IVCITY magazine 2023

WELCOME

Welcome to the 2023 edition of Flanders Flooring Days, a unique 4-day event where Flanders’ leading manufacturers o er trade partners the opportunity to explore the latest industry trends and cutting-edge flooring technology. Unilin is proud to be part of the organising manufacturers, as innovation and inspiration are at the core of our DNA. At Unilin, we push boundaries to improve people’s quality of life by creating better spaces.

Welcome to IVCITY. At the FLDC, we want to take you on an exciting and inspirational city tour of trends and innovations. Cities o er vibrant and engaging experiences, where everyday life is filled with opportunities to live and work, to explore and learn, or to relax and recharge your batteries. In IVCITY you will discover a surprising number of spots that will stimulate all your senses.

Discover new inspiration on how to improve your home interiors or work environment. Visit our library to learn more about trends and design. Take a well-deserved break at Sustainability Square, where you can find out how we have adapted technologies and systems to pave the way for the future. Try out our Noen Restaurant, or grab a co ee at the Tiny House. Or why not stroll through the Art Gallery or relax and lounge at the Playground?

Let us be your guide when you embark on our city tour, full of thrills and new experiences.

Sheet vinyl flooring has never been more versatile and exciting than today, with an unparalleled mix of functionality and design. In 2023, we’re proud to o er ‘on-trend’ product technology in a wide array of options for both residential and commercial applications. And on the creative side, we’re launching an unprecedented range of new and innovative collections, with the most exciting design book you’ll find anywhere today.

Discover the versatility of vinyl and enjoy your stay in IVCITY.

Stefaan Debusschere and IVCITY Team / Unilin

Stefaan Debusschere, General Manager Sheet Vinyl EUR/ROW

How to find your way around

Welcome to IVCITY, where we want to take you on an inspiring city trip, full of suprises and novelties. Discover flooring solutions for all the spaces that mark our lives. Explore the latest trends in the Floorum Library or enjoy a coffee or a glass of wine at the Tiny House.

FLOORPLAN

#01 Welcome Kiosk

#02 The Sustainability Square

#03 Your Home – IVC Sheet Vinyl Residential Your Home – Lentex Flooring

#04 The Floorum Library – Trend & Sustainability Talks

#05 The Art Gallery

#06 Tiny House – Coffee Shop & Wine Bar

#07 Park Life – Ice Cream Parlor

#08 At Work – IVC Sheet Vinyl Commercial #09 The Office – Carpet Tiles

#10 The Playground – Relax & Chill #11 The Restaurant

Don’t forget to bring your empty bottles to the Plastic Bank recycling bag, so we can turn them into great products! You can find the bag on the Sustainability Square.

#09

#06

#02

#03

Inspired by the modern-day mindset.

Inspirational & trending

Design trends come and go in cycles. At Unilin, we keep an eye on what lives in the heads and hearts of our customers. We translate those insights into our products, putting together collections that cater to today’s demands. At Flanders Flooring Days, we’re proud to present three new collections inspired by contemporary yet timeless trends.

We live in times that are both interesting and uncertain. We seek tranquillity in nature, which we try to bring into our interiors as much as possible. We find certainty by turning our homes into safe havens of comfort and peace. But at the same time, we long for enriching experiences, often gained while travelling. This modern-day mindset is at the core of our selection of collections.

Discover the comfort and vibrancy of our three new collections and let yourself be carried away by the optimism and pureness of Midcentury Modern, Sunsoaked and Woodline

Evelyne Aelbrecht, Lead Product Manager Sheet Vinyl

MIDCENTURY

Familiar patterns offer a sense of comfort during uncertain times. So it’s no wonder that the Midcentury Modern style is experiencing a major revival nowadays. Midcentury Modern refers to the style that emerged between the 1940s and 1960s as a reaction against the ornate styles of the past. It sought to create a new, modern design language that reflected the changing times and is characterised by a sleek and minimalist aesthetic that emphasises functionality and simplicity over ornamental design elements.

©Carrocel

©Kartell, FL-Y Pendant

©The Urban Editions, Darwen

©Kartell

© Bernadaud, AlexanderCalder

The use of natural materials such as wood, stone, and metal

©Pols Potten

MIDCENTURY Modern

©Ligne Roset

©Vitra, Pretzel, George Nelson

© Ago, Cirkus Chandelier

© Maisons du Monde, Portobello

© Maisons du Monde

MIDCENTURY A familiar feeling

Retro with a modern spin

Midcentury modern design has a unique energy, combining a fresh and contemporary feel with a distinctly retro vibe. Our new collection is designed to help you recreate that retro look with a modern spin, bringing a touch of nostalgia and playfulness to your interior.

