O c t o b e r / N o v e m b e r 2 0 19
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
Proudly celebrating 50 years of Australian manufacturing.
Australia’s Trusted Brand in Flooring Dunlop Flooring has been manufacturing in Australia since 1969, and has established itself as an industry leader in flooring solutions. Renowned for quality manufacturing, sustainable practices and first class service, Dunlop are dedicated to providing you with the best carpet underlay and floor covering products for both the residential and commercial markets. Learn more about all of our products: www.dunlopflooring.com.au
We’ve been making underlay since man first walked on the moon! Over 5 million rolls of underlay sold. That’s halfway to the moon!
Contents
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vol 37 no 5
News
Editor’s Note
4
Welcome to the October/ November 2019 issue of Flooring Magazine. Inside you will find our feature on tools and accessories where we offer a comprehensive guide to using the correct tool for each job, including an overview of some of the latest tools available in today’s market place.
Signature Floorcoverings - 30 years young
Feature 28
Tools and accessories
Training 40
This issue’s Icon is Scott Cato, a New Zealander, who began his long-standing career in the flooring industry with a three-year cadetship at Bremworth Carpets.
Industry action on skills shortage
Icon 42
Scott Cato
Flooring Magazine is now on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Please take a look, we would love to hear your feedback.
Software 48
EQ Solutions
Feel free to contact me directly, regarding any industry relevant news or events, or if you know of a person worthy of Icon status, by email at – michelle.cammiade@ elitepublishing.com.au
Safety 54
Crystalline silica dust in construction work
Prep, Install & Care 60
FLOORING ROADMAP Mixing Station level pouring
Jackhammer Trolley for tile removal
Efficient products and partnerships with Makinex
REMOVAL
PREPARE
Until next time…enjoy.
Makinex products supporting the flooring industry at every stage of the process.
Hose 2 Go with grinder
FILL & LEVEL
APPLY & POLISH
Michelle Cammiade
FINISH & ENJOY!
Editor
Floor stripper for removal of vinyl and under tile materials
Cleaning with Dual Pressure Washer
16Kva Generator to power preparation products
10Kva Generator to power polishing machinery
makinex.com.au
Flooring Magazine is now on:
Front Cover Signature Floorcoverings signaturefloors.com.au signaturefloors.co.nz
Flooring October/November 2019
@flooringmagazineaustralia @flooringmagazine flooring-magazine
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
News
4
30 Years Young From humble beginnings in a small office in Fitzroy to a current 9,000m2 purpose-built facility in Epping, Melbourne - Signature has grown considerably over the past thirty years. It all started in 1989, when after spending his entire career in the flooring industry, Bill O’Halloran decided to use his expertise and passion for product to start his own company. Trading begun under the name New Floor Distributors and later changed to Signature Floors, with the business retaining the same beliefs of never being restricted by your imagination, continue to innovate and do everything to your best potential and most importantly love your product. Fifty-three years after Bill begun his flooring career journey at MNA Floors, he decided to retire from the flooring industry. Signature has always prided itself on being wholly Australian owned and operated with family values at the core, the company has been under the direction of Bill’s son and sonin-law, Anthony O’Halloran and Robert Herten, since 2008. Having been a mentor to Anthony and Robert for over fourteen years, the reins are firmly in the right hands.
The real story behind Signature’s success is through the extensive worldwide travel, which is vital to keep current with upcoming trends and technological advances. The combination of the places visited and the relationships that have been built globally is what makes Signature the forward-thinking and innovative company it is today. With a commitment to creating great spaces, the team at Signature believe good design emerges from understanding customer needs and the incredible possibilities of a project. Through this understanding, Signature seek to inspire and challenge perceptions of what flooring can achieve. That is why retailers, architects, designers and contractors from both Australia and New Zealand are always interested to see what Signature are doing next. In-Stock The cornerstone of Signature’s success has been their ability to stock what they sell. Everything they sample they keep stock of and as such product can be delivered within one to five days from order.
Below: Bill O’Halloran, Anthony O’Halloran, Robert Herten and team
Above: Bill O’Halloran Product specialists Signature have expertise in all categories and dedicated product managers for carpet, carpet tiles, hard floors, resilient, and custom carpet from the Signature Studio. They are committed to delivering the best customer experience by sharing customer needs, offering expertise and being obsessed with execution. Intensive product testing takes place at the facility in Melbourne and only when the team are convinced of the products suitability is it launched. This ensures that all Signature products meets the highest quality and performance standards. Another integral element to the product launch is providing extensive training to their sales and customer service teams. Design Studio and Customisation One of the biggest success stories over the past ten years was to move into the customisation of woven Axminster carpets for pub, club and hotel spaces. The offering
Flooring October/November 2019
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News
started with Axminster however, today Signature offer five fully customisable flooring mediums, which include hand tufted, woven, dye injection, tufted and modular carpets. A highly important function of the design studio is to create fantastic interiors for office spaces, combining one of the 600 plus carpet tile references, which include 101 colours and ten unique shapes. So, whether customers are inspired by nature, excited by abstraction, or moved by the built world, the Signature studio creatives will realise any idea into reality.
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Above: Signature Studio What’s next? Signature will continue to innovate, offering flooring solutions that will transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. They aim to continually excite the market with new products, though they are very mindful that there is a limit to the world’s resources and every decision made has a clear consequence on the environment. Signature takes a lead in delivering the latest sustainable products in the market by partnering with the best factories from across the globe in order to reduce their impact on the environment.
Future proofing the business This year in April, Richard Braic, who has worked for Signature over the past fourteen years took over the role as CEO. This was to ensure the next stage of Signature’s development continues down a strong path. This also allows for fresh vision and ideas – which are all being created from the same principles that the company was founded on. From a small carpet and vinyl suppling business Signature has undergone a massive and successful transformation that currently provides a full spectrum of flooring categories.
Flooring October/November 2019
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See colour differently A palette to redefine your vision, Colour Edit will change the way you see, experience and use colour. Amtico makes it possible.
For support and samples visit amtico.com or contact our specialist team: Mark Taylor Sales Director +61 (0) 477 708 418 Wayne Schofield Sales Manager NSW +61 (0) 499 091 049 Megan Bilecki Sales Manager SA/WA +61 (0) 400 995 497 Mike Hammond Sales Manager VIC/TAS +61 (0) 428 600 076
News
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Making It Happen, together
T
he Flooring Xtra National Conference is a time to let your hair down, have a laugh, be inspired, learn something new and the 2019 edition was bigger than ever! In August, the Flooring Xtra community from across the country came together to engage in content focussed on their conference theme ‘together…let’s make it happen’.
Jam-packed with ideas, insights, trends, and solutions stores can take with them, sunny Maroochydore (Sunshine Coast) was the perfect backdrop for learning in the sun. The MC Peter Rowsthorn brought the laughs throughout the conference, while keynote speakers – Robert Hart (founder and Creative Director of Zest Learning) and Tom Potter (founder of Eagle Boys franchise) demonstrated their knowledge and passion in their respective fields. The annual supplier showcase is the perfect platform for launching new products, live demonstrations and diving a little deeper into processes and opportunities with valued core suppliers. The gala dinner and Xcellence Awards brought a colourful theme, in which attendees dressed to the nines in bright gowns and suits with pops of colour everywhere you looked. Highlighting national award winners and their inaugural success, store winners were selected from across the country who demonstrated outstanding customer service and sales, amongst other criteria. This year,
Flooring October/November 2019
attendees walked away inspired and eager to develop and continue to foster relationships, after all, it is the people that truly make the Flooring Xtra family different. Not such a franchisey franchise The culture inside Flooring Xtra is vastly different to other franchise groups, it is built on mutual respect and focuses on supporting each other through opportunities and the inevitable challenges faced in business and in life. Stuart Farrelly owner of Mansfield Flooring Xtra says, “The FX group has a culture that is more like an extended family where everyone is more than willing to help out each other with product knowledge and help in any way they can, having this support from other members is one of the best parts of this group.” Flooring Xtra provide mentoring programs through every stage of the business journey, from a new franchisee about to turn the key in their door for the first time, right through to their 20+ year franchisees who can offer a wealth of knowledge and experience to the journey. 10
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iQ Surface HOMOGENEOUS VINYL
Previewed at Milan Design Week, the iQ Surface range is created for designers. The result of a collaboration between Tarkett and Note Design Studio, the range gives equal weighting to function, form and expression of colour. Taking homogeneous vinyl flooring to new heights the iQ Surface range can be used across floors, walls and furniture opening up greater possibilities to play. WWW.TARKETT.COM.AU
Created for Designers
News
10 systems, their vision and culture as well as their drive is what initially impressed us and I’m happy to say this was just the tip of the iceberg of the benefits of joining Flooring Xtra,” Matthew and Emma Connell owners of Gladstone Flooring Xtra.
Ever tried to run a flooring group out of a chicken shed? Like most Australian business success stories, Flooring Xtra too was derived from humble beginnings. From running the former flooring group ICR out of a chicken shed in Warrnambool, Victoria, they still value the unpretentious mentality that was shown by former ICR owner Ken Armstrong. Kelsey Douglas owner of Bunbury Flooring Xtra explains, “From your own store right through to the Support Office [Flooring Xtra] feels like a huge extended family. Everyone is encouraging and always there for you. Flooring Xtra helps drive you and inspires so much passion in this industry making us all feel like family.”
grow our business with the brand values and family culture of Flooring Xtra which we have embraced.” Masters of support Assisting the store network with operational processes and training, Flooring Xtra value innovation, communication and collaboration. This is visible in their leadership workshops and their assistance recruiting staff in stores. Our custom-built internal systems Floormaster and Storemaster make it easy for stores to have access to various communications and collateral from the Support Office. “Flooring Xtra are continually upgrading and improving their
So… Have they convinced you? Did reading that Xcite you? It is easy to see why Flooring Xtra’s low fee model makes them the fastest growing floor covering retailer in Australia, striving for distinctive change in the flooring industry. In addition, due to systems, process and support provided by franchise models, new entrepreneurs looking to enter the industry feel more comfortable investing in franchise programs. This places Flooring Xtra in a strong position to support you in maximising your profitability and also supporting you to maximise the value of your business should you wish to sell. “The Support Office team are always eager to assist when called upon and I am yet to reach out without being offered a path to the other side of any hurdle we encounter,” Genevieve owner of South Adelaide Flooring Xtra. If you are contemplating joining a brand that cares, be sure to consider a growing team like Flooring Xtra.
Are you on the hook? The first three months from the time a new franchisee opens their doors, they will be assigned a team of mentors. The objective is to ultimately deliver exceptional service to the franchisees and ensure they are making the best use of all the resources available to them. And we know in the first three months, this can be tricky to navigate. Roger and Sue owners of Yamba Flooring Xtra say, “We would not be where we are today in our small country marketplace without the support and encouragement from the Support Office.” We want to make every store feel welcome and lift them to their optimum potential. Sue continues, “We have strived every day to
Flooring October/November 2019
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Carpet Planks
Grow Your Education Business NEW SKINNY PLANK
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Glacier
Contact your local representative to order sampling and discuss your next commercial project.
W W W. G H C O M M E R C I A L . C O M 1300 444 778
News
12
Look-at-me colours are making a comeback at Carpet Court
A
fter years of low-key neutrals, striking colour combinations are back in the spotlight, according to Carpet Court trendforecasters. The Pastel look, with its soft gelato hues, and the Outback look, inspired by the rich colours of the Australian landscape, are two trends you need to know about right now– and they’re perfect for reenergising a tired interior, say the forecasters.
“Colour is one of the easiest and most effective ways totransform a space, and these two looks have it in spades,”says Heather Nette King, Carpet Court’s style ambassador. “The Pastel look is serene and uplifting – ideal for a bedroom or living room – and really plays into the current wellness trend. The Outback look is inspired by our
magnificent landscape – it’s rugged and warm and translates beautifullyto openplan kitchen-living-dining spaces or family rooms. “With its muted apricots, mauves and dusty pinks, the Pastel look is undeniably feminine – but combining it with pared back,modern furniture and bolder accents of mint and pale grey will take it from cloying to contemporary,” says Heather. “Keep the look bright and airy with pale flooring. I love an ultra-soft, plush carpet such as Carpet Court’s Luxe Palettein Calla – a light, sage shade – looks and feels luxurious underfoot. Or opt for a limewashed or pale timber flooring such as Carpet Court’s Precinct Oak timber in Loire or Laneway vinyl planks in White Oak, which gives you the look of timber but none of the maintenance,” she says. The Outback look is a celebration of all things modern Australian, with a palette inspired by the colours of thedesert – rusty terracotta, ochre, olive green, wattle yellow andcharred black. “These muddy tones are paired with raw, grainy timbers, rustic furniture and tactile, woven elements to createa look that feels cocooning and authentic,” says Heather. “To create this look, seek out contemporary locally made pieces crafted from natural timber, buttery leather and utilitarian metal, and accessorise with artisanal ceramics with tactile, earthy finishes. “Add depth by layering similar tones of the one colour – say from walls to an upholstered sofa and cushions. Inject drama by painting joinery or kitchen cabinetry in matte black,”she says. “For this look, you’ll want a warm, earthy tone and texture underfoot. Choose flooring in a neutral shade with plenty of textural appeal, such as Carpet Court’s Ocean Road
Flooring October/November 2019
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innovation & inspiration
floorconcepts
News
14
textured wool loop pile carpet in Lorne – a deep grey-brown, or a luscious twist plush pile carpet such as Lifestyle + Rising Splendour in Cottonseed,” she says.
looking for a luxurious flooring or do you need something hardworking for a busy spot? All of these questions will help narrow down your choices,” says Heather.
