april/may 2017
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incorporating
FLOORS
april/may 2017 | vol 35 no 02 www.flooringmagazine.com.au
Industry News
Special Features
Regular Reports
FrontCover
13 Young Couple Take On Andersens' First Showroom on Wheels
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20 Airstep Retailer of the Month
01 Choices Flooring
15 Tasmanian Showroom for Floorworld Recently Announced
4 | Flooring April/May 2017
Full Steam Ahead - Newfurn Training Academy Continues to Secure the Future of Young Australians
34 Plastic Welding Tools Opens Branch Office in Brisbane
28 Carpet & Rugs 46 Exhibition Calendar
Do you want to be part of Australia’s Largest Flooring & Blinds Retailer? As an owner-operator in Carpet Court, you’ll be joining an established corporate organisation built on a growing network of dynamic local family businesses. It’s the best of both worlds! You’ll have the freedom of running your own business, backed by the security of knowing you’re a vital part of one of Australia’s most successful retailers. We are looking to expand our family into these areas around Australia: Victoria - Eltham South Australia - East Adelaide Western Australia - Kalgoorlie and Geraldton Please contact Brett Talbot Ph: 0499 800 702 Brett.Talbot@carpetcourt.com.au
New South Wales - Murwillumbah Queensland - Northlakes, Fortitude Valley, Caloundra, Atherton, Dalby, Gladstone, Mackay and Maryborough/Hervey Bay Northern Territory - Alice Springs Please contact Greg Zeegers Ph: 0488 079 326 Greg.Zeegers@carpetcourt.com.au
Get in touch with us today.
www.carpetcourt.com.au
Upfront
Hi everyone, and welcome to the latest issue of Flooring magazine. We’re bringing you another bumper issue with an interesting spread on the Newfurn Training Academy looking after our youngsters of the future with a detailed article and some great photographs to accompany the piece.
MEET THE TEAM
We also have a great feature on an Aussie and New Zealand-based company, Plastic Welding Tools Pty Ltd, and their role in the vinyl flooring industry to name just a tiny aspect of the company’s huge role in the market place. We take a look at this company’s success story. Speaking of success stories, our Airstep ‘Retailer of the Month’ looks at one in Geelong, and what a success that business has proven to be. Take a look inside to find out more.
Vicky Cammiade Publisher
There’s our usual glamorous look at carpets and rugs this issue and a comprehensive look at software and the flooring industry, too. Also, don’t miss reading-up on local News items, Overseas News as well as what’s hot in our Product Update section. I’d also like to take this opportunity to let our readers know that beginning soon, we are also writing, compiling and distributing our first in a series of E-Newsletters for Flooring magazine – just so you can keep up with what’s happening in between issues of the magazine! We admit that it is going to be a busy year and just to top it all off, Elite Publishing will also be releasing the launch issue this year of Finishes & Surfaces magazine which is going to be our annual review - in a stylish and sophisticated presentation - showcasing new products, the Colourways, leading edge innovations and inspiring projects that will influence and highlight the defining trends of 2017 and beyond….
Ronnie Gramazio Editor
There’s a lot to look forward to, but in the meantime please enjoy this issue of
Flooring magazine. There really is something for everyone.
Ashley Cooper National Sales Manager
Ronnie Gramazio Editor
Got Something to Say? We welcome your feedback and would love to hear your thoughts on Flooring Magazine or on the flooring industry in general.
Send your comments to ronnie.gramazio@elitepublishing.com.au
www.flooringmagazine.com.au 6 | Flooring April/May 2017
Philip Ashley Technology Editor
TILE TODA TODAY DAY DA AY F U L LY E N D O R S E D B Y T H E A U S T R A L I A N T I L E C O U N C I L
Tile Today magazine is designed to promote new products and technologies to virtually every tile outlet, tile fixer and specifier in Australia.
CIRCULATED AUSTRALIA WIDE TO: • Tile importers and retailers • Leading architects, designers and builders • Tile fixers • Pool builders, landscapers and renovators
Proudly supported and endorsed by:
Leading the Industry
Published by
www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au www.infotile.com/publications www.elitepublishing.com.au
FocusOn
Newfurn Training Academy Continues to Secure the Future of Young Australians The Newfurn Training Academy has fast become the industry leader in the provision of specialist accredited and non-accredited training for the floor covering industry, offering a leading Apprenticeship Program for new Flooring Installers, Trade Card accreditation for experienced Flooring Installers and Master Class professional development opportunities for Flooring Installers, Workplace Trainers, Sales Consultants and Store Owners.
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Following the success of the inaugural Residential Workshop (held in March 2016), the second round of Residential Workshops (late March and early April 2017) were split over two weeks for two different groups of apprentices. Over the two weeks, 70 apprentices started or continued their two-year training program that comprehensively covers the full trade apprenticeship (MSF30813 Certificate III in Flooring Technology).
As the Newfurn Training Academy continues to roll through the training of apprentices, it has already slowly started to transition the program into the newly formed Floor Covering Institute of Australia (FCIA). By late 2017, all training of apprentices and the upskilling of Floor Installers (for member and non-member based groups) will be handled by the FCIA. The FCIA retail members not only includes Newfurn (Choices Flooring and Style Flooring and Interiors)
“There is a critical shortage of Flooring Installers in Australia, as listed on the National Skills Needs List and something needed to be done.’’
but also includes Carpet Court, Andersons, Flooring Xtra and Floorworld. “The Residential Workshops have been an overwhelming success. We have seen an increased number of enquiries however there is still a massive skills shortage within the retail flooring industry as a whole,” said Andrew Lewis – CEO, Newfurn. James Hayward – CEO, Carpet Court who visited the apprentices throughout their practical learning session couldn’t agree more, “There is a critical shortage of Flooring Installers in Australia, as listed on the National Skills Needs List and something needed to be done.’’ Newly appointed FCIA CEO Garry Thomas wants to continue on the momentum started by Newfurn and stated that the FCIA and its members aim to enrol over 500 flooring apprentices in the Certificate III in Flooring Technology in the next two years based off the great foundation started at Newfurn.
During the training program apprentices received extensive hands on instruction and experience in the practical skills required to undertake the wide range of tasks required to become professional Flooring Installers. Much of this guidance was delivered by industry specialists and manufacturers working in conjunction with the Newfurn Training Academy. The apprentices were coached and mentored throughout the project in subfloor preparation and flooring installation by a number of leading Technical Specialists from Airstep Australia, Ardex Australia, Armstrong Flooring, Karndean Australia, MJS Floorcoverings, Signature Floorcoverings and Regupol Australia. Andrew Lewis also added “It is the support of our manufacturing alliance partners that have made this such a success, we can’t thank them enough. It is the first time a majority of our industry, retailers and
“It is the support of our manufacturing alliance partners that have made this such a success, we can’t thank them enough. ’’
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manufacturers alike, have come together to work as one unified group to address this critical issue.’’ Throughout the Residential Workshop, apprentices took part in two days of classroom training at Aitken Hill Conference Centre in Yuroke (VIC) which provided them with the knowledge to undertake the range of skillsets needed to become a professional Flooring Installer. With support from the Hume City Council, this was followed by three days of extensive hands on practical learning at the Progress Community Hall in Coolaroo (VIC). A fundamental aspect of the Residential Workshop is having the apprentices learn whilst providing support to the local community. As a result, the apprentices put their training into practice by replacing the old sheet vinyl, concrete and tiles at the Progress Community Hall with practical and hard wearing flooring solutions such as broadloom patterned carpet, safety vinyl, vinyl planks and
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rubber tiles at no cost to the hall. “It is important that we all contribute to the success of our apprentices by building a strong Learning Community to support their development and growth. The apprentices we train today are the professional Flooring Technicians of tomorrow!” stated Andrew Lewis.
“The apprentices we train today are the professional Flooring Technicians of tomorrow!’’ At the conclusion of the two-year training program each apprentice will continue to be mentored by their employer and workplace supervisor. This will be supported by Digido, a revolutionary online learning application that will enable each apprentice to access their learning resources and submit assignments and evidence of competence via mobile technology.
I N T RO DUCI NG THE
Welcome back Dan, here is a snapshot of how your training with Digido is progressing so far!
A learning revolution Digido is an exciting and revolutionary new mobile phone app designed to assist Apprentice Flooring Installers easily access their learning material in order to achieve their Certificate III in Flooring Technology in a more convenient way.
Digido has been created for students, trainers, employers and assessors to participate in a supportive online learning community that can be accessed via desktop, laptop, tablet or smart phones (iPhone & Android). The new Digido mobile phone app was launched by the Newfurn Training Academy nationally during two, one-week Residential Workshops held at the Aitken Hill Conference Centre in Melbourne during March and April 2017. The system is an easy to access educational tool that allows:
Unique personalised experience
• Students at all levels to access, study and submit assessments as part of their customised training plan • Trainers can easily manage students who are assigned to them and keep track of their progression, results and upcoming assessments • Employers can use the portal to track student’s progression, results and keep up-to-date with trainer’s feedback. • Registered Training Organisations (RTO’s) can monitor the progression of all the students In the future, the Digido learning platform will be able to accommodate a variety of online short courses providing much needed professional development for a range of personnel throughout the Flooring Industry.
newfurn.com.au
Learn your own way Text, audio and video content
Use your phone to provide evidence based learning assignments
*Currently available to registered users on the Apple App Store and Google Play
News
A Single Voice for the Industry Floor Covering Institute of Australia Launched An exciting new era in the Australian Flooring Industry has arrived. The FCIA was officially launched at three highly successful industry briefings in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane early this month. The FCIA is an all-inclusive national association dedicated to growth and sustainability across all sectors of the Australian Flooring Industry. At the briefings, flooring manufacturers and suppliers, commercial contractors, retailers and industry stakeholders met the inaugural members and were presented with the FCIA’s strategies for skills development, quality assurance, advocacy, innovation and technical excellence across all streams of the Industry. Feedback from the seminars was extremely positive: “Being relatively new to floor covering and having worked in industries where a national voice is mandatory for long term viability, I am impressed that a national organisation has been established to address the issues that have been confronting the Australian Flooring Industry for over a decade. Cavalier Bremworth is pleased to be a part of a collaborative, action
12 | Flooring April/May 2017
based organisation committed to the sustainability of all industry sectors” Michael Richardson, Cavalier Bremworth, 4/4/17 “Congratulations on this morning’s presentation on the FCIA and I trust more companies will come on board following the breakfast. I’d again like to reiterate Polyflor’s support of this initiative and offer our assistance in any way that may be beneficial. After seeing Andrew, Brian, Scott, and James up there this morning it is essential that the entire industry takes responsibility for the future of the flooring industry. As such I’d like to offer my time for any future roles that you foresee moving forward.” Scott Foster, Managing Director, Polyflor, 3/3/17 “It was great to attend the recent FCIA information breakfast. What impressed me the most was the passion and cohesion amongst the current members – realising that while fierce competitors in the marketplace, there was a path to work together to address long standing issues in the industry that affected us all. As a manufacturer, the main initial focus for me will be on how we could knowledge transfer the frameworks for training carpet layers to tufting mechanics and operators.”
