There are a couple of different drawer runner types currently on the market. Keeping up-to-date on their differences will help you make an informed decision on which to use on your project.

Ball bearing drawer slide/runners

These are a fairly cost-effective drawer solution. These drawer runners (or drawer slides) are fitted to a melamine drawer box. They can come integrated with soft close or push open, albeit not combined. They can give you years of hassle-free use, but on the other hand do not offer the extra weight or drawer width capacity that the quality European drawers offer.

If you want to keep the cost of your joinery project down then ball bearing runners are a great place to start.

European Drawer Systems

These drawer systems are a higher quality alternative to traditional ball bearing drawer runners. They:

  • work well with any style of kitchen, from contemporary to classic.
  • include soft close, push open and Servo-Drive options. Blum systems also include the latest push open and soft close combined.
  • feature feather light open and close.
  • carrying capabilities from 30 kg, 50 kg and 65 kg making them perfect for larger drawers.
  • They do not require a full melamine drawer box, only a bottom and back. Thus the drawers are lighter.
  • They are usually powder coated metal sides.
  • They are made by companies such as Blum, Hettich, and Salice, among others.

The brand favored by MDC Furniture Design is Blum. If you’re wondering why, it’s because we have been using the Blum brand for the last 20 years and they always work. They run smoothly, and they maintain drawer front positioning regardless of how much weight they are carrying.

The Blum “Antaro” drawer system.

If you would like more information on the Blum drawer systems you can view or download a brochure here.

Conclusion:

So, if you’re looking at minimizing the amount you spend on drawer hardware then the ball bearing runners are the best choice. But, if you’re after quality hardware, utilizing extra wider drawers (900 mm or more) or drawers that will be required to hold more than 40 kg in weight then the European drawers are the way to go.