TOUCHES OF TERRAZZO: trend-wise, terrazzo is the new marble and it makes a great addition to a Pastel scheme – try it on a tabletop or with some display items.
“For timber flooring,think warm mid tones, such as oak or walnut, with natural knots and swirls or a weathered finish. Carpet Court’s Aqua-Tuf Hybrid in Blackbutt or Exquisit Laminate in Tuscany Walnut would both work well.”
From sun-bleached to saturated - Lookat-me colours are making a comeback in interiors, according to Carpet Court. Here’s how to use them in your home.
BOOST LIGHT: the Pastel look benefits from plenty of natural light – mirrors and accessories with high-shine surfaces are great for maximising what you’ve got.
START WITH A HERO PIECE: if you’re unsure where to begin with colour for a room scheme, take your cues from a key piece in a room, such as an artwork.
CREATE BALANCE: the flooring you choose should complement – not compete with – statement features in a room. Think about the furniture and artwork in a room when making your flooring choice.
“A well-chosen floor can be the unsung hero in a room, helping set the mood and frame the space. You can simplify the selection process by doing a little homework before you head in-store. Think about how the space will be used and who will be using it. Ask yourself, are you prepared to maintain timber floors or would you prefer a lower maintenance alternative? Do you want the softness of carpet, but need something stainresistant that can take the odd spill? Are you
Flooring October/November 2019
GO TO THE DARK SIDE: for the Outback look, accentuate joinery by painting it a dark, matte colour. ADD CHARACTER FLOORING: timber flooring with tonal variation and plenty of knots and swirls will add a rustic touch to a room – perfect for the Outback look.
ASSESS THE LIGHT: just like paint, floor colours can appear to change under different light conditions. In a room with low-light, consider paler flooring; if the room is flooded with natural light, try some darker options.
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ENGINEERED OAK PARQUETRY
Project image courtesy of Surface Floors Mornington.
EXTENSIVE RANGE, PRE-FINISHED DÉCORS, HERRINGBONE & CHEVRON
by
Ask about our exciting new range: www.preferencefloors.com.au
News
16
DesignBUILD reimagined for the future of the built environment
Newly appointed event director James Laing is eager for the 2020 event to demonstrate the high standards and continuing innovations happening throughout the entire build process in Australia. “There are a number of profound changes that have rapidly affected the construction industry over the past year, including issues around cladding and defective materials,” says Laing. “Through our renewed 2020 focus, we hope to offer visitors a forum where they can connect with trustworthy brands representing the entire build spectrum, learn about practical solutions, and engage with cutting-edge technology.” “In response to extensive visitor and exhibitor research, we have created a standalone event for our Chinese exhibitors that will sit outside of DesignBUILD to deliver better experiences for attendees.”
I
n recognition of the changing needs and challenges of the building industry, DesignBUILD 2020 will look towards the future of Australia’s built environment with a renewed focus. Now entering its 34th year, the annual industry event is Australia’s longest running trade show that brings together leading architects, commercial builders and property developers with manufacturers and suppliers operating within the commercial design and construction industry. Building on this foundation, DesignBUILD is implementing several significant changes for its 2020 event.
Flooring October/November 2019
This includes the launch of a new Digital Building Zone, designed to capitalise on the huge opportunity of digitisation in the AECO sector. A hub of technological innovation, the zone will offer an immersive experience for major players to showcase up-to-the-minute solutions in construction technology and smart buildings. DesignBUILD will work closely with UK sister brand Digital Construction Week, to deliver the latest thinking and discussion revolutionising the construction industry, from the digitisation of paperbased processes and cloud-based design collaboration, through to cutting-edge software, AI and sensor technology.
This renewed focus will be a game changer for the architecture, building, construction and design sector, as they look to DesignBUILD for industry-class innovation and sustainable materials from leading brands in Australia and abroad. In taking a more holistic view of the future built environment, DesignBUILD will for the first time be co-located with Total Facilities, supporting the need for high-performing facilities, intelligent living and work spaces. The co-location will make DesignBUILD 2020 the largest destination for Australia’s built environment and will see more decision makers, including building owners, corporate real estate and facilities management leaders, on the show floor. Interested brands are invited to experience the new DesignBUILD, returning to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 21-23 April 2020.
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VINYL PLANK
Naturale Plank 5.0
The finest blend of strength and luxury Beautiful true-to-life wood dĂŠcors featured in large format long and wide planks, larger than the industry norm. Backed with a 25 Year Residential Warranty for your customers peace-of-mind 0.5mm Commercial Grade wear layer suitable for general commercial traffic areas R10 Slip Rating for commercial applications
PU Coating creates a barrier to protect against spills, dirt and bacteria allowing ease-of-maintenance With a 100% waterproof guarantee this floor is suitable for bathrooms and laundries VIC/TAS: 1800 803 545 NSW: 1800 802 926 QLD/NT/WA/SA: 1800 806 375
www.imaginefloors.com.au
Light Driftwood NP524
News
18
You asked and they delivered Con-Treat Victoria is open for business!
T
he team at the Con-Treat head office in Burleigh Heads Queensland have been busy celebrating huge milestones and with their current distributors around Australia the team have embarked on expanding by adding a second showroom and warehouse in Thomastown, Victoria. In Victoria their ambition is to develop and continue the Con-Treat mission statement; supplying architects, designers, contractors and builders with the highest quality products, equipment and expert advice in the concrete flooring industry. Having grown a large Queensland customer base and with Victoria following in tow, over the last eighteen months there has been an increased influx of returning customers from
the Southern states. With such high demand, it seemed an obvious solution to expand and open a second Con-Treat store further south. The prime location in Victoria is near major arterial roads making the warehouse and showroom easily accessible to customers and transport companies. Placed within arm’s reach to the Metropolitan Highway, ConTreat Victoria have opened its doors at 34 / 326 Settlement Road, Thomastown Victoria. With ample showroom and warehouse space, and an abundance of customer parking, all are welcome to visit Con-Treat’s new premises. To all local contractors in the concrete flooring industry, builders, DIY (doit-yourself-ers), architects and designers; the team would love to meet you. The showroom
is open Monday to Friday, 7am – 4pm for those who wish to drop in and see their range. If you can’t make it to the showroom Con-Treat also offer a prompt delivery service for their Victorian customers – save money on freight from the current Gold Coast HQ and order direct from Thomastown. And introducing the newest member to the Con-Treat family, Anna Dattoli. With over 19 years’ experience in the chemical adhesives industry, production planning, managerial roles and a long-standing relationship with Con-Treat’s largest manufacturer, it is evident Anna is perfect for the position as Con-Treat Victoria’s General Manager. “I am looking forward to this journey with the team at Con-Treat; I cannot wait to grow and develop the Con-Treat brand, and I am so excited to meet our wonderful customers and show what we have to offer!” Anna Dattoli Con-Treat supply a large range of products and equipment including: • Waterproofing and Curing Products • Concrete Sealers and Acid Stains • Epoxy, Polyaspartic and Polyurethane Coatings • Seamless Flake Flooring Systems • Levelling Compounds and Crack Repair • Surface Preparation Equipment • Diamond Grinding Tools • Dust Extraction and much more
Above: Meet the Con-Treat national team – Andrew McLeay, Managing Director; Sam McLeay, Administration and Accounts Manager; Teigan Handley, Operations Manager QLD
Flooring October/November 2019
Drop in and meet Anna at the new Con-Treat Victoria showroom where the team believe the importance of great service is equal to the importance of great products and equipment.
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P3*
R10 *
News Social media launch #imaginefloors
20 tag and use the hashtag #imaginefloors for a shout out. They have integrated social media buttons for Instagram and Facebook on their website so their pages can be easily found. Or check out their pages here – Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ imaginefloors/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ imaginefloorsbyairstep/
Imagine Floors by Airstep are pleased to announce the launch of their social media pages on Instagram and Facebook. “Hello! We’re new here (social media) but we’re not new to flooring. We know floor. We love floor.” (extracted from their first social post).
The Australasian RIA Restoration Industry Conference will be held at the Novotel Twin Waters Resort in North Queensland from the 10th to the 12th of June in 2020. The RIA would like to invite the flooring industry to attend its not for profit industry conference; a perfect place to interact with leading
Flooring October/November 2019
Floorworld recently held a conference for their retailers, head office staff and suppliers at the Crown Promenade in Melbourne. At the gala dinner on Saturday August 31st 2019 they named their Floorworld sales representative of the year, as voted by the membership. The award went to Airstep’s Area Sales Manager from Victoria, Beville De Bruin. Beville specialises in relationship development and sales for Airstep Underlay and Imagine Floors by Airstep (hard flooring) divisions. Beville has been a valued member of the Airstep team for nearly two years. With over 10 years’ experience in the hard flooring sector, Beville works closely with his customers to provide them with both product knowledge and brand awareness. The team at Airstep are very proud of his achievement and would like to congratulate Beville on his accolade.
Their goal with the new social platforms is to give customers and end-users a look at their carefully crafted range of laminate, engineered timber, vinyl and hybrid floors. Along with some styling inspiration and to have a bit of fun along the way. Airstep would love to feature your recent installs and store displays of their floors so please follow,
Restoration Industry Association annual conference
Floorworld industry awards
restoration indoor air quality and carpet cleaning professionals from Australia, NZ and the greater international restoration industry. The event will include a conference featuring guest speakers from around the globe alongside a trade show for businesses wanting to display their products and services making it the ideal place to network with restoration professionals and industry experts. Spaces are still available for exhibitors and conference registrations will be open in November. If anyone is interest in further details please send an email to adnmin@ riaevents.com.au.
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uantum
manufactured by
NEXTGEN FLOORING
L O O S E L AY V I N Y L P L A N K
5
mm
AMSTERDAM
WAT E R P R O O F - S U N P R O O F - FA D E P R O O F - H E AT P R O O F
Product Update
22
Introducing Dekton Grip+ for guaranteed slip-resistance Cosentino’s Dekton Grip+ is a superior new anti-slip treatment that offers exceptional performance and a smooth feel on Dekton interior and exterior floors. Grip+ enables Dekton to be used where a high level of slip resistance is required, maximising safety in high-traffic and wet environments.
The surface also offers the advanced durability properties of Dekton as a sophisticated blend of the raw materials used to produce the very latest in glass, porcelain and high-quality quartz surfaces.
Cosentino has been dedicated to the development of the anti-slip innovation and solution. The revolutionary finish adheres to the material before the particle sintering process that is involved in manufacturing Dekton, thereby becoming part of its molecular structure. This modifies the visible face of the material in a controlled and precise manner and creates a lightly textured surface that gives the product guaranteed anti-slip resistance. Dekton Grip+ is suitable for interior and exterior flooring in public and private projects. This includes pavements, ramps, terraces, surfaces in and around pools, showers, spas and dressing rooms. The uniformity of the finish has a smoothness similar to that of standard Dekton, making it pleasant underfoot and easy to maintain.
Above: Dekton Keon and Dekton Halo feature in the Dekton House. Designed by Alec Pappas Architects. Photo credit: Prue Ruscoe
Below: Dekton Arga by Cosentino
The ultracompact surface is resistant to scratches, stains, cold, heat, and UV rays. It also absorbs very little water, is easy to clean and never needs to be resurfaced, sealed or refinished. Combining the superior performance of Dekton and Dekton Grip+, it is an ideal solution for maximising safety in indoor and outdoor environments. The higher safety index meets stringent international regulations and classifies Dekton Grip+ as R11 under regulation DIN 51130. This allows it to be used for a 19-to27-degree angle of slip, in food production facilities, mid-sized kitchens in restaurants and cafÊs, working environments where there is water and sludge, laboratories, laundries and hangars. It also classifies as C under regulation DIN 51097, which allows it to be used for an angle of slip greater than 23 degrees, and for areas where people walk barefoot into water and through pools. Dekton Grip+ can be applied to 16 Dekton colours and will continue to be incorporated into other tones in the product range. It is currently available for a selection of surfaces across the Industrial, Tech, Wild and Natural collections, and can be combined with Dekton standard-finish surfaces for a seamless look. Cosentino is a global company with a local outlook and has redefined indoor and outdoor surfaces for the Australian architecture and design industry. Its innovative surface solutions perform beyond expectations, bringing aesthetics and functionality to the world’s most beautiful residential, commercial and hospitality environments.
