Flooring February/March 2023

Editor’s Note

Welcome to the February / March 2023 issue of Flooring Magazine. Inside this issue you will find our annual Adhesives Guide. This year we have completely updated our guide to include a more comprehensive product listing for our suppliers including RLA Polymers, Forbo Flooring Systems and Australian Flooring Supplies. Use this guide to ensure you select the right product for both the floorcovering being bonded and the environmental landscape.

Our Company Profile in this issue features Armstrong Flooring, a leader in resilient flooring in Australia for over fifty years. Under new and passionate Australian ownership, Armstrong is set for a future of growth and expansion into new markets. Read Philip Ashley’s profile for the full story.

Please feel free to contact me directly regarding any company events, industry news and or new product information by email at – michelle@ elitepublishing.com.au

Don’t forget to check out our new website, join our growing online community and visit us on Facebook and Instagram.

Until next time, enjoy your read.

Michelle Cammiade Editor

Product Update

Industry leading flooring solutions by Polyflor

Flooring is the foundation of any structure, and represents the opportunity to set the style, and tone of your interior space. Polyflor create flooring solutions which are both beautiful and functional. Whether it be in the home or in a commercial environment, their products uphold the same level of quality and design standard.

They believe that the products we choose can help us design for a better environment, both inside and out. Their collection of vinyl flooring, which is suitable for a variety of commercial and residential applications, makes a big impact on the look of a space, but a small impact on the earth.

Since launching in Australia and New Zealand in 1963, Polyflor are proud to offer their customers a wide variety of flooring solutions to suit any need – aged care, retail, residential, healthcare, residential, you name it. Their range of products caters to those looking for superior quality but also to those after unique solutions like sustainable slip resistance, acoustic noise reduction, rubber, and sports flooring.

Owned by one of the world’s top flooring Manufacturers, Polyflor Ltd U.K, they are able to offer customers the benefits of versatility, international quality, and choice. With over 100 years in operation, Polyflor are industry leaders in interior flooring, dedicated to supplying you the latest in sustainable, contemporary flooring solutions at competitive prices. Their eclectic range of inspired vinyl flooring is tailored to suit a wide variety of commercial and residential environments, and with warehouses located nationally across Australia, there has never been a better time to try out the expansive range of designer flooring found at Polyflor.

Read about a mere handful of Polyflors comprehensive range of flooring solutions below.

Expona Commercial

Naturalistic yet modern, Polyflors own Expona Commercial range is available in over 40 designer shades, offering contemporary, and easily maintainable flooring and is recommended for commercial and residential areas that require a hardwearing floorcovering which is attractive, modern, and easy to maintain. Applications include retail, office, hospitality, healthcare, aged care, and educational facilities.

Features:

• Realistic timber, stone and abstract look designs in a variety of colours.

• Polyurethane (PUR) surface treatment to assist ongoing maintenance.

• Flooring designed to create inspirational commercial and residential spaces.

With two new colours recently added to the Expona Commercial range; The elegant Dark Terrazzo and Grey Terrazzo, of which incorporate a variety of realistic surface textures derived from authentic stone and granite sources, there’s never been a better time to buy.

Dark Terrazzo and Grey Terrazzo still come with all the features that reinforce the Polyflor standards customers expect in the Expona Commercial range, including polyurethane reinforcement for fast and simple maintenance.

Product Update

Polysafe

Available in an extensive variety of designer shades and patterns, Polyflors own Polysafe ranges feature highly sophisticated slip resistant technology, maximising the safety and wellbeing of the user, whilst retaining a unique sense of style and substance throughout an abundant palette of colours. Befitting commercial environments that receive heavy amounts of foot traffic, Polysafe features numerous product lines customised to be applicable throughout a variety of circumstances, including high spillage areas and healthcare settings to name but a few.

Forest FX

Portraying the natural beauty of wood and timber designs, the Forest FX range embraces the sophistication of wood in a practical, and durable, vinyl sheet format. Elegant and refined, the hard-wearing, and highly realistic Forest FX range is applicable in a variety of commercial sectors that experience heavy foot traffic, including retail, hospitality, healthcare, and education.

Classic Mystique

Simple and elegant, Polyflors top-selling Classic Mystique range is an attractive heavy duty homogeneous floorcovering suitable for a plethora of commercial interiors, healthcare, educational facilities and even retail outlets. Subsisting of a tonal, non-directional appearance,

this robust range is available in a diverse 24 shade palette, this polyurethane reinforced line is guaranteed to suit and enhance any interior commercial environment, with an easy to clean, and maintain, surface area.

Customer Focus

A foundational pillar of Polyflors success, their customer focused business strategy involves all facets of Polyflors expansive roster, ensuring you get a quality product, every time.

Starting from humble beginnings in Manchester over 100 years ago, Polyflors dedication to their customers, has led us to the flourishing international brand you see today.

Polyflor looks forward to continually providing you with industry leading flooring solutions as their success story continues.

Above: Forest FX

Above: Polysafe

Above: Classic Mystique

Made for Living

The demands of everyday family life can mean constant activity, wear and tear and chaos in the home. From durable and stain-resistant carpets to beautiful resilient floors, Godfrey Hirst has a range of floor covering options that will endure messy toddlers through to the rough teenage years and beyond.

1300 444 778 | www.godfreyhirst.com

Product Update

Origin Collection – DESSO Recharge and Retrace

Lowest circular carbon footprint

A global leader in sustainability, Tarkett is proud to announce that their Desso Origin carpet tile collection delivers the lowest circular carbon footprint in Europe*, one that is at least 6 times lower** than the total carbon footprint of Tarkett’s competitors.

Tarkett’s innovative circular, closed-loop systems differ from other manufacturer production models. From the initial point of extraction through manufacturing, installation, use and recycling, Tarkett is the only carpet tile manufacturer with a closed-loop recycling system that effectively cuts down on waste and the emission of greenhouse gases.

Once disassembled, old makes way for new. Tarkett’s take-back and recycling program, ReStart, makes it possible to close the loop, recycling yarn and backing without loss of quality, all the while complying with stringent health and environmental standards.

The EcoBase backing is shredded, then reformed into polyolefin granulates to create new EcoBase backings. Separated from the backing, the PA6 ECONYL yarn is recycled, regenerated and reintegrated within new carpet tiles.

looks to the carpet tile recycling process itself for its design inspiration.

Recharge and Retrace carpet tiles are 100% recyclable, and share the same beautiful palette of 20 colours, ranging from warm and cool neutrals to rich earth tones. These natureevoking hues work beautifully together, bringing harmony, tactility and acoustic comfort to today’s modern and busy workspaces.

This circular approach is a key driver of Tarkett’s strategy to protect the environment and preserve natural resources by reducing its carbon impact and achieving the lowest circular carbon footprint with the Origin carpet tile collection.

Made to be remade

The Desso Origin collection is made to be remade. Manufactured entirely using 100% green energy, Desso Origin carpet tiles were designed to be disassembled so their components can be easily recycled into raw material for new carpet tiles.

Desso Recharge and Retrace

The Desso Origin carpet tile collection comprises two complementary designs, Desso Recharge and Desso Retrace. Both carpet tiles contain up to 61.1% of recycled content and feature a stippled texture that varies slightly between the two designs. Recharge evokes the upcycled chalk used in the manufacture of the 100% recyclable and Cradle to Cradle Gold-certified EcoBase backing, while Retrace

For improved sound impact reduction performance, the DESSO Origin collection is also available with an optional DESSO SoundMaster acoustic backing. The SoundMaster acoustic backing helps control sound by insulation and absorption, reducing unwanted noise. On top of its expertly designed functionality, the SoundMaster backing contains 80% recycled content from used PET bottles.

Explore the DESSO Recharge & Retrace collections at www.tarkett.com.au

* For EcoBase-backed carpet tiles with PA6 yarn, according to the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) S-P-05827 externally verified by Bureau Veritas, based on the total carbon footprint (Modules A-D) with a closed loop circular recycling scenario.

** Comparison of EPD S-P-05827 with the total carbon footprint (Module A-D) of each of the 19 carpet tiles’ EPDs available on the internet (May 2022) for competitors with production location in the EU+UK, in the product weight range 600-699gr, Polyamide yarn and incineration as end-of-life scenario.

A truly Circular Carpet Tile Collection

A global leader in sustainability, Tarkett is proud to announce that our DESSO Origin Carpet Tile collection delivers the lowest circular carbon footprint in Europe*, one that is at least 6 times lower** than the total carbon footprint of our competitors.

