Common Definition: A system of cabinet construction. Modern box fabrication as opposed to traditional face frame construction.

Unauthorized Definition: Many builders don’t know this term. Rarely do professionals (except fussy cabinet makers) refer to the 32mm system. Instead these cabinets are usually called frameless or Euro-style.

Sound Like a Pro: 32mm (1-1/4″) refers to the distance between holes found on the cabinet’s inside sidewalls for standardized adjustable shelf and hinge attachment. Some manufacturers claim frameless cabinets have 20 percent more usable space than traditional cabinets of the same size. Since there’s no frame to take up room. Frameless construction is better suited to manufactured board products than traditional construction. Designers are now a hybrid cabinet construction by combining the efficient frameless construction with filler and ornamental details to achieve a traditional look.

Fun Trivia: 32 mm construction originated in Europe after WWII. The war’s massive destruction combined with a lack of lumber created serious housing shortages in Europe. Leading engineer’s to devise an integrated cabinet system that used efficient sheet materials (like plywood and particle board) assembled with specially designed hardware and machinery. This new system was a complete rethinking of traditional cabinetry craft based on modern industrial practices.