Flooring October/November 2019
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Product Update
23
Commercial flooring without the flaws Most facility operators will continue to use methods already in place and not investigate how new flooring should be cared for in accordance with the flooring manufacturers care guidelines. Companies who do not implement cleaning programs or use incorrect cleaning equipment appear to do so for two main reasons: budget constraints and poor cleaning knowledge. Are your customers working with a budget? Shortcuts could actually cost more in the long run. Contract cleaning companies who just surface clean using a backpack or barrel vacuum perform a grave disservice to their customers. The age-old adage, if it looks clean then it must be clean, is wrong. Daily vacuuming with the correct piece of equipment is part of a proper carpet care program.
Quickmat by Gerflor A specialty range of entrance mats has been added to Gerflor’s suite of commercial flooring solutions. Designed to reduce the transfer of dirt and moisture from the outside into buildings, the Romus range of Quickmat solutions answer very specific needs in different entrance zones. Gerflor Marketing Manager, Jutta Fronert, said the mats extend and add value to the Gerflor offer. “The Quickmat range is a hybrid offer that combines the best features of traditional aluminium and carpet mats. It allows us to offer our customers mats to lower maintenance
Flooring October/November 2019
The new SEBO Automatic XP10 small in size offers easy and effective commercial floor care automatically. A computer control system monitors performance and adjusts the brush height to the optimum floor setting, ensuring the best performance at all times on all floors - whether on smooth floor or high pile carpet. Featuring an anti-allergy, S-Class-Filtration, the Automatic XP10 is ideal for use in environments where high indoor air quality (IAQ) is paramount such as aged care and hospitals.
costs and reduce risks associated with
The compact 31cm working width vacuums in between chair legs in one pass and stores neatly on housekeeping trolleys perfect for hotels and motels. The SEBO Automatic XP10 can even work when completely flat. With its low-profile design, it makes it easy to clean under furniture in foyers and public areas. Low handle weight and electric brush roller assures easy vacuuming for any sized operator. The integrated hose with telescopic tube is conveniently located for hard to reach areas plus the on-board accessories make above the floor cleaning such as lamps, drapes and A/C vents a breeze.
slips and falls. Quickmat is a quality mat at a very affordable price,” Jutta said. The Quickmat range is specifically designed to protect new and renovated buildings both inside and out. Using a combination of scraping and absorbing inserts with dirt collection technology, Quickmat can reduce the amount of dirt and moisture that enters a building by 90%. Outdoor Quickmat products retain gravel, mud and coarse dirt. Inside, recessed Quickmat solutions trap the finest dirt particles and absorb moisture. “Gerflor is committed to innovative flooring solutions that protect people and buildings and the Quickmat offer adds a valuable chapter to our ongoing story,” Jutta said.
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
Product Update
24
Quantum – latest technology in LVT
A
pproximately four years ago Matt Casaceli and Paul Ronzon had an idea for a 5mm LVT that would change the category as we know it. The only issue was that the technology didn’t exist to be able to make such a product. So, after 4 years of developing the technology the team at Proline are delighted to release their newest addition – Quantum, a 5mm easy lay plank. How is it different to the other products already out there in the marketplace? It is the technology that lies within this product that makes it stand out from the rest. Quantum is still made with PVC and fibreglass but it is the overall construction that holds a secret, setting them apart. In between the two layers of stabilising fibreglass Quantum contains microscopic molecules that are heat sensitive and react in opposition to the PVC in the product. So, when it is hot and the plank wants to
expand, the molecules shrink and hold the plank firm. Visa versa, when it is cold and the plank wants to shrink the molecules blossom and again hold the planks firm. Quantum has been tested against many other leading products on the market and the results have been outstanding. When tested between 5 and 80 degrees and held there for 6 hours, Quantum only moved .24mm that is 5 times more stable than their closest competitor which moved .95mm. So how are Proline Floors going to back these claims up? Proline Floors are the only manufacture in the market that are saying ‘no acclimatisation necessary’ - they just ask that installers do not leave the product in their utes all day. While the installers are doing floor prep, get the planks inside and open the boxes for 30 minutes. They also recommend using pressure sensitive.
The Proline Floors inhouse design team have been traveling both Australia and Europe to come up with some of the most beautiful and realistic colours on the market today. The colour Lucerne for example, comes from the oldest footbridge in the world. The team managed to source some timber from this bridge, whilst it was under repair, and created this unique design. The team at Proline Floors believe that this range now puts them at the forefront of technology and design and they could not be happier with the end result. Look out for the new Quantum range as it hits the market in November and December 2019.
Flooring October/November 2019
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Introducing your new look Redbook Green!
Hi I'm Wally, your new Redbook Green mascot!
Pet friendly carpet.
25 YEAR Pet Protection Warranty^
We love all our carpets and know we shouldn’t have favourites‌ but with superior built-in stain resistance, easy maintenance, protection from pet mishaps, durability and softness, Redbook Green is the top performer across the board.
Contact your local account manager for new sampling opportunities today. ^ Terms and conditions apply - See the Redbook Triexta Carpet Warranty and Care Guide available at www.redbookcarpets.com
Product Update
26
Polysafe Verona by Polyflor Polyflor Australia is delighted to announce the launch of the Polysafe Verona Pure Colours collection. Building on the success of the Original Polysafe Verona colour palette the Pure Colours collection features a new and contemporary decoration in a selection of 18 tonal hues, perfectly suited for installation within a wide range of commercial and residential environments to ensure the underfoot safety of occupants. Developed with the requirements of those living with dementia in mind, the Polysafe Verona Pure Colours collection features a specially engineered emboss and unique
matt finish, using complementary coloured quartz in the vinyl to harmonise with the base shade and generate enhanced sustainable slip resistance of 45+ (slider 96). The result is an aesthetically appealing safety floor that looks like a smooth vinyl with virtually ‘invisible’ slip resistance once laid on the floor.
centre of knowledge and expertise dedicated to improving the lives of those living with dementia which offers a product accreditation scheme which rates products on a tier scale. The Polysafe Verona Pure Colours collection performed exceptionally well with 14 colours achieving the highest 1a rating and 4 colours achieving 1b.
Polyflor worked with the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) at the University of Stirling to assess the suitability of the Pure Colours collection for specification in dementia friendly environments. The DSDC is an international
Tom Rollo, Marketing Manager at Polyflor UK comments, “The Pure Colours collection adds a contemporary new design to the well-established Polysafe Verona range. From the outset the goal was to develop a product that responded to the market demands for a plain and tonal decoration and also for the collection to be well suited to specification within dementia friendly design schemes. We are very pleased with the result and believe the new collection will be an important addition to the Polysafe family of products.” For added reassurance of low maintenance in hygiene critical areas, Polysafe Verona features the renowned Polysafe polyurethane reinforcement (PUR) cleaning enhancement. Cross-linked and UV cured, Polysafe PUR is a super strength reinforcement designed to facilitate even easier cleaning, whilst providing optimum appearance and colour retention as well as improved soil release. Using a micro mop maintenance regime, chemical usage, energy intensive cleaning and water consumption are significantly reduced and life cycle maintenance costs of up to 60% are achievable when compared to untreated safety flooring. Polysafe Verona PUR contains recycled content through the use of natural recycled aggregates and is 100% recyclable via the Recofloor scheme.
Flooring October/November 2019
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
CUT CARPET, VINYL, TIME & COSTS WITH A NEW EZCUT CUTTING MACHINE IN YOUR BUSINESS! MK-6 BEST IN CLASS
MK-7 FASTEST IN CLASS
Laser cut precision manufacturing, innovative engineering and advanced technology ensure optimum performance, efficiency and dependability.
Engineered to last the long haul with minimal maintenance, the MK-7’s frame, rollers, motors are the largest and strongest in their class, ensuring a long, trouble-free life and years of cost savings.
The MK-6’s is the best appointed machine in its class. Powerful motors, touch panel control, roll management system and laser sensors provide the power required for medium to high volume operations while simplifying the controls.
Fast, efficient and durable, the MK-7 and MK-7 Extended are a must-have for any high-volume flooring retailer or distributor. The MK-7 can be used as a standalone piece of equipment or paired with a staging table where continuous operations and high volumes are a must.
Specifications
Specifications
Power: Outside N. America:208-230V /50 Hz Dimensions: 6’2”W x 16’0”L x 3’6”H Use: Medium-High Volume Operations Warranty: 3 Year Parts, 1 Year Labor (Limited) Safety: Meets all CSA and UL Safety Standards
FROM
$248 PER WEEK
Power: Outside N. America:208-230V /50 Hz
FROM
$281
Dimensions: 6’6”W x 16’0”L x 3’6”H Use: High Volume Operations Warranty: 3 Year Parts, 1 Year Labor (Limited)
PER WEEK
Safety: Meets all CSA and UL Safety Standards
Options:
Options:
– Cross Splitter Attachment for splitting rolls.
– Cutting Track extensions.
– Cutting Track Extensions.
– Extended / Wider Inspection Table areas
– Infrared Activator for perimeter controls.
– Air Assisted Roll Dumping feature on the machine’s Load Side
Airsource: 1.5 HP; 10 Gallon Tank;
– Air Assisted Raising / Lowering of the machine from it’s Caster Wheels to it’s Base
120 psi; 5-8 CFM. (Minimum)
Airsource: 2.0 HP; 10 Gallon Tank; 120 psi; 5-8 CFM
CONTACT YOUR NEAREST INTAFLOORS DISTRIBUTOR TODAY NEW SOUTH WALES Intafloors Trade Depot P: (02) 8678 5479
ACT Intafloors Trade Depot P: 0403 420 377
QUEENSLAND Intafloors Trade Centre Gold Coast P: (07) 5564 9999
TASMANIA Total Flooring P: (03) 6234 9855
VICTORIA Intafloors Trade Depot Vic P: (03) 9768 7248
SOUTH AUSTRALIA DE Seal & Sons Pty Ltd P: (08) 8346 9833
NEW ZEALAND Allnex Auckland P: +64 (09) 583 6500
Brisbane P: 0438 703 536 Sunshine Coast P: (07) 54510856
www.intafloors.com.au
Feature
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The importance of using the right tool for the job
“Take the time to set up the correct tools for the job at hand, if you skimp on tools you risk failure.” Above: Gekko Water Based Tackifier (G67-C) Flooring October/November 2019
Flooring Magazine recently sat down with industry stalwart, Australian Flooring Supplies (AFS), to discuss tools and accessories for this month’s feature.
A
sk anyone with experience in the flooring industry for advice and they will tell you the same thing, you should always use the right tool for the job. Many of us have learnt this the hard way and many newcomers are still looking for a quick-fix when they can. The result is an inferior job in the short-term and the potential for time consuming and costly problems that demand fixing in the longterm. For example, we often see installers using electric tackers for larger applications where an air powered tacker should be used instead. Electric tackers are designed for quick fixes and short sporadic uses, not continual use for hours on end. Using electric tackers incorrectly like this causes overheating which often leads to jamming and snapping. By using tools that are inadequate for the job, you also risk damaging them. When concrete grinding, sanding or scraping concrete subfloors, using vacuums and dust extractors equipped with HEPA filters is incredibly important. Cheap vacuums just don’t do the job and can be hazardous to installers’ health.
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Feature Maintain your tools If you are an installer who relies on your tools for a living, not caring for them could end up costing you considerably in the future. Even premium tools that are designed to last for many years can quickly deteriorate when inadequately maintained. For example, at the end of the day make sure your electrical equipment is stored inside or in a garage. Too often we hear of tools being left in ute trays where moisture can affect internal components.
Above: Roberts Flooring cutter 630 (10-95) Top tips for looking after your tools • Undo your Jamb Saw’s blade clamp and screw before first use (as these are on machine tight). • Change Carbon brushes and remove dust in Jamb Saws.
• Be sure to clean the nozzle on your Gekko contact spray to make sure you spray only the area that requires glue, not the entire wall (nasty clean up that one).
Above: Roberts Cove Trimmer (10-690) • Use the correct staple size, as specified by the manufacturer, in all types of staplers (Roberts 15mm tacker staples specifically suit 10-600 stapler). • Keep your nap and pin plates clean in all knee kickers. • Check the use by date of your gas cells and only use in date gas cells in all types of nail guns (BEA/GFS). • Replace Delrin guides on your Roberts wall trimmer when they become worn so skirting boards are not marked and scratched. • Replace your carpet tucker wheels if chipped or damaged to insure a cleaner finish. • Make sure all cutters/knives and trimmers have clean, fresh blades in them to ensure the best result when cutting and trimming.
“A lot of tools are now supplied in blow mould cases to protect them. Yet we often see these tools come in for repairs without the case. Take advantage of this tailormade product protection and safeguard your toolkit.” Knowledge is power Whether you are newly qualified or more experienced, we all have gaps in our knowledge. Staying on top of the latest innovative products on the market and the cutting-edge techniques currently used within the industry can be time consuming. However, it is always important to build on your knowledge and skills to help you get the job done better and faster, so you can stay competitive in what some describe as a ruthless industry. “Attend trade events and manufacturers’ information events. All flooring accessory
Feature distributors go to great lengths to bring up to date product information and installation procedures to market as per each manufacturer’s recommendations. Take the time to attend and learn.”
