FFI 117 June 2021

INTERNATIONAL trade journal f or impor t , expor t , dis tr ibution and lay ing of par que t , laminate, cor k f loor ing and r elated pr oduc t s

N° 117 July 2021 - Price: €8 - Published 7 times a year - (Feb, March, May, July, Sept , Nov, Dec) Of fice of deliver y 9099 Ghent X , P911092, BC 31359 - Responsible Publisher: Filip De Ridder

Special: Tanzania

Strong contacts Clever technology Starke Verbindung Kluge Technik

Special Skirting boards and profiles with laminate, LVT, PVC, and vinyl inlay

Special Providers of abrasives

Special Discover the possibilities of industrial lacquers

Special Invisible lacquers: who has them?

AL MIC CE E CH STAN SI RE

ON CK BA O O R 2H FL R1 E T AF

Y AD R E TH E R FO ME GA

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Content

Editorial

INTERNATIONAL trade journal f or impor t , expor t , dis tr ibu tion and lay ing of par que t , laminate, cor k f loor ing and r elated pr oduc t s

N° 117 July 2021 - Price: €8 - Published 7 times a year - (Feb, March, May, July, Sept , Nov, Dec) Of fice of deliver y 9099 Ghent X , P911092, BC 31359 - Responsible Publisher: Filip De Ridder

Special: Tanzania

Strong contacts Clever technology Starke Verbindung Kluge Technik

“More than ever, our focus will be on export” German Carl Prinz GmbH has been around for a long time in the world of the interior. This company, founded by Carl Prinz in 1890 in Werdohl (Sauerland) and moving to Goch in 1956, is nowadays mainly known as a producer of unique and high quality profile systems for floor coverings and stair renovation as well as skirting boards.

Special Skirting boards and profiles with laminate, LVT, PVC, and vinyl inlay

Special Providers of abrasives

Special Discover the possibilities of industrial lacquers

Special Invisible lacquers: who has them?

Floor Forum International n° 117 July 2021 Photo Carl Prinz GmbH

Photo –

With managing director Katharina Prinz, we take a look at how Carl Prinz GmbH as a family run company approaches the international market. First, we talk about the range of products for the flooring market and how these are put to market.

“Besides universal sections, Prinz developed some unique profile systems for parquet, laminate and LVT floorings”, we (Carl Prinz GmbH) learn. “In 1990, our D.O.S.-system was introduced, being the first section system with concealed fastening. In the mid 90ies, the PROFI-TEC clips sections followed, with its ground-breaking ball-and-socket-connection technology. In early 2000 Prinz developed PS 400, a two-part screw section system, that connects the base and top section with self-drilling screws, which is also unique on the market until this day.”

Katharina Prinz

4 Inside news 8 Advertorial Vandecasteele Houtimport (B) 10 Special Skirting boards and profiles with laminate, LVT, PVC,

and vinyl inlay 13 Special Producers of adjustable floor support systems for

terrace floors 17 Special Curing oil and lacquer with led 20 Special Providers of abrasives 22 Special Finish and maintenance products for wooden wall

Through the years, Carl Prinz GmbH has conquered itself a prominent role on the Benelux market. And now, during and after the pandemic, it plans to make even more work of its expansion outside Germany.

“We mainly sell our products through specialist dealers for parquet, laminate and design floorings, through flooring and hardware wholesalers and the major Belgian manufacturers of laminate and design floorings by means of one dedicated Account Manager”, testifies Mrs. Prinz. “As with so many other companies, the pandemic has steered us towards a shift in the direction of e-commerce. Alongside this, we took this experience as a challenge to improve our digital supplies by updating and recreating images, data sheets and video materials, for our wholesale customers, who run online shops.”

Its online success notwithstanding, the company is looking forward to finally meeting its customers face-to-face again.

26 Special Producers of reactive stains

“We are very happy more direct contact with customers is possible again. While fairs are still quite a long way off, we look forward to organising individual workshops, which we do on request of our customers. As a rule, these workshops target professionals, as our workshops are expressly aimed at giving the necessary technical information craftsmen need. These take place during in-house exhibitions, hosted by our customers.”