Natural meets geometric

Natural looks are a key part of midcentury modern design, from classic walnut and oak to more modern marble looks. Geometric patterns are another defining feature of midcentury modern design, and therefore the collection includes squared tiles and elegant herringbones.

Warm wood tones

New white

Olive hues

Warm grey

Contemporary pureness

Giuliano 539

Giuliano 539

Alassio 534

Vesuvio 535

Balmani 526

Navarra 577

Colours in balance

Muted shades of green, blue, and yellow offer a playful, lighthearted attitude towards the past, while the neutral beige allows bolder accent colours to stand out. This creates a sense of balance and harmony in your interior, making your floor a key element of any decor.

SUNSOAKED

There’s something truly special about the energy that comes with the arrival of the sun. Not only is it the source of all life, but it also has the power to evoke warm, optimistic, and energetic feelings within us. Why not incorporate this sunsoaked feeling into your interior design?

Earthtonesbaked

SUNSOAKED vibes

Vibrantfeelingholiday

SUNSOAKED When good vibes come around

Light and laid-back

Our Sunsoaked collection is inspired by the natural beauty of light, bleached woods and sandy beaches. Light natural woods form the base of the collection, creating a light and airy feel that’s perfect for creating a laid-back, sunny atmosphere in your home.

Holiday feeling

Mediterranean patterns such as paved stones and terrazzo spark that holiday feeling. Vibrant colours like sunny orange, electric magenta and sunset blue provide an immediate burst of energy and optimism, bringing a touch of excitement and vitality to your space. Let the essence of life inspire your interior design and bring that warm, radiant feeling into your home.

Baked earth tones

Sunlit hues

Phygital colours

Vibrant red

Salty sand

Sunset blue

Marmette 512

Celeste 509

Marmette 512

Nero 553

Evora 578

Padua 568

Padua 517, Nola 532

WOODLINE

WOODLINE

In our world today, we are constantly bombarded with different stimuli. We seek comfort and well-being in nature. We aim to bring its restorative power into our homes, transforming them into relaxing sanctuaries of self-care, by infusing our interiors with natural materials. Wood is one of the most soothing materials of them all, no matter the hue.

Essential lines that transcend time and space

WOODLINE

Woodline at the heart

The main character of this collection is the iconic structure of wood, the essence of a wooden plank. Its richness and feeling of comfort lie in its simplicity, with soft and subtle tones that blend seamlessly with the soothing Woodline.

Evoking emotions

Colour is a crucial element in this collection, with tones carefully selected not just for their visual appeal, but also for the emotions they evoke. Whether it’s an uplifting warm red terra, a calming pastel blue, or a comforting neutral beige, this collection has a hue to match any interior mood.

Warm tones

Simple and slow

The essence of wood

Iconic structures

Heartfelt

Pure white W01

Oatmeal Latte W33

Tuscan Yellow W55

Stormcloud Grey W97

Pebble Grey W92

Forest Green W25

Arctic Blue W72

Island White W06

Mushroom Beige W36 Red Terra W15

Charcoal Black W99

Lavender Mist W82

Mystical Sage W28

Mayan Blue W75

From Japan to Scandinavia

The essential lines and colours transcend time and space, but fit perfectly into contemporary interior design trends where both ancient Japanese philosophy and Scandinavian values such as simplicity and living slowly are amplified.

From Milan

to the floor

In April, our team attended the Salone Del Mobile fair in Milan, where we spotted some of the hottest design trends for the upcoming years. Here are some easy-to-implement flooring solutions and styling tips inspired by our trip.

Trend 1 Trend 2

Material trend ‘Pitchblack & coloured wood look’

At Salone, we noticed that many booths had a similar type of flooring – a pitch-black wood look with an accentuated woodgrain. We also observed a lot of furniture made of coloured wood, often in desaturated hues. Our latest

Material trend ‘Walnut’

The beauty of walnut has long been celebrated for its rich, warm colour tones and stunning woodgrain patterns. Over the past few years, there has been a renewed interest in walnut as a material for furniture, flooring, and other decorative accents. It’s a versatile choice that brings both warmth and sophistication to any room, making it a popular option for a variety of interior styles.

In our latest collection, Midcentury (which you can discover on page 6), we’ve introduced new colour variations of our Alassio pattern. Another stunning walnut option is our Nomad line, which adds a touch of elegance to any space.

Walnut is back, both in furniture and floors

Uniwood 25

Uniwood Lavender Mist W82

Uniwood Mystical Sage W28

Uniwood Arctic Blue W72 Nomad 543

Elise Bylo, Design Manager

Trend 3

Style trend ‘Warm maximalism’

At the Fuorisalone event around the city, many brands transformed their expositions into cosy, earth-toned havens, with a ‘burnt sienna’ hue taking centre stage. One of the displays that stood out was the Artemest Apartment, which boasted bold and vibrant interiors. If you’re looking to bring this luxurious, warm vibe into your own home, it’s easy to do so by layering different materials and combining warm, earthy tones.