Ray Purcell, Managing Director, Tuftmaster Carpets, 3/4/17 “It was a pleasure to meet the CEO and the founding members of the FCIA at the recent industry briefing in Sydney. It was heartening to hear the practical strategies already in train to enhance the industry as a whole. I look forward to working with you and the FCIA Board.” Chris Barker, General Manager and Director, Forbo Floorcoverings
Within three weeks of the industry briefings, representatives from all of three sectors have joined the FCIA as foundation Members. The FCIA has hit the ground running with the formation of the National Training Academy (NTA). The FCIA participated in a recent residential program run by the Newfurn Training Academy and with the imminent appointment of an NTA National Training Co-ordinator, we are on track to roll out a national FCIA apprenticeship program for Flooring Installers in May 2017 in collaboration with two high quality Training Providers.” The FCIA and its Members aim to enrol over 500 flooring apprentices in the Certificate
III in flooring technology in the next two years. Skills development does not stop at Flooring Installers the NTA can offer both full qualifications and short courses in Leadership and Management, Customer Service, Warehousing and Logistics, and Competitive Manufacturing. Industry advisory panels, focusing on quality assurance and best practice as well as technical innovation and emerging skills, are being established across the three major flooring sectors. The FCIA is hosting the inaugural Resilient Panel Technical Group on the 11th April 2017. Charters for the establishment and operation of National Special Interest Groups such as Commercial Contractors are currently under negotiation with key stakeholders. The FCIA is committed to working with State and federal governments, national and international Flooring organisations, and all industry sectors to facilitate a bright and sustainable future across the entire supply chain. For further information contact Garry Thomas, CEO FCIA, on info@fcia.org.au or phone 0420 921 396.
News
Fresh Faces at Kenbrock
Brian Cooper the CEO of Andersens and Glen Shephard the owner and franchisee of the new ‘showroom on wheels’.
Young Couple Take on Andersens’ First Showroom on Wheels
Having established his career in the Flooring industry with 18 years at Polyflor, Scott Bradley has now joined Kenbrock's QLD sales team as Territory Manager for the regions of southern suburban Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Darling Downs region & central Queensland. His main sales focus to date has been on commercial sheet vinyl, vinyl plank ranges & floor preparation products and comes to Kenbrock with a wealth of experience to further support Kenbrock's growth in domestic sales but in particular, to help expand and strengthen the commercial side of the business. Furthermore, Kenbrock's QLD office has made a young addition to their customer service team. Alyshia Robertson is particularly computer savvy and will bring a fresh approach to the team with her administrative and organisational talent.
Alyshia Robertson
Recently, Andersens’ first mobile franchise was launched. This was also the first Andersens franchise to enter the Newcastle market. Andersens have started a mobile flooring showroom, and Newcastle is one of the first locations to adopt this upand-coming trend. Andersens have welcomed young couple Glen and Kristy Shephard in the family as they take on this new mobile venture. The company kicked off the arrival of the mobile store by offering the first 100 customers 20% off their choice of floor or floor coverings recently. Glen already has a background in flooring, after completing his apprenticeship and then starting his own installation
business. However, this isn’t his first association with Andersens. Glen first began working for Andersens in 2007 and now with over 10 years’ experience with the company, Glen has become very knowledgeable and a trustworthy candidate to take on the franchise. That, combined with Kristy’s wealth of knowledge in customer service and planning, will no doubt give customers a great first experience with the ‘showroom on wheels’. The young couple said: “We chose to purchase a franchise from Andersens because of our trusted business relationship that has been built over a 10-year period and a strong belief in the Andersens values.”
“We also believe the mobile flooring concept ‘your new floor direct to your door’ gives Andersens a distinct advantage over their competitors. As consumers’ time is rapidly decreasing, the ability to be mobile and flexible with hours of operation is a true point of difference to the industry business.” They have expanded their range by adding timber, timber laminates, bamboo, ceramic tiles and window furnishings. The showroom on wheels’ unique service allows customers to see how their new floor will look against the context of their own home, allowing them to make the most informed decision possible. Flooring April/May 2017 | 13
News
Flooring Choices for Real Living with Shelley Craft With today’s endless choice of flooring options, you could have a different finish in every room of the house. But what works best where? Shelley Craft talks through the options within her recently launched Real Living range for Carpet Court and gives her recommendations on what flooring type lends itself to each area of the home. Bedroom: Because bedrooms tend to endure lower levels of foot traffic than other areas of the home, it’s an opportunity to enjoy the luxury of a plush carpet pile without having to be too concerned about it becoming downtrodden over time. The six collections within my Real Living range – Adeline, Glenwillow, Helms Hill, Pure Magic, Trevena and Vida – span the neutrals palette, which is still so on trend for bedrooms where achieving a sense of serenity is of the utmost importance. From stony greys to muted quartz, these are hues that create warmth and complement statement features like accent walls and layers of patterned linens.
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Bathroom: Laying vinyl in your bathroom is simple, affordable and, above all, practical. What was once considered the poor man’s flooring choice, the perception of vinyl has done something of a 180 in recent times, with the appetite for luxury varieties now gathering pace among designers and DIYers alike. Vinyl’s appeal lies in its versatility – almost any look can be replicated (for a fraction of the price, I might add) and the outcome is one which lends itself perfectly to bathroom environments. Where timber flooring can end up warping as a result of coming into contact with the moisture inevitably generated by bathroom activities, vinyl offers the same look, with none of the risk. The light grey of Siberian Oak and the rich mahogany of Storm Oak within the Real Living vinyl range look stunning when used in conjunction with crisp white suites and chrome tapware.
Kitchen: As the focal point of the family home, kitchen design is a constant balancing act of both style and functionality. It’s an easy place to let your imagination (and budget) run wild, as you consider the full spectrum of looks across cabinetry, benchtops and hi-tech gadgets. Installing laminate in kitchen spaces is an ideal way to achieve a designer look, without the designer price tag, allowing you to allocate more budget elsewhere. Receiving the highest class rating for wear, fade and stain resistance, the Urban Trends collection within the Real Living laminate range completely fulfils the need for ultra-hardwearing flooring that kitchens demand. Laminate flooring is also one of the simplest ways to make over your kitchen, clicking together for easy assembly. So if you’re looking for a quick spruce, rather than committing to a full
room renovation, laminate is the way to go. Living and Dining: Where budget allows, I’d recommend investing in timber flooring across living and dining areas for a look that promises longevity. It’s durable, classically cool and, where some flooring fads come and go, timber never fails to impress in the style stakes. Natural tones, like those within the Real Living Oak Avenue collection offer a great base to work with, and if you have an open plan living and dining room introducing a rug into one of the two seating areas can help to define space and add interest to neutral flooring. Timber’s high quality is compounded by its low maintenance. It can be swept or wiped clean, meaning accidental spillages don’t cause any long-term damage; just be sure to use products specifically designed for wood-care so you don’t strip out any of the colour or finish.
Tasmanian Showrooms for Floorworld Recently Announced Devonport Floorworld has moved to a new purposely built showroom. The investment allows for a larger display of flooring and shows the commitment to provide a professional service to customers along the northwest coast of Tasmania for many years to come. Owner, Richard Beaumont has 27 years in the industry and bought the business in 1998 before joining the Floorworld group in 1999. In 2003 Richard started Burnie Floorworld. Both stores specialise in commercial and domestic work. The business has grown with the changing times and now has ventured into window furnishings and other unique flooring options.
The Floorworld group has been a huge part of their success with their preferred supplier programs and the ability to help other stores grow in a group and individual basis. Visit the new showroom in Devonport. In March Floorworld officially launched their brand new store in Launceston, Tasmania. Being the fifth store in Tasmania, Floorworld plans to open another 7 stores in Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales. Owner Daniel Manshanden and his team (Adrian and Warren) have over 100years experience between them in the floor covering industry, specialising in selling and installing an extensive range of floor coverings in carpet
and vinyl (domestic and commercial) timber, laminate and blinds. Floorworld’s strong preferred base which includes products from Australia’s biggest brands in floor coverings provides a strong, consistent core range of products that suits all needs in both the residential and commercial markets. Daniel has introduced Floorworld’s unique shop fitout which provides customers in Tasmania's north east with a relaxed shopping experience when browsing or selecting their new floor coverings. Advice. Price. Range. It all comes together at Launceston Floorworld. Visit the showroom in Kings Meadows. Flooring April/May 2017 | 15
OverseasNews
Heimtextil Prepares for 2018 Combined design expertise comes to Frankfurt: seven international trend agencies met on 7 and 8 March for the Heimtextil Trendtable meeting at Messe Frankfurt's exhibition grounds. They collated results from market research with the latest global design developments. These statements form the basis for the Heimtextil Trendbook which is presented by the trade fair organisers in late summer. With this annual meeting of design experts, Heimtextil has officially started its preparations for the upcoming trade fair in January 2018. Trend researchers from Denmark, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Japan, the Netherlands and the USA discussed current trends in interior design, architecture, fashion and art during the two-day workshop. 'Given that participants come from different continents, the Trendtable team at Heimtextil is able to draw from a comprehensive pool of inspiration and gain exciting perspectives on the interior design of tomorrow', reports Olaf Schmidt, Vice-President Textiles & Textile Technologies at Messe Frankfurt. Ten months before the next Heimtextil, the designers have made it their aim to analyse developments in materials and textures, colours and patterns from all four corners of the world and determine the stylistic design themes. At the end of the process, a mutual, globally applicable trend prognosis for the coming 18 months will be agreed upon and presented in the Heimtextil Trendbook and also the "Theme Park" during Heimtextil itself.
