October / November 2021
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Interface celebrates 50 Years of Manufacturing in Australia Rob Coombs, Managing Director discusses the rich history of Interface’s local manufacturing facility
© PHOTO: LISBETH GROSMANN
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Contents
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vol 39 no 5
Surface Protection & Hygiene 8
Editor’s Note Welcome to the October / November 2021 issue of Flooring Magazine. Inside this bumper issue you will find our Buy Local feature where we celebrate the Australian manufacturing community and discuss the profound impact supporting our local makers and producers has on the success of the Australian economy.
Safeguarding your health
Training 12
Flooring trainers wanted
Company Profile 16
In this issue we introduce a new section on surface hygiene and protection where the experts at Bio Surfaces explain how to safeguard your health against pathogenic microbes trapped in carpets and hard floor finishes. An important, informative read for all carpet installers.
Interface
Feature 18
Buy Local
Eco & Sustainability 42
GECA – sustainable development goals
Please feel free to contact me directly regarding any industry news or new product information by email at – michelle.cammiade@elitepublishing. com.au Don’t forget to join our growing online community and visit us on Facebook and Instagram.
Spotlight On 46
One step ahead with Andersens
Until next time, enjoy your read.
Software 50
Improve your business – Master change management part II
Michelle Cammiade Editor
Safety 54
Breathing silica
Flooring Magazine is now on: @flooringmagazineaustralia
Front Cover Interface www.interface.com
@flooringmagazine @flooringmagazine
Flooring October/November 2021
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News
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FCIA welcomes new CEO The Board of the Floor Covering Institute of Australia (FCIA) congratulates Fiona Wischnewski on her appointment to the position of CEO of the FCIA. As General Manager of the FCIA Training Academy (the Registered Training Organisation of the FCIA), Fiona was a standout choice, bringing 25 years of experience in training and apprentices, along with years of experience delivering products and services for a national industry association. Enhancing skills and training and growing apprentice numbers within this trade is a central focus of the FCIA and the flooring industry alike. “Fiona is extremely passionate about the benefits and opportunities apprenticeships
can deliver both to industry and to the apprentices themselves”, commented Stuart Budge, FCIA Director. Fiona succeeds Garry Thomas, FCIA’s founding and current acting CEO, who will continue to serve as Company Secretary during the transition period. The Board would like to extend its gratitude to Garry who has worked tirelessly across all areas of the business and navigated the FCIA to the position that it’s in today. If anyone would like to discuss putting an apprentice on, Fiona and her team are ready and waiting for your call and to help make the process as simple and successful as possible.
European Technology | Locally Made
For any matters relating to skills and training within the flooring industry or services to the sectors of the flooring supply chain, Fiona and her team are waiting and happy to assist.
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News
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Floorworld celebrates 30 years With three decades of experience in the flooring industry and more than 42 locations across Australia, Floorworld is continuing to deliver better spaces from the floor up so their members, customers and community can live better in the spaces they are in.
Looking to join the Floorworld family? Intrigued by the possibility of joining a retail group but unsure about the tangible benefits then Floorworld may be the perfect solution for you. Floorworld can ease your journey towards profitability in the floor covering industry with their high-profile brand recognition, competitive pricing and a strong rebate structure which is the largest in the industry. Floorworld supports their members with the lowest administration costs recorded in the industry, marketing campaigns both individualised for the member and national,
financial support with store refurbishments, and a strong core product range backed by national suppliers. Floorworld’s philosophy is to improve your business by providing a support mechanism for small businesses with their proven model of operational success. Come and join one of Australia's most successful flooring operations If you are interested in the Floorworld model, please contact Bob Crotty (03) 9761 5235 or info@floorworld.com.au. Check out the franchise page on their website for more details.
BUSINESS FOR SALE Call us Now
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INDEPENDENT INDEPENDENT FLOORING FLOORING RETAILER RETAILER Key factors include: • • • • • •
Independent operator with direct access to suppliers Consistent sales and gross profit performance Showroom size of 600sqm Warehouse 400sqm Product ranges exclusive to John Winter Carpets Strong business base with residential home-owners and commercial
John Winter Carpets is a premier floorcovering store that has been servicing the Southern Highlands region of NSW for almost 30 years. Offering products from over 40 suppliers, the impressive showroom presents a wide range of displays demonstrating the variety of flooring and level of quality that can be achieved. The opportunity is now yours to own a successful business in the beautiful region of the Southern Highlands, NSW. For proposed valuation and information pack regarding this sale please contact Robert Johnson by email on robert.johnson@hardwickes.com.au, or by phone on 0417 565 821.
allura® flex luxury vinyl tiles The Allura LVT collection with contemporary designs in wood, stone and marble is a popular choice in residential and commercial projects. Produced in Europe using 100% renewable electricity, Green Tag certified and phthalate free. Allura flex is warm underfoot and has an acoustic comfort backing and leading L’nT,w impact sound reduction result for multi-level living and offices.
Contemporary style with excellent acoustic performance The unique and matte embossing structures ensures realistic wood visuals with low repetition across planks in each box. Allura flex offers a range of 65 designs in 4 mm thick with a 0.55 mm wear layer all exclusive to Forbo. A selection of popular on-trend designs are stocked locally and ready to go. For more information, scan the below QR code or visit; www.forbo-flooring.com.au/allura
creating better environments
Surface Protection & Hygiene
8
Safeguarding your health Article by Terry Emselle, Bio Surfaces
C
arpet is one of the most powerful natural air filers in the home, trapping dirt and germs from the air. Great for the homeowner, but not so good for the carpet installers when removing old carpet that may contain up to 200,000 microbes (mould, bacteria and viruses) per square inch. More than the average toilet seat. The flooring industry is hyper aware of the risks of ingesting airborne particulates from concrete grinding and floor sanding, but what about the health risks of pathogenic microbes trapped in carpets and even hard floor finishes? Dust generation in the flooring removal process is impossible to eliminate and
Flooring October/November 2021
the nature of the task puts installers and labourers in close contact, literally arm’s length, of the source of potentially harmful bacteria. Wet or moisture damaged carpets often have visible mould, but mould can also be present even when it can’t be seen from the surface. Some commercial premises present even higher risks than homes. You would expect that hospitals, aged care facilities and other high-risk settings to be effectively disinfecting carpets, but the reality can be a little scary. There are some basic precautions that can reduce the risks and generally a good idea regardless of the presence of microbes or not, just to reduce the ingestion of dust.
• Wear a P2 or N95 mask or respirator. • Wear gloves and eye protection. • Thoroughly vacuum the floor with a vacuum containing a HEPA filter (cleaned and maintained regularly). • Wash hands before eating or drinking. In high-risk environments or just to be proactive about safeguarding your health, pre-treating surfaces with a disinfectant can be a very effective option. Pre-spraying carpets and other surfaces with a disinfectant will help reduce the amount of dust that becomes airborne and kill microbes it comes into contact with. Application can be a simple as a garden sprayer and only take a few extra minutes 10 per room.
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RALIAN MAD ST E AU
LONGLASTING, DURABLE ANTIMICROBIAL PROTECTION FOR FLOORS SIQURA™ offers an innovative product range that
includes a Hospital Grade Surface Disinfectant, a Neutral Multi-Surface Spray, a Floor Disinfectant & Protectant Concentrate and a Hand Sanitiser & Protectant. Our products can be used together as a complete cleaning, disinfection and protection system or integrated into existing cleaning protocols to support a wholistic infection control strategy.
Hospital Grade Disinfectant & Protectant kills 99.999% of bacteria and is effective against viruses* including COVID-19.
SIQURA™ uses our world leading QuatLock™
technology to form a defensive shield on the surfaces it is applied to. Once bonded the QuatLock™ doesn’t leave the surface or deplete in microbial efficacy. Unlike many antimicrobials, the QuatLock™ layer is not consumed during disinfection, meaning that surfaces remain cleaner for longer.
HOW SIQURA QUATLOCK™ WORKS
Siqura Commercial Grade Flooring Disinfectant And Protectant Up to 90-day continuous protection in carpets and upholstery • Kills up to 99.99% of Bacteria •
Bonds to surfaces to create a microscopic protective layer that kills bacteria and provides ongoing protection
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Friendly for humans and pets, breaking down into simple organic compounds at the end of life
1300 768 468 | www.biosurfaces.com.au Taking the fight to pathogenic micobes one surface at a time.
Surface Protection & Hygiene
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• Cover all surfaces and make sure they are moist to allow the necessary contact time to be effective. • Think of the environment. Not all microbes are bad. Dispose of packaging and unused product responsibly. We choose Siqura disinfectants to protect ourselves and the environment.
A few key points to consider when using disinfectants • All disinfectants have a contact time required to kill microbes which varies depending on the product and concentration. To achieve the 99.9% or higher kill rates often advertised it is critical to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Broad spectrum All Siqura products are tested against a wide range of pathogens including Legionella, E.Coli, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus Hirare, Salmonella and Aspergillus Niger.
• Your body is about 40% microbes (google if you don’t believe me) so protect yourself and follow the manufacturers safety instructions.
Floorcovering Association of Victoria Inc.
About FAV The principal role of the Floorcovering Association of Victoria is to represent the Interests of the floorcovering industry in Victoria. The Association was established in 1985 to represent the interests of carpet contractors in Victoria and was originally known as the Australian Carpet Contractors Association Inc. The major areas of focus for the Association during the past two years has been industrial relations representation and services, the development of a Code of Ethics and the promotion of the principle that floorcovering should only be installed by qualified installers.
For further information visit http://fav.org.au/member-info.html
Flooring October/November 2021
Human, pet and eco-friendly Siqura contains no chlorines, bleaches, carcinogenic or endocrine disruptive compounds and in final life, Siqura breaks down to form harmless organic compounds. Easy application Siqura Hospital Grade Disinfectant and Protectant come ready to use and can be applied by spray bottle, pressure sprayer or even fogging machines. Siqura Flooring Concentrate is simply mixed with clean water before use or added to the clean water tank of carpet or hard floor cleaning equipment. Terry Emselle is second generation flooring technical specialist with more than 30 years’ experience consulting to the flooring industry, government, facility managers and property owners. The focus on flooring hygiene developed from technical roles in major hospital development projects such as the Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital and Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) in Melbourne.