For a strong foundation, consider using a rich, patterned floor like Mocha or Felice, or a classic herringbone design like Giuliano or Patagonia. For a bolder look, or if you already have a lot of wooden furniture, start with a solid colour like Unicorn or Padua, or add texture with a patterned option like Triangolo for an even more maximalist feel.

Trend 4

Colour trend ‘Cobalt Blue’

The colour we spotted practically everywhere? Cobalt blue. Its brightness and intensity make it a great choice for creating a bold statement, while its stable feeling makes it easy on the senses.

One way to incorporate this lovely colour into your interior design is to pair it with metallic materials and grey tones for a more industrial look. This combination creates a sleek and modern vibe, perfect for those who want to add an edgy touch to their space. You can also add warm wood tones like walnut to balance out the coolness of the blue and create a more inviting atmosphere.

To add a touch of excitement and playfulness to your space, consider incorporating bright orange accents. This unexpected pop of colour

complements cobalt blue beautifully and adds a spicy touch to your interior. For a balanced look, incorporate this hue into your throw pillows, curtains, or other decorative elements.

The versatility of cobalt blue makes it work in a variety of interior styles. Its balance and vibrancy make it a great choice for those who want to add a pop of colour to their space while still maintaining cohesion and harmony. Whether you’re going for an industrial, modern, or more traditional look, cobalt blue is a colour worth considering.

Cosy,earth-toned havens

Cobalt blue matches great with bright orange

Giuliano 555

Padua 517

©Artemest

IVC Residential Collections 2023

For 2023, we are presenting a collection that is wonderfully diverse, inspired by the latest design trends and the ever-evolving individuality of nature.

New colours, new textures, new designs but above all, new moments. Moments of serenity and wellbeing versus moments of joy and laughter. These moments are important in our lives, to keep it in balance.

In these challenging times people are looking for affordable solutions but don’t want to give up on interior design trends. With IVC vinyl flooring we are constantly improving and adding trending designs in all our collections, so you can finish your interiors according to your expectations, but within your budget.

Choosing the right vinyl floor to meet the needs of a specific room, be it a kitchen, dining room, bedroom, bathroom or elsewhere, is key, and with our diverse range of qualities and designs, IVC vinyl sheet flooring has a solution for all your desires.

We present to you the four moods that inspired our collections. The duality of Fluid Life, the sensations of Touchable Textures, the happiness of Positive Vibes and the serenity of Japandi Home

Ingrid Derveaux, Product Manager Sheet Vinyl Residential

“You and me. We make a perfect match.”

Trends 2023

Today, indoor and outdoor living are more connected than ever. Outdoor places feel like indoor rooms, becoming one fluid living space

FLUID LIFE

Baked earth tones

Eternal summer

Mediterranean vibe

Stonelike textures

Ferrara 593

Tactile tones

Sense of touch

Visible textures

Inspired by nature

TOUCHABLE TEXTURES

A warm embrace, a sense of touch, is a high desire after the pandemic in an even more digital world. Touchable textures, inspired by nature, stimulate our senses, making us feel warm and comfortable.

Quadro 095

Agave 036

Quadro 026

Triangolo 017

Positive vibes give rise to happiness. Surrounding ourselves with positive vibes can be done in different ways. Bringing playful colours and cheerful designs into our homes is one of them.

POSITIVE VIBES

Playful patterns

Geometric

Happy colours

Smiles all around

Tarifa 514

York X54

Amara 524

Biskra 528

York 554

Serenity

Natural tones

Slow living Lightness

Neutral colours

JAPANDI HOME

Japandi Home is a hybrid style, balancing the earthy elegance of Japanese tradition with the coziness of postmodern Scandinavian design. The feeling of pure well-being is evoked by the use of neutral colours, soft woods and stones and light-filled spaces.

Kirigami 035

Limoux 507

Felice 542

Maira 594

VELVETEX when style meets comfort

Velvetex is a blend of luxury, style and strength. This luscious flooring combines a comfortable feel underfoot with easy installation, making it a popular choice for renovation projects.

Comfort by design

The secret to the Velvetex’ underfoot comfort? It gets its name from the grey textile backing that has a soft touch, just like velvet. The backing not only provides extra walking comfort, it also amplifies the benefits of the flooring, such as its great acoustics and warm touch. The high density makes it feel incredibly comfortable underfoot.