FranklinTill directs
For Heimtextil 2018, the British design studio FranklinTill will take on the leading role
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in implementing the book and the “Theme Park”. With its headquarters in London, the studio comprises trend researchers, designers and stylists as well as a broadranging international network of creatives and visionaries with whom the trend experts and agency founders Kate Franklin and Caroline Till collaborate. Trend researcher Titia Dane will also work on Heimtextil trends in addition to the two agency founders.
New influences from Scandinavia
With the trend studio SPOTT Trends & Business from the Danish city of Herning, Heimtextil Trendtable has acquired new design impetus from Scandinavia. Anja Bisgaard Gaede, founder of SPOTT, creates trend and colour predictions together with her team and gives customers an insight into the consumer behaviour of the future. In addition to her work as a consultant, she is also a book author and gives presentations. This means that a team from Denmark will be involved in the development of Heimtextil trends for the first time.
Preview: trend presentation in September The results of the Trendtable and Heimtextil Trendbook 2018/19 will be presented
to the public in advance of the trade fair as part of the “Theme Park” Preview in Frankfurt am Main in September. Exhibitors at Heimtextil will be sent the Trendbook in advance to assist in their product design and collections.
The following design studios will be working on Heimtextil trends 2018/19:
The design studio FranklinTill (United Kingdom) will be taking on the main responsibility for the development of the Heimtextil Trends 2018/19. With its headquarters in London, the studio comprises trend researchers, designers and stylists as well as a broadranging, international network of creatives and visionaries. As the oldest trend agency in the world, Carlin International (France) is one of the top five trend research agencies. Carlin offers services in the fields of style marketing, brand development and consultancy, the tracking of trends, industry-related trend books and the individual development of colour and trend worlds with customers in workshops Dan and Gen Namura from Dan Project (Japan) are young designers from Tokyo whose artistic heritage can be traced back to the famous
yuzen craft of the dyeing and weaving of kimono materials in Kyoto Felix Diener, textile designer and engineer (Germany) founded his own design studio in 2008. He designs carpets, curtains and living accessories. His creative work forms an interface between art and technology and is characterised in particular by the use of colours, materials and textures. SPOTT Trends & Business (Denmark) advises Scandinavian lifestyle brands with issues relating to consumer insights, trend and colour forecasts. SPOTT aims at the individual development of brands and combines trend research with neuroscience and commercial expertise. Anne Marie Commandeur from the Stijlinstituut Amsterdam (Netherlands) manages a team of designers who focus on textile innovations, predictions, colour trends and strategic design concepts. WGSN (U.S.A.) is one of the leading international trend studios for colours and design. Via a global network of design consultants and colour specialists, the company creates trend statements, quantifiable forecasts, outlooks and product data as well as reliable colour trends.
E-News
Managing director Peter H. Meyer (centre) was invited to open the Woodex 2017 in Tehran, together with the General Director of the Iranian Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade, Mr. Amir Hossein Shiravi (centre left). – Photo: EPLF
Big Potential in Iran Market Fifty million square metres per year as medium-term sales potential for laminate and multilayer flooring is estimated by the association management of the EPLF and MMFA in Iran. Since the sanctions have been lifted, the two flooring associations are strongly committed to support and promote market access for their ordinary and extraordinary members. On the occasion of talks with Iranian
government bodies and related associations in February, managing director Peter H. Meyer was spontaneously invited to open the Woodex 2017 (International Exhibition of Accessories & Furniture Machinery, Equipment & Related Industries) in Tehran together with the General Director of the Iranian Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade, Mr. Amir Hossein Shiravi.
Major Enhancements Announced for Domotex 2018 The producers of DOMOTEX have announced a series of major enhancements for 2018, including changes to the physical layout of the exhibition, a new lead theme of “UNIQUE YOUNIVERSE”, an even stronger focus on trends and inspiration and an abundance of new offerings – all contributing to making DOMOTEX 2018 (12–15 January) even more captivating for exhibitors and visitors. These innovations and enhancements to the world’s leading trade fair for carpets and floor coverings are eliciting an enthusiastic industry response: “We are receiving highly positive feedback about the changes at DOMOTEX. Many exhibitors
now see the new site and hall layout – but also the novel, attractive participation formats – as an opportunity to redefine their position at DOMOTEX and profit from this,” reports Susanne Klaproth, DOMOTEX Project Manager. She adds: “Even at this early stage, numerous companies have already registered for DOMOTEX 2018, allowing us to consider them in our new hall layouts from the very start. More than two thirds of the available display space has already been claimed. For this reason, we are recommending that companies decide as quickly as possible on their appearance at the upcoming DOMOTEX.”
The latest flooring industry news on the go Look forward to reading your favourite magazine more often with the launch of the Flooring E-Newsletter, which can now be sent to you electronically in between issues of Flooring magazine. It will be filled with news and articles about the Flooring industry from Australia and abroad and it will certainly keep your finger on the pulse all year round. Whether you want to keep abreast of local and overseas industry flooring news or want to know what’s happening with the latest products, carpets and rugs, vinyl or floating floors; relevant stories to keep you inspired from one month to the next. You can catch-up on all your favourite flooring stories and perhaps see the E-Newsletter as a companion to the magazine. It is a great resource, useful tool and most of all, a great read. When reading the E-Newsletter, you can simply take a look at all the articles at a glance and then you can click on the ‘Read More’ link to continue reading. It is fast, easy, informative and direct to your Inbox! You can now enjoy Australia’s favourite flooring magazine whenever you want at your fingertips…..
Event
FAV Annual Gala Awards Dinner to be Held in August Due to the success of the 2016 event, the Flooring Association of Victoria Gala Awards Dinner will be held on Saturday August 5, 2017. The event will be held at The Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne. The dress code is black tie and a formal invitation will be sent with further details once you register for the event. Additionally, a guest list, table numbers, names and dietary requirements will be needed. AS the 2016 event was such a success and due to popular demand, this year’s Awards night will be held at a new venue – The Plaza Ballroom at 191 Collins Street, Melbourne. Food will be provided and cooked by Executive Chef David Ricardo (Pearl and Chin Chin), premium selection of beer and wine, a cash spirit bar and soft drinks will also be available. 18 | Flooring April/May 2017
The entertainment will once again be the popular Wild Things with a brand-new MC, funny man Dave Hughes! Dave Hughes from the popular Nova FM radio show: Hughesy and Kate and a star on The Footy Show.
“ Australia’s favourite homegrown stand-up Comic….” The Herald Sun.
Pictured left and opposite: Images from last year’s FAV Annual Gala Awards Dinner.
You can register your interest in attending and nominating for an award by contacting VAV. Demand for tables and tickets are extremely high with Sponsor commitments and pre-registration exceeding last year’s ticketing sales. Hence, the reason for this larger venue. The ticket price will continue to be subsidised by FAV for its members and are pleased to announce that ticket prices will remain at the same level as last year. A table of 10 is $1,200. Individual tickets can be purchased at $120 per person. It is advisable to register a table soon to avoid disappointment. Members and suppliers are now invited to nominate projects that are considered worthy of being the most outstanding in the following categories – installed between January 1st, 2016 and March 3rd, 2017: • Education • Health Care • Residential (Apartments and Homes) Retail Office Fit-Out Hospitality The following criteria will be taken into consideration: • Degree of Difficulty • Visual Impact • Design • Products Specified. You are required to send photos and a description of the project to: favawards@gmail.com Applications close May 30th, 2017.
The Flooring Association Of Victoria 2017 ANNUAL GALA AWARDS DINNER
Saturday, August 5, 2017 The Plaza Ballroom, 191 Collins St. Melbourne Dress code: Black Tie
The dinner event was such a success last year, and due to popular demand, we are staging the Awards night again and are excited with a new venue, The Plaza Ballroom at 191 Collins St Melbourne. The Plaza will provide fine food by Executive Chef, David Ricardo (Pearl and Chin Chin), premium selection of beer and wine, a cash spirit bar and soft drinks. The entertainment will again be the popular Wild Things and a new MC, funny man Dave Hughes from the popular Nova FM radio show Hughesy and Kate and The Footy Show.
Registration:
You can register your interest in attending and also nominating for an award by sending an email to favawards@gmail.com. A formal invitation will be sent with further details after you register for the event. Once the invitation is sent we will then need a guest list, table numbers, names and dietary requirements. Demand for tables and tickets are extremely high with sponsor commitments and preregistration exceeding last year’s ticketing sales. For this reason we had to opt for the larger venue. The ticket price will continue to be subsidised by FAV for members and we are pleased to announce that we were able to maintain pricing at the same rate as last year. Table of 10 is $1,200.00. Individual tickets can be purchased at $120.00 per ticket. It is advisable to register your table within the next 30 days so tickets can be allocated and disappointment can be avoided.
FAV Floorcoverings Awards Nominations 2017:
You are invited to nominate projects that were installed between 1/1/2016 & 31/3/2017 and you think are worthy of being the most outstanding in the following categories: Education / Health Care / Residential (Apartments and Homes) / Retail / Office Fit Out / Hospitality Note that the following criteria will be taken into consideration: Degree of difficulty / Visual Impact / Design / Products specified Please send photos and a description of the project to: favawards@gmail.com Applications close 30th May 2017.