28 Special Who has an oil which can finish in one coat?

The pandemic didn’t stop Carl Prinz GmbH from developing new products. Quite on the contrary…

claddings 24 Special Producers of hybrid adhesives

32 Special Who has levelling products which dry rapidly?

34 Special Invisible lacquers: who has them?

38 Special Producers of distressed floors 41 Special Producers of hard wax oil 43 Industry news 44 Special Discover the possibilities of industrial lacquers 47 Special Producers of small and medium-sized oiling and

“Expect several new innovative products during the next edition of Domotex Hannover in January 2022”, concludes Mrs. Prinz. “We will concentrate on the ‘stair renovation’ segment, profiles with LED technology and aluminum skirting boards. At the same fair, you will certainly notice how we, as a company, see the future. More than ever, we are convinced our future is on export, and we will not fail to communicate this on our stand…”

“In the future, at our Goch site, located in the heart of Europe, close to the Netherlands and Belgium, we want to continue developing, producing and selling innovative solutions for the installation of floor coverings. We are currently concentrating on the digitization of our company and have put a new ERP system into operation. As of January 1st, 2022 we will start with an expanded warehouse management system, which will increase our efficiency in logistics and further improve customer service.”

lacquering machines 48 Special Tanzania 50 Product news

Editing & advertisements FFI bvba PO BOX 29 9870 Olsene, Belgium Tel: +32 (0)475/44 20 77 sales@media-pact.com www.floor-forum.com

Advertising & subscriptions Filip De Ridder sales@media-pact.com Adriana Dascalu info@media-pact.com Hilde De Ridder floorforum@telenet.be

Publisher Filip De Ridder

Editors: Jan Hoffman Ludwig Janssens † Jean Paul Talbot Filip De Ridder Jacques Legros

Lay-out: Be-able Communication www.be-able.be

Subscriptions to Floor Forum International: Mail to info@media-pact.com

Production: Lowyck - Oostende

Translation: Michael Robinson www.glossa.be Floor Forum International is a publication of FFi bvba.

The copyright of Floor Forum International and the articles appearing herein are retained by the publisher. By agreeing to publication of an article in this journal, the author assigns to the publisher the irrevocable and exclusive right under Copyright law to collect charges due from third parties for copying said article and to undertake legal or other action for this purpose.

Editorial and advertising copy in this issue have been carefully checked and Floor Forum International bvba cannot accept any responsibility for any errors.

∂ Inside news Ciranova CIRANOVA, a worldwide player in protective and decoration coatings for the home improvement market, is taken over by the French BLANCHON group, accelerating their international growth with this acquisition

Katrien Vandemarliere, Wouter Devaere (middle) and Guillaume Clément.

Debal Finance (known under the brands Ciranova and Geka) announces that they have been purchased by the Blanchon group (France). The Ciranova group is a Belgian family-owned business generating €15m turnover, specialized in the design and manufacturing of finishing products for parquet, wood floorings for more than 90 years, dedicated to professional and industrial customers. Geka is producing special UV coatings for various industrial applications.

This acquisition is part of the Blanchon Group’s strategy to accelerate its international growth, to become a European leader in protection, maintenance, renovation and decoration of wood and vinyl flooring and surfaces. With a commercial presence in more than 24 countries around the world, including North America and Asia, the Ciranova group operates from 4 main platforms located in Belgium, in the United States and in China. They will be added to the well-established Blanchon European subsidiaries to accelerate the group international business growth.

Leveraging on the complementary combination of the Blanchon and Ciranova product lines and strong brand awareness, as well as on their respective client portfolios, this acquisition allows Blanchon Group to become the Belgian leader in the supply of products and services to professional and industrial customers.

The 60 highly-skilled employees of Ciranova are now joining the experienced and multi-functional teams of the Blanchon Group. The owners, Katrien Vandermarliere and Wouter Devaere remain fully involved in the company and will take over the overall responsibility for the Industry segment and have invested into the Blanchon group alongside with current shareholders.

“With nearly 7,000 references across 55 countries on 5 continents, top line growth and international expansion are at the heart of the Blanchon Group’s strategy. The acquisition of Ciranova enables us to provide our customers with new product innovations and service offerings. “Our ambition is twofold: First of all to support the development of all our customers in the short, medium and long term and to strongly

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increase the Group’s market shares in both the professional and industrial segments” comments Guillaume Clément, President and CEO of the Blanchon Group.