• Lowest circular carbon footprint

• 100% recyclable

• Contains up to 61.1% recycled content

• Ecobase backing Cradle to Cradle® Gold certified

• Available in 20 nature-evoking hues

www.tarkett.com.au

Comparison of

with the total carbon footprint (Module A-D) of each of the 19 carpet tiles’ EPDs available on the internet (May 2022) for competitors with production location in the EU+UK, in the product weight range 600-699gr, Polyamide yarn and incineration as end-of-life scenario.

Product Update

Long term asset maintenance

It is interesting to hear about the changing preferences in the Australian cleaning industry where quality productivity and presentation are becoming important factors rather than the traditional benchmark of speed or square metres per hour.

Sometimes an overemphasis on productivity and speed can come at a cost of asset deterioration in the long term. In the cleaning industry, this might mean that certain cleaning methods or equipment that prioritise productivity over quality may actually cause more harm to the property in the long run, leading to increased maintenance and repair costs for the property owners.

Flooring is an investment and using the correct equipment to maintain the asset is vital. Floor care guides play a crucial role in helping property owners and cleaning professionals understand how to properly clean and maintain different types of flooring materials. These guides provide information on recommended cleaning methods, equipment, and chemicals, as well as tips on how to prevent damage and maintain the appearance of the flooring over time.

By regularly updating their floor care guides, manufacturers can ensure that the information they provide is relevant and accurate, and that it reflects best practices in the cleaning industry. This can help property owners and cleaning professionals make informed decisions about how to care for their flooring, leading to better outcomes for the flooring's appearance and longevity.

Carpet manufacturers often recommend using an upright vacuum cleaner for commercial carpet/soft floor care for several reasons.

Firstly, upright vacuum cleaners are generally more powerful than other types of vacuum cleaners, such as backpack, barrel or stick vacuums. This means they are better able to remove dirt and debris from deep within the carpet fibres, which can help to extend the life of the carpet and prevent the build-up of dirt and allergens.

Secondly, upright vacuums are often equipped with an electric rotating brush, which can help to dislodge dirt and debris from the carpet fibres, making it easier to pick up with the vacuum.

Thirdly, upright vacuums are typically more durable than other types of vacuum cleaners, making them well-suited to the demands and rigors of commercial cleaning.

Finally, using the recommended type of vacuum cleaner is often necessary to maintain the warranty on the carpet. Carpet manufacturers may specify the type of vacuum cleaner e.g., upright, that should be used to ensure that the carpet is cared for properly and in accordance with their guidelines.

Overall, using an upright vacuum cleaner can help to ensure that commercial carpets are cleaned effectively and efficiently, and that they are cared for in a way that extends their life-span and maintains their appearance.

SEBO Commercial Upright Vacuum Cleaners and Electric Powerbrushes are recommended by carpet and soft floor manufacturers for the correct care of their soft floor products because they have features and benefits which can suit certain pile styles and fibres as well as being ergonomic and user friendly.

When formulating a carpet maintenance plan for a facility it is important to refer to the carpet manufacturer’s warranty statements as well as the Australian and New Zealand standard AS/NZS 3733 – Textile floor coverings – Cleaning maintenance of residential and commercial carpeting.

Product Update

Fresh design with the Asha Hybrid flooring collection

Imagine Floors by Airstep are starting 2023 off strong with a new addition to their Hybrid flooring offering - the Asha collection. With a name that quite literally means ‘alive and well’, this range simply had to provide stunning natural vibes, and first impressions show that the decors can easily match expectations.

Stunning natural beauty

All designs within the collection feature true-to-life detail, both in design and texture, but what is particularly noteworthy about the range is that all European Oak decors are embossed in register. Not only does this help these 6.5mm Hybrid floors stand out in terms of options on the market, but it also helps them stand out within homes as they are quite hard to tell apart from genuine hardwood flooring.

Featuring ten design options to choose from, the Asha collection of Hybrid flooring is as resilient as it is beautiful. All floorboards within the range offer a 100% waterproof surface – so they can be installed in any room of the home, including areas where floorboards traditionally couldn’t be laid such as bathrooms, laundries and other wet areas (excluding shower bases) – and their inbuilt underlay makes them both quiet and comfortable underfoot. They also make use of 5G locking technology, which means the bond between floorboards is stronger than those that secure themselves with other methods.

Customers can choose from five native inspired designs, as well as five European Oaks, with the lightest option in the collection being Glacier Oak, a cool and dreamy grey, and the darkest décor –Cappuccino Oak – featuring deep brown tones and energising vibes.

Not just a pretty face

Like all Imagine Floors by Airstep Hybrid floors, the Asha collection is resistant to wear, fading, staining and impact, and their excellent R10/P3 slip rating helps ensure that your family stays safe by reducing the risk of slips or falls in the home. They also help to create happier, healthier homes thanks to their low VOC construction, and phthalate free status.

All of this is then backed up by a Lifetime Domestic Warranty, as well as a 15 Year Commercial Warranty, so customers can install the Asha Hybrid flooring collection within their home or business with peace of mind.

If you’d like to stock Asha in your showroom, please get in touch with your Imagine Floors by Airstep representative. .

Focus On

Focus on Dunlop Flooring

Dunlop Flooring has been pioneering its way through Australia’s flooring industry since man landed on the moon. Over the last decade, the company has been through a transformational journey, having positioned themselves not only within underlay but the hard flooring category as well. Dunlop Flooring has seen a major trend within the market with consumers’ increasing awareness in sustainability and demand for eco-friendly products and practices. We sat down with Dunlop Flooring’s Product and Marketing Coordinator Anne Galura to chat about their impact within the Australian market and their ambition of creating healthier homes for everyone.

1. Dunlop has over 50 years of experience in flooring. What is the Dunlop story?

The Dunlop journey has been remarkable to say the least. Since 1969, there have been history making moments that determined the company as an industry leader in flooring solutions as it is known today.

From humble beginnings, the company started manufacturing cotton dressing for motor and upholstery in South Melbourne. In 1972 Joubert & Joubert invested in the first rebond underlay plant in Australia and launched the Omalay range. Dunlop then introduced its two primary ranges, Springtred in 1990, followed by Carpetmate in 1993, which cemented our name within the industry.

After the foundation within the company was established, Dunlop quickly turned to address

the latest demand from consumers, which lead to the creation of Heartridge in 2014, our now signature brand in hard flooring –an opportunity we capitalised on, ensuring growth of the business into the future.

We are a modest yet efficient group, currently employing 75 people across Australia, with most of our staff located at Head Office in Truganina, Victoria and our underlay manufacturing facility in Wetherill Park, New South Wales.

2. Dunlop Flooring is committed to protecting the environment through recycling and integrating ecofriendly practices into everything they do. Can you walk us through your sustainability processes?

Landfill is still the most common way polyurethane foams are discarded and it’s an ever-present problem. It never breaks down

and produces toxic fumes when incinerated.

The development of our Recycle by Dunlop program introduced a continuum in the lifecycle of any unwanted foams, allowing us to redirect waste from landfill.

With support from our retailers, we would collect old or discarded foam underlay, together with off-cuts and trims and deliver all of this back to Dunlop Flooring.

At our facility, we have strongly invested in state-of-the-art equipment to ensure consistency within the product density and to remove any heavy or foreign particles. Due to the perplexity of raw materials, we have five check points performed by staff members who have worked with Dunlop for over 25 years. This meticulous process ensures the underlay is cleaned, sorted, and ultimately recycled into new reusable underlay.

Focus On

Dunlop continue to manage the process to ensure a lesser impact on the environment and perhaps one day bring together multiple recycling hubs to extend our reach around Australia. For now, we encourage everyone to remember that landfill is not always the final solution.

In 2022 alone, Dunlop has recovered over 10 million kilos of foam across Australia.

3. Dunlop Flooring has been manufacturing in Australia since 1969, what have been some of the company’s milestone moments? Winning the Banksia Award for Waste minimisation back in 2013 was a breakthrough for our recycling program. We have been trying to raise awareness for the past 10 years and this recognition was invaluable to our cause.

What’s more, in 2022 one of our latest triumphs was the opportunity of being 1 of 20 businesses selected by the Department of Agriculture to showcase our well-developed sustainable practices. This allowed us to leverage off the Australian governments influence and tell our story.

4. Dunlop Flooring has a range of brands in their collection, can you take us through your product offering?

Dunlop Flooring is widely known for being experts in underlay where we currently house variations for both carpet and hard flooring. We can honestly say that the competition within the industry has pushed us to be better by improving our manufacturing process and offer product ranges. Much of our underlay is produced in Australia, and we continue to use upcycled furniture and bedding materials that consist of polyurethane foams. Some may think that the evolution of sustainable carpet underlay stops there, yet Dunlop Flooring are excited to announce a revolutionary carpet underlay that is both recycled and bio-based. We’re currently launching, Renu – a fully sustainable carpet underlay with a carbon negative bio-based film. Being the first of its kind in Australia, once again we are pushing the boundaries of the conventional manufacturing of underlay. (See page 13 for more information).