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
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Training
12
Flooring trainers wanted – We need you Article by Fiona Wischnewski It seems that the flooring industry is lacking not only in apprentice candidates but also in qualified trainers and assessors. Whilst I am quite sure this is not the only trade to be suffering this fate it is fast becoming a massive issue for the flooring industry. We need great flooring tradespeople who are ready to leave the tools but still want to work in the industry and teach the new generation of installers. So why become a flooring trainer/assessor? I spoke with a current trainer and assessors and one who is studying to become a one and found that all of them have a passion for inspiring young people and a desire to see the industry grow and develop. These are two different insights into the world of being a flooring trainer and assessor. Both people share a passion for change in the industry, teaching the new generation and giving something back to an industry that has served them well. Andrew Cartledge – Current Flooring Trainer/Assessor TFIA Business services (Victoria, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory) After much consideration to make a partial change in my career as a flooring installer, I am very happy and committed to this role with TFIA. I would strongly encourage other installers to explore this opportunity to pass on hard-earned skills and knowledge to the next generation of installers. TFIA approached me to become a trainer/ assessor in 2011, and after careful
Flooring October/November 2021
consideration, I decided to give it a try. I had been an installer for 32 years at that point and trained four apprentices of my own. My time as an installer was often frustrating due to the lack of training expertise given to apprentices and the skills of other contractors. So, at the ripe old age of 50, I returned to study my TAE [Certificate in Training and Assessment]. At first, I found it daunting going to university but soon settled into a routine, approaching it as I would have a regular installation project. The course once explained was quite simple, as it mainly used underpinning knowledge of the flooring industry that I already had, and I only had to put that knowledge into context. The most satisfying part of becoming a trainer and assessor is knowing that the knowledge I have accumulated over the past 40 years will not be lost but passed on to the TFIA apprentices.
The most satisfying part of becoming a trainer and assessor is knowing that the knowledge I have accumulated over the past 40 years will not be lost but passed on to the TFIA apprentices. There is a lack of quality trainers in the flooring industry, which is very concerning for the future. This lack of trainers is vast and varied. Most suitably qualified installers are too valuable to the flooring industry to be lost to installing, and the remuneration of installers far out ways that of trainers. Experience in the industry also disqualifies some would-be trainers, as most installers specialize in only one qualification stream. Trade qualifications and needing the TAE qualification are probably the biggest reasons for the lack of interest in becoming trainers and assessors. RPL [recognition of prior learning] is a perfect pathway for installers who have been in the industry for at least ten years to gain the certification required to become trainers and assessors. The TAE is problematic as it is getting more challenging and complicated for someone new to navigate government requirements for training and assessing 14 apprentices.
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
Training
14 I love this industry and I am passionate about floor coverings. If people like myself don't get involved in training, the industry knowledge is not going to improve for the generation to come. The FCIA is trying their best to commence this change, but we need our industry to get onboard and help create a good foundation for these apprentices. I enjoy working with apprentices, sharing what I have learnt over the past 35 years and hope that they will be the generation that will lift the standard within this industry. Flooring Trainers Wanted – the INDUSTRY needs you If you are looking at getting away from the tools and would like to share the skills and knowledge you have with the new generation, training may be your solution.
I am so glad that I decided to go down this path; I enjoy spending time with the apprentices, learning new skills, and mentoring young subcontractors. I have continued to work as a contract installer during my time as a trainer/assessor. The time spent off my knees is a welcome relief and has increased the amount of time I will stay in this industry.
I still install floors most days which keeps me up to date with changes to the standards, new products and installations which means I can pass this information onto apprentices’ and their employers. Industry based trainers are able to add value to the training as they understand the nuances of this industry, the intricacies with jobs and they know and understand the products.
A role in training can offer you flexible working hours, working with a variety of different businesses and a chance to train the future flooring generation. If you would like to become a trainer/ assessor in the flooring industry or would like further information, please contact: Fiona Wischnewski, National Training Manager, FCIA fwischnewski@fcia.org.au or 0407 295 149.
Andrew Deaville – studying to become a trainer/assessor I have worked in in the flooring industry for over 35 years with 14 of those years being a business owner. During my time I have seen this industry struggle due to a lack of quality installers and people not wanting to share their knowledge. Why do I want to become a trainer/assessor? Partly to help share the knowledge I have about flooring, but also because I think this industry lacks the background knowledge of floor coverings which can hinder what apprentices are taught which then has an impact on our industry.
Flooring October/November 2021
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Company Profile
16
Tread Lightly (on the Earth) Article by Philip Ashley Interface is a company with a fundamental belief in a better commercial outcome based on a sustainable approach to manufacturing. With a combined manufacturing presence in Australia of fifty years, Interface is built on a genuine commitment to being one of the world’s leading environmentally sustainable and restorative companies. Interface is a global commercial flooring company with an integrated collection of Carpet Tiles and resilient flooring including Luxury Vinyl Tile and nora® rubber flooring. Their carpet tile products are locally manufactured here in Australia and around the World with a focus on minimising the impact they have on human health and the environment. Interface is no longer on a path to zero, the people at Interface live zero every day. Their path is now one of restoration. A Brief History Early ‘carpet’ tiles were first made in the mid-nineteenth century by Heuga, a small company located just outside Amsterdam in The Netherlands that manufactured bicycle seats. The first tiles were made with animal hair on an asphalt backing. Fast forward to the early 1970’s and Heuga owned significant manufacturing capabilities, including here in Australia. It was about this time that Ray Anderson went to Europe to investigate European carpet tile production. In 1973 Ray started his own company; Carpets International in LaGrange, Georgia, later to become Interface. The 1960s and 70s
Flooring October/November 2021
were times of social change, including in the way people worked in commercial areas like retail spaces and offices. Revolutionary office design trends focused on the experience and comfort of the individual. An experimental spirit flourished, reflected in innovations such as ergonomic design; recycling, and a move towards a sustainable future.
The new mood was experimental, high-tech, with a changing colour palette. It was in this era that Ray recognised the future of modern offices was in carpet tiles. Open plan office systems were emerging, bringing with them the need to easily access the state-ofthe-art infrastructure of flat wire and Walker under-floor duct systems. The concept of free lay carpet in America saw the beginning a revolution in commercial floorcovering. Over the ensuing years, Interface acquired a number of manufacturing sites in the United States, Europe, Asia, and in 1988, Heuga B.V. of the Netherlands with a manufacturing facility here in Australia, to become the World’s largest carpet tile manufacturer. Interface now produces and supplies flooring solutions for corporate spaces, education, healthcare, hospitality, and senior living spaces and you can work with Interface’s Design Studio to achieve your own vision.
A Mountain Higher than Everest Twenty-five years ago, Ray Anderson, then sixty years of age was asked, “What's your company doing for the environment?” Ray described this as his ‘spear in the chest’ moment that changed his perspective on business and sustainability. His task force set a goal to get to 2020 with zero or negative environmental impact. A range of measures such as waste reduction; recycling; reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and reducing energy consumption were adopted over the years that have already met and exceeded that target. The carpet manufacturing industry was at that time petroleum-intensive. Ray had not given a thought as to what his company was taking from the Earth but step by step, Ray led his company up what he referred to as Mount Sustainability. He said, “It became a symbol of both the size and scope of our mission.” It was a mission that Ray spent the rest of his life actively promoting, once commenting publicly that CEO’s like himself should be ‘put in jail’ for stealing their children’s future. A few lines from a poem written by one of Ray Anderson’s California employees, Glenn Thomas, best expresses what Interface is all about. Knowing you has changed my thinking, for I never had an inkling
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Company Profile
17
That perhaps the things I do might someday, somehow, threaten you Begin I will, to weigh the cost of what I squander; what is lost If ever I forget that you will someday come to live here too. Committed to Australia A major setback of a factory fire in 2012 brought about the prospect of importing product from several manufacturing sites in Asia. However, Interface was committed to the Australian flooring industry and the local supply chain; to offering a flexible and design-oriented service close to their Australian customers and so, they rebuilt in Minto, a few hours southwest of Sydney. Interface supported its employees’, and many stayed on the payroll while doing other volunteering work. What ‘talks’ to the direction at Interface is the long tenure of their employees.
Rob Coombs is Australian Managing Director and has been with the company for almost thirty years, starting out with Heuga in the United Kingdom. There’s not much Rob doesn’t know about the carpet tile industry, serving with Interface in six countries. Rob said, “Our focus is on the commercial sector, we have a strong presence in the office market and our product can also be found in schools and universities; aged care and hospitality, and in the healthcare sector. Most of the major sporting venues are carpeted with Interface tiles. We operate in more than a hundred countries around the World and manufacture here for the local market.”
Flooring October/November 2021
Changing a Culture Rob said, “There is a strong business case for eco-manufacturing; it saves costs, we have a better designed product, more customers are seeking products with low environmental impact, and we also have a more committed team of people. We’ve delivered on our Mission Zero® commitment, in part by becoming the first global flooring manufacturer to sell all products as carbon neutral across their full life cycle.” But it’s not all about Interface. The company has in the past partnered with the Zoological Society of London to buy discarded fishing nets from some of the poorest communities in the world. The nets are recycled into new yarn for carpet tiles. Another project in Thailand, ‘Weaving A Better Life’ sees waste yarn distributed to local villages that is then weaved into useful items such as the well-known bears. The re-purposed yarn contributes to the company’s commitment to zero waste to landfill and enriches the local community.
Delivering Innovation Interface is about innovation coupled with a real environmental commitment that is not just the path set by Ray Anderson all those years ago. It’s a path pursued by everyone at Interface; it’s a path that directly benefits not only the planet, but their customers. It’s not greenwashed, it’s a genuine commitment to the future. In 2000 Interface offered the first commercial carpet collection to use recycled nylon in the face fibre and a 100% recycled content vinyl backing layer. But there’s a lot more coming from Interface, including carbonnegative bio backing, which effectively stores more carbon in its life cycle than it emits. The commercial sector continues to develop in functionality and design. This can be seen first-hand in Interface’s recently transformed Sydney headquarters located within a heritage listed railway building. The ‘agile’ office is becoming the norm; a space that is ideally adaptable and flexible, using products manufactured right here in Australia from either recycled or carbon neutral materials. It is the belief of Interface that ‘bold innovation arises from the lessons of the past, supported by the technology of the future.’ As a leading flooring manufacturer, Interface can honestly say they and their customers tread lightly on the Earth.
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
18 Buying Local – Buying Australian
Feature
comfortable and sustainable world, the company are proud to leverage their Aussie made credentials in an economy that is increasingly seeking to support local makers.
I
f there is anything that the past 18 months has taught Australians, it is the profound impact that supporting local has on the success of the Australian economy. ‘Buy Australian Now’, the latest campaign from Australian Made is calling on all Aussies to support local jobs and the economic recovery by backing our local makers and growers, as the country begins to open up and prepare for the festive season. According to Australian Made Chief Executive, Ben Lazzaro, the ‘Buy Australian’ message has never resonated more than right now with Aussie consumers. “Pleasingly, supporting our local manufacturers continues to be the focus of many as we look beyond lockdowns and restrictions. The ‘Buy Australian Now’ campaign seeks to help continue to drive this strong pro-Australian momentum,” he said.