30 Below: Protect Crete Moisture Fix (20MI15)
Flooring has been rapidly evolving over the past few years. This has created more affordable options for consumers, but has also made it harder for them to identify the core differences between each type of product. Similarly, installers now need to be experts in identifying specific materials used in each type of product as well as that product’s best installation method. Flooring installation today Whilst every installer needs the stock standard tool kit to get the job done, we are seeing a slight shift in the particular tools and accessories required in 2019. Here are a few innovations the team at AFS have recently seen; • For those harder to cut Hybrids and thicker vinyl planks guillotine cutters are now replacing knives. The ROBERTS 630mm Pro Flooring Cutter is a guillotine-style cutter manufactured to cut precise, clean-edges on all types of flooring materials. • Installation of Vinyl sheet can be made easier and faster with the aid of the new Roberts Cove Trimmer, this tool can be used to not only mark the wall glue line but also cut the sheet vinyl at the top of the cove. • New and improved Jamb Saw. With the advent of 5mm products and laminates we are now able to quickly and cleanly cut a channel in the skirting without having to remove and replace. It now also features a vacuum port to save time cleaning wood chips and dust.
Flooring October/November 2019
• Gas nail guns have made putting down Smoothedge quicker and easier over concrete floors. Try GFS 10-1000 and BEA 10-15928.
Australian Flooring Supplies (AFS) is an established and well-known brand with a solid reputation within the flooring trade industry. As one of Australia’s largest flooring accessory distributors and a design-led flooring company, AFS is a total flooring solution. They have everything from nails, adhesives and blades to cement mixers, tile cutters and 1.6 tonne carpet cutting machines, catering for all of your flooring installation needs. With 20 conveniently located branches throughout Australia - including four in VIC, nine in NSW, one in the ACT and six in QLD – shopping with AFS is easy. For branch locations visit www. australianflooringsupplies.com.au
• Gekko aerosol cans and canisters have made spraying down pressure sensitive adhesive and contacts faster and easier, allowing for quick installations and repairs • Makinex tools have made take ups and levelling floors easy. Using the Makinex Jack Hammer Trolley lightens the lifting load. With the Makinex mixing station you can mix five bags of levelling compound in one go. As it is on wheels it is also easy to move around the site so you can pour directly out of the station where ever it is needed. • Cyclone’s range of concrete grinders and polishers use helical gear drive, just like your car’s transmission to produce high torque machines with no wear and less noise. Concrete and stone grinding and polishing have never been easier. • Moisture Fix by Oxtek – a one-step application moisture protection for concrete slabs. Pour and sweep over slabs, it’s just that easy.
Above: Cyclone mid-size planetary grinder (CFT-600)
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LEADING THE WAY IN FLOOR PREPARATION
GRINDERS | DUST EXTRACTORS DIAMOND TOOLING PARTS & ACCESSORIES
Cyclone Tools offers unparalleled performance, durability and efficiency. Available exclusively at Australian Flooring Supplies.
AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST FLOORING ACCESSORY DISTRIBUTOR
australianflooringsupplies.com.au | afscustomerservice@qep.com
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Floorex Products - for all your floor preparation needs
S
uccessful contractors always need a supplier they can trust. That is why if you need concrete preparation equipment, Floorex welcomes you to come and see their extensive range.
to the staff at Floorex and find out how they can work through this with you. How about Cyclone Pre-Separators? An effective way to collect up to 95% of the dust before it reaches the extractor.
Floorex design, manufacture and assemble their machines right here in Australia. This means that you can rely on a local brand that you can trust. How hard does it have to be to get replacement parts and consumables? Being right here in Australia means Floorex can service customer needs and provide rapid, time sensitive solutions.
Floor Scrapers: The Floorex range of scrapers are specifically designed and built in Australia to provide superior performance, while being easily affordable. Floorex also have push-along, self-propelled and ride-on floor scrapers.
The Floorex team undergo up-to-date training so they can provide expert technical and product knowledge which contractors can rely on. Products in the Floorex range: Concrete Grinder/Polishers: Included in this range are the GrinderTec, Meteor, Galaxy are Satellite Grinders. These grinders can be used for concrete grinding, concrete polishing, trip hazard removal, line marking removal, glue removal, coating preparation, wood floor sanding, precast table refinishing and more.
Temporary Floor Protection: In the Floorex showrooms they also carry the Supabord range of floor protection products. These are an excellent way of protecting your polished floors while construction is in process. Sika Flooring Products: Whether you need 1 bag or 1000 bags, Floorex can help you, as Sika flooring products are now stocked in all of their locations.
Shotblasters: Floorex has been selling shotblasters in Australia for over 20 years. They have specialists in this field who can help answer customer questions on when a Shotblaster is the right machine for the job. Did you know that shotblasting is the most effective form of concrete preparation for coatings and screeds? Polivac: If you need a new polisher, sander or buffing machine, Floorex carries some of the Polivac range of machines including a great range of pads and screens to suit. Floorex strives to be #yourkeytofloorpreparationsucess. Other products in their extensive range include, screed mixers, temporary wall systems, diamond tooling, concrete planers, traffic line removers, vacuum hosing and floor tools, coating application tools, spiked shoes, spiked rollers, concrete treatment products, concrete hardness testers, paint rollers and more‌
Dust Extraction: Included in this range are the DustMaster products which are now M Rated. They are one of the few dust extractors that do not use fussy electronics. The range includes single, dual and triple motor extractors with semi-auto filter cleaning. Floorex also manufacture the larger 3 phase extractors which are designed to be used along with larger grinders and similar equipment. Have you got an extractor already that does not really cope and you are spending a lot on repairs? Speak
Flooring October/November 2019
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
Australia’s complete supplier of concrete preparation equipment !
P Concrete Grinders P Floor Scrapers P Shotblasters P Diamond Tooling
P Dust Extraction P Mixing Equipment P Floor Protection P Scarifiers
Concrete Grinding & Polishing, Tiling Beds & Grouting Floor Preparation, Carpet & Vinyl Removal, Trip Hazard Removal, Line Removal, Shotblasting Construction Clean-up, Demolition, Hire & Rental
WHY BUY FROM FLOOREX? • Fast Australia-Wide Shipping • Free technical advice • Friendly fast service • Showroom Displays
BRISBANE | SYDNEY | MELBOURNE SWAN HILL | AUCKLAND
1800 356 673 www.floorex.com.au
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Taped Trim Edges - Install solutions from BBS
W
hether the cause is global warming, or better modern home heating and insulation, or just changes in fashion, ‘hard’ floor coverings continue to grow in popularity at the expense of traditional ‘soft’ coverings like carpet.
edges and joins. For this to happen the trim itself must be the fixed immovable point of the installation and given the flexible nature of building design anchoring the trim in a fixed location is not always easy or predictable.
The modern home may have carpet up the stairs and through the bedrooms, but most ground floor hallways, family and entertainment rooms, bathrooms, kitchens and laundries are more likely have some form of ridged (hard) floor covering.
Here the traditional method of installation used to be a contact adhesive, but for OH&S reasons a solvent based bonding agent is becoming less usable in many job sites.
Popular hard floor coverings are ceramic tiles, solid or composite timber floors, floating floors and stuck down vinyl planks. It is also not uncommon to have several different floor coverings in the same dwelling – carpet on bedrooms floors, ceramic or vinyl in wet areas, or maybe a laminate or a hybrid floating floor in hallways and family entertainment rooms. These choices provide a multitude of options for modern living, but when each of these floor coverings is installed a seamless join is needed where they meet. A variety of trims get installed to make these transitions between surfaces even, smooth and flat. Fixing these trims, particularly with floating floors, gives the installer many new challenges, and even the occasional headache. This is because floating floors are free to move around and must be able to expand and contract in hot and cold conditions. To float freely and expand (then contract) they must be able to move both in and out of the fixed trims that get located at their
Flooring October/November 2019
Taped trim installations are also flexible because they can be applied to any surface of the trim, and so can be installed in many different ways. Another similar application for taped trim installations is with stair nosing inserts.
Taping this trim join is an obvious alternative.
Taping trims in place – to the wall (usually plaster, but also timber, glass or other materials), skirting (painted MDF, vinyl or aluminium), subfloor or sometimes the floor covering itself - offers greater installation flexibility for the installer.
Not only does this get around the OH&S risks posed by contact adhesive solvents, it is also quick and simple to apply, has no drying time to wait through, and forms a stable and lasting bond between the insert and the stair nosing.
Modified acrylic double-sided tapes are recommended for a permanent durable bond between the trim and the anchoring surface. The anchoring surface (the wall, skirting, floor or floorcovering that the trim will be fastened to) needs to be smooth, straight and flat for a good bond. If the surface is too undulating a straight trim will want to pull away in places. Modified acrylics offer good plasticizer, chemical and solvent resistance, and don’t break down in sunlight or extreme temperatures and are highly suitable for this application.
In both installations it is just a matter of applying the tape to the trim, then peeling away the release paper and pressing it up against the joining surface.
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Feature
35
Emission Controlled Gas Burnisher When you want 1,900 square meters per hour straight line gas burnishing, you can rely on the legendary long life and reliability of the Polivac 20" Gas burnisher. This compact high-speed machine delivers 13 horsepower (and more) in a balanced, operator-friendly package. Smooth to operate and easy to use, the Gas 20" punches well above its weight compared with many of the machines in its class. Fitted with the new Closed Loop Engine Emission technology, it automatically ensures that CO emissions are minimised and maintained at safe levels. High performance combined with ultimate
reliability, the Gas 20" Honda motor comes in either 9.69 kw (13 hp) or the 13.42 kw (18 hp) Kawasaki version. The skirt is positioned within the machine body for greater protection as well as containing the dust so that the active vacuum system leaves the floor dust-free.
The ergonomically designed handle is adjustable and is fitted with a throttle control - right at the operator's fingertips. It can also be folded down for easy transport. Built to last, the Gas 20" solid construction and highly durable finish ensures long life with maximum presentation. Better yet, ease of maintenance and servicing eliminates costly and unnecessary downtime.
SureTrimÂŽ
Trims Tape Honest. Australian. Quality 40mm to adhere inserts into nosings
For adhering trims to wall and hard floorcoverings Thin but very strong
Quick and easy to apply
PT530-40/50
Resists plasticisers to work with PVC
No waiting for contact adhesive to dry
2 / 75 Zenith Road, Dandenong, VIC, 3175, Australia Tel: +61 3 9793 2244 EMAIL: info@bbsfp.com
6mm flexible solution for difficult installations
PT530-6/50
BBS Flooring Products
Feature
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Hitting the road with Australian Flooring Supplies
H
itting the road to take trade nights to rural and regional customers with leading suppliers is a well-loved pilgrimage for Australian Flooring Supplies (AFS). This year the New South Wales trade nights have been followed by an AFS hosted Ardex waterproofing and levelling training morning. Offering the training the day after the trade nights has been a huge hit said Wayne Martin, Sales Manager AFS New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory. “It is great to offer this training free of charge to our regional customers,” Martin said. “For a regional customer to send their staff to Sydney for training can be very costly. There’s the cost of accommodation, staff meals, travel costs including potential flights, as well as two to three days away from the office all on top of the course cost. “Regional accounts have supported AFS for many years and it’s nice to be able to give something back in return for their loyalty.” The training involved Ardex taking AFS customers through their new products as well as discussing old faithfuls and the importance of floor priming. “The training course we offer is a shortened course compared to the course held at Ardex,” Martin said. “But it is fantastic for store staff who don’t understand floor prep, layers who need a refresher and apprentices,” Martin added.
Flooring October/November 2019
Since mid-July AFS has put on 12 trade nights in various regional locations including Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, Traralgon in Victoria and Rockhampton in Queensland. Suppliers travelling with AFS have included Ardex, Cyclone, Makinex, Roberts, Gekko and AcouSlime. “The trade nights have been a lot of fun for the installers, retailers, suppliers and AFS staff,” said Danny Colbertaldo, National Sales Manager AFS. “It gives customers who aren’t located near a branch the chance to see products and tools in use and to meet with our suppliers. “It’s also an opportunity for us to show our appreciation to our regional and rural customers by hosting them for the night and putting on food and drinks.”
Every trade night has door prizes and eventonly specials on tools, adhesives, vacuums and more. Suppliers also provided samples, ran product demonstrations for customers and were on hand to answer any questions. Victorian AFS trade nights have occurred this year in Warrnambool and Traralgon. New South Wales Trade nights have taken place in Wagga Wagga, Ballina, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Tamworth and Newcastle. Queensland trade nights have taken place in Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Townsville and Cairns. “The shows have been really popular and we’ve had lots of positive feedback from both suppliers and customers,” Colbertaldo said. “Given the positive feedback we hope to increase the number of regional towns we visit on our next road trip.”
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
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Want a safer, more comfortable way to use a Jack Hammer?
C
oncrete is tough and having the job of breaking it up, is a physically demanding job. With some jack hammers weighing in at 16kg, they are heavy pieces of kit and if you are operating one for hours at a time, then your body will take a hammering… pardon the pun. One of the hazards associated with jack hammering are hand and body vibrations which can cause a whole raft of physical issues ranging from nerve damage to lower back disorders. There are many ways to minimise the potential impact of these hazards and topping the list is - having the right equipment. One company who can certainly help with this is Makinex Construction Products who are committed to helping customers do their work safely and efficiently. One of their products is the Makinex Jack Hammer Trolley which carries most of the weight of the jack hammer while the user positions themselves behind the trolley and pushes it along.
