Qualities
Holst Porcelain combines in a collection of more than 4,000 articles and ideas 5 different types of porcelain in a total of 4 quality levels. This assortment width covers the entire need from ** (2 stars) to **** (4 stars) completely.
The grades of qualities of Holst Porcelain
As a professional supplier of porcelain and ceramics for the entire range of the HoReCa industry we adjust our qualities to the requirements of our customers for the best possible way. The entire Holst Porzellan collection - including around 4,000 items and ideas in design and function - thrives on the right combination of customer demands, quality, price and design.
The differences of ceramic qualities are often only perceptible to the layman on critical examination and are hardly understandable. Many material properties are the unalterable result of the raw materials used and the firing temperature, which are the essential characteristics of the respective ceramic classification. When assessing qualities, we recommend that above all the hardness of the tableware be taken into account, which is almost automatically determined by the firing temperature.
The true quality of porcelain does not lie in a hand-picked selection of crockery pieces with perfectly flawless surfaces, but in the unique functional and functional properties that only result from the combination of kaolin, quartz and feldspar at a temperature above 1,320 °C. This is the only way that needle mullite can form from these minerals, which gives porcelain its unique properties. This is the only way these minerals can form the needle mullite that gives porcelain its unique properties. To find out how much quality is still sustainable, please read our article Porcelain vs First Choice.
Our qualities correspond to a needs-based selection. Every industry professional will confirm what we openly admit here. What is made from natural, mineral raw materials, partly moulded by hand and shrunk, fired and produced at more than 1,320 °C, can never be 100% perfect. Porcelain is natural and not plastic!
The kind of materials of Holst Porcelain
Our aim is to offer the most diverse target groups of professional hosts the desired price-performance ratio, while at the same time making the best possible use of the advantages of the respective type of material. High heat storage cannot be achieved with "thin" bone china porcelain and rich, colourful decoration cannot be achieved on a thick-walled feldspar porcelain. In order to be able to respond to the needs and requirements of our customers in an optimal and individual way, we stock a total of five different types of porcelain and ceramic.
This puts us in a position - similar to car manufacturers - to serve our customers from the entry level to the premium segment with one brand in different market segments.
The special feature is that the white tableware of this different types of porcelain can be used together, as they are difficult to distinguish from each other externally. The ceramic types 4. durable, 5. vitreous and 6. ceramic stand for colored trend & special collections, which can be easily integrated into any serving concept anyway.
| Designation | High Alumina | Alumina | Hart- | Durable | Ceramics | Terracotta |
| Material designation | Porcelain | Porcelain | Porcelain | Hard stoneware | Ceramics | empty |
| Firing temperature max. | 1390 °C | 1380 °C | 1360 °C | 1290 °C | 1100 °C | empty |
| Firing method | Double firing | Double firing | Single firing | Single firing | Single firing | empty |
| Whiteness | 86 - 88 | 70 - 72 | 64 - 69 | 68 - 70 | coloured | empty |
| Glaze hardness (Mohs) (**) | 5 - 6 | 5 - 6 | 5 - 6 | 5 - 6 | 2 - 4 | empty |
| Corrosion resistance | high | high | high | middle | low | empty |
| Porosity | 0,01-0,05 | 0,01-0,05 | 0,01-0,05 | 0,08-1,0 | 0,5-10,0 | empty |
| Mechanical resistance | extremly high | extremly high | high | high | very low | empty |
| Physical impact resistance | 0,76 - 0,95 | 0,65 - 0,69 | 0,08 - 0,16 | 0,08 - 0,25 | < 0,06 | empty |
| Heat storage | good | good | good | good | good | empty |
| Dishwasher-safe | high | high | high | middle | low | empty |
| Dishwasher resistance | about 3000 (*) | about 3000 (*) | about 3000 (*) | about 3000 (*) | about 300 | empty |
| Microwaveable | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | empty |
| Ovenproof up to | 350 °C | 350 °C | 300 °C | 220 °C | 250 °C | empty |
| Thermal shock resistant | yes | yes | no | no | no | empty |
| Commercial suitability | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | empty |
All information in all conscience without warranty!
(*) The information on dishwasher resistance in wash cycles applies to white, undecorated porcelain. Decorations and fonts are less resistant due to the production process.
(**) This information corresponds to the NEW DIN standard EN-15771; if other manufacturers advertise with hardness "8", this information corresponds to the old DIN standard EN-101, which is no longer valid since 2009
The quality levels of Holst Porcelain
By definition of ceramics and composition of raw material of a body and its firing temperature result the "not visible qualities" of ceramic materials like the hardness of the glaze or its impact resistance. These factors are relevant for price, durability and longevity of wares but do not seem to be "significant criteria" for consumers. In the common decision tree with "quality" visible criteria is meant, which generally do not have an impact on the utility of dish. Quality reducing decision factores often are:
- Deformation of the body
- Crawling
- Sharp bottoms
- Pitting and pinholing
- Differences in colour
- etc. (see faults in porcelain)
To offer a simple and understandable distinction of our qualities at Holst Porzellan we classify our "visible quality" into 4 levels.