Flooring October/November 2021
Australia’s manufacturing industry has quickly become the re-emerging star of local industry in recent times with a renewed focus increasingly centred around reshoring manufacturing practices and reducing international overreliance. One of the longstanding local manufacturing industries that continues to embrace the locally made philosophy is the flooring sector. For over 150 years Australian carpet manufacturer, Godfrey Hirst, has focused on supporting Australia’s local economy through its contribution to local manufacturing; producing thousands of metres of carpet everyday out of state-of-theart Australian based facilities. With a commitment to designing, creating and supplying high quality floorcoverings that contribute to a more beautiful,
Godfrey Hirst Marketing Manager, John Harrison is a strong believer in Australian made. “Offering Australian Made products has always been a high priority for Godfrey Hirst. Customers expect a high-quality carpet that’s been carefully designed to stand up to local conditions, be it for the home or a Commercial high-rise. When you buy local, you are supporting the economy, our local employees and local flooring retail businesses. But there are also significant downstream benefits as well. When you buy locally, you’re also supporting the local community that those employees and local retailers contribute towards. Additionally, in many cases, you’re doing your small part to help the environment too, as the locally made product often generates less emissions as it travels less distance from the factory to your floor compared to imported alternatives. There’s no doubt that savvy customers are actively seeking Australian Made products and the official green and gold kangaroo logo is their assurance of a certified Australian Made product.” Strong support for buying local continues to be felt heavily throughout Australia’s manufacturing sector, with recent Roy Morgan Research indicating that 9 in 10 Australians believe Australia should produce more products locally. This drive to back local stemming from Australian’s belief in keeping jobs in Australia, as it provides new employment opportunities and reduces Australia’s reliance on other countries.
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
Feature
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Like many Australian manufacturers, Godfrey Hirst ensure local manufacturing remains an ongoing priority to deliver quality, consistency, flexibility and dependability. Moreover, businesses in the sector recognise the flow on effects experienced when consumers rally behind local manufacturing; with an investment in Australian Made goods an investment into the Australian economy. Godfrey Hirst Chief Operating Officer, Jane Fletcher sums this up well, “Our ongoing local investment in people, manufacturing, warehousing and distribution provides total supply chain capability, ensuring quality control and consistency from product design, right through to delivery. We are proud to have a long serving and diverse workforce that offers an excellent mix of new thinking and deep knowledge and experience”.
Recent Roy Morgan research found that almost all Australians (99%) are aware of the Australian Made logo and 92% trust the mark as an identifier of genuine Australian products. Moreover, 97% of Australians associate the logo with the support of local jobs and employment opportunities, 95% with safe and high-quality products, 89% with the use of ethical labour and 78% with sustainability.
With Christmas fast approaching it’s the perfect time for Australians to exercise their preference for locally made products and seek to support local manufacturers. “Looking for the iconic green and gold kangaroo logo has never been more important,” said Australian Made’s Mr Lazzaro. “Whether you’re buying in-store, online, at the local market, or sourcing supplies for business or procuring products for major projects, every dollar spent on locally made products has a direct impact on the livelihoods of Aussie manufacturers, as well as the wider community.” So ‘Buy Australian Now’ and look for the iconic green and gold kangaroo logo Australia’s most trusted, recognised and widely used country of origin symbol. To register your products ‘Australian Made’, apply for the logo here: web www.australianmade.com.au.
Feature
20 Preserving the economic cycle
T
he founder of Sterling Supplies spent his first 13 years of work in Australian manufacturing as a fitter and turner/ toolmaker and has always been passionate about making everything he can using the resources within Australia.
and this helped create a competitive edge. When product rolls off the production line, it is ready for despatch and able to more than adequately meet satisfactory lead times, something that Sterling Supplies has always prided themselves on.
From the founder himself, “We have always supported Australian manufacturing in every area we can. We developed the Duratred aluminium matting which is made from components manufactured in Australia and the same applies to our stair nosing range with most of the profiles being extruded here in Australia”
As a company, Sterling knows how critical quality is to end users. To monitor and check for consistent quality, a quality control procedure is in place to ensure that before any goods leave the warehouse, they are checked over and then kept on record internally. When goods come off the various production lines, the quality is checked and if any piece doesn’t meet the QA standard, it is removed from the batch.
Sterling Supplies also have a range of polymer tactile pads under their Duratac brand that are proudly Australian made. With their main warehousing facility located in Campbellfield, Melbourne, these high quality products are readily shipped all around Australia. Once the reality of the Covid-19 Pandemic was realised, manufacturers found themselves building rapport and stronger relationships with fellow Australians. For so many companies who had previously been importing, the need to find stable and lasting commitments from their manufacturers was crucial to stay in business.
Like all Australian businesses, Sterling Supplies had to meet the pandemic headon but with the skill-set and knowledge internally, they turned an innovative eye to the manufacturing world and from this, are extremely proud to introduce a brand new concept to the market with their product, Duratred Ezy. A product designed to help save time on installation as well as decrease order lead times by weeks. This will be released in November. Stay tuned for more exciting news on this shortly. The team are very well educated in compliance, and this has enabled them to produce products that meet all the Australian standards. This has been a journey over many years and as they have become aware of meeting safety standards, the team are able to ensure that compliance is front of mind. One of Sterling’s head of sales said, “We now have a motto we stand by with every job we work on, the first conversation is about safety and compliance”. There are huge benefits that come with having products manufactured on Australian soil, from the design stage to the production line. Sterling Supplies found that they could be much more innovative when designing
Flooring October/November 2021
The need for manufacturing in Australia has become a crucial part of keeping Australia sustainable and providing local jobs. Sterling is one company that is ensuring this continues to happen by preserving the economic cycle for all future generations. web www.sterlingsupplies.com.au
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
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Feature
22 Pioneering innovative solutions
R
LA Polymers the iconic Australian manufacturer of adhesives, sealants and cementitious mortars local production capabilities spans some 56 years and throughout its history, there has been an enduring diversification strategy of its flooring related product offering. As the oldest Australian flooring adhesive manufacturer, RLA has acquired and developed many iconic flooring adhesive brands including Roberts, Polymer, Holdfast, Brooks and Aftek. Today RLA is busy pioneering innovative solutions for the ever-changing built environment. RLA’s innovation program engineers new technological breakthroughs via a hierarchy of variables that takes into account material science, the environment and the impact on human health. RLA’s parent company Nan Pao encourages growth and diversification for the broader base of the RLA business. In more recent times, RLA’s technical centre of excellence was opened. The opening of the technical centre created a conducive environment for RLA’s technical team to expand its transformational scientific innovation program.
The strength RLA’s operations ensures they continue to manufacture a range of adhesives and SLC’s as well as many other building and construction products throughout its four (4) Australian manufacturing facilities, meeting customer demands both locally and internationally. RLA Polymers continues to invest in its local manufacturing footprint. RLA’s new Sydney manufacturing facility and the plant will be commissioned in Q1 2022. The new Sydney site has both emulsion and powder mixing capabilities. The plant facilitates state of the art manufacturing equipment and allows RLA to double its current production output.
Supporting a broad range of inorganic and organic constructions products, RLA will also be upgrading its principal plant in Kilsyth as well as beginning a Greenfield development, replacing its current Brisbane facility. RLA’s recent acquisitions in WA and SA will also see further investment in these markets as well. RLA’s Managing Director Troy Hogan commended the board for its support in investment and went onto to say; “these strategic investments shore up the future for RLA as a dominant local producer of cementitious and polymeric compounds delivering value to all Australian flooring industry stakeholders”. RLA also continues to invest in human capacity, its technical team has recently been bolstered with new editions that are experts in their fields. This includes epoxies and moisture cured technologies for moisture suppression systems, floor coatings, membranes, adhesives and sealants. Emerging technologies are core to RLA’s continual innovation program and in more recent times, they have enabled a broad and extensive product and system offering. RLA’s technical team, design and engineer solutions (to support local conditions) with the latest advances in material science. This is recognised as RLA’s core competency and drives its competitive advantage, delivering value to all key markets. Hogan also commended the success and sustainability of RLA “is a direct result of our employee’s efforts, hard work, innovative processes and positivity that continues to help drive the business forward” web www.rlapolymers.com.au
Flooring October/November 2021
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Feature
24 A global company that thinks locally
I
n 2022, The ARDEX Group will be celebrating 55 years in the Australian building and construction industry. Key to Ardex’s continued growth and longevity is their ability to leverage global networks to produce locally - practicing ‘Glocalisation’ providing the best of both global and local. Ardex offer products and systems in the areas of floor levelling and adhesives, tile and natural stone systems, sheet and liquid applied waterproofing membranes, general construction and tools. These products have helped transform the building industry, saving time and reducing building costs, and being manufactured locally has added much to Ardex’s growth in Australia. Ardex’s success reflects its commitment to innovative manufacturing technologies, outstanding product options and excellent customer service, that draws upon global best practice. “We have a proud history of leading the market with constant innovation, delivering new products and systems most recently demonstrated with the acquisition of Wedi, to improve building performance, technology, and services to make life easier for specifiers, tilers and builders. These new technologies have had a major impact on product performance and installation practices in Australia,” says Fabian Morgan, Regional Managing Director - Oceania.
Flooring October/November 2021
While the last two years have affected many businesses, today, Ardex is seeing unprecedented sales in all brands despite recent government restrictions, as builders and tradesmen look for reliable supply chains to complete existing and new projects.
The ARDEX Group is one of the largest manufacturers across APAC including manufacturing operations in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand, Taiwan, South Korea and China. Despite this, they choose to produce more than 98% of the volume sold in Australia, in Australia, with New Zealand being a large supplier of the balance. In all Ardex employs over 400 people in Australia and New Zealand. “There are so many positives for manufacturing in Australia,” says Fabian. “Firstly, we save the environment making products close to the source of raw materials and customers lowering our carbon footprint. Australian tradies require products that are made to some of the highest standards in the world. They are trusted, known for their safety and quality. Ardex has a consistent track recording of reinvesting profits back into the Australia business, and this helps to keep Australian jobs, strengthen local industries and support local communities. Manufacturing locally also allows for faster turnaround and supports our customer first approach.”
Fabian continues, “We have six manufacturing plants and eleven distribution centres nationwide, providing a strong supply chain without hold ups or cancellations. This includes our new manufacturing and distribution facility in Brisbane and our state-of-the-art distribution centre in Kings Park, Sydney. Both are recent investments showing our commitment to the local market. Further investments include a doubling of our already significant powder manufacturing in Auckland, New Zealand. Our largest commitment, which will be announced in the coming months will be a gamechanger for our industry.” “With a large R & D team based in Australia there is a commitment to adding value to our customers and construction projects through proven ability to respond to the demands of ever-changing industry requirements. Our tailored product strategy has been designed with the expectations and needs of Australians in mind, providing appropriate market solutions that consider Australia’s standards and regulations with no compromises.” “We will continue to lead and support the industry, which we can only do thanks to our dedicated local team. A thriving manufacturing sector is critical to Australia’s economic future and prosperity. We are proud of our history as an Australian manufacturer. It’s more important than ever to support and grow the local manufacturing capability,” adds Fabian. web www.ardexaustralia.com
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
25 IN THE TALLEST BUILDING IN AUSTRALIA, HOSPITALS AND HOMES, MILLIONS OF TONNES OF ARDEX PRODUCTS BEING LAID BY YOU ARE BEING MADE BY US... RIGHT HERE IN AUSTRALIA, FOR OVER 55 YEARS.
