Short answer: EMAC and Schluter make the same categories of tile trim, and for most jobs the EMAC profile is a direct functional substitute. If you know Schluter by product name, use this map: SCHIENE becomes Novosuelo or Novopared, RONDEC becomes Novocanto, DILEX becomes Novosepara, RENO becomes Novonivel, TREP becomes Novopeldano, and cove base becomes Novoescocia. The profiles are not interchangeable mid run, so pick one system per surface and stay with it.
Most installers arriving at EMAC already have years of Schluter muscle memory. The question is almost never "which brand is better in the abstract." It is "I know the part I want, what is the EMAC number for it, and is it in stock." That is what this page answers.
The cross-reference table
Schluter line names are listed here only to identify the job the profile does. Every size, finish and price in the EMAC column was read from our catalog on 2026-09-29.
| Job on site | Schluter line | EMAC equivalent we stock | Stocked example |
|---|---|---|---|
| L shaped edge, floor | SCHIENE | Novosuelo Aluminum | White 3/8" (10mm), SKU NLA0138, $24.76 |
| L shaped edge, wall | SCHIENE | Novopared Aluminum, Novopared PVC | PVC White L shape, SKU NLP01516, $7.51 |
| Rounded or bullnose edge | RONDEC | Novocanto® Aluminium | Matt Silver bullnose 3/8", SKU NCA1338, $28.01 |
| Movement and separation joint | DILEX | Novosepara 4 Aluminium | 1/2" Matt Silver, SKU NR413, $22.76 |
| Height transition, reducer | RENO | Novonivel® Aluminum | Matt Silver 3/8" reducer, SKU NVA1338, $52.79 |
| Stair nosing, step edge | TREP | Novopeldano® 4 Aluminum | a= 7/8" h= 3/8" Matt Silver, SKU NP413, $70.14 |
| Cove base, sanitary corner | DILEX cove | Novoescocia® 4 | ZAMAK alloy White, SKU 4T01, $18.69 |
| Skirting and baseboard | DESIGNBASE | Novorodapie® L | Matt White a= 2 1/2", SKU NRLAL60BLR25, $83.41 |
Prices are current as of 2026-09-29 and change with material costs. The live lineup is in Metal Trims & Transitions, which carries 21 profiles today.
Where the two systems actually differ
Finish range
This is the practical difference most pros notice first. EMAC ships a wide anodized and coated finish range within a single line. Novocanto® Aluminium alone is stocked in Matt Silver, Bright Silver and Brushed Metal, at 3/8" and 1/2" tile thickness. Brushed Metal 3/8" (SKU NCA12138) runs $27.09 and Bright Silver 1/2" (SKU NCA11012) runs $38.68, so the finish, not the size, drives most of the price spread inside a line.
Material choice at the same profile
Several EMAC lines are offered in more than one material at the same shape, which lets you match the spec to the room instead of over buying. Novoescocia® 4 cove base is stocked in anodized aluminum (SKU NS401A, $54.68) and in ZAMAK zinc and aluminum alloy (SKU 4T01, $18.69). The alloy version covers standard commercial cove work at a third of the aluminum price. Novoescocia® 4 Mini adds a stainless option (SKU NS4M16X, $84.38) for wet and high traffic areas.
Designer and low profile options
EMAC's Eclipse and ASTRA families have no exact one to one Schluter counterpart, which is worth knowing when you are bidding a high spec job. Novopeldano Eclipse® (SKU NPEC1338, $82.21) and Novopeldano ASTRA® Stella (SKU NPASTNLL1631, $152.18) are step edge profiles built for visible architectural stairs. Novonivel® MINI (SKU NVMN1314, $37.53) is a reduced height transition for thin tile and LVT work.
Square edge
One honest gap to flag: our stocked Novocanto® Aluminium variants are the bullnose profile. If a spec calls for a hard square edge cap, check the current lineup in Metal Trims & Transitions before you commit the order, or ask us and we will confirm availability.
Can you mix EMAC and Schluter on the same job
Across separate surfaces, yes. Within a continuous run, no. Two reasons. First, trim height is matched to tile thickness in fixed increments, and the two brands do not share a sizing chart, so a 3/8" EMAC profile and a Schluter profile sized for the same tile can still sit at slightly different heights where they meet. Second, finish names do not map across brands. Matt Silver is not the same anodizing as another manufacturer's satin or brushed equivalent, and the mismatch shows under raking light on a wall.
The workable rule: one system per visual plane. Floors can run one brand and walls another as long as no profile physically meets another profile.
How to pick the right size
Trim size follows tile thickness, not tile format. Measure the tile plus your bed thickness and choose the profile height that matches the finished surface, so the top of the trim sits flush with the tile face. Most of our aluminum lines are stocked at 3/8" (10mm) and 1/2" (12.5mm), which covers the large majority of porcelain and ceramic work. Novonivel® also carries a 5/16" to 1/2" adjustable reducer (SKU NVA313, $32.58) for transitions where the two floors are not a known thickness apart.
For a deeper walk through the EMAC lines themselves, including how the corner pieces and end caps work, see our EMAC tile trim profiles guide. If you are still deciding between a metal profile and a finished tile edge, tile trim vs bullnose covers that trade off, and the metal tile trim profiles selection guide compares materials and finishes side by side. For stair work specifically, start with the tile stair nosing profiles guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is EMAC trim compatible with Schluter installation methods?
Yes. EMAC profiles set the same way: the perforated anchoring leg is bedded in thinset under the tile, and the visible face finishes the edge. No brand specific tooling or fastener is required, so your existing method transfers directly.
What is the EMAC equivalent of Schluter RONDEC?
Novocanto® Aluminium. It is the rounded bullnose edge profile, stocked in Matt Silver, Bright Silver and Brushed Metal at 3/8" and 1/2". Matt Silver 3/8" is SKU NCA1338 at $28.01.
What replaces Schluter DILEX for movement joints?
Novosepara 4 Aluminium. The 1/2" Matt Silver (SKU NR413) is $22.76 and the 1/2" Matt Black (SKU NR490) is $46.88. There is also a low profile version at a= 9/16" h= 3/16" in Matt Silver, SKU NRMN1314, at $32.28.
Does EMAC cost less than Schluter?
We do not publish competitor pricing, so compare the landed cost on the exact profile and finish you need rather than the brand. What we can say from our own catalog is that the material option often matters more than the brand: the same Novoescocia® 4 cove base shape is $54.68 in anodized aluminum and $18.69 in ZAMAK alloy.
Do you stock EMAC in black and brass finishes?
Yes on black across several lines, including Novopeldano® MINI in Matt Black (SKU NPMN9014, $66.57) and Novorodapie Eclipse® in Matt Black (SKU NRECAL13100NM, $131.81). Novorodapie Eclipse® Shadow is also stocked in Brushed Gold (SKU NRECSH18012, $94.31).
Can I order a full job lot?
Yes, and if you are buying trim by the job rather than by the piece, join the contractors program for pro pricing and account terms. Free shipping applies at $399 and up.
Next step
Browse the current profile lineup in Metal Trims & Transitions, and if you are specifying trim on contractor volume, set up an account through the contractors program first so the pricing applies to the order.