Installed easily

What’s more, textile backed vinyl flooring can be installed without glue on an even bigger surface than standard flooring solutions, up to 40 m2. The subfloors don’t even have to be regular as Velvetex evens out irregularities, making it ideal for renovation projects. Even after installation you’ll enjoy its great ease of use, thanks to the easy-to-maintain PU lacquer protection.

“Perfect for renovations”

Miguel 548

Challenger 581

Maureen Detavernier, Product Coördinator Sheet Vinyl

Inspired by nature

The Velvetex collections draw their inspiration from nature. Discover our new collections, George and Miguel. Their sophisticated concrete look and wooden tones fit any interior style.

VELVETEX SPECS

TOTAL THICKNESS: ca. 2.80 mm

WEARLAYER: ca. 0.40 mm

TOTAL WEIGHT: ca. 2,000 g/m 2

George

Miguel

George

A perfect solution for commercial flooring

No glue, rapid installation, durable and easy to recycle: Looselay vinyl is the next-level flooring solution. Used in both public and private building projects, this product is in demand for good reason. The glueless technology makes installation superfast, odourless and stainless, while creating a healthy and elegant indoor environment. Made from 100% recyclable materials, it’s a refined and sustainable flooring innovation.

LOGITEX ULTIMATE 55 Textile backing, Semi-Looselay

With a sound reduction of 19 dB and a durable 0,55 mm top layer, Logitex Ultimate 55 is the perfect vinyl floor when silence is needed. It’s a quiet and comfortable solution for housing projects and an impressively versatile floor for education, office, and healthcare spaces. The textile backing also provides underfoot warmth and makes it easier to hide small subfloor imperfections.

This vinyl keeps it simple: no glue or major subfloor preparations are needed, and it can be used on a wide range of floors. Whether refurbishing or starting from scratch, Logitex Ultimate 55 is a fast and easy way to enjoy an acoustic and aesthetic floor designed for heavy use.

Read more about the Logitex Ultimate 55 Collection

Student accomodation with Logitex Ultimate 55: a combination of two patterns: Stockholm T37 and Gravel T36

Sophie Zenner, Product Manager Sheet Vinyl Commercial

BATIMAX (PLUS) Semi-Looselay

Ease of installation and powerful performance, that’s what Batimax vinyl combines. This collection offers 12 designs ranging from classic Scandinavian woods to sleek decors. Batimax creates a relaxing atmosphere in public or private spaces and solves problems of acoustics and installation.

Both Batimax and Batimax Plus provide walking comfort and an impact noise reduction of 20 dB. Easy to install, this vinyl is ideal for the renovation of any surface. The wear layer provides resistance to heavy use, with Batimax Plus going above and beyond. For better maintenance, the Hyperguard+ surface treatment provides superior protection against scratches and stains.

Read more about the Batimax Collection

NOMAD

100% Looselay

Nomad vinyl is a timeless classic for new building projects and renovations alike. The innovative double glass-fibre construction makes it excel in stability and rigidity, while this floor can be installed and removed without glue. Nomad is made of 100% recyclable materials, provides a 20 dB sound reduction and is easy and quick to install.

The glueless installation offers many advantages, saving both time and costs. It’s an eco-friendly solution to meet modern housing expectations in terms of style, acoustic comfort and use.

Did you know our Nomad collection can be installed on top of other floors, such as hardwood floors, concrete, compact vinyl or acoustic vinyl?

100% Looselay

Read more about the Nomad Collection

Batimax BMTAT752

Nomad, Optic T02

LE VILLAGE DES ATHLETES REFERENCE CASE

Spanning over fifty hectares, le Village des athlètes rises as an ecological centerpiece in L’île-Saint-Denis. This temporary and circular village will provide an optimal welcome to the athletes during the world’s most popular sporting event and become an eco-responsible neighbourhood after the games. A superior and versatile building project, and a perfect fit for our Batimax vinyl.

Circular technology

The construction of the Village kicked off in 2021 and will be finished on 1 March 2024. It is designed to accommodate 14,000 athletes and their accompanying staff and families.

Upon completion of the Games in November, the site will be transformed into a lively neighbourhood for all, offering a mix of uses. There will be housing, shops, facilities, and green open spaces; an innovative building project that links the urban municipalities of SaintDenis, Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, and L’Île-Saint-Denis.

Batimax is the perfect flooring solution for such a vast and (con)temporary project. With its innovative and circular design, the floor is easy to install, remove and recycle. It’s high performing, resistant to heavy use, flexible for reuse and long-lasting.

Future-proof urban planning

The Village and subsequent neighbourhood will celebrate ecological innovation. With around 7 hectares of green open spaces, nature will play an essential role. New parklands, public

Batimax BMSTT072

open spaces and renovated riverbanks will offer places to walk, relax and leisure. The site will provide a 2050-ready neighbourhood with smart energy performance, carbon neutrality and a strong emphasis on biodiversity. The area is also designed to promote an inclusive society, diverse and adapted to the needs of each citizen, including those with disabilities.