Gold Coast, Queensland
www.ardexaustralia.com | 1300788780
Feature
26 Innovative, resilient and relevant
B
ased in Dandenong, Victoria, Nexus Adhesives Pty Ltd continues to forge ahead with its dedication to help rejuvenate the Australian manufacturing sector. Recent plans for increased production capacity, along with the resent establishment of a completely new research and development lab underscore Nexus Adhesives’ long-term commitment to Aussie manufacturing and development. “We simply see a real need for Australian manufacturers to remain innovative, resilient and relevant,” says Jonathon Clewlow, Managing Director of Nexus Adhesives. “We exist in a Global market,
Flooring October/November 2021
but we tend to primarily listen to our local market in Australia and New Zealand. We’ve definitely seen a shift in consumer sentiment toward Australian Made – not just with our products but with Aussie made items across many sectors.” It has been well documented in the press that supply lines and shipping constraints have made life difficult for many Australian businesses. By manufacturing in Australia, Nexus Adhesives attempts to soften the impact of unreliable import channels. By working closely with its raw material suppliers, and communicating openly with their distributors, Nexus Adhesives can plan
well ahead in order to avoid or lessen stock line outages. These supply challenges look like continuing into 2022. “We’ve been buoyed by the obvious business support coming our way over the last 18 months and it gives us immense confidence to invest in the future. As always, we continue to ask that flooring adhesive users and purchasers support locally engineered and manufactured product because more successful Australian manufacturers means more long-term prosperity for Australia.” web www.nexusadhesives.com.au
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
P ro u d & P a s s i o n a te Au s t r a l i a n Formulated Flooring Adhesives Nexus Adhesives Proudly Manufactured in Melbourne for 16 years. Utilising the latest raw materials, the technical staff at Nexus Adhesives have formulated a range of flooring adhesives with the End User in Mind.
Vinyl Plank Hard Set Adhesive Nexus 870 is hard setting full cure Adhesive with Low VOC. This high performance polymer blend based adhesive is designed, for the installation of commercial and domestic PVC planks and tiles. Also suitable for sheet vinyl floorcoverings. Nexus 870 has been used to install in excess of 500,000 m2 in 2020.
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03 9706 4022
Feature
28 Designer Flake – The COVID reaction
W
ith society changing its focus due to COVID the emphasis has shifted to Australian made products, with the majority of the public wanting to support local manufacturing. Australian manufacturing of consumer items is an area that has slowly diminished overtime as customers concentrate on finding the best bargains for their money. You can’t blame them for wanting more for their dollar. Even governments have been known to accept offshore companies and contractors to complete Australian projects in infrastructure, building, manufacturing and supply. In a lot of cases the imported items are manufactured with cheaper labour and inferior raw materials, this can lead to a poorer quality item being produced. We have all succumb to this situation where the quality of the purchased item has not been produced to last, however the cheaper price still gets us to invest and take the chance.
it seem as if they are manufactured here. This is where it is up to the purchaser to do some homework to ensure they are getting Australian manufactured if this is the desired outcome. Australian manufactured Designer Flake is an acrylic, environmentally friendly product, as opposed to the fully imported poly-vinyl flake. Vinyl flake is non-porous and much heavier than the Australian produced flake. The benefits of acrylic flake to vinyl flake; the acrylic flake being porous absorbs the coatings from below and above acting as an aggregate within the system, leaving no chance of delamination or colour bleed. Also, acrylic flake, being 30% lighter in weight and 30% more flakes per kilo will cover 30% more floor area as per picture shown. In the wash up, the more expensive per kilo quality Australian made Designer Flake
will give you a sound, strong, hard wearing coating system, that is colour fast and readily available. Also taking into account the coverage rates are far superior and more economical against the heavier imported vinyl flake. 1 kilo coverage per m2 Imported Vinyl Flake coverage - 2m2 per kilo (10m2) Designer Flake coverage - 3.75m2 per kilo (10m2) Impressions Range A versatile product that can be applied over metal, fibreglass, laminate, plastered walls, brickwork, ceramic tiles and concrete surfaces just to name a few, after the appropriate surface preparation. web www.designerflake.com
In the area of Seamless Epoxy Coating Systems, this is no different. You have to do your research and know that if a similar item is sold at a cheaper price, it has to be produced more cost effectively, and then determine if the cost of production saving will interfere with the quality of the product. In the flake manufacturing process this is no different, with cheaper raw materials, labour and more cost effective manufacturing processes. Designer Flake is the only manufacturer of Decorative Colour Flakes in Australia. Some of the opposition with their fully imported Flake have tried being clever with naming and marketing of products by adding Australia or referencing Australia to make
Flooring October/November 2021
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Natural Stone Range Blue Stone
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Feature
30 Looking after your mates
I
n the true Aussie spirit, when things are tough you’ve got to look after your mates. We all know, things have been tough. Lockdowns, curfews, boarder closures the list goes on so there has never been a better time to buy local and look after your mates. The team at Beaulieu Australia have been looking after their mates for 50 years. Starting out as a small Queensland mill that is now part of the global Beaulieu International Group (B.I.G) they are entrenched in the Australian floorcovering industry, a true Aussie battler. Employing 90 people, they are not the biggest but continue to punch well above their weight suppling quality carpet to Australian retailers and distributors. They also send products overseas, exporting products not Aussie jobs, again looking after their mates. Beaulieu are proud to be manufacturing in this great country. Suppling Aussie homes and businesses with great home grown products that will endure many years of use in the uniquely harsh and diverse environment that is Australia.
There is no doubt that the cost to produce goods in this country is more expensive than in some other countries that don’t have the great lifestyle opportunities we are privileged to have here in Australia.
Constantly investing in new environmentally friendly technologies and assets to ensure their processes have little or no impact on the environment, free from harmful chemicals. There is no doubt, our most important assets are our people. Beaulieu have a great skilled, talented and passionate team all contributing to the success of the business. Buying local is supporting this great team, their families and the wider community; looking after your mates. The world has become a greatly different place in the past 18 months or so. It has become harder to purchase goods from other countries with constant delivery delays. Buying local will eliminate the stress of worrying if goods will turn up on time, or if at all, ensuring you don’t let your customers down; looking after your mates. With the new global economy, it is not hard to see, we in Australia have suffered at the hands of cheap imported products through, so called, free trade agreements with other countries. Sure, we all love a good deal as much as anyone but if we don’t keep supporting local manufacturing soon, we won’t have the choice because there won’t be local manufacturing, just like Ford, Holden and the others ….gone!
Flooring October/November 2021
Fair wages, superannuation, holiday and sick pay, carer and maternity leave all help contribute to a better and fairer lifestyle but add to the cost of goods produced here. So, there is more to a price than just the price. Manufacturers from other countries often put profits before the social responsibilities of their staff and the environment in turn producing cheaper goods making it harder for locals to compete.
Goods produced locally are made to acceptable quality and environmental guidelines, governed by strict standards and codes of conduct that may not exist in many other countries. Remember the old saying you get what you pay for. Yes, you may have to pay a little extra, but at least you will be looking after your mates. The team at Beaulieu Australia appreciate the support of their loyal customers and would like to thank you all for buying local and looking after your mates. web www.beaulieu.com.au
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Carpets made in Australia, by Australians, for Australia’s future. Beaulieu Australia is the premier producer of environmentally friendly textile floor coverings in Australia. Select carpets have been approved by the National Asthma Council Sensitive Choice Program. Activecare Exclusive.
Proudly Investing in Australian Manufacturing Since 1973 www.beaulieu.com.au Sales
1800 777 007
Beaulieu of Australia Pty Ltd PO Box 6160 Yatala DC, Qld 4207
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Feature
32
Believe in better
G
odfrey Hirst’s passion for manufacturing Australian Made products and supporting their local community remains stronger than ever. They recognise that supporting local industry and manufacturing will be vital and under their ‘Believe In Better’ sustainability framework and feel a profound sense of responsibility to advance their mission for a more sustainable future for all.
Climate Active Carbon Neutral certification is one of the most rigorous in the world and demonstrates their commitment to sustainability and industry leadership to drive genuine change.
Their partnership with the official Australian Made campaign aligns them with Australia’s most trusted, recognised and widely used country of origin symbol, underpinned by a third-party accreditation system which authenticates genuinely Australia Made products, a true mark of Aussie authenticity - giving their customers confidence that they too can support locally made.
They supported a 100+ year reforestation mission in Western Australia, and a renewable energy hydropower plant in China to offset these emissions. But their efforts continue. They have committed to reducing their environmental impact in line with the Paris Agreement, and beyond, across all new product development. Follow their sustainability journey at, https://www. ghcommercial.com/sustainability.
And as an Australian Made manufacturer, they also take responsibility for their impacts on the planet. Through partnering with the government program Climate Active; they are now a carbon neutral organisation. This certification recognises businesses that take voluntary climate action to measure, reduce and offset carbon emissions, with a result of net zero emissions.
Godfrey Hirst achieved their carbon neutral certification through support of two key projects – offsetting over 17,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
Products Their collection of global products includes an extensive range of Australian Made carpet tiles and planks, all available to buy now. They offer a large range of solution dyed nylon, Designer Jet and Pattern Perfect carpet tiles; designed for all budgets and all areas of installation. Their Designer Jet tiles are made with the latest precision dye injection technology, offering a large array of patterns, style, and colours.
Their Pattern Perfect carpet tile and plank products are made from the latest innovation of tufting technology right here in Australia. Made to order locally, the pattern perfect technology delivers highly patterned, design driven ranges to suit any project. Their portfolio also includes residential and commercial broadloom carpets. They supply a broad range of synthetic and triexta carpets along with high quality Australian and New Zealand made wool carpets. Their solution dyed nylon and Designer Jet carpet tiles and planks and the residential triexta broadloom carpets are officially certified as Declare Red List Free. This ‘nutrition label’ for building materials transparently assesses products down to 100 parts per million to ensure they are free of the nasty chemicals from the ‘Red List’ that have been known to cause poor health. And importantly, provides customers with complete peace of mind that they are choosing a healthier carpet fibre for their home or commercial space. All the Australian designed and manufactured products make beautiful, high performance flooring for your home or next project and with global network of brands to draw from; Godfrey Hirst are dedicated to helping you meet your project goals and connecting you with the right floor, when, where and how you need it. web www.godfreyhirst.com
Flooring October/November 2021
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Simply great Australian Made carpet.