Flooring April/May 2017 | 19
Retailer of the month The team at Fletchers Choices Flooring
Making the Right Choices Fletchers Choices Flooring, Geelong
Lincoln Smith
20 | Flooring April/May 2017
F
letchers Choices Flooring in Geelong is a secondgeneration family business. Like father, like son, Lincoln Smith is looking long-term into the future, building a business that not only meets the needs of the local community, but adapts to the steady growth of the region. Fletchers Choices Flooring was previously owned by Lincoln’s father Graham who owned the business for almost thirty years. Graham was one of the original members of Carpet Choice and built up a loyal and supportive customer base. Graham and Lincoln got together only a few years ago and already the flooring outlet is gaining more momentum as Lincoln puts in place changes that will see Fletchers build on their long history of quality and service. Lincoln finished school and did a semester in business management at a local university. Finding the course did not offer the expertise he needed in the flooring business; he switched to get practical experience and completed an apprenticeship in carpet laying while working at Fletchers. He would learn to manage the business on the job as he took on more responsibilities. He bought the business from Graham at the start of 2016
and has already left his mark; it wouldn’t be two weeks without him changing something either to focus his customer’s attention, or to make a change in the day to day management of their many projects. While Fletchers has a number of people who work very hard to grow the business, several key people bring a wealth of experience. Peter Ford is Fletcher’s commercial manager with 27 years’ experience and has been the biggest factor in growing Fletchers business; such is the commercial growth in the city of Geelong. Recent projects include the St. John of God hospital; the Bupa aged care facility, one of the biggest jobs Fletchers have undertaken; the Epworth Geelong and just about all the floor coverings at Deakin University. Debbie Webb and Daniel Vrbovski have over thirty years’ experience between them and front Fletcher’s domestic sales team. Graham still works at the store along with six other professional flooring specialists and three apprentices who Lincoln says “represent our future.” It’s a close-knit team, partly due to Lincoln’s passion for excellence and his business philosophy; that of looking at
“the back end” or the longterm view. On Lincoln’s office wall is the saying “If you had to accomplish a ten-year goal in six months, how would you do it?” Vision is nothing without action and Lincoln wields technology like a two-edged sword to slice through the paperbased procedures of managing their carpet projects. He’s introduced apps such as Trello and Basecamp to streamline their project management. Everyone can see all of the current work being done; decisions can be made swiftly; communication is simplified and as Lincoln jokes “I could probably run the business from the other side of the World.” He doesn’t of course, but he could and if he’s away overseas or someone is ill, the technology makes the store practically run itself; it’s brilliant. Geelong has been hit with some significant closures over the last few years, most notably those of Ford and Alcoa. Despite this, there has been a steady increase in the number of commercial
opportunities. In addition, new housing estates have sprung up in areas such as Drysdale; Barwon Heads; Torquay and Lara that they would not have thought possible ten years ago. Geelong is thriving and its proximity to Melbourne makes the region an ideal place for a sea-change. Because of the infrastructure, many people live near the ocean beaches but still commute to work in Melbourne, the best of both Worlds. Lincoln’s focus is on making the store run as remotely as possible. He turns paperwork into digital formats for greater flexibility and access to all the right data and information via the internet. He says “Complacency is a poison,” one of the many sayings he believes in and practices every day. Over his office door it says “The obstacle is the way” from a book by Ryan Holiday about turning trials into triumphs. He says “We continue to innovate but we reflect back on decisions and look at how effective they will be in ten years’ time.
Lincoln walks through the door at 5-30 every morning except Wednesday when he sleeps in to seven. He maintains a small gym above the store to keep in shape; works twelve hours a day but leaves around five every night for quality home time with his partner and their dog. He names his “hobbies” as Fletchers; walks by the river, playing social basketball and travel to places such as Moscow; the Berghof near Berchtesgaden and Petra in Jordan to name only a few of his unusual travel destinations. For Lincoln and his crew, it’s all about “Removing limitations we put on ourselves,” he says. “We support each other and our young trainees; we plan long-term; we react to our customer’s needs; we change for efficiency and we explore technology not only for ourselves but for our customers.” Wayne Dyer said “Our lives are the sum total of the choices we have made.” At Fletchers; Lincoln and his team make choices for the future, a Choices store making the right choices.
Lincoln during his travels in Rome, Petra (below) and Moscow (bottom)
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Software
Make More Sales By Managing your Business Data By Chris Ogden, Managing Director, RFMS Australia When we think about the assets in our business, those that come to mind are those we can touch and see and put a value on. Those that might spring to mind are the stock in our warehouse, the money showing on our bank statement, the money owed to us on our AR report, and motor vehicles and other sundry assets that we need to run a flooring business. These are certainly where much of the equity in our business is to be found. Quite rightly, we care for and value the assets in our business; without them, our business would be at least temporarily compromised, and possibly put at risk. There is another group of assets that perhaps don’t come so quickly to mind. They are assets nonetheless, even though we will not see them on our balance sheet. I am thinking of our staff, our installers, our reputation, our leads, and our business data.
…we maintain our vehicles, we keep our cheque book locked away, we make sure that our stock is kept in good condition, … yet sample dockets, plans, unconverted quotes, they languish on the desks of our salespeople.
22 | Flooring April/May 2017
Clearly without good staff, and good reliable installers, owning and operating a flooring business would be a challenge. Similarly, if our reputation in the community was somehow damaged, our business might be compromised. In this last respect, we only need to think about those tradespeople caught on video by television programmes, rifling through customer’s drawers, for a chill to go down our spine.
Even if you have been in business for only a short time, you are sitting on a large and growing mine of information.
Most of us appreciate the value of our employees, our installers and reputation; how they affect the viability and value of our business. Maybe we don’t think so much of our leads and business data as assets. Leads don’t have a book value for accounting purposes but imagine for a moment that I came into your business, and overnight removed every lead, every unconverted quote, all records of samples taken, and every plan from the desks of your salespeople. This morning they had to start from scratch. What have I just done to your
sales for the coming 2-3 months? Leads have real value, and they need to be cared for. As business owners, we maintain our vehicles, we keep our cheque book locked away, we make sure that our stock handled correctly, and we vigorously chase money owed to us; yet sample dockets, plans, unconverted quotes, they often languish on the desks of our salespeople. Many owners have, to some extent, abdicated ownership of these valuable assets, to employees who might not treat these business assets with the care and attention that they need. A lead or an unconverted quote is part of a larger asset, our business data. Even if you have been in business for only a short time, you are sitting on a large and growing mine of information that you could be using to build, understand, and improve your business. Accessing and analysing this information is eye-opening. I recently spent time with a client who had been on RFMS for only five months. We looked at some reports together; outstanding quotes, converted quotes, conversion rates, performance by salespeople, sales by GP percentage and GP dollars. We drilled into his top selling products, and we pulled a report on his best customers. We just scratched the surface, but in that one meeting, RFMS opened a window on information that had previously been inaccessible.
Regardless of the business system we run, however, there are things that we could be doing to manage key business information better. If you are not doing it already, you could put a process in place to give you visibility on the leads that your salespeople care for on your behalf; the quotes they are sending out, and their success in the follow-up process. It may be a manual process, but the time spent establishing it will help you manage this key asset, and make more sales as a result. Chris Ogden is a consultant and Director of RFMS Australasia, 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.
TRYING TO PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER? Layers Diary Financials Debtors Quotes Stock
Mobile Sales Measuring Reporting Projects Sales
The Flooring Software leader for more than 30 years Clients in Australia and NZ since 1999 Over 8,000 ooring businesses already using RFMS worldwide Cloud hosted options available Flexible and ready for Retail, Commercial and Distributor Fully integrated solution, including tablets and laser measure
Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012
www.rfms.com
salesau@rfms.com
Software
Flooring IT Innovations over the last Century (or so) I have been in the flooring industry, in one capacity or another, since 1994. Unlike many other industries that have seen dramatic revolutions as they have adopted IT, the flooring industry has been relatively staid over that time. In fact, a flooring salesperson from the 1950’s would very likely be quite at home in many flooring businesses today. So, this made me think; what have been the major innovations when it comes to measuring and quantifying? I can think of only three; the tape measure, the handheld calculator and the laser measuring device. Some Googling reveals that the self-retrieving measuring tape first came on
the market in 1868 at a cost of $17.00, or $300.00 in today’s money. The first hand held calculator was available in 1970, at the equivalent cost today of $2,500.00. It was marketed as a pocket calculator, but it wouldn’t have fit many pockets. The first Leica Disto was introduced in 1993, and it was the size of a brick. I was unable to discover its cost at that time. Most of us could not imagine doing our jobs today without some or all of these tools. Of course, I haven’t mentioned electronic quantifying (EQ). This has been around for probably 20 years or so, and the solutions available to the
flooring retailer today are light years beyond the first iterations that you might have seen or heard about. In terms of the potential to just make the job of a quantifier easier, and with the additional benefit now of working from tablet devices or smart phones, EQ is a quantum leap. Not all EQ solutions are equal; Measure by RFMS is the market leader.
The first hand held calculator was available in 1970, at the equivalent cost today of $2,500.00.
MEASUREMOBILE 3 the best mobile estimating software in the industry FREE DOWNLOAD AT:
• EASY TO USE • STORE IN THE CLOUD • ACCESS ANYWHERE
Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012 www.measuremobile3.com 24 | Flooring April/May 2017
salesau@rfms.com
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Build your custom business software system the way you want IT
Flexibility in business software systems, has typically been the relm of larger organisations, with big budgets. Now there is a solution for flooring businesses of all sizes, a cost effective way to create customised systems that can be adapted to suit any business through periods of growth, new technology developments, new ways customers makes purchases or the next big thing.
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26 | Flooring April/May 2017
makinex.com.au
It’s about time… Keeping Up With Technology With MJS So you’ve won the job! After delivering samples, measuring and quoting the customer has finally given you the go ahead to install the product. The customer wants to know exactly when you can do the job. Simple enough question, right? But why is it always so hard to answer? It shouldn’t be. Obviously you need to check stock availability, but just as importantly, you need to organise an installer. So how many phone calls did it take? Have you finally found one? Have you locked in a date with the installer? Did the installer write the correct date in their diary? You did say the 14th of May right? A day passes, and now the customer has just remembered that they can’t move their furniture until the week after and need to reschedule the job. So you are now back at square one and that installer is no longer available. Embracing technology becomes important in these situations. Technology has come a long way in a short period of time. Yes, it can be daunting, and yes we have all cursed at our computer screens. However, we can all agree that in some ways technology has allowed our businesses to be more organised, run more efficiently and increase productivity. It is this thinking that led to the creation of BookIT. Installers and retailers who also cursed at the thought of computers, created BookIT because they recognised the need for a simple solution to everyday communication breakdowns.