IN NUMBERS

Reference Le Village des Athlètes

Where Ecoquartier fluvial de L’ÎIe-Saint-Denis (93)

What Housing

Facilitating 6,000 residents/employees

Project owner Groupe Pichet, Legendre Immobilier

Collection 9,000 m² Batimax

500 m² Batimax Plus

Installation Semi-Looselay

Ecological and robust floors

The choice for Batimax semi-freestanding floors was no coincidence. The various consortiums tasked with building the Village submitted their bids to Solideo-Plaine commune développement (the public organisation responsible for delivering the facilities for the Games) during a call for tenders that started in March 2019. The projects selected reflect the aim to create a pioneering environmental endeavour, while catering for athletes’ requirements during the Games and to local communities’ wants and needs over the long term.

There are excellent reasons why Batimax made the selection. It combines high performance with an elegant design. The floors provide real walking comfort and an impact noise reduction of 20 dB. The installation is easy and ideal for renovation on any type of support. The wear layer provides great resistance to heavy traffic. And the Hyperguard+ surface ensures better protection against scratches and stains, which facilitates better maintenance. And as a trump card, the floors are 100% recyclable.

RECOVER PROGRAM

As part of our drive to 100% product circularity, we also have the Recover program to collect off-cuts and old floors to be recycled or reused. And by making floors that are easier to recycle through click and loose lay technologies, the impact of Recover is improved.

We collect off-cuts and old floors into bags or on pallets. Depending on what we’ve collected, we bring the waste back to our recycling centres or send it to one of our partners. The materials are then sorted and cleaned before being shredded and recycled. This provides the raw material for new floors, such as in an innovative, eco-friendly neighbourhood.

More about RECOVER on p. 40

© Pichet Legendre Immobilier

TFOU PARC colour abound

In Lille, France, kids are having the time of their lives at the brand new TFOU Parc. This multi-experience indoor playground offers all kinds of fun activities for the whole family, spread over more than 3,500 m2. Hundreds of kids jumping, shouting and running about all day? The ideal challenge for our Optimise 70 – Itec 419 vinyl floor.

Playing with colours

Our Optimise 70 – Itec 419 is all about comfort. We developed this product for heavy traffic areas, such as swimming pools, playgrounds and more. In the design, we put colourful creativity at the heart, making the Optimise 70 – Itec 419 a perfect match for a playground. With more than 54 colours to choose from, TFOU Parc had all the creative possibilities at their fingertips for a fun combination. The result? Shades of cheerful yellow, playful purple and baby blue that perfectly match the colourful environment of the playground. For a more neutral colour palette, the Optimise range offers plenty of options as well.

Acoustic comfort

One of the biggest challenges of designing large, heavy traffic spaces? Keeping the acoustics in check. No problem for the Optimise 70 – Itec 419, with its impact sound reduction of 19 dB. Combined with the fact that this versatile vinyl floor is non-slip and easy to keep clean, it is the perfect floor for TFOU Parc and playgrounds alike.

Read more about optimise 70

IN SHORT

Reference

Surface

Collection

Accessories

The cheerful designs fit the environment of the playground perfectly.

Optimese 70 – Itec 419, Rochus

“With an impact sound reduction of 19 dB, Optimise 70 is the perfect flooring solution for a playground.”

Isafe 70 The ideal combo between slip-resistance & style

Slip-resistant floors don’t have to look boring or industrial. Our Isafe 70 range surprises with elegant designs and modern looks, without compromising on quality and durability. The ultimate heterogeneous vinyl flooring, at the intersection of permanent slip-resistance and style.

Reassuringly safe

When designing highly frequented spaces where people are always on the move, slip-resistance is something to keep in mind. For these spaces, we developed our Isafe 70 heterogeneous vinyl. Its reassuringly safe surface makes it a great fit for restaurants, gym halls or care centres. Frequent spillings or getting a lot of dirt from your many visitors? Not to worry, because thanks to its Sanitec protection and hygienic HyperGrip, the Isafe 70 is super easy to clean and still safe, even when wet. With its R12 wet and dry performance rating, the Isafe 70 meets the highest European safety standards.

Setting the right mood

A cosy evening at the bar, a little break from the rain in the library, or an invigorating session at the gym – we have designed our collections to elevate the mood in any space for any type of activity. Amplify a serene interior with our Sand collection, go for a modern industrial vibe with Sting’s concrete look, or create warmth with the wood look designs of Monte Carlo or Tavel. In other words, plenty of creative possibilities.