Mark Granger of Buildcore Constructions shares his experience with the Jack Hammer Trolley. “The boys are happy with the setup. The bed is really stuck so will do another pass to remove all the bed. They have done 5 wet rooms and about 130m2 of main floor and could operate all day long.” Other tips to help minimise the physical impact when jack hammering include: 1. Ensure you have adequate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) such as gloves, boots, safety glasses, ear protection and long pants. 2. Take regular breaks. 3. Suppress potentially harmful silica dust with a portable constant pressure water unit such as the Makinex Hose 2 Go. Follow these simple guidelines to complete your demolition work safely and more efficiently. R
FLOORING PRODUCTS
Flooring products that save you time and money
This piece of equipment can be adjusted to six different positions ranging from 30 – 80 degrees to suit most demolition jobs and has a built-in anti-vibration system to protect users from the dangers of the hand and body vibrations mentioned earlier. The JHT is available with two different attachments to ensure the right tool for the surface being removed is used. These attachments are called the Tile Smasher and the Flippable Wide Chisel. The Makinex Jack Hammer Trolley was first created back in 2004 and since then has helped thousands of jack hammer operators minimise operating hazards worldwide. Users report on been able to do their jobs up to six times faster due to the decrease in operator fatigue provided by the Jack Hammer Trolley.
Flooring October/November 2019
Jack Hammer Trolley
Innovative design for clever contractors
ASK YOUR LOCAL DEALER OR CONTACT US AT
makinex.com.au
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Retailer of the Month
Solutions; not Problems
Matthew and Emma Connell own and manage Gladstone Flooring Xtra in the Port City of Gladstone on the Central Queensland coast. Being born and raised in Gladstone, they have always been heavily invested in the local community. Matthew is a second-generation director of a successful building company and divides his time between building projects and the Flooring Xtra store that he says, “Compliments our building business very well.” Emma divides her time between overseeing the day-to-day management of Flooring Xtra, their building business and young family.
kept, “Knocking on our door,” said Emma. “We wanted a group name and we were approached by several flooring franchise companies. We did our research and decided on Flooring Xtra. We loved everything they stood for; and they’ve always given us fantastic support,” she said. The Flooring Xtra store was established from scratch in 2017 with the fit-out of a brandnew showroom on a new site on Gladstone
38 Benaraby Road. From the very beginning, Emma and Matt wanted customers to have that ‘wow’ experience when they walked through the showroom door. That visual experience extends to the service every customer receives when a member of Gladstone’s staff first speaks to the client. It’s here that Emma says their quality starts. Whatever their secret, Emma and Matt have made it work and are set to move to a larger store in the near future. The new store is twice the size of the current premises and will also house an extensive selection of tiles. It will be a one stop shop. A major tile supplier in the area recently closed down and Emma and Matt are set to take advantage of this. Matt has a long history in the building game; he knows it very well and is highly respected. Both he and Emma are always on the lookout for opportunities, not only for their own business but also, to help and service the local community. In a rural town like Gladstone, community is often the key to a successful business and Emma and Matt give back to the people in the area wherever they can. They regularly donate to local charities and causes, and Emma, a secondary school teacher before she changed careers to support Matt in business, volunteers her spare time to help year twelve students transition to work.
Matt is a carpenter by trade and will soon mark twenty years with the building company he is now a director of. Their main source of work is local government contracts; education and housing and includes maintenance and refurbishments. A little over three years ago Emma and Matt purchased an existing independent flooring store to complement their commercial building work. They had no expectation that they would end up retailing, but customers
Flooring October/November 2019
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Retailer of the Month
39
A major charity they support is Bella the Brave. Bella was diagnosed with brain cancer in September 2016 when she was only 13 months old. Gladstone Flooring Xtra has a strong community spirit and the store has given constant support and financial contribution towards the ‘Bella the Brave’ cause to help highlight the incidence of childhood cancer and donating towards finding a cure. Jess is a sales consultant for the Flooring Xtra store and said, “We will continue to support Bella the Brave for as long as possible. Our whole team has grown to have a soft spot for little Bella; she is a miracle,” she said. If you are reading this and would like to support Bella and help other children with Brain cancer to have a chance of a bright future, please look up the Bella the Brave Facebook page to donate. Emma says their Flooring Xtra team of nine is one of the best in the business. “We have dedicated and passionate staff who give each and every customer a fabulous flooring experience. This includes staff who are specifically there to help on commercial projects or for those needing interior design advice.” And if you thought that’s an idle boast, this year Emma and Matt backed up this claim with both the Queensland and National Flooring Xtra ‘Store of the Year’ trophies. Emma said, “We were judged on KPIs as outlined by the Flooring Xtra
Gladstone Flooring Xtra, Queensland Excellence Program, Supplier Relationships; Brand Representation; Sales Management; Marketing and Customer Experience were just a few of the focus areas.”
following such large projects and business is steady now.” Gladstone is now a tourist destination, with cruise ships regularly docking at the port.
Gladstone is a regional city of over 30,000 people and is Queensland’s largest and Australia’s fifth largest multi-commodity port. Gladstone's primary industries are industrial and mining related and like most industrial communities, business can be a bit of a roller coaster. Matt says, “A major project like building three Liquefied Natural Gas plants on nearby Curtis Island has huge ramifications on the local economy, both positive and negative. Unfortunately, a lot of the work goes to companies from Brisbane and even Northern New South Wales, but we’ve come out the back of the downturn
Emma and Matt are looking long-term and while their options are always open, they are committed to Gladstone. Emma says, “It’s a great place to live, we’re on the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef in a World Heritage listed area. If you like the water, this is the place to be.” Their young family enjoys the climate and a modest second house they have on Facing Island, about 12km from the Gladstone mainland where they enjoy boating, fishing, swimming and go fourwheel driving; pursuits that allow them to unwind and relax. “Like Flooring Xtra, it ticks all our boxes,” said Matt.
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Training
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Industry action on skills shortage
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he Australian Flooring Industry Alliance* (AFIA) is moving ahead with its campaign to address the shortage of skilled installers in the flooring industry. Working with Holmesglen Institute of TAFE and supported by Victorian Government funding, AFIA is trialing an innovative new two- year program to advance vocational training for school leavers, and mature age students, through Certificate III Floor Technology Courses at Holmesglen. Potential apprentices attend half day Floor Workshops that offer a peek through the window of a career as a floor technician. To date, 87 candidates have participated and registered their interest for a place in the apprenticeship program. Nine have formally entered into apprenticeships and a further 15 are waiting on confirmation by their nominated employer. Thirty- seven employers have registered their interest in taking on an apprentice. Formal training will begin in November.
Flooring October/November 2019
Further details of the program can be found by viewing a video via the link: https:// vimeo.com/357458559/27e70a5cb4
Pictured: Floor layers of the future hone their skills through a Certificate 111 Floor Technology course at Holmesglen TAFE
*AFIA draws together the representative bodies of Resilient, Resin Finishes, Ceramics, Timber and Carpet to provide a voice and single point of contact for the flooring industry.
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Scott Cato:
A Different Path Story by Philip Ashley
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cott Cato is one of a number of people who took New Zealand carpet to the World. It was the early 1970’s and Scott had just completed a three-year cadetship at Bremworth Carpets. At only twenty-two years of age, Scott was to find himself on the other side of the World promoting New Zealand carpets; first in England, then the United States and later; the Middle East. Scott was in for the ride of his life. At that time New Zealand’s population stood at about three million persons and manufacturers were looking at export markets to continue their growth. In addition to this, the United Kingdom was in the process of joining the European Union (EU). This caused some concern in New Zealand because EU nations had agreed on an agricultural policy excluding outside producers from the European market. This potentially meant an end to New Zealand’s exports of agricultural products to Britain.
“I found the pathway I really enjoyed; it was the New Zealand flooring industry and because I had a passion for it, I also had a determination to succeed.” (Scott Cato) Flooring October/November 2019
However, New Zealand was a low-cost producer, so food prices in the UK were expected to rise if New Zealand produce was excluded from the market. Britain was also committed to maintaining the strong cultural ties between the two countries and so, in 1971 Britain signed up to the EU after an agreement to secure some agricultural imports from New Zealand. These were to reduce over the years, and it was in this context that New Zealand had to swing their
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Scott is a born and bred Kiwi with distant roots in Britain and Italy. The youngest of three boys, Scott went to school at Auckland Grammar in the footsteps of many family members. He’d planned on continuing on to university and had the academic qualifications to do this but a friend’s father, a manager at a woollen spinning plant manufacturing for major New Zealand carpet companies, mentored Scott to open his eyes to a different pathway; industry and trades. This was the catalyst for Scott to apply and win one of only two cadetships awarded every two years.
exports over to secondary products. High quality New Zealand carpet was one of those products and Scott Cato found himself ‘in the right place at the right time’ as it were.
Flooring October/November 2019
Clockwise (from top): Scott's first day at school; Off to London in 1973; Maskrey Carpet Store (Scott is third from left).
And so, Scott’s journey was off and running, training in all aspects of manufacturing; production scheduling; quality control and machine efficiency; and experience in customer service, sales and marketing as the understudy to the factory manager at Bremworth Carpets. Bremworth (later Cavalier Bremworth) and Feltex were the two main players in the carpet industry at the time. Scott saw himself in manufacturing and jokes, “I saw myself as general manager of manufacturing at the ripe old age of twenty-one.”
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44 Something Different Scott’s friends said, “You’re mad, you have it all on a plate, just look at the way your career’s going.” But Scott had never really challenged himself in any other way and so, he spent seven years on the Isle of Wight doing various things like a carpenter’s mate; laying carpets and for a time, managing two carpet stores.
Opening up Markets Scott completed his cadetship in 1972 and a year later was sent to London to help set up Bremworth in the UK. He said, “It was perfect timing for me, New Zealand needed new export markets and others saw something in me, guiding me towards the export of New Zealand carpets to the World. I found myself in England for two years; I had a car and a bag full of carpet samples, selling as the manufacturer to commercial and retail residential outlets. The UK is a bastion of the World carpet industry and we needed a point of difference. Our distinction was the quality of New Zealand cross-bred wool and we developed products and colours specifically for our target markets, particularly in the USA.” Scott was working with a number of people, all of them older than him. He counts them as mentors and is forever grateful for their support and trust in his abilities. Mark Sainsbury; Tom Parson and Stephen Springhall were all hugely supportive, as was Dave Cotton of Bremworth Australia. Scott says, “We were hugely successful; the New Zealand government were providing incentives to manufacturers to export secondary products and we took full advantage of the opportunities.” Bremworth even manufactured in the UK under license for a time.
Flooring October/November 2019
Above: Dubai in 1978 After establishing the ‘London connection,’ Scott was posted for a further two years to San Francisco to repeat his success in the USA. Scott said, “In those four years I learnt that building relationships is the key to success, and this was to hold me in good stead in my next job in the Middle East.” Scott said this was “A surreal time in World economic growth for New Zealand and the wool carpet industry captured some of that growth.” When he first went to the Middle East, he remembers Dubai had only three hotels and a dirty creek. “It was a raw place to do business, but the rewards were phenomenal,” he said. “Our wool was recognised as a premium wool for carpets; it held a high prestige factor. But we still had to get in with the right people; we didn’t always follow conventional pathways,” he says. It wasn’t easy for Scott to even get there, he had to go first to Kuala Lumpur to stand in line to apply for a visa, then wait two or three days for it to come through before continuing on to Saudi Arabia. He did this for five weeks at a time for three years and admits, “They were challenging times; we had a daughter at that time and eventually, we decided I should leave conventional employment and live on the Isle of Wight in the UK where my wife had a family home.”
During this time their second child, a son was born and after a short time they decided to move back to New Zealand for their children’s education. Scott now found himself back at Bremworth, this time in selling but mainly management, including product development where his early manufacturing background came into play.
Above: Scott at Heathrow in 1998 www.flooringmagazine.com.au
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Below: Scott with 'mans's best friend'. Right: Mountain biking.
Scott was there for five years until Bremworth was bought by Cavalier and all of a sudden, he was without a job. He established Westridge Carpets and Vinyl and traded for seven years. Of the time he said, “We were putting our two children through school and like most self-employed people it was either a feast or a famine. I often wondered how I was going to pay the bills and so I got a second job as a proofreader for the New Zealand Herald.” One day a supplier made Scott an offer to join a wholesale distributor known in Australia as Forbo. He joined in a management role, first looking after a branch and later as brand manager, a role he held for ten years.
Giving Back It was 2009 and Scott was approached by several flooring industry contacts to take up a role in qualifications and training development for the New Zealand flooring industry, firstly with the NZ Flooring ITO and then within BCITO, a position he held until his retirement only a few months ago. Scott’s strengths in school were History and English and his work for the newspaper all contributed to his success in his new role. With several other people Scott developed the National Certificate in Flooring, Planning and Design; a course of study he completed himself; his first ever industry qualification, at the age of fifty-eight!