We love all our carpets and know we shouldn’t have favourites… but with superior built-in stain resistance, easy maintenance, protection from pet mishaps, durability and softness, Australian Made Redbook Green triexta is the top performer across the board. Contact your local Feltex Account Manager for new sampling opportunities today!
www.redbookcarpets.com
FLOORWORLD WELCOMES FIVE MORE NEW STORES highest member rebates in the industry have definitely been of benefit to us joining the Floorworld group” remarked Jay. Hoppers Crossing Floorworld’s unique selling points are to leverage on the Floorworld brand and the strong core product ranges with national suppliers, and the use of qualified installers to achieve the best outcome.
HOPPERS CROSSING FLOORWORLD Victoria Jay Nicdao has been part of the Floorworld family opening his first store in Caroline Springs in 2014. Spanning more than 17 years experience in the flooring industry, Jay was quick to snap up the opportunity to
take on his second store with Floorworld at Hoppers Crossing in September this year. “Floorworld recently celebrated 30 years in the flooring industry. The support given to their members along with no joining fees, the lowest administration costs in and the
In addition, they provide expert tips for their customers on how to choose and maintain their floor coverings. “We provide floor preparation and unique floor removal services in both the domestic and commercial markets” added Jay.
CAMDEN VALLEY AND NARELLAN FLOORWORLD New South Wales
Adam Sanduval realised the area called for another quality flooring store, that was more brand-focused than others. “We were drawn like a moth to a flame when we came across Floorworld, beautiful displays and high-quality branding with a great line-up of suppliers and quality products was just what the market needed.” said Adam. The Camden Valley and Narrellan Floorworld stores specialise in the Greater South Western Sydney regions of Camden to Macarthur,
Liverpool to Wollondilly and as far as the Southern Highlands. With a team of four very hardworking and dedicated specialists their total combined experience in the flooring industry is over 60 years! Their success in the industry is largely due to maintaining a strong relationship with multiple residential building companies
in the area and a combination of extensive flooring knowledge and good old fashioned customer service. “We know our floors, so we tend to educate our customers as much as possible without being condescending or offensive. We try to give them a relaxed and comfortable experience. We are not after the hard sell.” remarked Adam.
actively looking for a new sales person and storeman to meet the growing business needs. “I did have a huge win when I got Deb on board, as she had been in the industry for quite a few years before moving to Townsville.” recalled Mark.
CARPET PLACE FLOORWORLD TOWNSVILLE Queensland After a few years with another company as a franchisee, Mark Thornton came across Floorworld through Andy Quested.
keen. I then spoke with Wayne Hoppen in Cairns, as he had recently come on board, and it all snowballed from there. After many years of shift work, I can now be with the family more and I haven’t looked back.” said Mark.
“After a few long discussions with Bob Crotty, I was very
With just two members driving the store operations, they are
Mark and Deb offer residential and commercial services with support from Floorworld’s unmatched line of preferred suppliers and have a range of installers who can carry out the works in a professional manner. “Our uniqueness is our commitment to service. We hang a lot of our reputation on the customer getting the right result, from products to installation.” concluded Mark.
FENNELL’S FLOORWORLD CANNONVALE Queensland Scott Fennell has been working in the flooring industry since he was 15 years old bringing his experience to a total of 37 years. “I joined Floorworld as I was very comfortable dealing with all the staff involved, the strong support system in place that was adapted to suit our local market along with a great network of suppliers, was a step forward for my business,” said Scott. With 11 people working for the company, Fennell’s Floorworld services, Airlie Beach, Bowen, Proserpine, the Whitsunday
Islands and surrounding areas. Talking about his new store Scott remarked, “The large variety of timber flooring on show is the best in the area. Our friendly staff listen to our customers’ requirements and guide them to choose the right kind of flooring.”
Floorworld’s philosophy is to improve your business by providing a support mechanism for small business with our proven model of operational success. Intrigued by the possibility of joining a retail group with tangible benefits then Floorworld may be the perfect solution for you. If you are interested in the Floorworld model please contact Bob Crotty (03) 9761 5235 or info@floorworld.com.au for a confidential discussion.
“We have a product to match every kind of requirement, budget and environment. Whether our customers are looking for flooring for their home, office or commercial space, building or renovating they are sure to find it at Fennell’s Floorworld, Cannonvale” added Scott.
At Floorworld, we offer more than just flooring.
Feature Innovation, excellence and performance
P
olivac International is a proudly Australian owned manufacturer of commercial cleaning and floor sanding machinery. Polivac embarked on a journey in 1949 to equip the floor maintenance and cleaning industry with innovative machines that excel in performance and quality. Over the years, they have strived to build a stronghold in the Australian manufacturing space. They achieved this by creating safe, customdesigned machines and nurturing solid relationships with their partners. The current Polivac range is diverse and versatile, covering hard floor maintenance, carpet cleaning, concrete grinding, and finishing through to timber floor sanding, back-pack, and canister vacuum cleaners. All Polivac machines are manufactured in their Melbourne facility and tested to comply with Australian regulations and standards, ensuring quality and reliability. Polivac invest in continuous research and development to build machines that save time, resources, and labour. Polivac is excited to introduce to its product range the new generation II sanding machines. The SV25 Gen II slowspeed Sandivac sanders and SV25 Gen II slowspeed Supervac sanders are thoughtfully designed to provide ultimate reliability and durability. Equipped with a long-life triple planetary industrial gear
drive, that has proved itself to be the strongest for grinding and sanding applications. The all-metal motor cawl and capacitor boxes provide better protection to critical components. These sanders are heavier than regular SV25 and come fitted with extra weight to offer ideal downward pressure and a universal clutch system that helps to increase efficiency. These versatile vacuum sanders can be used for scrubbing or stripping applications after switching off the vacuum motor – that’s increased productivity using intelligent design. The floating skirt and powerful vacuum motor eliminate the need for secondary vacuuming. The Supervac model is armed with a 400-watt long life motor fitted into the dust canister supported by-pass dust separator for superior dust extraction, hence no more indoor dusty mess after completing your sanding job. Lastly, you can easily fit paper bags in both the sanders, this makes it easy to dispose of dust particles collected during the sanding job. Polivac have received excellent reviews from industry experts who have conducted trials of these machines and are happy to announce that these machines are now available in the market. web www.polivac.com.au
Feature
37
No compromise at Floorex Tony Reynolds, Floorex chief designer and innovator, is no stranger to setbacks. Floorex’s commitment to rugged simplicity often means a wide range of designs and components are tested before being ushered onto the showroom floor. None the less, it only takes one small electronic component to be unavailable, and production can be set back weeks, if not months. As a manufacturer, Floorex keeps large supplies of parts, as well as the ability to adapt substitute parts, so you can be sure your investment is going to keep working for you. After many delays, the new Satellite Generation4 has overcome many obstacles
with the first batch being assembled in October this year. While developing new equipment is always a drawnout process of prototypes, testing and sourcing supply chain, the ambitious schedule of new features, and the worldwide shortage of pretty much everything created the perfect storm. The worldwide shortage of semiconductors means implementation of remote-control technology is challenging; however, Floorex expects to launch RC Satellite models early next year. Anything worth doing is worth doing properly, and not wanting to compromise the core reliable features that Floorex have grown
to love, such as the cycloid transmission, coupling drive, satellite tooling disc, reliable motor controller, and the tooling system. In addition, the new Satellite Generation4 has an extensive list of new features to complement such as the 360° LED lighting, integrated wet grinding system*, auto levelling head, phone holder/charger and much more. *Not standard on some models. web www.floorex.com.au
1800 356 673
Australia-Wide www.floorex.com.au
Australia’s complete supplier of concrete preparation equipment ! Concrete Grinding & Polishing Coating & Screed Application Floor Preparation Construction & Demolition
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Feature
38
Buy local – Buy Australian with Andersens
A
ndersens strongly believes that buying local is a fundamentally important part of creating strong economies and stronger communities. As a franchise network of over 50 locally owned and operated businesses, Andersens is proud to be partnering with local businesses, suppliers, and manufacturers to promote the Buy Local – Buy Australian initiative. We recognise that local businesses are the soul of our local communities and the backbone of our economy and supporting these enterprises through the current crisis and beyond is vital to help stem the economic downturn. At this time of a world pandemic and the consequent closing of borders and slowdown of trade between countries, consumers are turning to home-grown products to satisfy demand. Commercial activity is being diverted to Australian-made goods and Australian-owned manufacturing plants to make products that are not available or becoming unavailable as imported goods from overseas countries. To successfully come through this time of uncertainty, it is more important than ever for local businesses to support each other and encourage all Australians to buy local and support Australian businesses.
Australian businesses play an important role in sustaining the economy and local communities, providing employment opportunities, contributing to local organisations, and delivering access to important goods and services. Andersens has been at the forefront of championing this cause and helping Australian businesses. They have organised multiple Buy Local - Buy Australian campaigns over the last 12 months. They see this as an opportunity for Australian businesses and manufacturers to show their stuff and provide good quality products and services to their customers. By supporting Australian businesses and calling on Australians to buy Australian right now, not only will we get products made to some of the highest quality in the world, we can create local jobs and economic activity that will aid in the recovery process, while also strengthening our local manufacturing capabilities. web www.andersens.com.au
Flooring October/November 2021
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Aged Care flooring readily stocked and available at EC Carpets
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Feature
40 Better Australian carpet gripper by design Like all good ideas their new ‘diagonal’ pin nail layout for carpet gripper is remarkably simple. They gained this idea from working with their local community of carpet installers. In the design of older style Chinese carpet gripper, the pin nails to hold the carpet are laid up in a ‘hexagonal’ pattern. Usually this is ten pin nails (that hold the carpet) hexagonally arranged, followed by a wood or concrete anchoring nail that goes into the subfloor.
Australian Accessories with BBS – Australia’s local installation accessories maker.
factory right here in the community of Dandenong, Victoria.
At BBS they focus on the design and manufacture of better floor covering installation products. They make it their business to get out to talk to installers about how their products are used, about what they like and don’t like about them, and about how these products can be improved.
With many years of experience, they understand in great detail the way carpet gripper is used and the reasons for every aspect of its current design. They are also close to local Australian installers in this community that use all types of carpet gripper and through this interaction they have come to understand their product needs.
It’s hard to find improvements for an everyday product like carpet gripper that has been widely used by installers for generations, but every now and again a new idea is generated. When they find a valuable improvement, they call the BBS team together and set to work to build it in their Dandenong carpet gripper factory.
BBS will soon launch a new style ‘diagonal’ carpet gripper that improves the carpet holding power of the gripper through a simple design idea and without adding any new cost. New diagonal style pin pattern for carpet gripper
Chinese hexagonal pin pattern on carpet gripper But when you look closely at the Chinese ‘hexagonal’ pin pattern you will notice that some of the pin nails stand in-line behind others. Later when the carpet is being stretched these ‘lazy’ pins don’t do any of the holding work on the carpet. This is because stretched carpet is pulled in one direction toward the back end of the gripper. By standing behind other pin nails the ‘lazy’ pins toward the wall are really just being ornamental while the forward line of pins feel the stretch of the carpet do all the holding work.