They realised that they too needed to embrace the inevitable digital future we have found ourselves in. Retailers and installers are now saying goodbye to their A4 diaries and messy whiteboards and are managing their installation diaries via BookIT. This cloud-based system is specifically designed for the flooring industry to help alleviate the communication breakdowns between retailers, installers and customers. BookIT creates a seamless, transparent way of scheduling work, which notifies all parties of the booking in live time. BookIT has captured the attention of industry professionals and now, working together and alongside supplier MJS Floorcoverings, will be able to achieve a greater user experience. This partnership will greatly increase productivity in the industry, and will bring in more satisfaction on all fronts – the customers, retailers and installers.
This cloud-based system is specifically designed for the flooring industry to help alleviate the communication breakdowns between retailers, installers and customers.
Callidus: Tile Planning Technology In Focus Gone are the days when contractors simply had to quantify areas in a 50cm tile as designers and architects are now combining different colours and shapes to create a wide range of interlocking pattern designs and today's contractor needs efficient tools to work with these new and more interesting materials. To cater for these demands the Callidus floor planning software has been updated to incorporate flexible and powerful tile layouts. In addition to using standard square and rectangular tiles designs estimates can incorporate hexagonal shapes and other irregular shapes such as the Bolon range. Designs of any complexity can be created, automatically applied over any floor area to show the final layout and generate all the estimating quantities.
TileScript designs are either typed directly into Callidus or via a graphical designer and as many designs are prebuilt into the system it is very easy to work with even the most complex layouts. We provide an on-line library of pre-assembled grids allowing users to copy and paste grids into their own Callidus material specification. Once the TileScript grid has been defined Callidus will use this to generate all the tiles needed to cover the entire floor. Using a variety of painting tools users can apply colours and bitmap images to the tiles and create a photorealistic representation of the floor's final appearance. As the colours are changed Callidus updates the tile quantities of each tile to determine the overall gross area and waste factor.
Developed over the last few years these new Callidus tools have been in constant use at a major tile design company resulting in a huge boost in productivity, increased confidence in estimating quantities and helped secure new business as customers are shown exactly how the final floor will appear. Since 1991 Callidus has been the leading software system for the commercial flooring industry and back then the ability just to quantify simple square tiles was actually quite revolutionary. Over the last quarter century we have continually developed our system in response to the ever changing demands of flooring installations and TileScript opens up a wide range of interesting and innovative possibilities for today's flooring companies.
Flooring April/May 2017 | 27
Carpet&Rugs
New Generation SDNs From Signature Recently Launched Responding to the increasing demand for quality, premium carpets, Signature Floors has developed and launched two new solution dyed nylon ranges that have surpassed the performance of those on the market today. New WhisperCalm™ and Silk Mirage™ ranges by Signature® are not only superb to look at, they are heavenly to touch. "We wanted to add to our reputation for having the softest carpets in Australia with the exceptional Cashmere Touch®, so we worked with our team to develop a better feel for our new generation SDN ranges" said Michael Beerens, National Carpet Product Manager of Signature Floors. "Along with the enhanced performance new generation SDN technology brings, we can now offer our customers a superbly soft and luxurious 7 star experience in a premium SDN carpet" he said. WhisperCalm™ SDN Carpet is an extensive range of on-trend neutrals in a cut pile twist in two ranges. 'Harmony' is a luxurious 50oz, whilst 'Joy' offers the same colour, feel and SDN technology at a more affordable 40oz. Both ranges are stain resistant, UV resistant and extra heavy duty for the toughest conditions. Both 4 metre wide, homeowners can enjoy a seamless installation with absolute peace of mind as WhisperCalm™ is backed by Signature's 20 year residential wear, stain and fade guarantee.
28 | Flooring April/May 2017
Silk Mirage™ is the second exceptional range of new generation SDN carpets to be launched this year by the Signature Floors' Team. True to its name, each colourway features a subtle stripe that shimmers between multiple shades, creating a calming mirage effect. The result is a patterned carpet, that really isn't! An ideal choice for customers who can't live with 'plush', and don't want 'decorative'. This clever carpet provides the ideal solution that is superb looking as well as being very easy to live with. In a premium 55oz (1850gsm) twist/ LCL, its deep 12mm pile brings added luxury to the experience of living with a soft, silky carpet. Silk Mirage™ is 3.66 metre wide and also features Signature's 20 year residential wear, stain and fade guarantee. "We understand how today's families live and what they need in a quality carpet. We developed Silk Mirage™ to be a decorator's favourite, whilst also meeting the demands of children and pets" said Michael Beerens. "Our exclusive UltraGard® and UltraPure™ fibre treatments featured in Silk Mirage™prevents odours and protects carpets from accidents that do invariably happen" says Herten. UltraGard™ is an invisible shield against soiling and staining, developed by Signature Floors. It facilitates easy removal of everyday stains and dirt resulting in a carpet that stays cleaner 2-3 times longer than non-treated carpet. Spills are repelled for longer, making Silk
Mirage™ carpet much easier to spot clean and maintain its great looks for years to come. UltraPure® is a self-renewing odour neutraliser which is an active ingredient added to the yarn during production, developed by Signature Floors. Environmentally friendly, the treated yarn absorbs the bad odours and permanently decomposes them into harmless substances. With a strong resistance to steam cleaning and shampooing, UltraPure™ will continue to perform year after year under the most demanding conditions. Together with their good looks, superb touch, extra heavy duty and easy clean performance, it's easy to see that WhisperCalm™ and Silk Mirage™ are the new generation SDN's we've all been waiting for!
AQUEOUS at The Rug Collection.
Introducing AQUEOUS by Katie McKinnon The Rug Collection has once again teamed up with Australian abstract expressionist artist, Katie McKinnon, for an exclusive new rug collection, AQUEOUS, after the sell-out of her limited-edition Art Series rug designs. The Melbourne-based painter and textile designer Katie McKinnon, who has developed a strong following with collectors throughout Australia and internationally, partnered with The Rug
Collection to merge her signature ethereal and marine-inspired works into beautiful hand tufted artsilk rugs. The AQUEOUS collection is inspired by Australia’s sand and surf along the coastline of Victoria’s Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas and bring a choice of neutral tones and sea spray blue hues, ideal for the living or bedroom. “Each design is reminiscent of mist from the effervescent surf, crashing waves
and the ever-changing weather patterns, sunshine, the spectrum of sand shades along the shoreline, bleached driftwood, sandstone cliffs, storm clouds gathering above the Bay, Christmas hydrangeas, endless Summer holidays, fresh linen and washed out denim.” Katie said. Two AQUEOUS designs in soft coastal colours, Sand and Seaspray, are available now. Article courtesy The Rug Collection website.
A time-saving booking system you’ll love!
The BookIT Install Management App has been designed specifically to fix communication breakdowns that always occur between flooring installers and retailers. A few simple clicks will drastically increase efficiency and profit. A great solution to fast and effective job management, you’ll wish you had BookIT sooner!
Daniel Haas: 0490 487 321 www.bookitsoftware.com.au
LAUNCHING SOON IN YOUR STATE
Flooring April/May 2017 | 29
Carpet&Rugs
Carpet Fashion Planks are the Centre of Attention Signature Floors has released the ultimate collection of stylish carpet planks. Fashion Planks have arrived with all the excitement of a Paris catwalk - though instead of models, the floor is definitely the centre of attention! Fashion Planks by Signature bring together the textural detail of Tweed and Bouclé - both iconic fashion fabrics - with the expert fabrication of premium carpet plank flooring. Fashion planks bring the subtlety of a Chanel tweed and bouclé for a combination that features classic textile patterns with directional structure. In subtle neutrals from oat to coco, from platinum to char, Fashion Planks co-ordinate with all 101 Vivid carpet tile
colours for when a dash of feature colour is required. "Our Fashion Planks are definitely the most stylish around!" said Richard Braic, General Manager & Head of Product Development for commercial products. "We researched the catwalk collections to pull together a sophisticated product offering for commercial interiors" he said. "Fashion puts the best textures together with accents of colour to draw the eye. With knits and weaves, silk with velvets, the beauty of fashion brings textural differences and heralds them. We followed their inspiration to create a collection of 16 references designed to enhance fashionable interiors."
Fashion Planks are 250mm x 1000mm in size, featuring multi-level loop Solution Dyed Nylon construction with UltraGard™ soil and stain protection. Fashion Planks are GreenTag Green Rate Level A and LCA
New Plush Entrance Matting in Carpet Tile Format Launched In keeping with Classic’s commitment to enhance public space and make access issues disappear, they have now released an all-new modular tile-format entrance matting. Flooring contractors well know the benefits of carpet tiles compared to conventionally laid carpet and those same benefits can now apply to the entrance matting. Integra Urban architectural entrance matting has been proven in many demanding environments, as both primary and as secondary
30 | Flooring April/May 2017
GOLD accredited. Available in stock, Fashion Planks offers an extra heavy duty solution that co-ordinates with all Signature Intelli and Friendly carpet tiles. Furniture courtesy: Café Culture+Insitu.
matting. The attractive cut pile provides a luxurious look and feel, while dual weave non-static polyamide fibre composition, efficiently arrests the spread of moisture, dirt and grit to maintain the life and safety of surrounding floor finishes. Available in a modular tile of 500 x 500mm, this new matting makes it possible to achieve unlimited size and design combinations including patterns and borders. Info and samples are available by contacting Classic.
SMARTER SOLUTIONS S IN TRR INM EAREST “ ASK YOU INTAFLOORS DEPOT FOR A FREE TRIM CHART ” R KNOW THE RIGHT TRIM-TYPES!FO ED NE YOUR APPLICATION
ALSO
NEW BLACK TRIMS NOW AVAILABLE!