Flooring October/November 2019
“I’ve had a wonderful five decades and have many fond memories and friends. If I can still contribute, I will.”
Scott said, “The depth of knowledge and skills at retail level is now recognised in New Zealand and we’ve had hundreds of graduates over the last few years. The qualification aids consumer confidence in the industry and I’m most pleased that it has assisted in the development of women in the retail sector; providing a pathway for women returning to the workforce.” Some women are also going into installations where Scott says it’s, “massively encouraging.” Scott is now retired but still remains busy. He’s always there to take a call from the industry and help out wherever he can. He says, “I have a vested interest in the future of the industry. I’ve had a wonderful five decades and have many fond memories and friends. If I can still contribute, I will.” Scott also volunteers at a local primary school, developing reading skills to six to seven-year old children. He describes them as having ‘young and imaginative minds’ and says, “I absolutely love it.” Scott has two grandchildren he sees as much as he can. He still travels but now only for pleasure where he can look at the World
in a different light. Every year he intends spending five or six weeks on the Isle of Wight until he’s no longer interested in getting on a plane. He enjoys a bit of golf, trail riding with his e-bike and reading on his kindle device. He’ll take things as they come but now its time to get out and explore other things that interest him. Scott recently said, “Someone very wise said to me that you never truly retire, you just reinvent yourself.” The ride isn’t over yet, Scott has a lot more to offer but his legacy to the New Zealand flooring industry cannot be overstated. He’s a true icon of the industry in every sense of the word.
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Software
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Why Can’t I Make Electronic Quantifying Work in My Business? Story by Chris Ogden
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n one form or another, I hear this question at least once a week. It’s asked by business owners who can see the benefits of using an electronic quantifying (EQ) solution such as Measure by RFMS but can’t get it established in their business.
“There is no aspect of quantifying that cannot be done in a good EQ solution. ”
It’s not because EQ is difficult. We have trained people in the basics of EQ, and within hours they are quantifying projects.
In our experience, when implementing EQ into a business fails, it fails for one or a combination of the following reasons:
It’s not because better results are achieved using traditional methods. Users of Measure by RFMS can achieve the same results as the most experienced quantifier, with fewer mistakes.
Lack of commitment by management. If owners fully understand the benefits EQ will bring to their business, and if they understand those benefits, they won’t be easily dissuaded when staff come up with reasons as to why it’s all such a bad idea.
It’s not because EQ takes longer. Quantifying using Measure by RFMS will save 50-70% of the time taken by quantifying traditionally. It’s not because some things can only be done using traditional methods. There is no aspect of quantifying that cannot be done in a good EQ solution. It’s not because EQ is a new, untested technology. EQ has been around now in some form or fashion for more than 20 years. Successful flooring operators, both retail and commercial, use EQ because it’s a proven technology.
“We have trained people in the basics of EQ, and within hours they are quantifying projects. ” Flooring October/November 2019
Lack of clearly stated intentions and goals. Those businesses that successfully implement EQ not only commit but they communicate that commitment to their staff. They explain the benefits that the business will experience, including the downstream benefits, and they set a goal by which date everyone will be using EQ to do their job. If staff feel they have veto power, then it will be a difficult exercise. Lack of application when it comes to training. There is no question, particularly for more experienced staff, learning to quantify using technology takes time. Not a lot of time, but time and reluctant staff will find 27 other things that must be done as higher priorities before training in EQ. Seeing the commitment and understanding the goals of management helps them make time.
ensures the training is being done, and the business is on track to meet the goal. Lack of leadership effectively gives staff veto power. Undermined Confidence. For many experienced quantifiers, the prospect of having a software programme do what has been one of their key skills makes them nervous. They need to understand that Measure by RFMS does not replace their years of trade skills and experience. EQ is simply a tool that will supplement that experience, and make them even better. Establishing EQ in a business is change management. Change management is all about committing to a course for the benefits it will bring; communicating with the team, reassuring them, and dealing with pushback; not allowing it to derail the plan. Of course, it all starts with us, demonstrating to you what Measure and Measure Mobile can do for your business. We will provide you with free trials and training to get you going before you have to spend a cent. We would love to hear from you.
Chris Ogden is a director of RFMS Australasia, a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry. Please visit us at RFMSanz.com.
“Change management is all about committing to a course for the benefits it will bring.”
Lack of leadership for the project. Every project needs a leader; someone who
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Go Mobile
Business Management Software Solutions For Your Flooring Business Manage every aspect of your flooring business in one integrated system Layers Diary
Mobile Sales
Financials
Measuring
Debtors
Reporting
Quotes
Projects
Stock
Sales Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012 www.rfms.com
salesau@rfms.com
Software
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Improve Your Business by Managing Samples Story by Chris Ogden
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ssuing samples is an integral part of the process of selling floorcoverings. As the owner of a flooring business, you have invested thousands of dollars in samples. We make the investment, yet it often appears managing samples is not a priority; in most cases, we take some details on issuing samples, but follow up can be haphazard or even non-existent. For a process that is so fundamental to our business, very few of us are doing it well. Allow me to suggest five reasons why managing samples is so important to your business: 1. Cost. Perhaps the reason at the forefront of our mind; samples cost us money. If samples go unreturned, we have to replace
Flooring October/November 2019
them. What sort of process would we have in place if our salespeople were loaning out $50 notes?
3. Create Prospects. People who take samples from us are highly qualified leads. They represent a return on our investment in opening the doors of our shop. At the time of issuing samples, we should be in the habit of gathering all customer information; name, address, phone numbers, and email address. We need to be following up on these people to find out which samples they liked; if they need more samples; if we can arrange a measure. This is the opportunity we have to demonstrate we are proactive and want their business.
2. Opportunity Cost. When we don’t have a sample to give a customer, a sale is in jeopardy; the customer might feel the need to visit a competitor, in which case the cost of the lost sample is dwarfed by the profit that was in the sale.
4. Create a Sales Tool. A report by salesperson, showing samples taken, customer details, the samples taken, when they were taken, and if they have been returned, is fundamental to ensure salespeople stay in touch with prospective customers.
“What sort of process would we have in place if our salespeople were loaning out $50 notes?�
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Software “People who take samples from us … represent the return on our investment in opening the doors of our shop.”
5. Identify Popular Samples. Good reporting will show you the most popular samples. In my days in retail we would have our installers bring back off-cuts of popular colours for cutting into samples.
51 A common objection to implementing a more robust sample management system is that issuing samples takes longer. It is likely true, but the investment of an extra two or three minutes at the time of issuing samples can yield a significant return down the track. Like most of us, salespeople will take the most expedient option available to them; so, do we have internal systems that suit our salespeople, or do we establish systems designed to achieve the goals of our business? For most flooring retailers, implementing an effective sample management system will take some effort. It is worthwhile, but to do it properly will require establishing a process. Flooring specific management solutions such as RFMS, on the other hand,
have built-in sample processes and reports. The integrated nature of RFMS means customer information is entered only once; information taken when issuing the sample is used when quoting; product information and pricing is also available within the RFMS system. If you would like to see how RFMS might help you with managing your samples, or any other aspect of your business, we would be happy to arrange an online meeting to introduce you to RFMS, and to answer your questions.
Chris Ogden is Director of RFMS Australasia, a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry. Learn more at RFMSanz.com.
Be Accurate. Be Efficient. Be Profitable
MEASURE MOBILE • Draw Scale Plans • Add, Delete and Move Seams • Include Doorways and Stairs • Calculate Material Quantities • Create and Email Quotes • Take Signed Acceptance on Tablet • Take Payments Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012 measureflooring.com measuremobile.com
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Are you leaking money? Story by Nigel Welsh
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• Quote - Word document 10 - 30 minutes Based on these times, it is clear it can take between 11/2 to 4 hours to complete a fraction of the total sales and installation process.
he profit and loss sheet may look great, but have you asked yourself could I be leaking additional profit through hidden costs.
goes wrong. The same scenario can be applied to any size job, it does not matter if it is a small residential job or a large commercial project.
We recognise part of the process is sales and this can take time, however, if we highlight the process from capture customer details, at this point we can demonstrate the hidden costs.
Efficiency, waste, accuracy, organisation, communication and collaboration processes are major contributors to hidden costs within the flooring industry. For example, think about the actual time it takes to produce a quote for the average customer within your business, how many steps are involved, and how many of your team are involved in the whole sales and installation process.
Workflow includes the sales process, product selection, capture customer's details, schedule on site measure, plan, estimate, cost and send a quote. If you look at this process it seems simple enough, however when you break it down into its manual processes, we start to see the true cost.
• Capture customer details - Phone or Tablet base App as you're conducting your sales process or product selection • Scheduling a measure appointmentPhone or Tablet base App as you're conducting your sales process or product selection • Measure, Plan, Estimate and Quote, onsite 10 - 40 minutes
It is clear not everything is within our control, however even the simple things add up to lost profit. This highlights how time critical processes in your business can have hidden costs. Based on industry standard and feedback, it would be fair to say the average time to complete a measure, plan, calculate, cost and quote for an average residential job would be two to three hours on a good day, with little interruptions and praying nothing
• Sales process understand the customers’ needs and wants - 15 - 60 minutes • Product selection - 20 - 30 minutes • Capture customer details - manual form 5 - 10 minutes • Schedule measure appointment manual diary 5 - minutes • Measure, Plan - tape measure, note pad - 10 - 40 minutes • Plan, Estimate - Scale Pad - 20 - 60 minutes • Cost - calculator, Excel spreadsheet 10 -20 minutes
Hidden costs removed it now takes between 10 and 40 minutes to complete the same process. So how much profit are you losing every day? Just think if you could remove travel time back to the store or even to and from the job how much is that worth? These are the benefits of technology. To stop leaks, we are constantly looking to improve process. New web browser based active plan management functionality extends the realms of possibilities, share functional 3D and 2D planning information with anyone, installers, project managers, active product information such as product name, quantity, location, dimensions, type, area the list goes on. Provide your customer with a detailed 3D plan of their home or commercial space, enabling them to select and apply from a list of products. Instantly providing a secure automated method to apply product selection.
Nigel Welsh is the Managing Director of Laser Measure Australia Pty Ltd
Flooring October/November 2019
www.flooringmagazine.com.au
Safety
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Crystalline silica dust in construction work Identify hazards and control the risks of exposure to dust containing crystalline silica in construction.
What is crystalline silica? Crystalline silica is a natural mineral found in construction materials such as concrete, bricks, tiles, mortar and engineered stone. The amount of crystalline silica in products can vary. Examples include: • brick: 5-15% • concrete: less than 30% • ceramic tiles: 5-45% • reconstituted stone: more than 80% If you’re not sure if a product contains crystalline silica, check the safety data sheet (SDS). Silica dust Dust containing crystalline silica particles is commonly called silica dust.
Construction workers can be at risk of developing these diseases. Exposure standard The Australian exposure standard for airborne crystalline silica is 0.1mg/m3 over an 8-hour day. This limit is based on preventing silicosis and lung cancer. Construction tasks and exposure Exposure to crystalline silica can occur during common construction tasks working on concrete, brick, mortar, tiles, stone or other masonry. If employees regularly dry cut, grind, crush, drill, or sweep material that contains crystalline silica without engineering controls, it is likely that the exposure standard will be exceeded. However, if they only perform tasks that involve exposure to crystalline silica for a very short period of time over the day it is unlikely that the exposure standard will
be exceeded (assuming no exposure for the remainder of the shift). An example is overhead drilling for a total of 15 minutes or less (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2017). Air monitoring may be required if there is uncertainty on whether the exposure standard is being exceeded or there are concerns that engineering controls are not adequate. Health monitoring Health monitoring is required for employees who are exposed to silica dust (not taking into account any respiratory protection) at levels likely to exceed the Australian exposure standard. Health monitoring must be performed under the supervision of a registered medical practitioner. Where health monitoring is required, it should be completed before job placement, and at least every 2 years.
It can be released when you cut, grind, sand, saw, drill, load, transport, dump or simply disturb materials that contain crystalline silica. Some particles are too small to see and can be inhaled deep into the lungs. Health risks Silica dust can be harmful when it’s inhaled into your lungs over a long period of time at low to moderate levels, or short periods at high levels. Exposure can lead to serious diseases, including: • silicosis - irreversible stiffening of the lungs • lung cancer • chronic obstructive pulmonary disease • kidney disease
Flooring October/November 2019
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Safety
55 • Use a dust class M or H vacuum cleaner or wet methods to clean dusty floors or surfaces. Do not dry sweep or use compressed air. • Launder dusty work clothes at the workplace to avoid taking them home. If you use a commercial laundry, dampen the clothes and place them in a sealed, labelled plastic bag. Inform the laundry that the clothes are contaminated with crystalline silica.
Control of risk Where it is not reasonably practicable to eliminate a risk associated with a hazardous substance (e.g. crystalline silica dust), employers must reduce the risk in accordance with the hierarchy of control. If engineering and other work practice controls are implemented and employee exposure is still likely to reach or exceed the exposure standard, then additional controls, such as respiratory protection, must be implemented to ensure employees’ actual exposure does not exceed the standard.