This process is much easier for a local Australian company like BBS than it is for our many Chinese competitors. This is because BBS is locally based, with a
Flooring October/November 2021
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Feature
41 This simple innovation increases the holding power of BBS carpet gripper by a staggering 43% as ten pin nails now do the work that only seven did before.
Lazy hexagonal pin pattern on carpet gripper So, in traditional Chinese carpet gripper only seven of ten pin nails are holding the carpet stretch and the other three are ‘lazy’ or ornamental, standing in reserve behind the forward pin nails.
With diagonal carpet gripper when the carpet is being stretched and pulled in one direction all ten pin nails work to hold the carpet. All ten pin nails holding carpet in the new diagonal pattern
While the engineering and hard work by their Australian factory team to make diagonal gripper was not easy the idea itself was simple enough. It came to them through the good ideas of local installers in the community around us. web www.bbscarpetgripper.com.au
At BBS they have come up with a simple technique to stagger all ten pin nails along diagonal lines so that every single pin nail is working to hold the carpet independently. The diagonal pattern they use is shown below along with the lines of stretch for the carpet.
SureEdge®
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Chinese ‘hexagonal’ pin pattern – seven pins hold the carpet
New ‘diagonal’ pin pattern – all ten pins hold the carpet
Lazy pins
2 / 75 Zenith Road, Dandenong, VIC, 3175, Australia Tel: +61 3 9793 2244 EMAIL: info@bbsfp.com
BBS Flooring Products
Eco & Sustainability
42
GECA - sustainable development goals Article by Karina Schlieper, Project Officer, GECA The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are an internationally agreed framework for urgent action to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations (UN) member states in 2015, including Australia. The goals address global challenges, including global inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. The SDG framework can be addressed globally, nationally, regionally, by industry, company, individual, or linked to a specific product.
to consumers, specifiers, and procurement about how they are actively contributing to these targets. SDG integration into our standards demonstrates measurable impacts across the SDGs, providing clarity to consumers, specifiers, and procurement about how they are actively contributing to these targets.
Manufacturing products that meet the strict requirements of a lifecycle ecolabel, such as GECA’s, is one clear way to support the SDGs. At GECA, to make this even easier, we have recently integrated relevant SDGs into all our standards. Each of GECA’s lifecycle ecolabel standards links to specific SDG targets, with criteria relating to SDG 12 in particular found across all standards. SDG integration into our standards demonstrates measurable impacts across the SDGs, providing clarity
• SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being • SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation • SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth • SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production • SDG 15 – Life on Land
When it comes to GECA certified floor coverings and carpets, the major SDGs they are contributing to are: SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being The aim of SDG 3 is to “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. Target 3.9 states, “by 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination”.
Let's explore how these particular goals relate to flooring products.
Adhesives, fillers and sealants are typically used for flooring products and installation. Yet, they can also be one of the most overlooked materials for human health issues. Adhesives can contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that trigger respiratory irritation, allergies, headaches, and asthma. The foam used for carpet
Flooring October/November 2021
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Eco & Sustainability
Be recognised for your sustainability credentials with GECA
backing may also risk human health by including potentially carcinogenic compounds such as 1,3-butadiene. There are also chemical treatments and dyes to consider.
Demonstrate your leadership in sustainability
GECA specifically addresses target 3.9 across our flooring standards by: • Restricting the use of VOCs; • Limiting heavy metals in final products; • Preventing the use of harmful ingredients such as carcinogens, mutagens or reproductive toxins; • Restricting fragrances and enzymes; and • Ensuring workers and suppliers can expect fair pay, equal opportunity, and a safe working environment.
Increase the procurement channels of your products Responsible resource use is also reflected across GECA's standards. For example, in our Carpets (Cv3.0-2021) standard, manufacturers must provide documentation of water consumption with details on how water use has been minimised.
Comply & be recognised with green building schemes in Australia & globally such as Green Star, WELL, & ISCA Give your business a sustainability advantage Show your products meet world class standards Take advantage of the rapid growth of the green building industry & consumer demand
SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation SDG 6 aims to "ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all". Addressing chemicals of concern in flooring products and adhesives also reduces water pollution, providing better water quality. Target 6.3 states that "by 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimising release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally".
SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth SDG 8 aims to "promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all". In the last few years, GECA has rolled out social criteria in each of our standards that require companies certified under the scheme to prove that they are meeting human and labour rights in their supply chains and within their business. Criteria include equal opportunity, fair pay, lawful conduct, modern slavery reporting, and commitments to international initiatives 44 such as the UN Global Compact.
We actively build recognition & promote your business
Get the recognition your products deserve - contact us today!
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Eco & Sustainability The rise of circular economy thinking is a key catalyst in enabling sustainable economic growth and is prompting manufacturers to embrace innovative ways to design out waste and make products that can play a regenerative role in the environment.
Improper methods of raw material extraction can lead to the removal of crucial native vegetation, erosion and pollution of waterways from site runoff. GECA's standards require evidence that the impacts of operations on the surrounding environment are minimised.
The GECA ecolabel includes requirements that support a circular economy. For example, encouraging recovery, reuse, recycling and responsible disposal of materials and packaging.
By addressing chemicals of concern, GECA's certified products also reduce chemical waste in the environment and contribute to target 12.4, "environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their lifecycle". Target 12.5 relates to "reducing waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse". GECA certified flooring products have effective waste minimisation policies and procedures in place. GECA certified flooring products must be easily separated into recyclable parts, and the manufacturer or retailer should have take-back or recycling schemes in place for their products.
SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production. SDG 12 aims to "ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns". Each of GECA's lifecycle ecolabel standards has criteria relating to SDG 12. Target 12.2 relates to "sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources". GECA's standards require material efficiency data to be collected for each key step in the manufacturing process, allowing optimisation of production. SDG 15 – Life on Land The aim of SDG 15 is to "protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss". Illegal harvesting, genetically modified organisms, and unsustainable management can threaten ecosystem health and local communities. GECA certified products must not contain:
Flooring October/November 2021
44 • Timber and other natural fibres from uncertified sources.
• Illegal harvesting. • Genetically modified organisms. • Environmentally destructive practices. Therefore, it is crucial that pre-consumer recycled, and virgin fibres are sourced from recognised schemes such as Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) or Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC), or that detailed information of the product supply chain, with evidence of geographic origin and supplier, is provided. Will you act on the SDGs? When organisations can communicate their product alignment with the SDGs they support, they can demonstrate contribution to organisational sustainability goals and the broader trajectory toward a sustainable world. At GECA, we know that the SDGs, combined with science-based targets, circular economy thinking, and lifecycle ecolabels, provide us with a formidable blueprint for GOOD. On our website product database, you can discover GECA certified carpet by Shaw Contract Group, RC&D and Modulyss. You can also discover other flooring products by Spectrum Floors, REGUPOL Australia and Forbo Flooring Systems. And our licensee, Alseal, has a certified flooring adhesive. And if your favourite product is not listed, why not ask them to?
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Spotlight On
46
One step ahead with Andersens
T
ransforming an underperforming store into a profitable business in two and a half years is not easy, yet that is exactly what Jared and Cassandra Bourke did. Joining the Andersens family in May 2018, they understood the challenging journey ahead, but they never thought that they would grow and develop so fast; fast enough for the dream of a second store to become a reality in such a short time. Jared and Cassandra said, “To be honest, we always wanted to be part of a strong brand … the biggest standout is the genuine and personal care at Andersens.” On the sunny Gold Coast, their new store at Bundall, is nestled between the iconic suburbs of Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, close to commercial shopping precincts and homemaker centres. “When the opportunity presented at Bundall, it was hard to pass-up,” said Cassandra. “Being only 15 minutes from our existing store, we felt that we could offer the same level of support to both stores, to ensure they both thrive,” Jared added. An added bonus was the proximity of the stores to each other, enabling Cassandra and Jared to divide and conquer, utilizing their already amazing team and their skills in both stores. Already experienced in running an established store, opening a brand new store, offered new but exciting challenges for the Gold Coast husband and wife team. “Andersens delivered amazing support and guidance through such unusual and difficult times,” said Jared.
Flooring October/November 2021
Dean Lightfoot, the National Development Manager, was praised by Cassandra and Jared, “Dean really stepped in and assisted with whatever was required.” Dean was a key player in finding the right location, lease negotiations as well as signage and cabinetry. "Andersens really made a difficult task a whole lot easier.”
we launched the 20 percent off Australian Made campaign. Not only was it great for the brand, but consumers were extremely passionate about this too.”
Andersens were commended by Jared and Cassandra for the continued support during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We had access to almost daily meetings and updates.”
Now multi-unit owners, Jared and Cassandra’s focus is clear; to concentrate on training and developing their teams, ensuring flawless processes, whilst maintaining customer service excellence across both stores.
“Carpet is still a major part of our business and will always be our bread and butter,” the couple discussed, “however, in recent years, there has been an increase in demand for hard flooring, which Andersens predicted, securing competitive pricing and exclusive ranges early on.”
“When competitors were struggling to access stock, there was a good chance that Andersens would have it,” they said.
Andersens is now offering incentives for existing flooring stores to join the group and benefit from the brands 60 years of operational excellence, buying power, marketing and support. To find out more email Dean – dlightfoot@andersens.com.au
Andersens has kept a step ahead with the onset of the pandemic and the restrictions it has posed on other brands. By forward ordering, the procurement of an additional warehouse and alignment with local suppliers, Andersens kept a step ahead of the competition and COVID. “We had one of our most successful sale periods ever, when
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Talking Business
48
Post-COVID opportunities and challenges in the flooring industry FCIA recently conducted a survey to identify the major opportunities and challenges facing the Flooring industry as we emerge into COVID normal. It is important to reflect on the fact that the flooring industry escaped relatively unscathed economically from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic despite multiple lockdowns in Victoria and NSW and interstate border closures. Business Prospects The survey showed more than 80% of respondents anticipated better than average to excellent business prospects in the coming year despite ongoing issues due to the COVID Pandemic. Not one respondent indicated that business prospects were poor or below average. Many FCIA Members reported increased business levels because of residential and commercial opportunities to renovate homes, offices and businesses. The five most critical priorities facing the industry: 1. Attracting more people to the flooring industry 2. Increasing apprenticeship training (both numbers and quality) 3. Recognising and/or upgrading installer skills 4. Promoting best practice and industry standards 5. Improving technical knowledge of installers and salespeople A retail perspective – Annie Van, Nowra Flooring Xtra (NSW) “We have been busier than ever – the lead up to Christmas will be frantic! Biggest issue is lack of labour/qualified installers. Nowra Flooring Xtra has gone through fires, flood
Flooring October/November 2021
and a pandemic in the last 18 months. Being in a region with a lot of holiday homes, business has not suffered from lockdown as we have been able to measure, quote and install provided the premises are vacant. A big positive is that we employ our installers direct and only use contractors when really busy. This means they are not victims of poaching and have greater control in coordination of jobs and supervision of the quality of work.” Annie Van, Nowra Flooring Xtra, NSW A Commercial viewpoint – Aaron Martin, Asset Flooring Group Australia Business prospects are not the problem, Asset has not suffered any major setback as far as orders are concerned (70% increase on last year). However, cash flow has taken a bit of a hit - having paid for inventory up front but being prevented from laying due to lockdowns etc. Will take at least 2 weeks post shutdown to get back to normal – there are also bottlenecks and delays in the supply chain. Our biggest issue is to maintain capacity to meet demand for existing work in progress and ramp up for work with current available labour. Poaching not seen as a major issue (part of the market) as Asset has a core group of long term, loyal installers. There just isn’t enough of them! The future is looking positive provided rapid ramp up enables solid cashflows. No major issues with respect to mandated vaccination” General feedback from respondents: • “Not enough tradesmen, trades assistants or apprentices – we need more professional installers.”