Check out our new Black Laminate/Plank ends, as well as silver and bronze. We have Jnr ends, Senior Ends, Mid Ends, and these new additions: - 5mm Black, Silver, Bronze - 8mm in black, silver and bronze - JUNIOR
- 10mm - Silver and Bronze - 13mm - Silver and Bronze - 15mm Black, Silver, Bronze - SENIOR
For more details, contact your nearest intafloors depot, or visit intafloors.com.au Availability on certain products may vary from store to store. Please contact your local trade depot for more details.
LOCATE YOUR NEAREST INTAFLOORS DEPOT
WA SA
Seal and Sons
NSW
QLD
Adelaide: 08 8346 9833 Email: office@deseal.com.au
Intafloors Trade Depot
Gibbon Group | Trade Depot
Sydney: 02 8678 5479 Email: sales@intafloorstrade.com.au
North Brisbane & Central Qld: 07 3881 1777 Email: sales@gibbongroup.com.au
VIC
McDonalds Flooring Accessories
Knoxfield: 03 9764 2400 Dandenong: 03 9702 7822 Geelong: 03 5521 6670 Preston: 03 9416 7878 Email: sales@fisdistributors.com.au
TAS
Total Flooring North Hobart: 03 6234 9855 Email: admin@totalflooringtas.com.au
South Brisbane & Gold Coast: 07 5564 9999 Email: daniel@mcdonaldflooring.com.au
FIS Distributors
Kevmor Wholesale Trade Supplies Perth: 08 9277 7177 Email: sales@kevmor.com.au
NEW ZEALAND
Nuplex Construction Products Free Phone: 0508-882-288 Email: ncpsales@nuplex.com
VinylFlooring
Gerflor Shines at Domotex Gerflor turned hearts and minds with its outstanding showcase of the very latest trends in resilient flooring at the 19th DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR in Shanghai recently. A kaleidoscope of colour and design greeted eager visitors from around the world. Innovative trends in sheet vinyl, planks and LVT were all on display with solutions presented for commercial, industrial and residential purposes.
New ‘Best Ever’ Gerflor Texline Range to Launch Soon Excitement is building within the Gerflor team as they prepare for the launch of the 2017/18 range of Texline designer flooring. Billed as the most design driven and ambitious offer yet, this new range features inspired solutions for every room in the home. Time honored classics return with a contemporary twist. Alongside these we find influences from Denmark to Morocco that create decorative opportunities previously confined to wall finishes and soft furnishings. Product Marketing Manager, Jutta Fronert said plans were well advanced for the new offer to hit the display stands in stores around the country mid year. Some stock has already arrived from France where the four metre roll range is manufactured. “Gerflor was first to market with the loose lay Texline range. It is the original and widely acclaimed as still the best loose lay resilient flooring
32 | Flooring April/May 2017
on the market. This new range will take the Texline story to a new level and we are very confident the consumer will fully embrace it,” Ms Fronert said. Gerflor Texline boasts an enviable list of practical
features and benefits. Warm and soft underfoot, quiet and comfortable - even in high rise situations, waterproof both sides and quick and easy to install, Texline is the perfect choice for new homes, townhouses or renovations.
The unique textile backing is made from recycled plastic bottles, making it ideal for wet areas. Texline is offered in a range of qualities to suit all household scenarios and budgets.
ARDEX FEATHER FINISH UNRIVALED PRODUCT UNRIVALED PERFORMANCE FEATHER
FINISH
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ARDEX FEATHER FINISH Rapid Drying - Install floorcoverings after 15 minutes
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No primers or additives required
ARDEX Australia Pty Ltd 20 Powers Road Seven Hills NSW 2147 Phone: 1300 788 780 Fax: 1300 780 102
www.ardex.com
Feature
Plastic Welding Tools Opens Branch Office in Brisbane Plastic Welding Tools Pty Limited has recently opened a branch office in Brisbane, Queensland. The new Brisbane office will handle sales and service, and can easily despatch equipment ordered via the company’s online e-commerce websites – usually the same day. “Plastic Welding Tools Pty Limited are able to supply all your Vinyl Flooring Welding Equipment. Manufactured in Switzerland, our Techspanbranded welding tools are high quality at extremely competitive prices,” said Tim Fastnedge, Marketing Director. “Our online model means we operate with lower overheads and so we pass on these savings to our customers,” said Tim. “We also supply a wide range of accessory tools for the flooring industry, including moon knives, hand routers and all necessary nozzles and attachments for your welding tool needs.” The online store allows customers to select from three payment options, and the company also accepts Direct Debit Deposit which allows the customer to pay for a product using usual Internet banking systems. The Brisbane office can also supply customers with applications and equipment advice in determining the right tool for the job.
Staff in Brisbane have a combined 25 years’ worth of experience in the field of welding plastics. The vinyl flooring sector is big business for them. Plastic Welding Tools is a division of the Techspan Group, which was established in 1979. Plastic Welding Tools Pty Limited was set-up to more accurately target those markets in 2013. The company is a world leader in the supply of a wide range of plastic welding equipment, and some of the world leading brands include: Hot air plastic welders for welding of vinyl floor coverings (pvc); Extruder welders for welding of large wall section plastics; Wedge welders for welding geo membranes; Overlap welders for welding of tarps, covers, shade sails and specialised textiles; Ultrasonic welders for welding of rigid injection moulded products; Ultrasonic cutters for cutting and welding of synthetic materials; Spin welders for welding of cylindrical plastic parts; Vibration welders for welding of large plastic components and Impulse sealers for welding of thermoplastic films and medical substrates (Tyvek). “We are able to offer expert applications
Tim and Lisa Fastnedge.
advice,” said Tim. “My own training was carried out in Switzerland to worldwide welding standards, as set out by the DVS Swiss/German Joining Society. So, we are able to advise of such things like Welding Temperatures required, Welding Rod types that must be used, and even down to offering advice on the right accessories that should be used when welding vinyl flooring.” The online model has allowed Tim and his team to keep overheads low,
Techspan Vinyl Floor Welding Kit
34 | Flooring April/May 2017 Lisa in her office.
Unlike their competitors who run offices, cars, staff, mobile phones etc in every state, Tim said that what the company now has is a functional e-commerce web presence that distributes from warehouses in Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland. Tim also hints at the possibility of future plans to expand operations with increased stock holdings and additional staff. This is another great example of a New Zealand/ Australia success story….
Altro Cantata™ Hit the right note with Altro’s new decorative adhesive-free floor.
Maximum impact and minimum downtime. Straight to slab or existing flooring...
Altro Cantata can be laid over existing sound substrates without applying adhesive. So you can weld and walk on the floor the same day.
Damp problem…not anymore!
The specially formulated studded underside emboss allows flooring to sit off the sub-floor, allowing the floor to breathe, resulting in any moisture dissipating. It can be used with a new concrete floor at up to 97% relative humidity.
Lays flat...stays flat
Altro Cantata lays flat without an adhesive to stick it in place. So you can roll away – without the floor rolling up.
Odour-free
No adhesive means there are no odours, which could be vital in the areas Altro Cantata has been created for. Environments such as hospitals, residential care homes and universities have many people living and working in them; and shutting up shop or installing noisy extractor fans is not an option.
Remove, reuse, recycle
Flooring is 100% recyclable post-consumer and can be re-used in other installations. Waste is minimal as only one product used. Any leftover Altro Cantata flooring can be used elsewhere, returned to us, or a Recofloor collection point, for recycling. At the end of its life, it can be removed quickly and reused or recycled; there’s no flooring covered with adhesive and bits of substrate to deal with.
to find out more visit www.asf.com.au/Altro-Cantata
PICFloors
Preparation, Installation & Care
Grind Faster with the DSM650S Up a level at 127 Creek Street in Brisbane, progress was made fast with the DSM650S Schwamborn Grinding machine. After the site had undergone major refit ready for a new office fitout to begin, the site was cleared for the flooring guys to transform the old, concrete floor that was covered in an epoxy coating into a stunning polished concrete masterpiece. After struggling with production with previous machines they needed a faster, solution for preparing this floor area in 3 nights, with short timeframes. Not only did they have to grind the main floor are about the edges in preparation for the polishing in sections of the floor to be underway. Here are some pictures from site of
their impressive new machine arrived and ready to grind.
What’s the difference in power and size?
Single phase concrete grinders, run on a single or three headed system. Mostly these machines are a lighter weight due to their size and draw power from a single phase 10amp / 240volt power supply. These concrete grinders are used for smaller areas and for high speed glue, adhesive, coating or membrane removal. They are impressive on residential, and small to medium commercial floor preparation projects due to their size, weight distribution and ability to grind smaller floor areas fast. Three phase Concrete floor grinders is all about production, performance and
where you get perfection. Running off a 400V / 15-2032Amp power supply these require three phase power on site or to be powered off a generator supply. With adjustable weights, variable speed, water tank or ability to change diamonds according to what you are grinding means you can attack any floor situation for floor prep faster. When you’re considering a Concrete Floor Grinder for faster floor preparation, levelling, glue, adhesive or coating removal in your decision be sure to consider the following: Construction. Tough, quality built equipment gets you places. Brands like Schwamborn Concrete Grinders are engineered, manufactured and built in Germany with German parts. There is no sacrifice for quality. It’s important to consider this as you don’t want a machine that will continually be breaking down and require spare parts to be replaced. Down time is your loss. All Concrete Grinding machines require some sort of maintenance. Balance. How well is the machine balanced? You don’t want a machine that’s super heavy you can’t navigate around a site, and struggle to transport to and from any site. Weights. Does it have removable weights, or what does it use as weights? Some machines require weights added to them to get through tougher glues, coatings, paints or epoxies. Consider weight also from a transportation point of view what vehicle do you have to take from site to site. Power requirements. Will you have power available on site? Do you need to consider a generator, converter box or power leads? Electrical
36 | Flooring April/May 2017
requirements are typically 240 – 400 Volt and amperage between 10 – 32 Amps or as higher on larger machines. Dust Extraction. How do you control dust on site? Grinding can be very dusty work so it’s important your dust control solution is strong enough to suck the airborne and surface dust while you work. Schwamborn Grinders are designed to work side by side a vacuum system with a dust skirt.