Our journey into Hard Flooring has been momentous. Rivalling against others with eons of presence and reputation, Dunlop Flooring has come a long way. Let us begin with Heartridge, our first ever hard flooring brand, its success allowed us to create

Focus On

another working toward a healthy planet. We have linked our underlay business to this cause with every purchase of underlay sold contributing to planting trees all over Australia. What we offer to our flooring community is a chance to give back to the environment and share in the wealth of economic and social benefits.

collections of Engineered Timber, Vinyl and of course, Hybrid. This paved the way for Frontier Design Flooring, a game changer providing first-class quality and affordability. We have learned from the masters, and we continue to do so as we deal with the dynamic consumer trends of not only Australians but the world. In 2021, our entire class of Vinyl and Hybrid flooring went through rigorous testing conducted by a panel of experts, and we are extremely pleased that each range has been given the stamp of approval by Sensitive Choice Australia. Being the only company in Australia that holds this certification, it boldly proves the better choice of product for people with asthma and allergies.

5. Dunlop Flooring actively supports a range of community causes from health assistance to environmental. Tell us about some of the ways Dunlop is giving back through engagement.

We have always strived to be present within our community, local clubs and charities by supporting various institutions such as Planet Ark and The National Breast Cancer foundation. As one of the few companies that found opportunity during the pandemic, we considered ourselves extremely fortunate. From Australia’s current rental crisis to

the increase in homelessness, we deeply felt the need to do our part. Which is why, Dunlop Flooring have partnered with the Sacred Heart Mission, an organisation that provides important services to hundreds of people in Victoria experiencing homelessness or disadvantage. We chose to engage our employees as well as our selected partners into the Dining Hall program preparing and serving food to anyone in need. A truly rich and rewarding experience knowing that you’re making a positive impact in someone’s life.

6. Looking ahead, what plans have you got for the future of Dunlop Flooring?

As a business we don’t aim for perfection but rather excellence. We understand that nothing is ever perfect, but we continue to elevate our brand by pursuing fresh ideas and maintaining the confidence of our customers. The innovation and development within the business will continue rising as we embark on a 5-year strategy that aligns with our longterm goals.

Dunlop’s future foresees:

• Recognition from our customers as the market leader in flooring

• Ground-breaking products that provide alternatives to plastics

• A digitally sound platform that brings our customers into the 21st century

As the Australian government announced its long-term emission reduction plan to achieve net zero by 2050, Dunlop flooring has undertaken strategic approaches to reinforce this target. Our Dunlop Envirofirst initiative has empowered us to connect with One Tree planted, a non-profit organisation focused on global reforestation. In 2022 alone, OTP made an incredible impact, planting 52,793,657 trees and over 44 million more ready to go for 2023. There was no doubt in pursuing this partnership as both our values strongly aligned with one

• Continual contribution to healthy living

• And more importantly, investing in the future of our people

As we make our move for 2023, we want everyone to know that our ambitions are nonnegotiable. Everything that we have achieved to date are a result of painstaking hard work accomplished by a team of committed people. Every day we get closer to achieving our purpose of producing sustainable flooring that leaves a lighter footprint.

Design & Trends

Trend Alert: Heather Nette King’s fresh approach to minimalism

In 2023, it is all about soft minimalism as we say goodbye to colour and hello to texture according to Carpet Court trend forecasters. Interior stylist and Carpet Court ambassador, Heather Nette King shares her tips to achieve this stunning look with some easy to communicate tips and suggestions.

Most of us are familiar with minimalist interiors, characterised by simplicity, clean lines, and a monochromatic palette - but it doesn’t have to be cold and sterile.

In recent months, there has been a noticeable shift towards softening interiors, marked by the recent emergence of soft minimalism. A simpler, quieter aesthetic than we’ve seen before, it reflects our desire to live more mindfully and connect with nature.

Heather Nette King, an interior stylist and Carpet Court ambassador, describes the latest iteration of minimalism as Into the Pale, which combines gentle, natural hues, organic curves, and sumptuous textures for a laidback and inviting look.

“The idea of a pale interior conjures up visions of a stark, all-white space, but Into the Pale shows just how warm and welcoming a light-toned interior can be,” says Heather.

Into the Pale is a scheme that can instantly elevate any home and feels distinctly Australian with its warm-tonal colours and play on curves. Whilst it may seem difficult to achieve, Heather Nette King has prepared five foundation elements that can help bring a personal interpretation of Into the Pale together in any home.

Go warm and tonal

Although it uses a warm palette, Into the Pale is not just suited to toasty winter interiors in cooler states – it also works well in coastal and tropical homes, and with both period and contemporary architecture. A tight palette of gentle, earth-drawn tones - such as beige and blonde - with hints of ginger and amber, touch-me textures and natural materialssuch as timber and stone - create a feeling of relaxed elegance.

Design & Trends

When selecting paint or furniture for spaces, avoid contrasting colours and select a tonal palette to set a soothing tone.

Turn up the texture

Dialling up the texture is key to achieving this look – from furniture, carpets, and rugs to wall finishes, window treatments, and soft furnishings. The idea is to create a touchyfeely wonderland that makes you want to curl your toes into rugs, walk barefoot on timber floorboards, nestle into crisp, linen sheets, and snuggle up on the sofa in a pile of soft, tactile cushions.

Texture is just as satisfying visually as it is to feel, so remember to include a mix of different materials that give your eyes an interesting plane to traverse. When bringing the look together, find furniture and decorative items that have a mix of natural materials, such as linen, timber, rattan, and more.

Embrace curves

Curves, arches, and rounded organic forms in furniture and accessories are important to creating an Into the Pale look. They add softness to the look, along with that extra layer of comfort.

Play around with furniture that comes in simple shapes and natural materials. It could be a curvaceous and deep-seated sofa or try flipping your rectangular dining table to have curved edges instead to achieve that organic and soft look. Remember that rounded forms

Design & Trends

will add softness to your room scheme, adding to that relaxing yet inviting feel.

Maximise light and views

According to Heather, the ability to control light and airflow is crucial to creating a comfortable home, and this is where the right window furnishings come in. Heather suggests products like Veri Shades® by Carpet Court that can give the softness and elegance of sheer curtains and the practicality of blinds in one.

Into the Pale has a focus on warmth and light. Move furniture around or try different shades to make the room feel bright and open. The ability to filter light will allow for a verdant outlook in any home.

Select hard-wearing foundations

The floor forms the foundation of any decorative scheme. Beautiful flooring and timeless window treatments in quality

materials and neutral tones will last the distance whatever family life throws at them - and gives the versatility to add in different colours, furniture styles, and artwork as fashions evolve and trends change so that homes remain on point.

If customers are looking to bring a sense of warmth, luxury, and durability to floors, Heather personally incorporates Carpet Court’s range of stunning rugs, carpets, and floorboards to create a characterful and cosy setting.

As a Carpet Court Franchisee you are joining our network of family-owned businesses that have been at the forefront of flooring retailing since 1973.

With 50 years of experience, a strong brand identity and a professional team to support you, we’ll provide you every opportunity for success.

For a confidential obligation free conversation, get in touch with us now.

Carpet Matters

Tips for selecting the right carpet

Brought

With so many colours, piles, and styles available, choosing a carpet for your home may seem like a daunting task. Bremworth share some tips on how to narrow down the search for your dream carpet, that is also right for your lifestyle, budget and family.

Colour

Did you know that carpet can appear up to 20% lighter when laid on the floor? It’s vital to take samples home to see your potential carpet in daylight and artificial light.

Colour is responsible for creating the mood of a room, and flooring is the second largest area after your walls. If you are renovating or building new, start from the floor up, choosing a carpet colour first. This will give you a base palette to work from in terms of choosing a colour for everything else in your home, from walls to tiles or hard flooring to furniture. If you’re only re-carpeting, you’ll want your carpet to work back with the wall colour/ curtains or some key pieces of furniture in the room.

Keep in mind that darker colours absorb light and can make a room appear smallerideal if you want to make a large room seem cosier. Lighter colours reflect the light and create a sense of spaciousness. Think about your lifestyle when choosing a carpet colour too. A lighter carpet may show kids’ muddy footprints, and a dark carpet may show dust or crumbs.

