Propaint Prolaser paintable edge tape is helping Ryan’s Kitchens deliver a sharper finish without the extra sanding or patching that used to slow their projects down. What began as a trial in their Christchurch workshop quickly grew into a new approach to edging. The more projects they ran through the system, the clearer it became that this wasn’t just another tool on the shelf — it was a shift in how they could promise quality to clients and back up their reputation for precise, award-winning joinery.
Originally published in the June Issue of Joiners Magazine 2025
Why Ryan’s Kitchens Chose Propaint Prolaser Paintable
I had a hunch. I’d been watching the shift, designers boundary pushing perfection, clients catching on to the “laser edge” trend, and workshops leaping on any opportunity to cut down wasted time. If there was a story worth telling about paintable edge technology, one with real, gritty credibility, it was going to come from the team at Ryan’s Kitchens & Joinery.
Founded in 2008 by Ryan, a builder by trade with a sharp eye for detail. Ryan’s Kitchens & Joinery has steadily grown into one of Christchurch’s most respected bespoke joinery firms. The purpose built Wigram-based factory and showroom they now call home is the product of years of dedication to innovation.
Ryan and his team have been early adopters of zero-glue edge banding technology, always looking for tools that offer genuine gains in precision and efficiency.
When they’re not producing award-winning kitchens, like their Kennedy’s Bush project, which took out Best Kitchen $30K–$50K at the 2024 National Master Joiners Awards, they’re refining every detail of their craft, from vanities to built-in joinery.
So, when I needed someone to give me the straight-up, lived-in experience of what our Propaint Prolaser was really like, I knew exactly who to call.
A couple of texts and a quick call. We were on. I sent over the questions, set a deadline. Then I waited. You don’t chase millennial production managers, especially the hands-on type.
Finding Time Between Jobs, Machines and Deadlines
He might be mid-job, neck twisted inspecting the inside of a half-assembled scullery, or awkwardly leaned over the CNC bed mid-cycle, elbow propped against an open drawer, eyes flicking between the screen and the edge-banding unit. If you want something from them, you email or text it.
So I did:
“Hi Elliot, keen to get this written up by Wednesday.”
“Hi Tux, will have responses to you by tomorrow,” he replied.
Elliot McKenzie is one of those people every workshop needs but few can claim. A senior member of the Ryan’s Kitchens team, he’s a production manager with over 10 years’ experience.
In our dealings with him, he comes across as part technician, part problem-solver. He’s knee-deep in the day-to-day, and always thinking two steps ahead.
A short follow-up message the next day and no sooner had I pressed send than it landed. My inbox was now home to one of the most tightly composed, practically bulletproof sets of responses I’ve seen in a long time.
Is AI helping me write this? Surely, he can’t be great at everything, but that’s not the story.
The story is what happens when someone like Elliot uses a tool that actually solves problems, instead of creating new ones.
How Paintable Edgetape Helps Prevent Cracking on Lacquered Panels
“At Ryan’s Kitchens,” he wrote, “we’re driven by a passion for creating spaces that reflect each client’s unique style and lifestyle.” A sign of a tightly knit, in-house designer and production team.
That’s the polish. But look closer and it’s all about what goes on inside, both the cabinetry and the process.
“This has been especially useful for boxed panels,” he explained. “Where two pieces are laminated together, over time those joints can separate and cause the paint to crack. By using paintable tape, we’re able to conceal that seam and add a layer of protection.”
Now we’re getting to it: no swelling, no cracking, no moisture creep. Real-world joinery problems being quietly solved by a roll of edge tape you can barely see once it’s painted.
But here’s the kicker:
“Since switching to Propaint for our lacquered projects, we’ve seen a noticeable improvement in the consistency of the door finishes. Using the edgebander to apply the tape and shape the radius has been a game-changer compared to routing or sanding by hand. Plus, the time saved on sanding has been a huge bonus.”
That part matters more than you think. When a one-millimetre radius becomes a full stop between a perfect kitchen and a callback weeks later, you pay attention.
“The time you save and the confidence you gain in getting a consistent, high-quality finish – really can’t be overstated. At the very least, grab a roll and try it out. You’ve got nothing to lose.”
So that’s it. This isn’t a story about new laser-ready paintable edgetape technology. It’s about how small changes let really skilled people get on with doing what they do best.
And yes, maybe AI helped the words come through quicker. But the award-winning joinery work? That’s always been very real.
Ryan’s Kitchens & Joinery
ryanskitchens.co.nz
@ryanskitchens