• “We lack qualified trainers to upskill the flooring industry.” • “There is a lack of installers and too many of the existing ones lack qualifications.” • “We are facing a critical skills and labour shortage, very difficult to overcome without opening up Visas and skilled immigration.” • “Too much reliance on subcontractors – direct employment provides reliability, and confidence that you have a core group of capable, loyal installers.” FCIA is acutely aware of these issues – below are our strategic priorities for next 3 years: 1. Addressing chronic skills and labour shortages in the flooring industry through careers promotion, recruitment and training. 2. Continuously improve membership products and services to overcome skills and labour shortages. 3. Promote the needs and aspirations of the Flooring industry to government and key industry stakeholders. 4. Expansion of FCIA Training Academy RTO’s geographical coverage, funding and Fee for service courses to: a. Double apprenticeship intakes b. Encourage new entrants through School based apprenticeships c. Recognise and/or upgrade the skills of existing installers d. Deliver industry specific training programs for retailers, installers, manufacturers and contractors. 5. Establishment of Group Training Services (GTO) to assist in the recruitment and training of new installers.
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Software
50
Improve your business - Master change management part II Article by Chris Ogden In the last issue, I discussed why we find change management difficult and why we should consciously work to improve our change management skills. In short, as business owners, we want to be able to adapt when circumstances change, and even when circumstances aren’t changing, we want to be continually improving our business. And why is change hard? Because our default position is to resist change; we are comfortable with what we know, and change makes us uncomfortable. How do we overcome resistance to change? • Everyone wants to be part of a winning team, so bring the team along when we want to implement change. Explain not just the change but the reason for it. Acknowledge where the change will impact staff and outline the overall benefit and how the business will improve as a result. Thank your team in advance for their support. • Monitor compliance and gently nudge to keep people on track with the change. As you monitor and nudge, make it clear that compliance is not optional. Think about the level of compliance McDonald's requires of its staff. The expectations we have of our staff should be no different.
Everyone wants to be part of a winning team, so bring the team along when we want to implement change. Flooring October/November 2021
• Continue to monitor until the change has been well established. • Invite and welcome constructive feedback. Our staff are our biggest source of ideas to improve our business. We don’t have a monopoly on good ideas, and our staff can help us fine-tune the changes we want to make in our business. Once they understand your desire to improve, they will come forward with their ideas. • Set a time frame for achieving the change; otherwise, the project might drift. • Celebrate success. This will differ from project to project, but as a minimum, acknowledge the contribution your team made to the successful outcome. • Sometimes we get it wrong. If something doesn’t work as expected, or if fine-tuning is required, be the first to acknowledge it. If an initiative fails, don’t let it die a slow death; put it out of its misery, identify why it failed, share the outcome with the team, and then move on.
• Embrace continuous improvement. You will have more success at implementing change the more you do it. • Lead by example. Nothing undermines change as much as seeing the boss ignore the rules.
…make it clear that compliance is not optional. Think about the level of compliance McDonald's requires of its staff. Have we forgotten that we have the right to make changes to our business? It is often surprising the degree to which an employee will exercise a sense of ownership about their job and how they do it, to the point where we are reluctant to interfere. In most cases, this is a good thing, but sometimes it creates an obstacle to change. Often these people will be long-standing and valued employees, and they pose a particular 52 challenge. We don’t want to lose them,
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52 In my role with RFMS, I talk with dozens of flooring retailers each week. As you would expect, some are more successful than others. There is no single reason for business success, but I can confidently state that those retailers that enjoy the most success are invariably good at change management, and they use that skill to improve their business constantly. For some, it comes naturally, but for others of us, we need to work on it.
but we can’t let them be the single obstacle to improving our business. Make these people a key part of the change process. Engage with them early in communicating what you want to achieve and seek their input as valued employees but stop short of giving the impression that they might have any sort of veto power. If you have the
BE ACCURATE.
support of these people in your business, change will be exponentially easier.
It’s worth the effort.
Have we forgotten that we have the right to make changes to our business?
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.
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Safety
54
Breathing silica - Should I be concerned about silica exposure?
R
espirable crystalline silica is a hazard that causes serious health issues for workers. In Australia, there are more than 350 cases associated with silica dust. Annually, around 600,000 Australian workers are at risk of inhaling silica dust at their workplace. Occupational exposure is high for workers in industries including mining and quarry, constructions, agriculture and stonemasonry. Crystalline silica is a natural mineral found in construction materials such as concrete, bricks, tiles, mortar and engineered stone. The amount of crystalline silica in products can vary. Examples includes brick – Up to 30%, tile – 30-45%, granite 20-45%, concrete/ mortar 25-70%, sandstone 70-90% and engineered stone 90%+. Dust-related diseases, such as silicosis, caused by respirable crystalline silica is on the rise. There is no known treatment to stop the progression. Silicosis is permanent and untreatable. There are actions employers can take today to ensure the ongoing protection of their staff whilst exposed to crystalline silica. CleanSpace Technology continues to innovate with new AX filters for chemical markets in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The respirator industry had not seen notable innovation in some 20 years, so when CleanSpace launched their revolutionary powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs), they were seen as a game-changer. Industries such as mining, metal works and stonemasonry, where workers are exposed to harmful contaminants such as coal dust, silica and welding fumes, welcomed an alternative.
Flooring October/November 2021
When looking to protect yourself or your staff from any airborne contaminants, powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs) provids the highest protection, far exceeding disposable masks. CleanSpace respirators offer reliable protection of PAPRs without the cumbersome hoses and belt-mounted battery pack. The biomedical engineers from CleanSpace Technology developed a lightweight and compact design that enables staff to rapidly put on their masks and freely undertake activities like bending, sitting, and getting in and out of vehicles. For the last 12 years, CleanSpace respirators have been protecting thousands of industrial workers from airborne particulates and gases. CleanSpace continues to innovate for large chemical sectors with the release of its AX filter to add to its industrial PAPR range. The AX TM2 P2 filter expands the usability of CleanSpace PAPRs in organic chemical handling within industrial settings – that apply to major global enterprises such as Airbus, Safran, Sanofi and Solvay. The AX TM2 P2 filter is suitable for personal worker protection against organic compounds with a low boiling point (≤ 65°C) (e.g. methyl bromide, methanol, acetone) as well as against airborne particulates (e.g. dust, mists and fumes). The filtration efficiency for particulates is > 99.5% for 0.3µm particles or above. CleanSpace is the only PAPR available for use with an AX TM2 P2 filter. In conjunction with a CleanSpace PAPR, the AX filter applies to workers undertaking specific low boiling point organic chemical handling in many settings, including chemical processing, pharmaceutical production, manufacturing, aerospace, industrial fumigation and energy, and oil and gas.
The AX filter complements CleanSpace Technology’s wide range of particulate filters and combination particulate/gas filters. The company has successfully received approval of the AX filter for Europe (EN12942) and Australia/NZ (AS1715). The importance of internationally recognised certifications and approvals have been highlighted recently following increased reporting of counterfeit and poor-quality filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) and personal protective equipment (PPE). US regulators recently banned one of the world's largest manufacturers of N95 masks due to unsatisfactory quality management systems. "Respiratory protection has never been more important. Employers should be able to purchase reliable equipment and workers can wear their PPE with confidence. CleanSpace PAPRs are fully approved and widely used in industrial sectors for the protection against airborne hazards and are the best practice for high-risk settings.” CleanSpace CEO Dr Alex Birrell said. CleanSpace Technology has designed and developed several respirators for various industries. CleanSpace ULTRA is IP Rated 66, water tolerant, making it perfect for anyone wet-cutting stone or concrete. CleanSpace EX is intrinsically safe, certified for use in potentially explosive environments, and CleanSpace2 is for use where water tolerance or intrinsic safety is not required. CleanSpace Technology supports ongoing learning, product training, fit testing to provide instructions on maintenance and care with attentive customer support.
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Safety
56 Understanding the importance of floor safety
T
o prevent costly mishaps down the track it is important to choose the best floor safety solutions in the early stages of your project.
• Interior vs. exterior applications • Required slip-resistant rating • LRV rating and Luminance Contrast Testing • Full Australian Standards compliance
Often left until the final fit out stages, factoring in floor safety during the early development phases can save you from costly mishaps occurring down the track. Slips, trips and falls result in thousands of preventable injuries every year, ranging in severity from musculoskeletal injuries to fractures and dislocations. Safe Work Australia reported that between 2003 to 2015, slips, trips or falls caused the death of 386 workers and led to 23% of serious claims. Over the same 12-year period, 56% of reported incidents were caused by environmental factors, such as poorly designed or maintained walkways and slippery surfaces following rain or spills. Some of the most common incidents involving pedestrians occur at the following public locations: entrances, walkways, stairways, escalators and ramps. While safety risks can’t be eliminated entirely due to circumstantial factors, preventative control measures can be put in place to minimise occurrences. When choosing your flooring material and design, you should consider: • • • •
Expected users and use conditions Level of traffic to predict standard wear Slip resistance when both wet and dry Changes between floor heights and surface materials • Cleaning requirements to ensure continual maintenance and upkeep
Above: UTS (University of Technology), Sydney Products that keep floors safe Whether it’s refurbishing an existing space or fitting out a brand-new development, prevention of slips, trips and falls starts with good design. Here’s some helpful advice about how to select the most appropriate TGSI’s, Stair Nosings and Commercial Entrance Matting. Determining the right type of tactile indicators Tactile ground indicators are a crucial floor safety requirement, particularly for the visually impaired. Warning tactiles alert to the presence of potential hazards while directional tactiles assist with orientation guidance for a continuous path of travel. Empowering both visually impaired pedestrians and everyday users alike, it is very important to select the right type of tactile indicators for your project. From correct placement to selecting the right size and quality, you should seek the help of an expert to explore the following: • Aesthetic and functional requirements
Flooring October/November 2021
Above: St Leonard’s College, Brighton East, Victoria Choosing the best stair nosings A profiled strip of material, commonly aluminium, stair nosings are fitted to the edge of steps to provide an anti-slip surface. This is a mandatory requirement, according to AS1428.1, and prolongs the wear of both the stair tread and the floor covering used on the stairs. When choosing stair nosings for your project, the help of an expert should guide you with the following considerations: • Design and aesthetics – including bespoke solutions • Predicted level of pedestrian traffic (e.g. low, medium, high) and the type of traffic (e.g. adult, child, visually impaired, etc.) • Application type – For example, surface mounted vs. rebated, and type of installation surface (e.g. concrete, carpet, vinyl, rubber, timber, tile, etc.)