Bremworth have an extensive range of neutral shades that are timeless and sureto-please including the popular Samurai Hada. They also cater to the more daring consumers who enjoy an injection of colour. Try the newly released Charmeuse shades of Clay and Woodland subtly bring the vibrant colours of nature indoors.

Texture and style

Loop piles are ever growing in popularity providing stylish textures and designs, ranging from a minimalist appearance to bold, unique patterns. Depending which style you choose, loop pile carpets can offer a classic or casual look.

Newly released ranges Kensho and Wainamu have a low and tight loop pile with a neutral colour palette for an affordable and minimalist appearance. Samurai and Galet have chunkier and more pronounced loops, for a bolder look. Both have a non-directional pattern, so the rest of your interior can be easily styled against it. Loop piles don’t show footprints so are especially suited to busy homes or households with young children.

In contrast, cut piles are a good option if you have pets that tend to claw at carpet. A plush cut pile like Velluto offers a velvet like and luxurious look and feel. Or you can opt for a resilient hard-twist cut pile like Charmeuse. Cut piles show footprint more readily, which can be vacuumed out.

Bremworth aim to provide at helping hand at every step of your carpet buying journey. Refer to their online carpet selector tool to receive initial recommendations based on your needs. You can then order three free samples for convenient delivery to your door. If you need more help, their carpet and rug experts are available to talk things through –juts book an online consult.

to you by Bremworth

INSPIRED BY NATURE.MADE

BETTER BY YOU.

CUSTOMISED RUG

Walk on, Walk Strong

Armstrong Flooring have been a leader in resilient flooring in Australia for over fifty years and is now Australia’s only local manufacturer of commercial vinyl sheet flooring. Under new and passionate Australian ownership, Armstrong Flooring is set for an exciting future of growth and expansion into new markets and products.

In August last year, Armstrong was purchased by Cowes Bay Group, a company established by the McKendrick family. Kim McKendrick is widely respected as the former chair and owner of Godfrey Hirst, which in 2018 was the largest manufacturer and exporter of residential and commercial carpets in Australia and New Zealand. The purchase means Armstrong is now fully Australian owned and managed. General Manager Rob McLorinan says, “These are exciting times for both Armstrong Flooring and the Australian and New Zealand flooring industry.”

Armstrong Flooring has always demonstrated a longstanding support of the circular economy. The company is committed to operating to the highest industry standards, sourcing local materials wherever possible, employing locally to boost the Victorian and National Economy. Armstrong’s brand ethos to continually develop and revise current efforts to reduce the impact on the planet is strengthened with the company’s new

Australian ownership. Armstrong product is used throughout Australia and New Zealand, and exported to North America, China, Latin America and the Pacific Islands.

160 Years of History

Thomas Armstrong, the son of everyday Scotch-Irish immigrants from Londonderry, started Armstrong Cork Company in the United States in 1860. The company began producing

corks for elixir bottles in a tiny two-man cork-cutting shop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For some context, in the same year, Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States and South Carolina became the first state to secede from the United States, leading to the American Civil War. The first motor car was still twenty years away.

Fast forward almost fifty years to 1909 and Armstrong begins producing linoleum in the US and in 1961, begins selling flooring and ceilings in Australia. Just seven years later The Armstrong-Nylex joint venture begins the construction of the current site in Braeside, Victoria to produce vinyl flooring. It’s a move that surprised a lot of people as most of the industry at the time was located in the northern suburbs, but it’s a testament to the foresight Armstrong had of the potential of the eastern suburbs of Melbourne as a manufacturing corridor.

The Braeside facility was built on a bare site with just a few River Red Gums, the most iconic of Australia's Gum trees. These trees have been fiercely protected over the decades and continue to stand tall, symbolising the resilience of Australian nature, the products made on this site and the Armstrong Flooring brand today. From the Braeside site in Melbourne, Armstrong’s long-standing manufacturing operation supports a multicultural and multigenerational workforce that embraces it’s strong connection to country and the land on which Armstrong Flooring was built. 24

OVER 60 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Andersens is proudly a privately held company with over 60 years in the home improvement sector

We have 54 sites from far North QLD and down to Adelaide and expanding nationally.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU JOIN OUR

Significant incentives available to existing flooring stores

National training and business support

Industry leading green programs

Full range of suppliers available from day one with only one account

Retain your local brand

We understand that it is your business

Field support

Marketing support programs and dedicated digital marketing professionals

Country Town Values are what drives us

FAMILY

Company Profile

In 1971 Armstrong Nylex purchased a vinyl tile plant in Reservoir, eventually moving it to Thomastown. The 1980’s saw the company become the only Australian manufacturer of vinyl flooring, a fact that continues to this day. New corporate offices, warehouses and extensions to production facilities were built at Braeside. In 1993 Armstrong Nylex celebrated 25 years in Australia and a few years later in 1998 Armstrong buys out Nylex to assume total ownership. Over the last five years Armstrong opened a warehouse and distribution centre in Queensland; celebrated 50 years of Australian manufacturing; and becomes Australian owned when the assets and trademark are purchased by Braeside Mills Pty. Ltd.

Commitments

Armstrong Flooring have maintained a commitment of quality and service to the Australian building industry for over 50 years. Their collections of Commercial and Residential flooring bridge the gap between design and functionality, and are adopted by industry’s leading architects, designers, and homeowners to create exceptional spaces. Continuing innovation has led to the development and production of premium products in a range of categories including Luxury Vinyl Plank and Tile, Hybrid, Laminate, Homogeneous, Heterogeneous, Vinyl Composition Tile, and Safety Flooring. In all areas, Armstrong demonstrates industry competence and leadership.

One outstanding example of this leadership and industry collaboration is Armstrong’s involvement as an executive member of the Australian Resilient Flooring Association. As the only Resilient supplier manufacturing in Australia, Armstrong’s input (along with its industry’s peers) into the Government supported ResiLoop stewardship program for resilient flooring is vital in ensuring the industry is capable of re-purposing much of the 48,000 tonnes of flooring waste generated every year. Much of this is of decent quality

and suitable for re-use or recycle. This important project is due for completion early this year and will deliver a detailed roadmap to guide industry participation in an enduring product stewardship scheme.

As an industry leader, Armstrong is active in supporting all areas of the vinyl flooring manufacturing industry in Australia. Manufacturers like Armstrong are key to industry associations such as Australian Standards committees (installation, slip resistance); the Green Building Council of Australia (best practice PVC); the aforementioned ARFA; Vinyl Council of Australia (founding board member) and recently, the Floor Covering Institute of Australia through Armstrong’s commitment to installation training through its national training academy.

Best Practice

Armstrong Flooring is proud of their local Australian manufacturing. Their vision for the future is to continue to deliver high quality flooring that produces the lowest possible impact on the environment. Committed to continually developing new

means of sustainability into everyday practices, Armstrong’s focus is on local production; sourcing local materials where possible; a strong recycling program; working alongside likeminded Australian businesses and holding their products to the highest level of industry standards and accreditations including Best Practice PVC, ISO 9001 and 14001. The result is shorter lead times and a reduction in unnecessary carbon emissions.

As Australia's only manufacturer in commercial vinyl sheet flooring installed into public spaces such as health care, education, retail and hospitality, Armstrong holds a great responsibility for product compliance, especially when considering human health and wellbeing. They are committed to healthier living spaces with low VOC and phthalate free flooring, Greentag and Best Practice Environmental PVC certification. Armstrong develops product that is fundamentally safe and sustainable throughout its lifecycle. Their products comply with safe and sustainable practices and contribute to the overall sustainability of the built environment.

Company Profile

Community

Rob speaks highly of the value of manufacturing in Australia at a time when many realise we rely far too much on imported product.“Australian made means the production is nearby, support is readily available and the quality is guaranteed,” said Rob.“Jobs remain here and as an Australianowned company, the profits stay here as well. We cannot underestimate the value of follow-on to other businesses we deal with, like our materials suppliers and our distributors such as MANAG in Western Australia and MJS Floor Coverings in Tasmania and the Northern Territory.”

Over the years Armstrong Flooring has grown organically; that is to say, growth from their existing business achieved by selecting the best strategies available. This growth is made possible by the 110 current and many past employees who have made Armstrong Flooring the company it is today. Rob McLorinan with 24 years of service is one of

many outstanding examples of people who have contributed to Armstrong’s success. Rob, whose father, brother and uncle also worked in the flooring industry, cites examples of people who have been with the company for 35 years, and of 30-year relationships with many suppliers. At one time three generations of one family worked at Armstrong.

