunately can not be achieved ..... but we are of course open to all ideas !
What is the most original support you have seen, worked from your materials ?
Pascal Julien:It is very difficult to answer because it is above all a matter of taste. But we show our customers original and unique finished products on our Instagram account.
According to some user returns, a smell of coconuts emerges from your products when working? Is it a way to make your addictive products? ;-)
Pascal Julien:Haha, we had never had this back, but we want to work with our materials by using all our senses ... It may be for that our products spread a good smell in the workshop of the creators !
Thank you, Mr. Julien, for answering all our questions !
If you have any questions about the EFORYN and JUMA product range, do not hesitate to contact our team, which remains at your disposal for any further information. And if you are convinced, you only have to choose your material and your motive from our selection of composite materials !
Our tips for working Elforeyn and Juma
For optimal rendering, we advise to use new abrasive bands, with a good cut.
For clipping platelets:Start with a grain 60.
For shaping: Use an abrasive grain 120 band, then go to a grain band 240 to remove the features on the material.
For polishing: Use a slat wheel (or 400 grain band) to polish your pads.
For the finishes:Use the white bread n ° 622, which indicated for the plastics lustration, applied on a ventilated cotton rubbing. Be careful not to run it too fast !
Little trick of the chef: If, during the work, the material comes to heat, do not hesitate to apply a little Marseille soap on your abrasive band