Read more about Isafe 70

Monte Carlo 532 - Stockholm 595

Camargue 558,Padua 593

“ Our Isafe 70 collections elevate the mood in any space.”

Patagonia 544

Between industry and nature IVC goes Poland

Situated in the south of Poland, we find Lentex Flooring, a new addition to the Unilin family. It is located in Lubliniec, a small town in one of the most industrial regions of the country, of which Lentex has been an inseparable part since 1911. Paying a visit anytime soon? Poland has plenty to offer in the wider region. Marketing manager Michał Kozioł shares his insider tips.

From historic centre to old mines

Lubliniec is only a two-hour drive from Kraków, Poland’s second largest city. A great citytrip opportunity, Kraków offers plenty of historical attractions, including its historic centre which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Wieliczka salt mine just outside Kraków, that stretches for 300 kilometres, is also worth a visit. Only an hour away from Lubliniec, you can roam about in Katowice, where post-industrial architecture welcomes you in numerous indoor and open-air museums. Another interesting visit is the old mines, which once contributed immensely to the region’s economic growth.

If you want to see a very different side of Poland, then Gdansk in the north, on the shores of the Baltic Sea, is worth the trip, as is the Polish capital Warsaw.

Michał Kozioł, Marketing Manager Lentex Flooring

Unilin Flooring Polska and Lentex factory plant

Gdańsk lies at the mouth of the Motława River

Kraków offers plenty of historical attractions

Atypical natural beauty

For lovers of atypical natural beauty, Poland is a great destination as well. Just outside of Lubliniec you can wander for miles in the phenomenal Upper Liswarta Forests Landscape Park. A bit further, to the south of Kraków, lie the Tatra Mountains with their dramatic views, challenging hiking trails and adventurous mountain bike trails.

In the northeast part of the country you can travel to the breathtaking Masurian Lake plateau, which attracts many kayakers and sailors with its more than 2,000 lakes.

BRUSSELS Lubliniec

Capital city Warsaw, the corporation district

“Paying a visit to Lentex in Lubliniec anytime soon? Poland has plenty to offer in the wider region.”

Tatra Mountains, highest mountains in Poland

Mazury, Masurian lake district

The phenomenal Upper Liswarta Forests Landscape Park

Mine shaft. In Silesia, where Lubliniec is located, there is a very strong tradition of coal mining

Get to know Lentex Flooring

In April 2022, Unilin Group announced the acquisition of Poland’s Lentex Wykladziny S.A. Fast forward one year later, and all 110 employees of the vinyl business within Lentex are part of Unilin Group. Our presence in Central and Eastern Europe has been strengthened and we are in the process of expanding Lentex’ former distribution point. What else is there to learn about Lentex? Here’s what you need to know.

Something for everyone

Lentex has an extensive range of floor coverings for both the residential and commercial markets. The commercial range consists of high-end and flexible, heterogeneous floor coverings. They are designed especially for interiors with high traffic such as public buildings, and areas that need to be protected against static electricity. Its residential range offers the same quality and is extra easy to install and to keep clean. Made to finish both classic and modern interiors, the residential range comes in many colours and patterns, imitating wooden planks, parquet flooring, terracotta and even stone flooring.

“We are pleased to have found a partner in Lentex, a manufacturing firm with a long tradition, a strong reputation and a great deal of know-how.”

RUBEN DESMET PRESIDENT OF UNILIN FLOORING

A century of experience

Lentex Flooring can count on more than hundred years of experience and tradition. With an impressive history dating back to 1911, they make a wonderful addition to Unilin Group and a great asset to strengthen our growth in Central and Eastern Europe and our expansion into North Africa and the Middle East.

Unique InverTech technology

To make our vinyl floorings meet our high quality standards, they are coated with a protective layer. However, it’s not always easy to apply this protective layer without air bubbles forming on the surface. That is why Lentex invented the InverTech technology, combining all features of lacquered and mechanically embossed floor covering. The result? An even, durable and dirt-resistant protective layer.

www.unilinflooringpolska.com

Ohrid Oak C43 591-02

Casimir E90

“Eastern Europe is a dynamic growth market for sheet vinyl. With this acquisition we are reinforcing our geographical position in this region.”

STEFAAN DEBUSSCHERE GENERAL MANAGER SHEET VINYL EUR/ROW

Our journey to 2040

At IVC, we strive to be an industry leader in eco-friendly flooring. To achieve this ambition, we’ve formulated a series of targets that we aim to meet over the next 20 years. Read on to discover these ambitious goals, along with the efforts we’re making today. From advanced product innovation to unparallelled recycling initiatives. The future is now.