Steve Jobs said “Great Things in Business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people” McLorinan said, “Recent events have emphasized the importance of local, agile manufacturing. We are extremely grateful for the flexibility and commitment of our production team who have risen to the challenges every manufacturer and supplier faces.” Armstrong Flooring is no doubt authentically Australian, set for rapid expansion with new owners, investment and a committed interest in Australian manufacturing.

A smooth surface to install sheet vinyl, tile and plank over timber, plywood or particleboard sub-floors.

• High density surface resists impact

• Larger panel installs quicker than Hardboard

Now higher density for better stability and durability

Not recommended over porous or unsealed concrete, or where the sub-floor is below grade.

• Dimensionally very stable

• No surface defects or knots

1.22m x 1.1m

• Smooth sanded finish with no ‘show through’

• No colour transfer to vinyl

• Cuts easily and cleanly

• Staples recess into ply surface, reducing finishing time

• Best value in larger panel

• Strongly bonded

SureBoard® Ply SBP-120

CONTENTS

ADHESIVES GUIDE 2023

At Flooring Magazine, the year starts off with our annual Adhesives Guide which has been upgraded to include a more comprehensive product listing for our suppliers. In the guide we have grouped together the adhesives offered by companies including; RLA Polymers, Forbo Flooring Systems and Australian Flooring Supplies into a range of categories that are applicable for all installers and designed to simplify the task of finding the right product for the job.

Our digital version will include links to all listing companies’ websites where you will be able to access more product specific information.

In a sector that is continually evolving to the latest trends and the requirements of a market that is attentive to detail, choosing the right adhesive is fundamental in achieving a quality flooring installation. As such it has never been more important to consider the chemistry of both the adhesive and the floorcovering being bonded. Use this guide to ensure you select the correct product for both the floorcovering and the environmental landscape.

Adhesives Guide

ADHESIVES DIRECTORY 2023

CARPETS

CARPET TILES

Adhesives Guide

WOOD/HARDWOOD

Adhesives Guide Australian Flooring Supplies

CAPITOL CARPET ADHESIVE 15LT

Item #: CA150-15

A low VOC water based carpet adhesive developed for bonding a wide range of carpets and underlays. CA-150 is suitable for bonding both jute and polypropylene backed carpets in direct stick and double bond type installations. The adhesive has prolonged re-bond time and has low VOC emission levels that conforms to the Green Star building requirements.

CAPITOL PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE 15LT

Item #: PS150-15

A solvent free pressure sensitive adhesive formulated for installing PVC backed, fibre backed, cushion back carpet tiles and reinforced vinyl composition tiles. It is also highly recommended for installing laminated slab underlays used in Double-Bond carpet installation. Capitol Pressure Sensitive Adhesive can be applied to concrete substrates with moisture contents up to 85% relative humidity tested with the InSitu probe method.

CAPITOL VINYL ADHESIVE 15LT

Item #: VI150-15

A water-based multipurpose adhesive suitable for installation of dimensional stable PVC flooring – including LVT, LVP, Linoleum and sanded back sheet rubber flooring up to 4mm thick, it is also suitable for bonding textile floor coverings with all common backings. This high-performance adhesive is suitable in wet mode for LVP or semi-wet mode for sheet vinyl floor coverings.

CAPITOL HS VINYL ADHESIVE 15LT

Item #: CHSV-15

A water-based hard-set adhesive suitable for installation of dimensional stable PVC flooring – including LVT, LVP, Linoleum and sanded back sheet rubber flooring up to 4mm thick, it is also suitable for bonding textile floor coverings with all common backings. This high-performance adhesive has a good all-round balance between open time and work time.

CAPITOL GRIP STICK

Item #: CGS-500

Capitol Grip Stick is a liquid developed to be fast setting and is ideal for bonding carpet gripper in approximately 1 hour also used for many other common building products where a quick bond is required.

CAPITOL BRUSH CONTACT 20LT

Item #: BC150-20

A high quality brushable grade solvent based (flammable), rapid drying contact cement, which has high strength, excellent ageing and heat resistance. Designed for use on most types of vinyls, PVC skirtings/ extrusions, coverstrips, plastic and metal treads.

SIKABOND 58 WOOD FLOOR

Item #: S58-16

Low viscous wood flooring adhesive. SikaBond®-58 Wood Floor is a 1-component, solvent-free, wood flooring adhesive with good workability. Reduces stress transfer between the wood floor and the substrate.

SIKABOND 150 PREMIUM FLOOR

Item #: S150-14

SikaBond -150 Premium Floor is a 1-component, solvent-free, universal pressure-sensitive dispersion adhesive. Installer friendly and easy to spread, it is suitable for use with underfloor heating and wet/semi wet bonding.

Forbo Flooring Systems Australia

FORBO F41 LINOLEUM ADHESIVE

High-performing polymer blend and low VOC adhesive suitable for linoleum sheet, tile and plank. Suitable for polyolefin acoustic foam-backed linoleum, and corkment underlay, provides a strong and permanent bond for both domestic and commercial applications - Australian made.

611 EUROSTAR LINO PLUS

Very low VOC-emission linoleum adhesive with a high initial grab for the installation of linoleum in sheets and tiles, linoleum aquajet designs and borders, and cork-underlay. Roller-castor-chair resistant. This was previously the 614 Eurostar Lino Plus.

615 EUROSTAR LINO PLUS CONDUCTIVE LINOLEUM ADHESIVE

A special superior acrylic dispersion conductive linoleum adhesive with very low emissions and high initial grab. To be used as a part of a full conductive system including copper tape and has an Electrical resistance of < 3.105 Ohm in accordance with EN 13415.

FORBO F34 PERMANENT BOND MODULAR VINYL TILE AND PLANK ADHESIVE

A high-performing polymer blend permanent bond modular vinyl tiles and planks adhesive, which is low in VOC emissions and has excellent plasticizer resistance, can be used on absorbent subfloors - Australian made.

FORBO F54 VINYL SHEET & FLOCKED FLOORING ADHESIVE

This superior dispersion polymer blend adhesive has low VOC and is designed for the installation of commercial and domestic vinyl and Flotex sheet flooring. It is suitable for both compact and cushioned backed sheet flooring, providing a strong and permanent bondAustralian made.

641 EUROSTAR SPECIAL CONDUCTIVE VINYL ADHESIVE

A special, superior acrylic dispersion conductive vinyl sheets and tiles adhesive with very low emissions and high initial adhesion strength has an electrical resistance of < 3.105 Ohms, in accordance with EN 13415. It should be used as part of a full conductive system with copper tape.

FORBO FPS1 PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE

A water-based, pressure-sensitive adhesive with low VOC emissions, anti-microbial properties and plasticizer resistance. Designed for Forbo Tessera carpet tiles and planks, Coral entrance flooring along with Flotex tiles and planks for domestic and commercial applications - Australian made.

every angle every dimension

The Allura Flex collection is inspired by the natural elements of wood and stone, adding sophistication to any space. Flex o ers superior acoustic performance, impressive durability, and a PUR Pearl nish that resists scratching and scu ng. The new Flex is engineered with a double glass reinforcement for leading dimensional stability yet is easy to cut and install. Installers love using Flex.

Certi ed GreenTag GreenRate Level A, Best Practice PVC approved and very low VOCs improve indoor air quality. The image showcases a variety of interior textures, colours, and patterns designed in di erent dimensions. The new Allura Flex has something for everyone. To nd out more visit forbo- ooring.com.au/allura

Adhesives Guide QEP / Roberts

ROBERTS 95 CARPET ADHESIVE

Roberts 95 Carpet Adhesive is waterbased carpet adhesive providing a strong tacky film of adhesive that is suitable for bonding carpets both Double Bond and Direct Stick installations. The adhesive offers a quick grab and has sufficient working time for smaller and larger installations. The adhesive tacks up quickly and has excellent re-bonding for hard to hold carpets.

ROBERTS 100 CARPET ADHESIVE

Roberts 100 Carpet Adhesive is water-based carpet adhesive providing a strong tacky film of adhesive that is suitable for bonding carpets both Double Bond and Direct Stick installations. The adhesive offers a quick grab and has sufficient working time for smaller and larger installations.

ROBERTS 200 VINYL ADHESIVE

Roberts 200 is a solvent free, low odour, low VOC water based acrylic emulsion hard set universal vinyl adhesive with excellent plasticiser resistance and non-staining properties. It is protected against bio-degradation, withstands normal wet cleaning practices and is suitable for use over underfloor heating installations.

ROBERTS 2000 UNIVERSAL RESILIENT FLOORING ADHESIVE

Roberts 2000 is an acrylic co- polymer hard set adhesive with strong initial tack qualities and bond for a range PVC sheet vinyl, vinyl planks, linoleum and textile floorcoverings. It has excellent plasticiser resistance and non-staining properties, protected against bio-degradation, withstands normal wet cleaning practices and is suitable for use over underfloor heating installations.