Engineering controls On-tool dust extraction This is a type of local exhaust ventilation (LEV) which is fitted directly onto the tool.
when you dispose of it. Integrated dust extraction devices are only recommended for handheld drills with low air and dust volumes as they do not fall under dust class M or H. On-tool water suppression The tool is fitted with an integrated water delivery system that continuously supplies water. The resultant slurry should be cleaned up in a manner that does not generate dust. Isolation Separate the employees from the dust source, by distance.
Administrative controls Control exposure during clean up:
Training Give employees appropriate information, instruction and training on: • crystalline silica hazards and risks • how to effectively use controls • how to dispose of waste Personal protective equipment (PPE) Where engineering controls have been implemented so far as is reasonably practicable, respiratory protection can be effective in controlling exposure to crystalline silica. Ensure facial fit testing and a maintenance program is in place. Half-face respirators should not be used by wearers with beards or even facial stubble.
• One effective form involves a LEV ‘system’ consisting of several individual parts – the tool, captor hood, dust class M or H extraction unit and tubing. • Integrated dust extraction devices are available for some hand-held tools. These self-contained units are fitted directly onto the tool where they automatically filter and collect dust. You should extract dust from the unit using a dust class M or H vacuum, or empty it directly into a waste bag in a way that does not generate dust
Flooring October/November 2019
Above: Respirators from CleanSpace Technology www.flooringmagazine.com.au
Safety
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Enhancing access and safety for all
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n Australia alone, there are more than 575,000 people who suffer from some form of visual impairment. This figure is on the increase, and it is important that we design cities, buildings and infrastructure with an understanding of pedestrian safety in mind. We all deserve to be able to wander the streets and discover all the great things a modern city has to offer, but it is important that we can do so safely.
Enhancing access and safety for all is at the heart of everything we do at Classic Architectural Group, particularly in the role of design in pedestrian. In Australia, urban planners and designers overlook key details because they have the benefit of full sight. This is to the detriment of the visually impaired, who often remark that safety for pedestrians is lacking, leading to reduced confidence and complete avoidance of certain areas. The blind and visually impaired are unable to read signs and the biggest aid for their mobility comes from innovative new technologies, as well as the effective implementation of tactile ground surface indicators (TGSI’s), braille signs and high-contrast markings. Some of the most common incidents involving pedestrians are experienced at the following locations:
Entrances In public spaces, as the foot-falls near the entrance is maximum, people leaving and entering are more susceptible to falls, trips
Flooring October/November 2019
and slips. Dirt, debris, sand particles or moisture on the footwear of pedestrians can easily cause scratches, stains or scuff marks on the indoor flooring. Considering the fact, the expensive interior flooring surface can easily get deteriorated with time leading to potential slip and trip hazards. Solution: Covering a floor with matting improves safety and mitigates the risk of potential accidents. An effective matting is engineered to attract dirt, remove any debris and moisture from the footwear of the people as they place their feet on the mat before entering the building.
Stairways Falls on stairs account for over 60% of slip, trip and fall deaths in buildings and are a result of a number of complex interacting factors. Despite this, there are times when not enough importance is given to safe stair design and construction principles. The visibility of safe stairs is critical to ensure that a person can prepare to coordinate their gait during stair ascent and decent. For people who do not have visual impairments, there is a reliance of visual
clues such as handrails, depth perception in good lighting conditions and high visibility of stair nosings. Poor delineation of the step edge may confuse people negotiating the stairs, particularly in poor lighting conditions and this can increase the risk of a miss step. Solution: Best practice is to set slip resistive strips with a luminance contrast greater than 30% to the very edge of the stairs. The width of the strips should be between 50-75mm to assist people in negotiating the stairs by clearly delineating the step edge. This is even more important when people’s eyes require time to adapt to lower lighting conditions. To highlight best practice, these safe stair features are required for disability access requirements within AS 1428.1, Design for Access and Mobility; Part 1: General requirements for access – Buildings.
Carparks Everyone needs to visit shopping centres, leisure facilities and workplaces. Carparks are always busy, and whilst they are usually low-speed environments, a number of significant accidents have occurred here; particularly involving children and the elderly. Standards are often lacking, and lighting may not allow maximum visibility of pedestrians. Solution: Ensure clear signage highlighting that the carpark is a shared vehicle/pedestrian zone with a 10km/h max limit; mark out the safest route of pedestrian access in high contrast paint; consider installation of directional tactiles; install speed bumps and bollards to slow drivers and mark out prohibited zones; engage a safety specialist for design advice.
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TILE TODAY 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
Published by Proudly supported and endorsed by:
Leading the Industry
Contact: Trudi Woodward Ph: +61 3 9890 0815 Email: Trudi.Woodward@elitepublishing.com.au
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Prep Install & Care
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Efficient products and partnerships with Makinex
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akinex, an Australian owned private company, have been experts in the design, development and distribution of innovative products since 2004. Providing solutions to the construction, landscaping, equipment hire, infrastructure and flooring industries.
Each year Makinex nominates one of their key resellers as Partner of the Year. This award is based on the following criteria: 1. Breadth of range 2. Sales 3. Collaborative Marketing 4. Brand Association
The Makinex team closely assess their business to find unique, innovative and practical product solutions that provide contractors and tradespeople with a better way to do their jobs, save time, effort and money.
This year Makinex awarded Intafloors their Partner of the Year for 2019. Not only have Intafloors experienced strong sales of Makinex products, but they have been very active in marketing the range, especially via their social media platforms.
Many of the products Makinex sell benefit the flooring industry and as such a Flooring Roadmap was created to show the relevant application of Makinex products within this industry (see image attached).
Congratulations to Nathan Carrol and the Intafloors team for receiving this award. Makinex National Sales Manager, Stuart Reynolds says, “Intafloors and Makinex
have developed a stronger partnership over the last year through the alignment of the Intafloors product range into the Makinex Flooring Roadmap. Through this alignment both companies have been able to grow the relevance of their offering to the market place thereby growing their brand equity and generating new revenue streams.” Intafloors State Sales and Operations Manager, Nathan Carroll says, “Everyone at the Intafloors group were extremely excited to be named Makinex Partner of the Year 2019! We have had a terrific year of sales with Makinex. The Makinex Generators make a perfect pairing for our Husqvarna Grinders and the Makinex Jack Hammer Trolley and Mixing Stations are a great addition to our amazing range of Floor Makinexequipment.” products supporting the flooring Preparation
FLOORING ROADMAP Mixing Station level pouring
Jackhammer Trolley for tile removal
REMOVAL
PREPARE
industry at every stage of the process.
Hose 2 Go with grinder
FILL & LEVEL
APPLY & POLISH
Floor stripper for removal of vinyl and under tile materials
FINISH & ENJOY!
Cleaning with Dual Pressure Washer
16Kva Generator to power preparation products
Flooring October/November 2019
10Kva Generator to power polishing machinery
makinex.com.au
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Prep Install & Care
62
The Importance of Moisture Testing Concrete Subfloors
C
oncrete is a permeable substance capable of absorbing and releasing moisture, which can continue to affect the RH (relative humidity) of a slab long after it has been placed. Groundwater, high humidity and leaking plumbing are the top causes of moisture problems in a concrete slab.
High moisture levels in the concrete could also be hidden by the old flooring system. Older flooring adhesives and sealants were typically more moisture-resistant than today’s lower VOC products. You might remove an older floor that has performed perfectly well for years and find that the slab is too wet for today’s less moistureresistant flooring systems.
Many people don’t realise how important moisture testing is with concrete subfloors, especially with old concrete. After all, if the slab was poured 10 years ago, it must be dry, right? Furthermore, if it had a floor installed for that time, there can’t be a problem, right?
Moisture Damage to Floors Installing any type of floor over concrete that isn’t sufficiently dry can be disastrous. For wood floors, slabs with excessive moisture can cause adhesive failure, wood warping or cupping, gaps and creaking. Floor coatings can suffer from blistering and delamination. Sheet vinyl and vinyl tile floors can suffer adhesive failure and blistering. Mold and mildew are also common problems with excessive moisture.
Maybe. Maybe not. Here is a true story Jason Spangler recalls from the Wagner Meters’ files. A customer called from the Northwest. They were installing a very expensive wood floor over a concrete slab that was poured in 1952. The area had just experienced historically heavy rainfall in the past few months. The customer performed an in situ relative humidity (RH) test as part of the process, and the readings pegged at 99% RH. That is more than enough to cause a flooring system to fail horrendously. So, how is that possible with a slab that is more than 60 years old? For the answer to that, we need to first look at how moisture gets into concrete. Sources of Moisture in Concrete There are many ways that moisture gets into a concrete slab. Ground moisture can enter either through capillary action or as water vapor. Groundwater might be present due to a high-water table or poor drainage. Other ways include high air humidity, high RH in
Flooring October/November 2019
Experienced flooring installers know that you cannot look at the surface of a concrete slab and know if it is dry enough to install a floor. There may be large amounts of moisture hidden deep in the slab. After you install a floor, that hidden moisture can rise to the surface of the slab and cause the floor to fail. Over the years, various methods of moisture testing have been developed, but most of them are not scientifically based, accurate and reliable. the environment or leaking plumbing that goes through the slab. The high moisture in our story isn’t surprising given the age of the slab and the recent weather. Older slabs were often constructed without moisture barriers, or the moisture barrier has degraded over time. Or maybe a plumbing leak has developed.
The RH test has been scientifically proven to give reliable and accurate results. Research going back to the 1960s found that a moisture gradient forms within a concrete slab as it dries, so the slab is drier at the surface and wetter deep inside. That is why surface tests are not a reliable indicator of the slab’s moisture condition. Further research in the 1990s established
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Prep Install & Care procedures for testing at specific depths within the slab using an RH probe. In 2002, ASTM International developed the F2170 standard for in situ RH testing based on this research. Today, there are various RH probes on the market to help contractors test moisture levels. Wagner Meters’ Rapid RH L6 system is one of the most cost-effective systems for RH testing concrete slabs in compliance with ASTM F2170. The system uses singleuse sensors for speed, economy and ease of use. Once the L6 sensors are installed in the slab and equilibrated, there is no need to move them from location to location and wait for them to equilibrate again. Repeat readings can be taken without additional equilibration time. Unlike reusable probes, the L6 sensors never need calibration
because they come calibrated from the factory and include a NIST-traceable certificate of calibration to keep with your records regarding the concrete RH testing. The Rapid RH L6 system’s Total Reader reads, displays and transmits temperature and RH data via Bluetooth to a mobile app, DataMaster L6, with no manual intervention and no need to record readings on paper. The
63 app allows users to store, display and report data on their mobile device. Users can even email PDF format reports to clients and all interested parties. Backup copies of readings are stored in the cloud and in the sensors that are permanently installed in the slab. This unbroken digital path from the sensor to the final report, plus automatic data backup, ensures the highest data integrity, accuracy and peace of mind.
Overseas News
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DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR expands its design influence
carpets and the host hall for the Luxury Brands Carpet Show – a showcase of the most sought-after international high-end carpet design brands. After the successful first edition in 2019, the Chinese Original Carpet Design Show comes back to promote the works of young Chinese carpet designers. Country pavilions from Germany, Belgium, Iran and Turkey will also showcase their products among the carpet halls. In 2020, DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR will cover more than 185,000 sqm, taking up 16 halls at the Shanghai New International Expo Center. Five of the exhibition halls will be dedicated to carpets and rugs, four to wood, bamboo and other hard floors, two to FLOORTECH Asia and five halls to resilient floor coverings. In 2019, the show gathered 1,579 exhibitors from 36 countries and attracted 66,875 trade
D
OMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR – the leading trade show for carpets and floor coverings in the Asia Pacific region - expands the design and conference area and welcomes new and returning brands.
Edelholz, IBF, Teclic, Nature, Fudeli, Bloor, Jinyi, Licher, Nuogao and Moganshan have already confirmed their participation at the show. Also featured in this hall are the latest developments in the market in the dedicated InnovAction campaign.
For the 22nd edition, each flooring sector will have a theme. The highlighted product category for wood is solid wood for ground heating systems. This category is taking over the entire hall featuring new technologies, new designs and new products in floor heating. Solid wood for ground heating systems is growing in China - according to China’s National Forest Products Industry Association, around 80% of China's wood flooring brands have developed these products. At the same time the market share is increasing by more than 30% annually. It is expected that by 2025, the market size of solid wood for ground heating systems will reach RMB 10 billion (approx. 1.4 billion USD). International and local market leaders, such as Junckers, Foglie, d’Oro,
The resilient flooring section will be spread out to 69,500 sqm gross, featuring Stone Plastic Composite (SPC) flooring. Among the resilient halls, there will be an ‘Inspiration Hall’, housing the InnovAction campaign and design forum, where interior designers will educate attendees on using resilient flooring in interior spaces. The InnovAction campaign will be upgraded showcasing new products within matching interior spaces. This new way of presenting the InnovAction products is ideal for both manufacturers to share their ideas and for visitors to keep up to date with market trends.