RECOVER A new life for floors

In our ambition to achieve full circularity, waste reclamation, reuse and recycling are essential parts of our daily process. With our Recover Recycling Program, we try to maximise the amount of material that we recycle into new floors. The initiative gives us a way to collect off-cuts and used floors to be recycled or reused.

How?

First of all, we take back postinstallation waste and post-consumer loose-lay sheet vinyl during installation and guarantee full recycling, often at our own on-site recycling units. This way, we avoid additional transport between partners and our production sites. Secondly, we promote loose-lay installation, which is easier to remove and recycle. All recycled material is then used as raw material for new LVT.

1 - COLLECTING

After installation or at end-of-life, old floors and off-cuts are collected into bags or on pallets. The customer contacts us to arrange collection.

2 - TRANSPORT

Depending on what we’ve collected, we bring the waste back to our recycling centres, or send it to one of our partners.

3 - SORTING

Before the collected materials are ready for recycling, they need to be sorted and cleaned before being shredded.

4 - RECYCLING

The action or process of converting waste into reusable material.

• At our own recycling plant or external recycler.

• Used as

o raw material for new floorings.

o Material that’s too contaminated or not REACH compliant is turned into raw material for road furniture.

5 - NEW FLOORS

The recycled material is used as raw material for new LVT.

6 - OTHER APPLICATIONS

Some post-consumer floors can’t be recycled into new flooring because they’re not REACH compliant. We then look for other applications, such as footwear, street furniture and outdoor tiles.

Benoit Douchy, Recover Program Officer

Kristof Van Vlassenrode, R&D Manager Resilient & Sustainability

REFERENCE CASES

AINTREE RACE COURSE UK

At The Grand National Aintree, the most popular horse race in Britain, more than 3000 m2 of wood and vinyl went directly from the racecourse to the landfill each year. A huge waste after an event of only three days. Thanks to our Recover Program, all floor materials are now recycled, saving about 2.45 tonnes of CO2

VACCINATION CENTRES Belgium

During the pandemic, the Belgian government set up vaccination centres in several public buildings, such as a 2,000 m² site in Bruges. To protect the original floors from damage during this temporary use, heterogeneous vinyl from IVC Commercial was installed loose-lay so it could be easily reclaimed and recycled afterwards through the Recover Program.

VILLAGES DES ATHLÈTES France

This temporary and circular village will provide an optimal welcome to the athletes of the world’s most popular sporting event and become an eco-responsible neighbourhood after the games. A superior and versatile building project, and a perfect fit for our Batimax vinyl. With its innovative design, the floor is easy to install, remove and recycle. It’s high performing, resistant to heavy use, flexible for reuse and long-lasting.

FROM TODAY’S EFFORTS …

By using internally recycled materials in the composition of our floors, we use fewer new raw materials and work towards our goal of a fully circular product. We try to reduce our environmental impact not only by producing efficiently, but also by the way we use materials. Today we recycle all sheet vinyl production waste and all sheet vinyl coming in via our Recover Recycling Program, and reuse it in the backing of LVT products.

Did you know?

We have our own

… TO TOMORROW’S SUCCESSES

Our ultimate goal? A fully circular product. Using an innovative recycling technology, we aim to make all layers of our sheet vinyl circular. We’re completely rethinking our products: how can we use recycled sheet vinyl in the development of new sheet vinyl? In order to do this, we’re taking a two-pronged approach, centred on the micronisation of sheet vinyl on the one hand and the recycling of plasticisers via innovative extraction technology on the other hand.

We’re the first in the sheet vinyl market to scale up the industrialisation phase in this regard. This groundbreaking technique – the first circular process in the industry – will result in up to 20% recycled sheet vinyl in future sheet vinyl products. Besides flooring, we will also recycle medical waste and other flexible PVC products.

Used sheet vinyl flooring is shredded into small fragments, from which plasticisers and PVC are extracted. The latter two fractions are then reused in new sheet vinyl products.

on-site recycling units, avoiding transport between partners and our production sites.

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FLOORING

For our textile-backed products, we’re working together with Plastic Bank. Every day, Plastic Bank communities are searching for ocean-bound plastic and bring it to local collection centres in exchange for life improving benefits that can help them to escape poverty.

The collected material is reprocessed as Social Plastic and integrated into our sheet vinyl collections. By using Social Plastic® for our textile backings, we’re cutting down ocean plastic and improving lives in vulnerable coastal communities. In addition, we also use as much mineral content as possible in all of our sheet vinyl collections.

“By using Social Plastic® for our textile backings, we’re cutting down ocean plastic and improving lives in vulnerable coastal communities.”

CO2 NEUTRAL BY 2050

As part of its One Home Program, Unilin is committed to reducing CO2 emissions at all its manufacturing plants. At our sheet vinyl manufacturing sites, we’ve been investing for years to decrease the carbon footprint.