“The very professional and highly-skilled management and team of Ciranova, and its state-of-the-art R&D centre coupled with the Ciranova’s high-level brand reputation, will provide our customers and our teams with great and unique opportunities”, adds Guillaume Clement.

"We are very pleased to join the Blanchon Group, as we share the same DNA and values. Benefitting from its brands strong reputation in Europe, as well as solid R&D expertise and a highly technical products range, Blanchon Group has a very complementary offer to the Ciranova value proposition” states Wouter Devaere, CEO of Ciranova.

About Ciranova (www.ciranova.eu/ www.ge-ka-supplies.com): The Ciranova Group, with on the one hand Ciranova, which specializes in the development and production of finishing products for parquet, furniture and wood coatings for over 90 years, and on the other hand Geka Supplies, which develops, produces and sells UV products, operates in the professional and industrial circuits in more than 24 countries. The group consists of production and distribution companies in Belgium and two distribution branches, one in China and the other in the United States. The Ciranova Group employs approximately 60 people. The values and culture of the Ciranova Group are product quality, innovation and customer service.

About Blanchon (www.groupeblanchon.com): Founded in 1832, Blanchon is a specialist in protective and decoration coatings for wood and vinyl substrates for indoor and outdoor applications. With its brand ‘Syntilor’ dedicated to DIY, ‘Blanchon’ for professional distribution and craftsmen and ‘Blanchon Industrie’ for flooring manufacturers, the group services more than 7000 customers globally. The group is recognized for its high quality and sustainable product offerings, and its local technical expertise to support customers.

Contact details: Blanchon Group : Alexia Fleury – afleury@blanchon.com Ciranova Group : Wouter Devaere – wouterdevaere@ciranova.be

MMFA Impress Surfaces joins the MMFA as Associate Member Brussels, 16 June 2021 – MMFA, the Multilayer Modular Flooring Association, welcomes Impress Surfaces as the newest addition to the association.

“With Impress Surfaces, we won an outstanding new member who offers a diverse product portfolio in the area of decorative surfaces.

We are particularly excited about its truly global footprint with seven locations around the world and its continuous efforts to minimise the impact on the environment,” said Matthias Windmöller (Windmöller), president of the MMFA. Sascha Kostros, Head of Decor Management at Impress Surfaces, explained: “We are delighted to be joining the ranks of well-known flooring experts at MMFA! With our global network of trend scouts, we are looking forward to keeping other members up to date on the newest design trends for decorative surfaces based on different needs, cultures and markets.”

∂ Inside news Impress is a group of companies operating globally to develop and manufacture trendy decorative surfaces for the wood-based panel, furniture and flooring industry as well as for modern interior design. They are one of the world’s leading companies in the industry and supply their customers via seven international locations. The decors for tomorrow’s design are created directly in-house and are based on trends that are identified continuously on a global level by well-connected, internal scouts. The product portfolio of the full-service provider includes decor papers, finish foils, impregnated papers, additives and decor printing inks.

With this new addition, MMFA now counts 28 ordinary members (producers of MMF flooring or their European representations), 31 associate members (supplier companies) and three supporting members (scientific institutes).

Serra Maschinenbau GmbH undergoing major expansion More space for sawmill technology: Rimsting/D Serra Maschinenbau GmbH in Rimsting on Lake Chiemsee supplies mobile and stationary sawmills around the world. The successful company is growing steadily and is gaining further production space with a new hall, in order to efficiently realize all future orders.

An old warehouse on the company site had to make way for this.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the 560 m2 production hall took place on June 1, 2021, with Serra anticipating investments in interior fittings and machinery of around 430,000 euros. “The new building will allow us to increase our production capacity by roughly 50 % and achieve sales in the 2-digit million range. The welding, machining, electrical assembly, and logistics teams will all be housed in the new hall,” explains Managing Director Andreas Doubrava. This plant expansion has secured the essential framework conditions needed for the growth plan of the coming years. The new building has been designed in such a way that it can be extended in a further construction phase.

For over 30 years, the innovative company has been known for its high-quality, "Made in Bavaria" sawmill machines, which are already in successful use in over 80 countries around the world. From small mobile sawmills to complete sawmill lines, Serra offers tailor-made solutions for every requirement in a wide range of climate zones. The product range includes mobile and stationary band sawmills, saw

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∂ Inside news blades, and service equipment for sharpening, resaws and trimmers, forestry machines, and equipment such as the CutCoach clamping simulator. Serra has been part of the Austrian Wintersteiger AG since the beginning of 2019 and complements the product portfolio of the Division Woodtech.