Ensure You’re Covered Against Accidents With All Prep It always counts to go that little step further and ensure everything’s covered… We’re in the game of flooring, construction, refurbishments and something just might go wrong along the way. That’s why it pays to be prepared! Protecting new and existing flooring surfaces is worth it’s while during any refurbishment, repair, demolition or construction project. Flooring stores and Construction companies are becoming more and more conscious of where they can save time and money in clean up and temporary floor protection is fast becoming one of them. Corflute sheeting is a lightweight and versatile product, with twin wall construction to enhance the impact protection on surfaces as well as sound protection and waterproofing. Easy to cut, fast and easy to lay, corflute is the most economical solution to laying over large floor areas. For protecting floor surfaces, such as carpet, during refurbishments industrial strength, heavy duty and tear resistant self-adhesive film is a tidy and easy option. The customised self-adhesive surface allows the film to lay
neat and tight against skirtings and around columns. Polyweave, the economical solution for laying over finished floors and vertical surfaces, is a double laminated polythene floor saver, woven for superior strength, durability and tear resistance. Providing a complete barrier against spills and wet foot traffic, Polyweave is also coated with anti-slip for safety on site. Using the latest technology in floor protection, SupaBoard provides a balance of vapour permeability, durability and
strength. Developed to withstand the demands of the construction industry, each roll covers 30sqm, giving you more for less – superior coverage. Quick and easy to fit and install, SupaBoard is a breathable, spill resistant and heavy duty floor protection made from 100% recycled materials. All Preparation Equipment has been a supplier of temporary floor protection products for many years now and has a range of solution to meet the need of protection on any floor project. Flooring April/May 2017 | 37
PICFloors
Preparation, Installation & Care
Fit for the Job With the renovation well underway at another Jett’s Fitness Gym in Brisbane city, there was more carpet and vinyl plank to remove. Tired of being back breaking work removing previous carpets, vinyls, tiles and timber this team of installers got to with a 5280 Self-Propelled Floor Lifting machine. National Flooring Equipment is an American built floor-stripping machine capable of removing any type of floor covering depending on the size of machine. Depending on the scope of works also depends on the type of blade used on these self-propelled machines. In choosing floor-lifting machines it’s important to consider: • Size and Weight • Power Source • Battery Operation • Pitch and Variable Speed
38 | Flooring April/May 2017
At the end of the day when tools are down it’s all about what return you make on your investment and ensuring you get the most out of your tools. That’s why the initial cost of your floor scraping machine shouldn’t be the final consideration when making your purchase decision. Obviously, with any decision the price comes into it, but ultimately, it’s about what is going to make the difference to your business long term. Ensure you choose a machine that will work harder than you do on as many jobs as possible. A floor scraper that can remove different materials usually has a variable speed function to change for different flooring types. For example, ceramic tiles fixed with epoxy based mortar are notoriously difficult to remove, but by slowing the floor scraper down it gives you the opportunity
to remove the tiles more effectively without damaging the material underneath. Variable speed machines can also be an asset in less challenging floor removal jobs as increasing the equipment’s speed means getting the job done quicker.
All Preparation Equipment can help direct you to what machine works for the job. Larger machines are not always the answer to getting the production you need, sometimes it’s a smaller machine with the right style blade or attachment.
At the end of the day when tools are down it’s all about what return you make on your investment and ensuring you get the most out of your tools.
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floor cutting, removal of scratches, & densification (hardening) of concrete floors. The unique STARSEAL FSR (Food Stain Resistant) system locks the floor off, makes it stain proof without a sealer on the surface. The STARSEAL FSR is the lowest maintenance stain proof system and is the only Green Fire Safe system. Comprehensive notes are supplied and professional instruction is by Ivan Imerman who has had decades of experience in concrete and polished concrete. The course also includes instruction in the Starseal Colour Densification System , Starseal EF impregnated external sealer ,Shower Grip & Tough Grip R11 –P4 non-slip surface sealer and Multi-Clean surface sealing systems. Ivan Imerman, Director at IBS, ensures that every person attending the course leaves with the knowledge on how to do Professional Concrete Polishing. Book your spot now for the May course as numbers are limited.
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The February training program was attended by a diverse group who were delighted with the 3-day Professional Polished Concrete course. The attendees complimented the company on the content of the course as well as the ease of use of the TERRCO machines & Densification and sealing systems. Some comments : “Thanks for your expert knowledge on concrete & concrete grinding ‘’ ‘’The TERRCO machine is so easy to use ‘’ ‘’ Using the TERRCO puts no stress on my body’’ “ It’s good to know that you have a mentor with Ivan’s experience that you can call on at any time‘’ ‘’The Starseal PS hardener works better than anything I have used, and it has a 10 year factory warranty” The course runs for 3 days and is a “hands on course” not “a machine demonstration”. Every trainee learns all the aspects of diamond selection,
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Flooring April/May 2017 | 39
ProductUpdate Energy Charging Flooring Made from Wood Pulp in the Spotlight You have solar panels on your roof and a wind turbine in your back yard. Soon you can get solar charging windows, and solar and wind charging curtains. Already there is a solar charging handbag for the girls that can power a mobile phone. What else could you do to charge green energy without hooking up a bicycle to your lamps? The answer is beneath you. Materia reports that researchers at the University of Wisconsin– Madison have found a way to make energy charging flooring. The research was done mostly by Xudong Wang, associate professor of materials science and engineering, and graduate student Chunhua Yao. The flooring charges energy when it is walked on, so in hallways with a lot of traffic, such as in schools and malls, this could generate a lot of energy. The flooring has enough energy to power the lights and other low electricity consuming products in a house. It is not entirely clear how much you have to walk to make that happen, however. For the energy charging flooring, the researchers use wood pulp, a common waste material. It is cheap, abundant and renewable. This material is already used in flooring, and consists in part of cellulose nanofibres. These tiny fibres are
40 | Flooring April/May 2017
treated chemically so that they produce an electrical charge when they come into contact with untreated nanofibres. The flooring works as a tribo-electric device, which means that it turns friction into energy. It consists of two layers of a millimetre of less thick that are brought into contact by people walking over it. For a higher energy output, more layers could be added. The energy is created by electrons that move from one to the other material based on their different electron affinity. The transfer causes an imbalance that wants to right itself, but as the electrons return, they pass through an external circuit. While the flooring has not been put into use yet, lab testing shows that it works for millions of cycles without a problem. The researchers estimate that the material will outlast the floor itself. Compared to solar and wind energy, the advantage of energy charging flooring is clear: the flooring is not dependent on the weather, only the amount of feet that pass over it. In addition, because wood pulp is so cheap, as is the chemical process, the electric charging flooring would not cost much more than normal flooring. The next (foot) step in the process is to build a highscale prototype.
Altro Cantata: An Adhesive-Free Floor Launched Altro floors and walls are designed to help transform everyday spaces into environments that can improve the wellbeing of everyone that uses them. It’s all about harmony. For Altro this means creating the feeling that things just seem right by offering solutions, shades and finishes that work together, or complement an existing environment. It’s like music: the right surroundings can inspire, stimulate, calm, create a mood, and bring people together. Altro Cantata is available in 16 soft-look shades ranging from subtle natural tones to vivid colours, this compact 2.2mm floor, which boasts a smooth finish,
sets the tone for a whole range of environments. It has been designed with creating harmony in mind, and the result is attractive, inspiring spaces. This includes corridors in hospitals and residential care homes, plus corridors and general circulation areas in education buildings. The soft-look shades are also ideal for patient rooms within hospitals. As well as creating stunning surroundings, Altro Cantata is installed without using an adhesive making installation time, and the disruption that goes with it, minimal. In fact, using Altro Cantata can halve the time of a traditional installation.
Remove, Remediate and Prepare with Makinex Makinex understand the importance of getting the job done to the highest standard possible. They are all about quality and efficiency and believe that to make inefficiencies extinct you must prepare prepare prepare! The Makinex flooring range covers a wide area of products that can aid application based tradies wanting greater efficiency in all finishes and surface coatings. Makinex can support you at every stage of your flooring job, be it laying a floating floor, working with exposed aggregate, or applying epoxy we have a machine to give you the best results.
Remove
With any job there is often an element of removal before the job starts – no one wants to lay flooring onto a rough and uneven surface, we supply tradies who want to use the right tools for the job and service their clients to a very high standard. The Makinex Jackhammer Trolley (or Vinyl Stripper) allows you to remove tiles, vinyl and cork up to 6 x faster. No more struggling or bending trying to handle heavy jackhammers. The trolley carries most of the weight whilst the user positions themselves behind the trolley to push along.
The JHT (Jackhammer Trolley) suits most 16 kg Jackhammers and will allow you to remove unwanted waste before you start your job.
Remediate
Once you have removed unwanted elements you need to remediate the surface – or in basic terms level it ready for surface preparation. Whether you do this yourself or get in a subbie you will need to power your grinder, demolition hammer, scarifier or concrete saw. Makinex have a range of Generators that pair with your tools to give you more than 92% efficiency from the alternator. All Makinex Generators are compact and manoeuvrable, making them perfect for working in tight spaces where power is hard to get. The Generator has an easy to use handle to allow you to push the generator to where you need it, and has low noise level making it idea for residential work sites. High quality Makinex Generators maintain the performance of your machinery – allowing you to get full draw power to the machine, giving optimum performance Makinex offer a 3-year warranty and provide you with the support you need with on hand advice.
Prepare
The final piece to getting a great finish on any floor is to prepare the floor ready for laying. We understand that you want to level the floor ready for the final application. The Makinex Mixing Station is the ultimate mixing solution for self-levelling cements, compounds and epoxies, producing a perfect mix every time. Designed by
Contractors for Contractors, this portable station provides efficient hands-free mixing and enables fast precision pouring of materials. Get your job done in half the time! The Makinex Mixing Station with stirrer can mix up to 100kg (220lbs) batches in 3 minutes The Makinex Mixing Station is ultra-lightweight and the ergonomic design with easy tilt operation provides control and speed for precision pouring. It also features a dust/splash reduction cover for safer use and less mess. Once you have removed remediated and prepared you’re free to finish the floor knowing it’s a efficient and professional job, with no imperfections.