How?

By scaling back the use of fossil fuels in all our activities, in our energy mix, and in transport as well. Today, 59% of our energy is already renewable. To further increase this share, we’re continuously looking for ways to generate our own green energy. We’ve already built two biomass plants, have solar panels on the roofs of several facilities and three windturbines on-site.

But we’re also investing in heat and cooling efficiency. In the summer of 2023 we’ll be replacing the heart of one of our production lines with a new, more efficient oven. This oven will consume 5% less energy and will emit a lot less heat.

We continue implementing different systems on various sites, such as an innovative heat wheel to recuperate the heat from production and use it to climatise buildings. And then there’s our Scheldt water project, which uses river water as a coolant. In addition, we’re also limiting the impact of transport by replacing, if possible, truck transport with river barge and the electrification of our car fleet.

CERTIFICATIONS FOR OUR SUSTAINABLE EFFORTS

Wind farm, site Avelgem

Solar panels cover the roof of Unilin Insulation’s production site in Desselgem

“Establishing the largest PVC recycling plant in the flooring sector, switching to renewable energy and creating installation solutions that eliminate toxic adhesives, we’re clearly moving beyond flooring.”

ONE GROUP, ONE VISION

Our company centres around innovation, entrepreneurship, passion and smart living solutions. We understand the power of collaboration and cross-fertilisation better than anyone else. We pool the know-how from the different divisions, in order to learn from each other.

As part of the Unilin Group, IVC has integrated its sustainability targets in Unilin’s Global One Home strategy. Rooted in the belief that change is necessary, for our planet – ‘planet home’, for our customers – ‘your home’, and for our employees – ‘our home’.

PLANET HOME for our planet YOUR HOME for our customers OUR HOME for our employees

Francis Debrabandere, VP Sales Sheet Vinyl

Flooring Development Centre

At IVC we are very happy to open up our showroom during Flanders Flooring Days, where we can meet with our customers. This event offers a great opportunity to strengthen relationships with our key partners, showcase our products and demonstrate our commitment to our partners’ success.

It is important for us to align our vision with our network which will lead to a better collaboration and improve knowledge sharing.

FLOORING

“We are eager to reconnect with our partners during the Flanders Flooring Days!”

Pieter-jan Troost, Marketing Manager Sheet Vinyl

Harmony in form and function

Since 2019 we have established our Flooring Development Centre in Waregem, Belgium. The FLDC, renovated by Glenn Sestig, has become an inspiring place where customers, designers and architects from around the globe can intuitively discover IVC’s latest designs, innovations and R&D developments.

Creating an IVC customer journey in the showroom

The location houses IVC’s sales, marketing and design departments, as well as a showroom for all commercial and residential brands. That showroom has been divided into sections through the clever use of material and design, and visitors are intuitively guided from one space to the other. Potential customers that embark on this journey of discovery through IVC’s portfolio encounter different corners.

The IVC Commercial Library features IVC’s collections for the project market via modifiable mood boards and sample storage units mounted onto the stripped concrete walls. Add to that the coffee corners where visitors can take breaks whenever they want, and you get an informal yet inspiring studio-like atmosphere.

The Moduleo House is home to one of IVC’s most popular residential brands. This area has a more domestic feel and displays flooring materials in a way that highlights attainability and comfort.

The Residential Market Place is where all IVC’s B2C brands are showcased. This area invites buyers to compose their own collections with all materials on hand and aims to inspire retailers to present flooring materials similarly in their own stores.

Stairway to heaven

Glenn Sestig, Architect

Cindy Van Moorleghem, Brand & Marketing Director

©Photo:

Jean-Pieree Gabriel

©Photo: Lenzer

One Company, One Team.

IVC and Unilin have been part of the same group since 2015. In 2021, the IVC Group was incorporated into Unilin, who is a trusted partner for professionals in interior design and the construction industry. One company, One Team.

Better spaces. Better life.

At Unilin, we push boundaries to improve people’s quality of life.

We strongly believe in a value driven company culture where we want to foster our core values of passion, entrepreneurship, excellence and respect. We believe in the strength of different nationalities, cultures and perspectives that blend into one strong entity. What unites us is our unique company culture and DNA. One company. One team.

IVC proudly represents the Sheet Vinyl Brand of Unilin Flooring and is deeply rooted in the heart and core of Unilin. With our products and innovations, IVC strives to create a positive impact on people’s homes, work environment or public areas.

Check our Better spaces, better life video

Better spaces. Better life.

Let’s meet on the floor.

FLANDERS FLOORING DAYS ’23

22.05 - 25.05

Monday - Thursday