ROBERTS 280 HT VINYL PLANK ADHESIVE

R280 HT is an acrylic polymer, high temperature hard set adhesive with a short open time and excellent adhesion. It is fibre – reinforced and highly shear- resistant with excellent plasticiser migration resistance, non-staining properties and provides resistance to temperature variations. It is suitable for areas such as bay windows, glass shop fronts, and other areas that are exposed to sun light.

ROBERTS 656 UNIVERSAL PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE

Roberts 656 Pressure Universal Sensitive Adhesive is a solvent free pressure sensitive adhesive formulated for installing PVC backed, fibre backed, cushion back carpet tiles, reinforced vinyl composition tiles and dual bond underlays. Roberts 656 can be applied to concrete substrates with moisture contents up to 95% Relative Humidity (In – Situ Probe) and concrete substrates with pH readings of up to 12.0.

ROBERTS 444 PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE

Roberts 444 Pressure Sensitive Adhesive is a solvent free pressure sensitive adhesive formulated for installing PVC backed and modified composite backed Carpet Tiles. Roberts 444 Pressure Sensitive Adhesive can be applied to concrete substrates with moisture contents up to 95% relative humidity (In- Situ Probe) and concrete substrates with pH readings of up to 12.0.

ROBERTS 640 HS UNIVERSAL PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE

Roberts 640 Pressure Universal Sensitive Adhesive is a solvent free, low odour low VOC, Pressure Sensitive Adhesive formulated for installing cushion back carpet tiles and reinforced vinyl composition tiles. It can also be applied for the installing double bond carpet underlays and other various carpet tiles. R640 can be applied to concrete substrates with moisture contents up to 95% relative humidity (In- Situ Probe) and concrete substrates with pH readings of up to 12.0.

FLOOR LEVELLING

FEATURING LOCAL MATERIALS AND SUPPORTING LOCAL MANUFACTURING

FIELD TESTED AND APPROVED BY INSTALLERS JUST LIKE YOU

RLA CARPET ADHESIVE

RLA Carpet Adhesive is solvent free, low odour, water-based carpet adhesive providing a strong tacky film of adhesive that is suitable for bonding carpets both Double Bond and Direct Stick installations. The adhesive offers a quick grab and has sufficient working time for smaller and larger installations.

RLA VINYL PLANK ADHESIVE

RLA Vinyl Plank adhesive is a is solvent free, low odour, low VOC, hard set adhesive suitable for bonding most PVC commercial and domestic vinyl sheeting products, vinyl composite tiles, PVC vinyl tiles and vinyl plank flooring. It has high initial grab and is ideal for bonding both supported and unsupported PVC vinyl.

RLA 265 UNIVERSAL VINYL ADHESIVE

RLA 265 Universal Vinyl Adhesive is a water based acrylic emulsion hard set adhesive suitable for bonding most PVC commercial and domestic vinyl sheeting products, vinyl composite tiles, \PVC vinyl tiles and vinyl plank flooring. It has high initial grab and is ideal for bonding both supported and unsupported PVC vinyl. It is protected against bio-degradation, withstands normal wet cleaning practices and is suitable for use over underfloor heating installations.

RLA UNIVERSAL RESILIENT ADHESIVE

RLA Universal Resilient Adhesive is a solvent free, low odour, low VOC, acrylic co- polymer hard set adhesive with strong initial tack qualities and bond for a range Commercial and Domestic PVC Sheet Vinyl, Wall Vinyl, PVC Vinyl Plank and Linoleum. It has excellent plasticiser resistance and non-staining properties. It is protected against bio-degradation, withstands normal wet cleaning practices and is suitable for use over underfloor heating installations.

RLA CARPET TILE PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE

RLA Carpet Tile Pressure Sensitive Adhesive is a solvent free pressure sensitive adhesive formulated for installing PVC backed and modified composite backed carpet tiles. RLA Carpet Tile Pressure Sensitive Adhesive can be applied to concrete substrates with moisture contents up to 85% relative humidity tested with the In- Situ Probe method.

RLA 999 UNIVERSAL PRESSURE SENSITIVE ADHESIVE

RLA 999 Pressure Universal Sensitive Adhesive is a solvent free, low odour, low VOC, pressure sensitive adhesive formulated for installing PVC backed, fibre backed, cushion back carpet tiles and reinforced vinyl composition tiles. It is also highly recommended for installing laminated slab underlays used in Double-Bond carpet installation. RLA 999 can be applied to concrete substrates with moisture contents up to 85% relative humidity tested with the In- Situ Probe method.

RL1000 SMP HYBRID RESILIENT FLOORING ADHESIVE

RL1000 Resilient Flooring Adhesive is a single-part, VOC compliant isocyanate free water resistant resilient flooring adhesive. It is recommended for use in wet areas for bonding approved vinyl, rubber and linoleum floorcoverings to most common internal and external subfloors. It is suitable for areas such as bay windows, glass shop fronts, and other areas that are exposed to sun light.

RL1001 SMP TIMBER FLOORING ADHESIVE

RLA 1001 SMP Timber Flooring Adhesive is a single-part, permanently flexible Isocyanate free timber flooring adhesive. It is recommended for bonding, Solid Timber Flooring, Parquet Flooring and Engineered Timber Flooring to Concrete and Timber Substrates. Also recommended for bonding approved acoustic underlays to most common subfloors.

Capitol - a new range of powders for the Australian market

Australian Flooring Supplies (AFS)

is excited to announce that Capitol is expanding their range of flooring solutions.

For over 36 years, Capitol has been a leading global manufacturer of adhesives for the flooring industry. Known for their quality and performance, AFS is pleased to expand on Capitol’s recent adhesive launch, adding a new selection of powders designed for the Australian market.

Made in Australia, for the Australian industry

In partnership with AFS, Capitol has consolidated a new range of powders made specifically for our carpet and resilient flooring industry. With a competitive price point, the new products have been rigorously tried and tested to ensure they perform to installers’ expectations.

Better still, the new and improved range is developed and manufactured in Australia, and includes:

Levelling and smoothing compound

Pro levelling and smoothing compound (high performance)

Feather rapid drying skim coat

Patch and ramp repair mortar

The new range is complemented by Capitol’s recent launch of adhesives. Due to their high performance qualities and good all-round balance between open time and work time, the adhesives have quickly become a popular choice for flooring installers.

Over three decades of experience

From humble beginnings, Capitol started producing flooring adhesives in 1986, with just three mixers in a small building in Georgia, US.

Capitol carved out a niche local market, which allowed them to focus on developing their adhesives, ensuring each unique formula was create to the highest possible quality.

From here, Capitol expanded nationally — and eventually globally — to become the flooring leader it is today.

With increased production and distribution abilities in Australia, Capitol has continued to innovate and adapt to meet and exceed the needs of the local flooring market.

New range now available

Committed to creating high quality, installer friendly products, AFS are confident that the new Capitol powder and adhesive formulations will be widely enjoyed by the industry.

With the performance qualities flooring professionals look for — including superior spread rates and viscosity, and low odour/ solvent free formulations — AFS is pleased to announce the new range is now in stock.

With highly competitive prices, head to your local AFS branch or call 1300 737 155 to find out more about the new Capitol range.

web www.qep-aust.com.au

Above: New Capitol range available now at all AFS branches

Above: Capitol self levelling at work

Above: Capitol offers quality products for a perfect finish

We offer independent flooring retailers, and those who would like to regain their independence, all the benefits of being part of a group, without you losing your independence or identity.

We understand and respect that it’s your business, you run it your way and we will support you as required.

If you want to be part of group with low joining and membership fees, that returns its profits to its members, then Australian FloorStyle would be your perfect choice.

Apprentice Charity Workshop – Wagga Wagga NSW

Article by Fiona Wischnewski, CEO FCIA

The FCIA held its second Apprentice Charity workshop in Wagga Wagga. The workshop was held from the 6th to the 10th of February at Turvey Park Girl Guide Hall.

During this workshop, eight apprentices came together to replace the floors in the kitchen of the hall along with three separate break out rooms. The work included the removal of old coverings, grinding, flood coating, ramping, laying of carpet, vinyl planks and commercial vinyl.

We were also fortunate enough to have two local Wagga schools visit the workshop with six students who were interested in a trade.

The apprentices did an amazing job installing the floors and showcasing the skills and

knowledge that they have gained during their apprenticeship.