1. High Quality
2. Basic
3. Budget
4. Second Choice
High Quality by Holst Porcelain
We explain the highest quality level of Holst Pporcelain as "High Quality" even its still a commercial choice, but in a very good selection. The glazes are uniform, even and radiant. The goods are free of noticeable flaws and limitations. Very small pinholes or minimal light refractions are still visible in individual cases when viewed strictly and meticulously. Deformations are not visible and the floors are cleanly polished. The finishing is really "top", but not perfect.
The proportion of b-grade (minimal defects) should not exceed 5% (95/5).
Premium is dedicated to discerning hosts, four-star hotels and restaurants, luxury hotels, fine chefs and all critical end users. In this quality level we compare our products with, among others, Rosenthal, Villeroy & Boch, RAK and other well-known brands in the industry. As a good example of this quality we have series such as Skagen, Style, Harmony, Lubin and many others.
Basic Quality by Holst Porzellan
These quality correspond to the medium level of our collection. The glazes are even and radiant. Minor optical defects on the surface do not affect the gracefulness or the intended use of the goods and are only visible on closer inspection or when light is refracted. The dimensional accuracy of functional tableware is guaranteed (taught goods) and the general claim of porcelain is tailored to daily use. This quality level results from a normal commercial choice (a/b-grade), in which are "a-grade mixed with a small proportion of slightly defective goods (b-grade).
The proportion of b-grade (light) should not exceed 15% (85/15).
This grade is the optimal combination of price and performance for the basic level of hotels, restaurants and catering, event services, adventure kitchens, chefs of ideas, trendy restaurants and private consumers with fashion demands. These sorting criteria meet the expectations of professional hosts, who know that a steak from an expensive brand-name plate does not taste different, or that a patient from a brand-name cup does not become healthier faster. In this quality and price range we compare our products with, among brands like Tognana, Churchill, Kahla, Seltmann, Mitterteich, Vega, Lubiana and other well-known brands in the industry. A good example for this kind of basic quality are the series Katja, Teardrops, and many others.
Budget by Holst Porzellan
These items correspond to the perfect intersection of price and quality for commercial use. The glazes are neat, small optical defects do not affect the intended use of the goods in any way. On closer inspection, slight differences in whiteness are visible, but they are not disturbing in the overall picture. Floors and adjusting rings on the underside may have pores and interruptions, but these are not sharp-edged. Very large tops can tilt minimally on glass or smooth surfaces, which is not a problem when using tablecloths or placemats. Edges and flags show a purely optical inequality when stacked, which only the dishwasher, but never the guest, sees. This quality level is the result of a somewhat more generous "mixed sorting" (a/b-grade) due to the price, in which good goods (a-grade) are mixed with a proportion of slightly defective goods (b-grade).
The proportion of b-grade (defects) should not exceed 20% (80/20).
This sorting is the best way for budget hotels, cafés, bistros and cost-sensitive gastronomy to get a really good price. We emphasize that we from Holst Porzellan do not "cheat" at this quality level or, out of "ignorance", call imitation porcelain, New Bone China or other inferior ceramic types "porcelain". "Budget" from Holst Porzellan/Germany is a real kind of hard porcelain that meets all the requirements of professional use. Fired at more than 1,320 °C, our affordable tableware is not cheap, but good! In this quality description we compare ourselves with Royale, Saronno, Saturnia, Ikea, Maxwell & Williams, Pordamsa, Crea-Table but not with WAS, Pulsiva, Welco, Luzerne, Ionia, Tuxton as well as with all kinds of ceramic and promotion items.
Second choice (b-grade) by Holst Porzellan
Some porcelain brands destroy their second choice items to keep prices artificially high. We believe that this practice is an absolute waste of resources in terms of sustainability and social justice. There are many consumers, both commercial and private, who do not care about a black dot on a plate or a failed lion's head on a soup bowl. All second-choice articles from Holst Porzellan are still suitable for use at kitchen, service and table and suitable for use with food. It is only optical losses that our second choice suffers from. Second choice is sold at considerably reduced prices. Smaller defects are marked with article number B1 (at least 30% discount), larger defects with article number B2 (50% discount). Attention: Sale only while stocks last. Here in the shop, possible errors and defects are described in detail in the respective article text. The current Second Choice offers can be found here.
Quality of set items
When classifying the quality of set items, it can happen that a quality conflict occurs, e.g. if the upper cup is classified in Basic and the saucer in Budget. In such cases we act according to the low value principle and always use the lower quality classification.
Remarking of material & quality of every item
Every item in our collection is tested, classified and labelled in terms of material and quality. Our outlet-stores (factory outlets) also guarantee regular follow-up examinations and, if necessary, correction assessments, if these become necessary. The result of these article evaluations can be viewed by every customer via the "Quality" tab at every item in this online-shop as well.
Our quality promise: Every item of our assortment is and has been checked and is suitable for the professional ability of using! We take this responsibility for our customer. You can find out more about the production and manufacturing facilities of Holst Porzellan on our webpages "expert knonledge". All items of our collection are regularly and continuously subjected to laboratory tests and only leave our premises with complete documentation and in compliance with the laws and regulations of the German Foodstuffs Commodities Ordinance and LFGB.
If you have any questions please contact us.