Wintersteiger

Breaking ground at Serra. From left to right: Franz Hofmann (Head of Production), Christian Mayer (Sales Director), Andreas Doubrava (Finance & Technology Director) and Johann Fritz (building owner and former company proprietor)

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An additional one million linear meters of band saw blades: Expansion of production at Wintersteiger Sägen GmbH Arnstadt/ Despite tough times, Wintersteiger Sägen GmbH in Arnstadt, Germany, is growing and the company recently invested in an additional deep grinding machine. This machine will significantly increase capacity: In future, it will be possible to produce an additional one million linear meters of band saw blades per year.

For CEO Stefan Hengelhaupt, the new machine, engineered by several suppliers with a total investment of 550,000 euros, is coming at just the right time. “The first deep grinding machine went into operation in 2018 and is currently running at more than 100 % capacity. It was time for the second machine – pandemic or not! We are looking ahead and investing for the long term.”

Further capacity means further possibilities.

Wintersteiger Sägen GmbH intends to use the additional deep grinding machine to produce more saws for the metal sector, in addition

∂ Inside news to food and joiner band saws. “The deep grinding machine is an outstanding machine because it can produce a huge quantity with very high quality in just a short time, and it can't be compared to any conventional grinding machine. Thanks to the second machine, we will have the flexibility to focus more heavily on the metal band saw product group in the future. Furthermore, the possibility of production smoothing means that we can produce material for stock and our customers will benefit from enhanced delivery availability,” says Hengelhaupt. Hengelhaupt is also confident about the availability of strip steel, as the company has ordered annual requirements and has already planned ahead up to 2022.

It is not only in the area of machinery and steel that the company is planning for the long term. The production plant was expanded to 7,000 m2 in 2018, and the company site is able to accommodate a further 4,000 m2 of production space. “All of our machines are technologically state of the art, and we are expanding our machinery on an ongoing basis. We don't want to stand still, we intend to continue developing our market leading position,” says Hengelhaupt.

With a 65-strong team, Wintersteiger Sägen GmbH produces band saw blades for thin-cutting and frame saws, joiner, narrow band, resaw and log band saws, as well as food and metal saws. The band saw blade service, with all its demands, is also a very important business field.

From left to right: Production foreman Christian Greßler and Stefan Hengelhaupt in front of the existing deep grinding machine during production planning

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Photo © Dieter Dejonghe

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Special

Skirting boards and profiles with laminate, LVT, PVC, and vinyl inlay

VISIBLE WITHOUT BEING ON SHOW A MAJOR TREND IS THE QUEST FOR SKIRTING BOARDS WHICH ARE PART OF THE TOTAL INTERIOR IMAGE Pascal Thiel (Carl Prinz - D) Pascal Thiel has been a marketing manager with German skirtings specialist Carl Prinz for more than 15 years. Since a number of years, he notices how the market in inlay skirtings keeps on growing.

“We started offering these inlay skirtings when design floorings became more and more prominent on the market, but especially the last 5 years this is quite booming and becoming more and more relevant. The portfolio is expanding and the end is nowhere near in sight yet. When you produce profiles, you depend on the flooring market. This means you accompany the market and design according to the trends.”

“Profiles are normally not a design item. Customers are interested in discrete products that you don’t want to see. In general, you can say the emphasis is still on the floor, design skirtings with inlay slots help to create a general image. In it, you see only a very small amount of the aluminum.”

“When we say the demand in inlay skirtings is growing, we are talking about something you don’t really want to see. There are two different approaches. One is that skirtings become visible with, e.g, led, the other is that the skirtings literally vanish from sight and where the skirting has the same design as the floor itself. 80% design of skirting is the same as the floor.”

Art of being visible without being visible “I would like to add that we also have stairnoses that work the same way, with inlay in the front. You can put a strip of the flooring itself into the stair nosing, so the complete stairs are covered in design floors. Decades ago you had very heavy, visible stairnosing, but now the profile is taken to the background and the flooring is front and centre. The same goes for skirtings. You could state that inlay skirtings are all about the art of being visible without being visible, skirtings are not the main actor.”