We are extremely grateful to our members who very kindly donated their product and time to this workshop:

• MJS Floorcoverings

• Signature Flooring

• Polyflor

• Mapei

None of this would be possible without the support of our members, suppliers and manufacturers employers, workshop supervisors and apprentices. Thank you for all your assistance and ongoing support.

For further information on the FCIA Apprentice Charity Workshops and dates please contact Fiona Wischnewski, fwischnewski@fcia.org.au.

Viva Magenta unveiled as Pantone’s Colour of the Year for 2023

Drawing inspiration from nature, Viva Magenta 18-1750 makes a bold statement in our digital age. Dictating and forecasting colour trends across multiple industries, from fashion to industrial design, the Pantone Colour Institute has announced Viva Magenta 18-1750 as 2023’s Colour of the Year.

Historically, Pantone has combed the world looking for new colour influences from all areas including new technologies, the entertainment industry, popular travel destinations, as well as lifestyles and socioeconomic conditions.

While last year’s Pantone 17-3938 Very Peri was a brand-new colour creation to reflect the unprecedented changes of a post-pandemic world, this year’s colour choice befittingly

celebrates joy, experimentation and selfexpression.

Pantone’s 2023 Colour: Pantone 181750 Viva Magenta

A new animated red, Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta writes a new narrative of joyous and optimistic celebration. Living in an increasingly digital age, the Pantone Colour Institute drew inspiration from nature and the real when making this colour choice. As we balance our digital and physical lives, we continue to grow our appreciation for the natural world. The Colour of the Year 2023 acknowledges our gravitational pull towards natural colours as movements swell around climate change, sustainability, and land protection.

“In this age of technology, we look to draw inspiration from nature and what is real. Pantone18-1750 Viva Magenta descends from the red family, and is inspired by the red of cochineal, one of the most precious dyes belonging to the natural dye family as well as one of the strongest and brightest the world has known.” - Leatrice Eiseman Executive Director, Pantone colour Institute

Celebrating experimentation, carefree selfexpression and inclusivity, Viva Magenta 18-1750 welcomes anyone and everyone with the same verve for life and rebellious spirit.

An audacious and empowering statement, this brave colour reflects the inner strength and rebellious streak in all of us.

How to incorporate the Pantone Colour of the Year into your building design

Why not think about adding a splash of Viva Magenta to your project’s stair nosings and tactile indicators.

Classic Architectural Group can colour match to any Pantone colour - they can do this across their trusted Classic Tredfx range of stair nosing inserts, tactile indicator inserts, and in the case of polyurethane TSGI’s, they can make the entire tactile.

Above: Classic Architectural Group can custom colour match to any Pantone colour

Above: Pantone’s colour of the Year for 2023 – Viva Magenta

Aside from their ability to custom colour match Pantone 18-1750 Viva Magenta, they also offer standard ready-to-go products in beautifully statement-making shades of red and pink.

Above: Classic Tredfx Safety Stair Nosings and TGSI’s

Above: Classic Tredfx Colour Swatch

Stair nosings for safer access

At Classic Architectural Group many of their stair nosing products have inserts that come in red and pink shades. A stand-out colour, red and pink inserts help to increase the visibility of each step while also adding a bright and fun colour pop to your space.

Tactile indicators for better navigation

Providing crucial orientation cues and/or warning in public spaces, tactile ground surface indicators are particularly important for helping the visually impaired to navigate their communities safely and confidently. These are typically installed at the top or bottom of staircases, ramps, escalators, conveyors, travelators, pedestrian crossings and rail platforms.

Empowering you to achieve your project’s design goals, Classic Tredfx Polyurethane Tactiles can be matched to any pantone

colour, including Viva Magenta. Easy to install, poly tactiles are UV resistant, making them ideal for both interior and exterior applications.

Commercial matting for memorable entrances

Enhancing your public building’s presentation, Classic Integra Commercial Matting helps to maintain cleaner, safer entrance areas by retaining dirt, grit and moisture at the door.

Inspired by this year’s magenta colour pick, the team at Classic have options in beautiful red shades across their Classic Integra Vantt 5500, Vantt 9500, Zone and Urban Matting Tiles range.

Use 3D and Augmented Reality

(AR) technology to view Viva Magenta in your space.

As the leading supplier and installer of stair and floor safety products, Classic Architectural Group have added the Viva Magenta colour to their 3D visualise it tool. Simply select your stair nosing and tactile indicator product, then view it Viva Magenta on the stair/floor surface you have in mind. Take it a step further and using Classic’s AR tech, visualise your product/colour selection in your space.

You can check it out at www.classic-arch. com

Above: Classic Tredfx Polyurethane Tactile Tile format

Above: Classic Integra Zone in colour Lava

Improve Your Business - If it's not measured, it's not performing

Article by Chris Ogden

In any high-performance endeavour, constant measurement is a crucial aspect of that activity. How else do athletes constantly achieve personal bests and then go on to break national and international records?

If we participate in a sport, it's second nature to track our performance because we understand that by doing so, we improve. Surprisingly, we are often less inclined to closely measure our business's performance and that of the people within our business.

Each one of our team can benefit from measurement; they might appear to be doing okay, but if they are not being monitored against goals and standards, they are most likely underperforming.

The idea of measurement can feel cold and clinical, and to some extent, it is; numbers are not warm and friendly. Simply measuring performance in numbers is useful, but it is more effective as part of a culture. As business owners, that culture should include paying attention, showing personal interest, setting goals, accurate measurement, and regular communication.

Pay Attention

Our workspace and retail space are our platforms for performance; they are our playing ground for the game of business. We must make a conscious effort to see what is going on with our store, taking time each day to stroll through and pay attention to what is happening. We have often experienced driving a long distance and arriving at our destination without remembering the trip. We can do the same when we spend time in our business. We need to make an effort to switch out of autopilot from time to time, observing what is happening in our business.

Show Personal Interest

Take time to talk with the people working in our business; it will potentially uncover issues

Surprisingly, we are often less inclined to closely measure our business's performance and that of the people within our business.

before they become a problem. It's also an opportunity to hear ideas that will improve our business. We don't want our people to be reluctant to talk with us; we might say our “door is always open”, but that infers we expect others to initiate the conversation. That responsibility is ours. Also, we don’t want our staff to get the impression that they hear from us only when things go wrong.

Set Goals

Every role in our business should be subject to measurable and achievable goals. Goals are fundamental to improving and maintaining performance. It might appear easier to set goals for salespeople, but it's not hard to set goals for everyone. What do you expect of your office people? What do you expect of your warehouse person and your installers? Do your salespeople have budgets to achieve? Make sure everyone understands what is expected of them and, as you start paying attention to your business, communicate with them about how they are going, good or bad.

Accurate Measurement

All information we use to assess performance must be accurate; the value of the exercise will be significantly undermined if your staff

have reason to be less than confident in the numbers you present to them. Depending on your business systems, accessing the information you need might be challenging, so stick to data that is easily accessible and in which you can have confidence.

Every role in our business should be subject to measurable and achievable goals. Goals are fundamental to improving and maintaining performance.

Our workspace and retail space are our platforms for performance; they are our playing ground for the game of business.

The better your business systems are, the better the performance information you share with your staff will be. If your current systems are lacking in this regard, any investment made in a system that will quickly generate the data you need will be recovered as you improve the performance of your business. The analogy I often use is cars; it wasn’t that long ago that if your vehicle wasn’t performing, the mechanic would need to spend time identifying the source of the problem. With a modern vehicle, the mechanic plugs the car into a computer that precisely identifies the issue. We should be able to do this in our business.

Communicate Regularly

We must have regular discussions with everyone about how they are performing.

Depending on the circumstances and role, these might be casual and brief, but don't make the mistake of reviewing performance only when it needs improvement. A chat when we do well encourages us and makes less positive discussions, when they arise, more palatable.

As a business owner, you can set goals and measure your team against them regardless of your business system, but it's easier if you have a fully integrated business management system such as RFMS. RFMS allows you to quickly access and report the information you need to manage performance. If you want to see how RFMS might help you improve your business, we would be happy to arrange a demo and discussion.

Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing Director of RFMS Australasia (rfmsANZ.com), a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry. Chris has an extensive background in all aspects of the flooring industry, and he can be contacted at cogden@rfms.com.

Each one of our team can benefit from measurement; they might appear to be doing okay, but if they are not being monitored against goals and standards, they are most likely underperforming.

Successful resin flooring in retail projects

With the ‘Five Rs of Successful Resin Flooring’ introduced in the January issue of Flooring Magazine, we wanted to follow up with a reallife example of these principles in practice.

By taking a closer look at the national rollout of Foot Locker stores that is still underway, we will paint a better picture of how this approach works and, importantly, demonstrate how some common challenges can be overcome through adoption of the Five Rs process.