Flooring October/November 2019
The carpet section includes a dedicated hall as the epicenter of home and design
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Overseas News
visitors, of which 15,092 were international, coming from 107 nations. Traditionally DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR has been focused on B2B, however due to market changes end users are now also welcome to attend the show.
Flooring October/November 2019
DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR is a part of the dynamic international DOMOTEX brand based in Hannover, Germany, along with three other platforms: DOMOTEX Turkey, DOMOTEX USA and – making its debut this year – DOMOTEX Mexico.
Overseas News
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Discover New Business Opportunities at the Surface + Design Event China 2019 Surface + Design Event China 2019 December 11-13 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC)
SURFACES China will provide a professional and focused platform for industry professionals to network, learn, share and conduct business.
The Surface + Design Event China (SURFACES China) is organized by Informa Markets and the China Chamber of Commerce (Metals, Minerals and Chemicals, Importers and Exporters CCCMC), and in partnership with The International Surface Event (TISE), the largest North American floor covering, stone, and tile industry event.
In collaboration with the American Institute of Architects International (AIAIR), the Shanghai Stone Trade Association and the China Chamber of Commerce (Metals, Minerals and Chemicals, Importers and Exporters), SURFACES China 2019 will present a free Education Program for every attendee to expand their knowledge and engage with current trends in the Asian market. Industry leaders, architects and interior designers will share their insights on new products, technologies, design trends and innovations.
The Surface + Design Event China 2019 will be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) on December 11th 13th. Over 150+ key players from all over the world will gather for a 3-day comprehensive trade fair to see the latest trends across the Stone, Tile, Flooring and Wall Covering industry.
Flooring October/November 2019
The topics covered across the education program include: • New Technology Trends and Processes • Business Model Transition in the Local Market
• • • • •
Customer Insights Color Trends and Design Trends in Design and New Products Interior Design Trends and Practice Best Case Studies in Applications and Installations • Interior Environment and Eco-friendly Products. Through the privileges of the Buyer Program, SURFACES China 2019 will facilitate meetings and support attendees achieve their business objectives. The Buyer Program connects attendees with exhibiting manufacturers, making product sourcing more efficient and maximizing time spent at the exhibition. SURFACES China 2019 supports industry stakeholders gain access into the expanding market and open new business opportunities in growth regions across Asia. For more details – en.surfaceschina.com
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Overseas News
67
I4F signs a license agreement with Tarkett I4F, a group of companies providing patents and technologies to the flooring industry, recently announced that it has signed a license agreement with Tarkett. As part of this agreement, Tarkett grants I4F with licensing rights for 167 Tarkett patents covering locking, decor and surface performance technologies for floor covering products. I4F also has partnership agreements in place with Kronospan, Classen, Ulrich Windmöller Consulting, Kowon, CFL Flooring and Kingdom Flooring.
Research, Development and Operations said, “We believe this agreement is a good opportunity for Tarkett to capitalise on I4F’s expertise and network to license some of our IP rights in locking, decor and surface performance technologies for surface covering products. This agreement demonstrates Tarkett’s innovation capabilities, and we are excited about offering customers the opportunity to benefit from our innovative flooring solutions.”
Tarkett is a worldwide leader in innovative flooring and sports surface solutions. The company develops, manufactures and sells a wide range of products including vinyl, linoleum, rubber, carpet, wood, laminate, artificial turf and athletics tracks. With 36 industrial sites, Tarkett sells 1.3 million square meters of flooring every day to customers in over 100 countries worldwide.
John Rietveldt, I4F’s CEO adds, “Tarkett is one of global flooring’s heavy weights, with 135 years of experience in providing high quality flooring products worldwide to customers. This agreement with Tarkett underpins our strategy to work with the best and adds to agreements already in place with global players in manufacturing and flooring solutions. This strengthens I4F’s ability to deliver powerful platforms that enable accessibility to open and meaningful innovations.”
Commenting on this new agreement with I4F, Antoine Prevost, Tarkett’s EVP,
“We believe this agreement is a good opportunity for Tarkett to capitalise on I4F’s expertise and network to license some of our IP rights in locking, decor and surface performance technologies for surface covering products. This agreement demonstrates Tarkett’s innovation capabilities, and we are excited about offering customers the opportunity to benefit from our innovative flooring solutions.”
Overseas News
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Bringing heat setting machines to the next level Power-Heat-Set, based in Germany, has been supplying the carpet industry with machines and components for carpet yarn treatment for over 40 years. All of PowerHeat-Set’s equipment is manufactured by highly-qualified technicians at their German based headquarters in Töging. A team of mechanics and technicians are available worldwide for installations and service. Including their US subsidiary in Dalton, Georgia, who together with their sales agencies and representatives guarantee customers a quick response time. PowerHeat-Set’s R&D department in Töging continuously work towards bringing their heat setting machines to the next level and improve the customer’s production process. Power-Heat-Set’s machine portfolio currently offers two different machine types, namely GVA and HiPerSet. The GVA offers the best flexibility and high performance for heat setting carpet yarn with up to 96 ends. Due to its 6-channel configuration heat setting of small lots on different belts, it is even possible to run different colours of the same yarn or straight set and frieze at the same time. The optimised GVA can now also be equipped with DENT sensors on the creel which makes adjusting sensors unnecessary. Furthermore, the new yarn suction at the entry avoids the ‘flapping over’ of yarn and also increases cooling of the returning conveyor belt and transport rails. The yarn suction at exit draws the yarn onto the belt for a more efficient yarn take-off. By introducing sealed TRB steam channels, the chance of hangers of high filament yarn in the steam channels, is decreased. Finally, the CleanAir Cooling enables a better air quality in the working environment.
Flooring October/November 2019
The features of the new TwinAccu Vs. II provide; • A higher storage capacity leading to higher efficiency and reduced labor costs • A new mechanical drive system which needs less maintenance • A reduction in wear parts saving time and money • A reduction in the yarn break level ensuring a better quality of yarn • Simplified yarn feeding which allows easier handling The HiPerSet uses only one channel to heat set the yarn with overheated steam. Up to 84 ends can be processed at the same time. These improvements further optimise performance, running stability and energy saving whilst enabling easier error handling. This has been made possible through the updated software version with a new intuitive visual user interface which facilitates the machine’s set up and operation. Customers also benefit from the vertical coiler V3 and improvements in the belt support and yarn cooling systems.
Additional improvements include DENT sensors on the creel, the second belt motor (for HiPerSet 8.0+ only), the air circulation upgrade and the three-deck yarn path.
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Overseas News World's first recyclable event carpet Beaulieu Flooring Solutions, a division of the Beaulieu International Group (B.I.G.), has unveiled Rewind, a unique latex-free carpet designed to help the trade show and special events industries go greener. More than simply a product, Rewind is a concept that offers both economic and ecological advantages as part of a strategy centered on corporate social responsibility.
Floorcovering Association of Victoria Inc.
FAV would like to thank all its sponsors for the 2019 awards night held on the 10th August at the Plaza Ballroom, Melbourne. Looking forward to 2020.
Every year, more than 100 million square meters of carpet is manufactured for corridors, fair stands, entrance halls and other event spaces. Traditional carpet ends up in an incinerator or as landfill. Because it contains latex, it cannot be sustainably recycled. Rewind is 100% polyolefin, which means it is 100% latex-free. Consequently, the production process is very environmentally friendly. Compared with traditional carpet, no water is used and gas consumption is cut by 83%. This green production process reduces total CO2 emission by 35%. In the current economic climate, quality and efficiency also play a big role. Rewind proves its added value here as well and guarantees a first-rate product every time: strong, durable, low VOC content and with fire classification Bfl. Thanks to its lower total weight, the rolls are easier to handle and more ergonomic to install. The unique composition of Rewind also offers logistical advantages: less storage space needed and an optimisation of transport. Because Rewind contains no latex, it can be fully recycled into a pure recyclate that can be re-used as a raw material for the injection molding of new, high grade products. “As the market leader in needle felt floor coverings, we are proud to be at the forefront of this technologically innovative product. Rewind is the result of collaborative efforts by B.I.G. employees across all divisions. Rewind is also more than a product, it is a philosophy in which economy and ecology merge into one. That ensures that Rewind creates added value for every stakeholder and the environment, at every stage of its lifecycle.” says Wim Coppens, General Manager Needle Felt.
Flooring October/November 2019
• • • • • •
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2019 Exhibitions
OCTOBER 2019
NOVEMBER 2019
23 – 24 Architect@work Italy 2019 An exhibition for architects, interior designers and consultants with a focus on innovation. Turin, Italy http://torino.architectatwork.it/en/ home/
13 – 14 Architect@work Italy 2019 An exhibition for architects, interior designers and consultants with a focus on innovation. Milan, Italy http://milan.architectatwork.it/home
ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD ABN: 27 006 876 419 PO BOX 800, Templestowe Victoria, Australia 3106 Ph: + 61 3 9890 0815 Fax: + 61 3 9890 0087 Email: info@elitepublishing.com.au Website: www.elitepublishing.com.au PUBLISHER Vicky Cammiade Email: vicky.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au
DECEMBER 2019 6 – 9 Decorex International 2019 Exhibition of interior design products. London, United Kingdom https://www.decorex.com/ 16 – 20 MODDOM 2019 International fair featuring furniture, interiors and design. Bratislava, Slovakia https://www.incheba.sk/vystavy/ moddom-16709.html?page_ id=16709 18 – 20 Design Isle 2019 International design fair. Riga, Latvia http://designisle.lv/eng/index.php
EDITOR Michelle Cammiade michelle.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au
11 – 13 IBUD Japan Build 2019 International building and urban development exhibition. Tokyo, Japan https://www.japan-build.jp/en-gb.html JANUARY 2020
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Philip Ashley philipneilashley6@bigpond.com ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Sandie Velkovska Email: sandie@elitepublishing.com.au
22-25
CASA Salzburg, TexBo, Ambiente and Mobel 2020 International trade fair for interior design, furniture and lifestyle. Salzburg, Austria https://10times.com/casa-ambientemobel
CIRCULATION For circulation enquiries please email: info@elitepublishing.com.au PRODUCTION For artwork and production enquiries please email: production@elitepublishing.com.au PRE-PRESS Prominent Digital PRINTED BY Prominent Group Pty Ltd
*** For more information or to confirm dates, please check the individual event websites.
Ad Index Airstep Australia 17, 38, 39, Back Cover
Intafloors 27
Amtico Flooring
Kenbrock Flooring
6, 7
Inside Back Cover
Armstrong Flooring
19
Laser Measure Australia
Australian Flooring Supplies
31
Makinex 37
BBS Flooring Products
35
Polivac International
Classic Architectural Group
56, 57
Polyflor Australia
53
29 41, 45
Con-Treat 65
Preference Floors
15
Domotex 61
Proline Floors
21
Dunlop Flooring
RLA Polymers
47
Inside Front Cover
Floorcovering Assn of Victoria (FAV)
69
RFMS Australasia
Floorex Products
33
Signature Floorcoverings Front Cover, 13
Floor Insure
67
Tarkett Australia
GMK Logistics
63
Verified Businesses
Godfrey Hirst Australia
ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD (established 1985) All rights reserved – No part of this publication maybe reproduced, transmitted or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without the express prior written consent of Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd. Viewpoints, opinions, claims, etc expressed in articles appearing in this publication are those of the authors. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the information supplied or for claims made by companies or their representatives regarding product performance, etc or for any errors, omissions, misplacement, alterations, or any subsequent changes, or for any consequences of reliance on this information or this publication. ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD PUBLISHERS OF: Supplier Woodworking Magazine, Tile Today Magazine, Discovering Stone Magazine, FB Magazine, Flooring Magazine, Finishes & Surfaces Magazine
49, 51
9 69
11, 25
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by
Introducing Artloc, this hybrid range is inspired by many of the natural timbers found throughout Australia. From the warm feel of Wild Sassafrass to the cool hues of Geebung Blackbutt, combined with different embossing chosen to complement each colour. Artloc is sure to give any home the authentic timber look and feel with many added benefits that comes with Hybrid Flooring.
ALC116 Coastal Sheoak
www.kenbrock.com.au Queensland 2 Kinbsbury Street www.kenbrock.com.au Brendale QLD 4500 PH: (07) 3881 1000 www.kenbrock.com.au www.kenbrock.com.au Head Office-Victoria 22-24 Edison Road, Dandenong South VIC 3175 PH: (03) 9765 2222
ALC114 Tableland Blackbutt
HYBRID
Soleil
The best of both worlds
Combining the best attributes of laminate and vinyl to create a superior performance product. Backed by a Lifetime Residential Warranty for your customers peace-of-mind 0.5mm Commercial Grade wear layer suitable for high traffic areas BCA compliant making it ideal for multi-level dwellings to high-rise developments With a 100% waterproof guarantee this floor is suitable for bathrooms and laundries Strong resistance to dents from objects falling onto it
VIC/TAS: 1800 803 545 NSW: 1800 802 926 QLD/NT/WA/SA: 1800 806 375
www.imaginefloors.com.au
Canvas HYB007