“I would like to conclude by expressing our hope to be able to meet our customers again. For the Dutch market, we would especially want to show a new version of our powdercoated black stair nosing during Domotex or a lot sooner, during a much smaller fair in October: Architect@ Work in Düsseldorf.”

How do you choose the right skirting board for every floor, wall, doorframe, or staircase? It’s no easy job, certainly on a market where the range of decorative and technical accessories is booming and the range is so wide that floor fitters almost have to build an extra storeroom for all the stock. In this context inlay skirting boards are the solution par excellence because you yourself decide whether the skirting board matches the floor completely or, on the contrary, there is a full or partial contrast.

To cut a long story short, inlay skirting boards are primarily a purely technical solution because you separate the decorative and technical aspects from each other before you start on a job. With inlay skirting boards, you basically regard them solely as bearers, which you might

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or might not finish yourself with (in our case) an element found in the floor (or the staircase, the wall, or the door frame). You can do this, for instance, with an inlay in PVC. These skirting boards are obviously made available in various thicknesses so that they can be used for the diverse sorts of flexible floor covering or laminate or anything whatsoever.

Ready for fitting or you finish it yourself You have to draw a distinction in the range between two sorts of skirting board. On the one hand, there is the skirting board which leaves the factory ready for use and is supplied with the chosen inlay. And so, it is already fitted with the right strip or plank from the accompanying floor and is then finished in situ. It’s also possible to glue or clip it onto the bearer or a sort of Velcro can be fitted.

On the other hand, a skirting board can also be offered as a neutral product, but it is ready for use. And so, the finish depends entirely on the fitters themselves on the site, and this paves the way for radical personalisation. Just as with the other variant, what it boils down to is that a universal solution is offered which suits everyone’s interior.

anodized colors or with powder coating are available on request.

Matching inside and outside corners can either be miter cut or manufactured as a 30x30 mm corner by us. Special cuts or bended skirtings are also available on request.

Küberit: Innovations 2021

Trend towards invisibility When we look around in the field, it’s noticeable that there is a clear trend towards a finish where the skirting board ‘disappears completely’.

Certainly over the last five years, the stress has come more on the general image to be formed, whereby inlay strips in turn strive for a good degree of ‘invisibility’ and the floor continues to play the lead role.

Someone might ask: ‘And what about skirting boards with built-in LED elements?’ Here there is a functional difference. By contrast, with LED, you want the skirting board to be seen, but mainly for functional reasons. Certainly with commercial projects it can be helpful, for instance, to illuminate the way to the exit in the dark.

Finish for stair nosing We’ve noticed another striking trend with the finish of stair nosing.

Many years ago, stair nosing was rather cumbersome and visible, but nowadays things are completely different. An obviously attractive market is that where an inlay is offered in the front side of the stair nosing whereby you slide the profile itself to the background to put the (design) floor in the spotlight.

As far as we are aware, there are no exact figures for inlay skirting boards, but we have noticed from our enquiries that people want the same look for the skirting board and the floor for no fewer than 80% of finishes. Or as the manufacturer from our testimony summarised it so aptly: ‘In today’s market, the skill lies in being visible without being on show, as the skirting board certainly isn’t the leading player on the interior stage.’

The New Küberit Skirting Trim Skirting trim professionally renovated Küberit has completed its wide range of floor, wall and stair profiles with the new skirting trim type 928 for the renovation of tile skirtings.

Some other specialists have their say: Auer Metallprofile

In addition to a multitude of stair nosings, connecting profiles and special profiles, Auer Metallprofile also has various skirtings made of stainless steel and aluminum. From flat i-shape, via click-skirting, and then to edged and extruded L-shapes, to r-skirting boards to bump and push a variety of coverings, such as the 60 x 10 x 3,2 mm aluminum design skirting. This is suitable for bonding 2 to 3 mm floorings and adapts optimally in every room by the combination with the laid design floor. This skirting board is available in the anodized colors silver and stainless steel colored as standard colors. Other

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Special

Skirting boards and profiles with laminate, LVT, PVC, and vinyl inlay

When installing LVT flooring, they enable a base that is as attractive as it is durable and has the same decor.