The Right Specification

Specifications are often put together as copies of past projects that are deemed similar in some way, with many also allowing the use of equivalent products. While this may result in a quicker and easier specification, it introduces a lot of grey area and ignores the requirements of the project at hand.

Much of this project-to-project detail that must be considered, especially in a retail environment, involves the subfloor. It might be a new floor, but the reality is most installations are in stores that have been subjected to a rather brutal defit. Existing floors on these projects are typically a combination several levelling compounds that are extensively damaged from jackhammers and other demolition equipment. Stairs and steps may also need to be re-built and ramping is often required.

Rather than just choose another system and leave it up to the installers to make it happen, the team at Foot Locker worked with an epoxy flooring manufacturer, Real World Epoxies, right from the start to address these

issues and clarify expectations around design, performance, safety, cleaning, slip resistance and lifespan. The result was a thorough specification that would allow installation to be carried out across many of their large stores (including in New Zealand).

Being a national retailer looking for a seamless resin finish, however, meant there were a few other boxes that needed to be ticked.

On the top of this list were forgiving application techniques to make sure the floors could be applied safely and effectively in shopping centres, regardless of location. The smooth, decorative floor they envisioned also had to be able to cope with transitions and ramps without affecting form or function. In one store, the ramp was a lot steeper than the standard 1:100 gradient and slip resistance was also required at the entrance.

Above: What worked on one floor may not work on another

The Right Flooring System

With a clear understanding of their existing floors and the direction they were looking to take, the task of connecting Foot Locker with the right resin flooring system became much easier.

In the end, a 2mm trowel-down epoxy flooring system with a rustic concrete look and custom Tungsten colour was developed to fit the fully formed specification. A polyurethane topcoat with matted finish was also incorporated to provide a lowmaintenance floor that was well-equipped to handle the daily wear and tear.

Brought to you by Resin Flooring International

Resin Flooring

The Right Preparation

Inadequate surface preparation is a major cause of early flooring failure, so it must be done well. The right preparation, however, is more than hitting every floor with a grinder. Rather, it’s about confirming on every project that the standard preparation for the system being installed is indeed suitable.

For the Foot Locker system, the standard requirement was a concrete surface profile (CSP) of 2-3 established through diamond grinding. But, achieving this wasn’t always so straightforward.

In some cases, the destructive de-fit process created much greater texture in the concrete and, in others, cementitious levellers were required to re-build damaged sections of floor. One of the stores required over 45 tonnes of leveller to be installed on the first floor of an inner-city building – a tough ask when working with limited hours and at night!

Although these are project management challenges as much as anything, considering how surface preparation will contribute to these is critical so all contingencies can be addressed, and tight shutdown schedules honoured.

The Right Installation

Retail environments are typically very demanding, and the right installation is about assembling a quality team of installers that can do the work.

The pressure to get a lot of work done in a short space of time – often outside of normal hours – also calls for a larger team that’s well organised. Having the right number of people onsite, however, is only productive if they are trained in the system being installed. On-thejob learning is certainly not advised when it

comes to decorative systems or large projects in retail environments.

Ideally the installation team is highly skilled and experienced as well. A couple of Foot Locker stores had special features that needed to be embedded seamlessly into stairways; a level of craftmanship not every installer can offer.

The Right Process Management

Rolling out new floors for a national retail chain across Australia and New Zealand means you have got to get process management right.

There’s an old proverb that says: "A blunt pencil is better than a sharp memory". In a resin flooring context, this means you need to have a clear process to follow from start to finish, and the ability recording every detail along the way, such as progress photos/videos, batch numbers, climatic conditions, and approval signatures at critical hold points.

Having such records not only helps address any issues that may arise over the lifespan of the floor, but it also enables the process to be optimised over time. In the case of Foot Locker, invaluable lessons were shared from project to project, and this meant significant challenges were able to be more easily overcome, or avoided entirely, as the stores rolled out.

While we have only touched the surface, you can see there’s so much more to retail floors than just a decent specification. With so many variables to contend with, the best chance you have of getting a great result – on time and on budget – is by engaging with manufacturers and following a complete method like the Five Rs.

Trends at DOMOTEX 2023: Hooked on sustainability

Hardly any other topic is as deeply present in our minds as sustainability. It is influencing all areas of our lives – DOMOTEX 2023, the world's leading trade fair for carpets and floor coverings, is no exception.

DOMOTEX once again proved to be the industry's international trend show from the 12th to the 15th of January 2023. At the trade fair for carpets and floor coverings, exhibitors and visitors met to discuss product innovations and industry trends. The current keynote theme ‘Floored By Nature’ referred to the megatrend of sustainability and thus focused on green topics such as the sustainable use of resources, recycling management, natural and recycled materials as well as healthy living and work environments. The main theme was divided into the areas ‘Connecting Markets’, ‘Conscious Living’ and ‘Colourful Nature’.

With presentations of sustainable products and current research projects, a haptic material show as well as an inspiring conference program, the special display, ‘The Green Collection’ in Hall 23 formed the creative and communicative heart of the fair.

Green Collection Award

The Green Collection Awards ceremony was presented for the first time at DOMOTEX and honoured sustainable products and production processes as well as particularly committed companies. An independent jury – consisting of Bayram Aslan, Director of TFI Aachen, Joachim Stumpp, Managing Director of the material database Raumprobe, Roman Eberharter, President of the European Federation for Furniture Retailers (FENA), Reto Aschwanden, Managing Director of Label STEP and Thomas Pfnorr, Sustainability Officer of SN-Verlag – selected nine winners from all the products submitted for the award:

• Le Fil Vert Rugs Collection | ABC Italia SRL (IT)

• Go4cork Plus | Amorim Cork Composites (DE)

• AMORIM WISE cork inspire 700 HRT | Amorim Deutschland GmbH (DE)

• FIBRANO | Li&Co AG (CH)

• Puro | Oriental Weavers (EG)

• Ökologische Trittschalldämmung | STEICO (DE)

• Hywood | ter Hürne GmbH & Co. KG (DE)

• Tisca Respect Collection | Tisca Austria GmbH (AT)

• PURLINE BIOBODEN wineo 1000 | Windmöller GmbH (DE)

In addition to the Green Collection Awards, the Parkett Star, Carpet Star and Carpet Design Award ceremonies were also held during the fair.

Natural and sustainable floor coverings

The sustainable focus was also reflected in the exhibitors' product range in the flooring section. Cork is one of the rapidly regenerating natural materials. It also has an insulating effect, reduces sound transmission and temperature fluctuations, and improves the indoor climate. As a cork specialist, Amorim presented several prefabricated floors as well as adhesive parquet made of this sustainable material. The Swiss manufacturer Li&Co also showcased LICO Kork and LICO

Printcork floors made of this material. As well natural cork floors, the company also displayed Fibrano, a plastic-free natural floor composed exclusively of renewable materials such as wood, cork, natural fibres, rubber and other natural raw materials.

In addition the Green Collection winner Hywood also presented its sustainable and certified design floor Avatara, which is made of Talcusan, a formulation of chalk, silicates and the ecologically harmless polymer polypropylene. Windmöller showed Purline Bioboden wineo 1500 in numerous colour variations and patterns. This floor covering is based on the composite material Ecuran, which is mainly made from regenerative raw materials such as rapeseed or castor oil and chalk. It can be individually printed on demand. Woodura presented a highly resilient and water-insensitive floor covering which also used wood in a sustainable way. For this floor covering, wood veneer is only used as a top layer, resulting in a much higher yield of raw materials than with conventional top layers.

Sustainable carpet trends at DOMOTEX

Exhibitors in the Rugs segment, which combined handmade and machine-made

carpets, also responded well to the central theme of sustainability.

The trend towards increased environmental awareness is accompanied by rising demands on quality, durability and production of machine-made carpets. Oriental Weavers from Egypt presented several sustainable carpet collections at this year's DOMOTX. The company won the Green Collection Award for their Puro collection, which is made of 100% recycled cotton fibres. With its viscose carpets, Verbatex proved that it does not have to use classic materials like wool and cotton. The Belgian manufacturer used viscose produced by SFC from rapidly regenerating wood as a contribution to the circular economy. In addition, Verbatex used dope-dyed fibres, which reduces water and energy consumption during production. McThree, on the other hand, is increasingly using synthetic yarns. To ensure that production meets the strictest environmental standards, the company cooperates with external specialists.

Sustainable developments like these are creating curiosity about the next DOMOTEX, which will take place from 11 to 14 January 2024 at the exhibition grounds in Hannover, Germany.

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