Flooring April/May 2017 | 41
ProductUpdate
Mirka Dust-Free Sanding System Announced Tenaru, distributor of professional coatings and accessories, continues to expand its portfolio of brands with the addition of premium brand Mirka to its offering. A world leader in abrasives technology and Flooring_IBSTraining product innovation, Mirka
MAY
provides dust-free sanding systems for floors, among other uses.. Based in Finland, the global brand develops and manufactures advanced sanding and polishing machines, providing outstanding ergonomic and 17.pdf 1 14/03/2017 9:51 AM functional benefits to users.
PROFESSIONAL Polished Concrete TRAINING Training 2015
Learn from the Best in 2017! WHEN? 25, 26, 27:February 2015 24, 25, 26 May 2017 Botany, Sydney DAY ONE Concrete cutting, grouting and floor repair C
DAY TWO
M
Concrete densification (floor hardening) system DAY THREE
Y
CM
Food stain resistance and non-slip finishing
MY
Cost $1000.00 per person. Places are limited.
Book your spot today
CY
As part of our
CMY
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TERRCO 86 YEAR BIRTHDAY
we are offering Free Training when you purchase a TERRCO grinder in 2017 or if you come to our training program you will receive a full credit off the training cost should you buy a TERRCO in 2017
NEW in the 2017 course:
Colour Densification (hardener) turns grey concrete into White, Blue, Black or Red with the unique NO ACID system from
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business one of theemail best sales@ibssales.com.au polished concrete systems the world. Book yourwith spot today: for a in booking form
Bookings 02 8338 0000
& Ivan 0403 046 038 www.polishedconcrete.net.au T: 02 8338 0000 TRAINING sales@ibssasles.com.au www.polishedconcrete.net.au
42 | Flooring April/May 2017
These innovatively designed tools combined with a range of effective, high quality accessories, give Mirka’s customers unmatched access to a complete sanding solution to meet their individual needs. Mirka’s dust-free solutions are achievable through its innovative Abranet, a plasticlike net with thousands of holes providing phenomenal dust extraction. Constructed with a dense network of polyamide fabric threads onto which the abrasive grit is bonded, this open weave net structure means no dust particle is more than 0.5mm away from a dust extraction hole. The use of Abranet also eliminates any clogging or dust build-up between the sanding disc and surface, providing a smoother finish more quickly and long-lasting sanding capacity. Designed to be connected to a commercial vacuum cleaner such as the Mirka Dust Extractor, sanding with Abranet produces 6900 times less dust compared to sanding with traditional paper abrasives, and Abranet can last up to five times longer. Brian Hamilton, managing director of Tenaru commented: “Mirka’s products are not only unique but very high quality. Tenaru is excited to be bringing
change to the industry and providing professionals with new solutions to a more efficient and healthier work space. “The addition of Mirka is a natural fit to our portfolio of premium coatings and accessories, further positioning Tenaru as a complete system for professional painting, building and renovation needs.” The Mirka range from Tenaru will include a selection of abrasives, Mirka® DEROS electric sander, Miro 955® wall sander, Professional Sanding Kit and dust extractors. Contact Mirka Australia for product details.
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Take a Look at Under-Floor Heating from Beaumont Tiles If you would love to walk around barefoot at home this winter, have an unobtrusive and safe heating system and minimise mould and allergens, an under-tile heating system might be for you. Under-tile heating is the perfect winter warmer right throughout the house. It keeps a tiled room warmer for longer than other heating solutions, and while it used to be considered a luxury add on, it’s now a budget friendly option with running costs about a quarter of a heat lamp over a year . “Under-tile heating a large family room will have an upfront cost of about $1200 to $1600 - but the system will pay for itself in energy savings," says Darcy Shaw, National Buyer, Bathroom ware from Beaumont Tiles. "Not only is it good for the hip pocket, but is a good option for reducing household energy consumption. “It also creates a drier environment by radiating heat to all solid objects and the air is warmed by convection. This means a room stays warm long after the system is turned it off unlike regular heaters where the heat dissipates quickly. “The system is child-safe with no exposed heaters so little fingers won’t get burnt, and for the many families who suffer allergies, under-tile heating is a saviour because it actually prevents mould from building up,” Mr Shaw said. Under-tile heating is silent and there’s no wall space or roof cavity required which means minimal impact on a room design. A touch screen wall thermostat
makes it simple to use and enables programming 24/7. Each installation is specifically configured for a particular room so there’s no cold spots, and on average the running costs are as little as 2c an hour per square metre . A bathroom kit is around $499, and for a large family room it’s about $1200-1600. Beaumont sells the Hotwire system, a 3mm thick, spooled electric heating element installed directly under tiles, granite, marble or slate, not in the slab, and with no need to lay any extra expansion joints. “The system heats a room to a cozy 22 degrees and doesn’t need maintenance. In the unlikely event of a cable fault, the damage is easy to find and fixing it doesn’t require ripping up the floor,” Mr Shaw said.
“ providing innovative solutions for concrete surface preparation “ Floor Grinders & Polishers Floorex’s range of concrete grinders built rental-tough for professional contractors • 240 volt • Easy to read LED screen with hour meter • Floating Dust Shroud for effective dust control
Dust Collection Floorex’s range of dust extractors & dust separators for concrete dust!
Floorex Launches New Machines, Opens Melbourne Showroom Floorex opens its showroom doors in Melbourne! And has also released new machines to coincide with the opening…. Floorex announced this month that the Floorex Showroom in Clayton would be open beginning from early April. Building on the successful model of the Floorex Sydney Showroom, Floorex is offering its complete range of concrete preparation equipment five days a week at Unit 13F, 2A Westall Rd, Clayton. While Floorex offers express freight options Australia wide, they would also like to offer the benefit of being able to call in and get quality equipment at short notice.
• Effective filter cleaning system • No Electronics to fail!
Floor Scrapers Floor scrapers from Floorex with Grunt! Impressive perfomance from walk behind machines • The Beaver™ Floor Stripper uses our unique Conrod “Direct Shot” oscillating blade system delivering power right where it is needed.
Floorex has released a few new machines in the recent weeks, which you will find on display. Soon on display will be the newly released Floorex Scarifier, the Mastiff 200. This was released at the Sydney Build Expo late last month. This new concrete planer is revolutionising the way these effective concrete removal machines work. So, whether you are a carpet layer, timber floor sander, concrete polisher, or epoxy applicator, Floorex has innovative equipment to make you successful!
Screed Mixing Equipment Floorex has a range of highly effective mixing equipment • Forced Action Mixers • Hand Held Mixers • Paddle Mixers
WHY BUY FROM FLOOREX?
• Shipping directly to your door is simple and easy • Free technical advice • Friendly fast service Sydney Showroom Melbourne Showroom U2, 31 Governor Macquarie Dr 13F, 2A Westall Road CHIPPING NORTON NSW 2170 CLAYTON VIC 3170
1800 356 673 www.floorex.com.au Flooring April/May 2017 | 45
Advertisers Index
Exhibitioncalendar
2017 Exhibitions
MAY 2017 16-19 MovelBrasil 2017 Furniture, flooring and decoration exhibition Sao Bento do Sul, Brazil www.movelbrasil.com.br 22-25 DOMOTEX 2017 Turkey Trade fair for carpets and floor coverings www.domotexturkey.com 22-25
Middle East Covering 2017 Exhibition dedicated to the flooring, wall covering and surfaces industry Dubai, United Arab Emirates www.middleeastcovering.com AUGUST 2017 10-12 BuildExpo Tanzania 2017 Flooring, interiors and lighting, building www.expogr.com/tanzania SEPTEMBER 2017 14-17 Furn Expo 2017 International furniture, home textile and carpet exhibition Erbil, Iraq www.iraqfurnexpo.com
19-22 Habitat Valencia Flooring, furniture, kitchen, lighting, outdoor, home textiles and decoration Valencia, Spain www.feriahabitatvalencia.com 27-28
Architect@Work Germany 2017 Contact days for interior designers, architects, designers and consultants Munich, Germany www.architectatwork.de OCTOBER 2017 18-19 Architect@Work France 2017 Contact days for interior designers, architects, designers and consultants Marseille, France www.architectatwork.fr 19-22
Maja Dzivoklis House Apartment 2017 International building, refurbishment and Interior design fair. Architecture, interior design, planning, furnishing and floor coverings, plumbing, lighting, wiring and home technologies. Riga, Latvia www.tradefairdates.com/ houseapartmentriga
Airstep Australia
20,21
Altro Apac
35
Ardex Australia
33
Bostik Australia
43
Carpet Court Choices Flooring Classic Architectural Group
5 Front cover, 10, 11 Inside Front Cover
Con-Treat 39 Dunlop Flooring
3
Floorcovering Association of Victoria
19
Floorex Products
45
Gibbon Group
31
GMK Logistics
26
International Building Supply
42
Laser Measure Australia
25
Makinex 26 Mapei Australia
Back Cover
MJS Floorcoverings RFMS Australasia
29 23, 24
*** For more information on the fairs or to confirm dates, please check the individual event websites.
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Flooring>Carpet>Tile>Stone>Veneers>Vinyl>Laminate>Paint>Glass>Timber>Concrete
HIGH-PERFORMANCE LEVELLING COMPOUNDS from MAPEI Quality levelling compounds that out perform all others. Select a suitable levelling compound from our range to prepare your substrate for a perfect flooring installation. MAPEI levelling compounds were formulated in our R&D lab in Italy for use all over the world. Local production means a faster and more convenient supply for all your projects. MAPEI levelling compounds are suitable under: • • • • •
Ceramics and Stone Carpet and Carpet Tiles Vinyl, LVT and Vinyl Tiles Solid and Engineered Timber Linoleum and Rubber Flooring
OUR PRODUCTS AND YOUR EXPERTISE… A PERFECT COMBINATION
For more information regarding Mapei levelling compounds please contact your local distributor or Freecall 1800 652 666