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Safety • Location and environment of the stairwell • Required LRV rating for complete compliance with building standards
57 trapping moisture, debris and other pollutants at the door. This minimises the presence of potential trip hazards as well as maintaining the cleanliness of your premises. While there is a wide variety of matting to choose from, the following considerations will offer the most appropriate solution:
Above: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Queensland Selecting high quality commercial entrance matting One of the first design elements that visitors will see when entering your facilities, commercial entrance mats are essential for
• Estimated level of expected pedestrian traffic • Size and depth of matting required for effective cleaning • Type of matting required – aluminium roll-up matting, modular tiles, carpet style matting, scraper matting • Identifying the most common walking routes within your building • Varying entrance zones – internal, external and other circulation areas • Aesthetic requirements • Desired lifespan
100% Compliance with Australian Safety Standards It is also a good idea to seek the help of an expert to ensure that your project is fully compliant with the Australian Safety Standards. This includes Australian Standards (AS 1428.1:2009 and AS1428.4.1:2009), The National Construction Code/Building Code of Australia and The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). Talk to Classic Architectural Group about your floor safety needs From design to installation and maintenance, Classic Architectural Group is committed to seeing your project the whole way through. Specialising in public access and safety systems, you can lean on their 40+ years of experience to get a step ahead. www.classic-arch.com
AUSTRALIAN OWNED LEADING SUPPLIER AND INSTALLER OF PUBLIC ACCESS SYSTEMS TO THE FLOORING INDUSTRY
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Focus On
58
Focus on David Wicks, Executive Director, Australian FloorStyle
A
ustralian FloorStyle are a cooperative of independent flooring retailers that exist for the benefit of their members and in turn for the benefit of their customers. What sets Australian FloorStyle apart from their competitors is that every store is independent and can source and sell any product, however all members are strongly encouraged to always promote and use their key suppliers products first and foremost. The group is managed by David Wicks, Australian FloorStyle’s Executive Director, supported by the board of directors. Their combined knowledge and understanding of both business and the flooring industry offer massive benefits to Australian FloorStyle members. David joined Australian FloorStyle in February 2020, he has a wealth of experience managing and growing businesses, most recently he was the CEO of Waterlogic Australia, a water filtration company. Prior to that David was MD at PHS in the UK for 12 years. Before that, David spent 3 years as MD of ADEC, a company he founded and prior to that he spent 12 years in safety and security, holding a variety of positions at Chubb.
continues to grow, indeed we have added 7 new members since I joined the business. We offer our members the advantage of great buying capacity and great pricing through relationships with all of Australia’s major flooring suppliers. Members gain access to Australian FloorStyle’s range of bespoke products, manufactured on our behalf. However, members can source product from whoever they please and so, their ability to offer any solution to their customer’s needs, is second to none.” He adds, “Australian FloorStyle members service all types of clients both commercially and domestically in urban and regional areas of the country. Many stores have been serving their locals for generations, our members are well known in their local communities and of course, our sales mostly come through wordof-mouth references; the best reference you can achieve.” David goes on to say that “Australian FloorStyle are different from most other groups in the flooring industry, especially franchise models. Our members still manage
their own business and run it under their company name. They are committed to offering one of the best flooring services in their area and have the added advantage of maintaining their local identity. Australian FloorStyle members attest to uphold the highest level of Integrity, ethics, service and standards. New members pay an extremely small joining fee to become affiliate members. After twelve months, should they have met the co-operatives business criteria, they are invited to become accredited members and shareholders. All members are provided with support and networking opportunities, most importantly, there is always someone to talk to and offer guidance.” David finishes by saying “If you’re a flooring retailer, large or small, and want to regain or maintain your independence, however, be part of a group of likeminded individuals to achieve better pricing, gain access to quality suppliers and have the opportunity of networking with others, please contact us at sales@australianfloorstyle.com.au”
David joined Australian FloorStyle just as the Covid-19 pandemic hit, indeed his first job was to cancel the conference that was scheduled in March 2020. David said, “that the conference will now be held on the 19th and 20th May 2022 and that he is excited to welcome all our members and key suppliers together at the Crown resorts at that time.” David says that “Australian FloorStyle offers members low joining costs and low membership fees and that all profits over operating costs are returned to members.” He continues “as we approach 40 years’ service in the flooring industry, the cooperative
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Would you like to be part of one of Australia’s largest flooring cooperatives? The Australian FloorStyle Cooperative is an established group with 54 members and 67 stores across Australia. 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.
SMALL JOINING FEE LOW MONTHLY MEMBERSHIP FEES RETAIN YOUR INDEPENDENCE & IDENTITY A COOPERATIVE, NOT A FRANCHISE NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES ENHANCED BUYING POWER
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.
ACCESS TO MAJOR SUPPLIERS AQUIRE A BESPOKE RANGE OF PRODUCTS MINIMAL CENTRALISED ADMIN OVERHEADS OWNED EQUALLY BY OUR FULL MEMBERS SUPPORT AND ADVICE QUARTERLY + ANNUAL REBATES PAID TO MEMBERS
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Retailer of the Month
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For the love of the game Story by Philip Ashley Rowen Hastings operates Hastings Floorworld in Nerang, about fifteen minutes’ drive from the heart of the Gold Coast. The business is relatively new, and while as a retailer Rowen is heading towards four very busy years. He has a sixteen-year stake in the Flooring Industry starting at 17 years of age when he was a junior player with the Parramatta Eels Rugby League Team. Our image shows Rowen holding the Under 16’s Grand Final cup for the Parramatta Eels. Back then, fresh out of school, the club set him up with a job cutting and dispatching flooring for a large vinyl supplier in Western Sydney.
The business employs nine people; four in sales including Rowen, Admin and Accounts, a Warehouse Manager and two full-time Installers. Rowen also uses sub-contractors for work they do for major clients in the local area and all around Australia. Of his working relationship he says, “I like to say people work with me, not for me. Everyone is equal and I think that’s why we all get along so well.” Rowen puts a lot of time and effort into the business but tells us he loves the work. He said, “In almost four years there have only been two days I didn’t want to get up to go to work.” Growing up in the Suburb of Mt Druitt in Western Sydney there was as Rowen describes “Plenty of people relying on government assistance to make a living.” Rowen knew that growing up there he had to make changes that would better his life and not get tied up with the wrong crowds. Rowen decided to pack up his bags and move to Western Australia where his employer assisted him getting him a job with a Flooring Company in Rockingham, 40 minutes south or Perth. Rowen went on to work for a couple of flooring retailers, picking up skills along the way.
He continued playing A-Grade Rugby League with the Rockingham Sharks and Fremantle Roosters along with representing Western Australia at representative level, shown here wearing bright orange boots. For a time, he worked in offshore rigging, a job he describes as, “The time of my life.” It was in Western Australia 5 years after moving there Rowen met his wife Monique who was on holiday from the Gold Coast and so, Rowen packed his bags moved to Queensland and got married not long after. Rowen loves what he does and so, decided to return to the industry upon his move to Queensland. He said, “I know it very well, and I’m passionate about what I do.” He worked for a while for other Flooring Contractors before starting out on his own. “It’s not something I thought about all the time,” he says, “But I had a lot of commercial contacts, and people were starting to ask if I had thought about doing it myself.” Life was hectic at the time with a 13-month-old and a newborn baby, but Monique knew how hard Rowen worked and so, after working out a plan, they bought into Floorworld in Tweed Heads.
Hastings Floorworld is located in an area with a lot of home renovation businesses, just off the M1 in Nerang. He says, “We get a lot of genuine buyers here because of the other small home-focused retailers in the area, I call it a homemaker centre for the building industry. At first, we advertised on radio and on social media, but we did a three-month survey and found that people mostly found us on a Google search or drove past us when they were looking for home improvement and renovation products.”
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Tweed Heads was a small store and warehouse, and the business was building fast. At first there was only Monique, Rowen and his brother Peter involved. Their success saw them outgrow the site and so, in September of 2019 they moved to their current site at Nerang, a premises three times the size. Along the way Rowen had a lot of advice and support from Monique’s parents who had own their own successful unrelated business. Rowen said, “We leaned on them a lot. They gave us the mindset of what we needed to succeed.” At the time they had a one-year old child and a newborn and Monique had taken leave from teaching. Rowen jokes, “I tried to stay at work as much as possible as I found work was the easy part of the day. We often had the baby with us in the store when Monique was giving us a hand 3 days a week, it was a good ice breaker for the customers coming in and could see the hard work our family was doing to make the start of our business successful.” Rowen had given up Playing Rugby League by now; there was just too much to do in the store and heading into his late 20’s, the body was not what it used to be for such a physical sport.
Rowen had also established a business relationship with multiple national companies and was traveling interstate as much as two times a month for work with his interstate subcontractors Rowen describes as, “The hardest thing about being a national flooring contractor is having to trust the installers to do the right job when you’re living thousands of kilometres away, but I believe I have some of the best and most trusted in the business working with me.” He recalls they had completed sixteen aged care centre refurbishments around the country, amongst other interstate work for several industry sectors. Rowen and his team at Hastings Floorworld do a mix of Residential and Commercial jobs. Rowen concentrates on the
Commercial side with Jeff. The Residential side of the business are looked after by Joe and Kiyo. They specialise in the Medical, Dental and Aged Care sectors, Schools, Office, and Retail Fitouts. Covid has halted Rowen’s interstate travel, he’s learned to do most of it from home, saving a lot on travel costs. On the flip side, like most other flooring outlets, Residential renovations have been strong. Looking to the future, Rowen is starting to build a Commercial and Residential property portfolio, using his successful flooring outlet to set up some smart investments. He concedes it will take time, but he’s enjoying the moment. Rowen loves the long hours, he loves the people but mostly, he loves the game.
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Advertisers Index Airstep Australia
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Bio Surfaces Classic Architectural Group CleanSpace Technology
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