Smart Solution covering all common skirtings The new Küberit skirting trim made of aluminum in the anodized colors silver and stainless steel optic brushed can be installed without a lot of dirt and extensive rework. It is designed so that LVT coverings up to a thickness of 3.2 mm can be glued to the profile. The small nose on the top edge of the profile ensures a clean finish and protects the flooring strip from wear and tear. The new skirting trim gives a wide range of design options and allows a professional and durable implementation. The 51.5 mm high profile can be installed effortlessly at variable heights. The covering gauge of 8 mm is calculated to cover the most common skirtings.

The advantages of the Küberit cover strip for tile skirting: - specially designed for renovations of stone and tile floors with LVT floor coverings - professional, durable solution - easy gluing over old tiles with the skirting trim - low workload, no noise pollution and little dirt - design of a new, shapely, decor-matched skirting board - Inner and outer corners as well as end pieces made of high-quality and color-matched plastic material

Progress Profiles Among the wide range of skirting boards produced by Progress Profiles, many of them correspond entirely to the floor. SKIRTING 7016 and SKIRTING 7011, for example, are two models for floating floors in

Photo – Auer Metallprofile

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laminate wood: thanks to over 100 different shades of wood, they can be chosen of the same color of the floor. Made of PVC foam, the laying of these skirting boards can be performed with gluing or with a simple structure fixed with screws, bolts or nails. The Italian firm produces the bearing element in aluminium, stainless steel or PVC expanded foamed vinyl resin. For the inlay, it fits to order and is industrially applied, varying one from another. Progress Profiles focuses on quick and easy customization of the skirting board with Promultiskirt Square and Promultiskirt Round. These two new patented models are equipped with pre-engravings on the back and front (not visible): they can be easily carved, choosing from different heights - from 10, 8 or 6 cm.

Special

Producers of adjustable floor support systems for terrace floors

EFFICIENT, INVISIBLE, AND CONVENIENT FINE TUNING OF ADJUSTABLE FLOOR SUPPORTS IS A NEVER ENDING STORY Marc Collings (Buzon - B) Buzon in Belgium has been an authority in the world of terrace floor supports for over 30 years. Buzon employs about 20 people and achieves over 80% of its turnover in Europe, but you will find the company regularly on prestigious international sites. Here are some notable examples: the Apple Centre in the USA, the Shard Tower in London, Santiago airport in Chile, the BEI European Bank of Luxembourg, and Asterix Park near Paris.

Marc Collings, who works for Buzon in Herstel and is responsible for the Benelux and France, comments: ‘Our work area covers mainly the Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, and the UK. We cover Belgium with an internal team, whilst abroad we join forces with agents and partners.’

Buzon, too, has noticed that the terrace market is growing strongly: ‘The question is whether that’s a result of the pandemic or that private individuals now attach more importance to a pleasant space. It takes nothing away from the longstanding work of our sales agents, but the circumstances have undeniably promoted this favourable development.’

‘At Buzon we’ve invested in nothing but quality products for over 30 years. However, the service provided is equally important as that quality.

Our partners/agents are trained and informed in depth to make full use of the good equipment.’

At Buzon they’ve noticed how user demands have become increasingly varied. Various main strands stand out: ‘First of all, there’s the demand for more height, where we now even go up to one metre. In addition, clients are looking for more solutions in the area of wind resistance. To guarantee that a system remains firmly in place, we therefore offer an anchoring system with solutions to all possible problems. A third shaft is that of fire safety. Fire safety is a sensitive issue and it’s also essential to respond to all potential forms of legislation which can vary from country to country. Finally, we can’t ignore the ecological aspect. Therefore, we’ve produced floor supports in recycled polypropylene. That’s not all; our new offices are constructed in line with the passive building principle where there’s a great deal of attention to our ecological footprint. Amongst other things, we offset differences by planting trees and installing beehives on the company premises. What it boils down to is that we take working from cradle to cradle very seriously and we pursue it as strictly as possible.’

Finally, there’s obviously the supply of raw materials. From 1 June, Buzon had to announce a price increase, but they kept it to a minimum.

‘We’re fortunate to have worked with the same supplier for so many years and we’re therefore assured of the supply of high-quality basic raw materials. Due to market pressure and purchase prices, we had to make changes, as did other companies in the construction industry, but thankfully the price increases have been very modest.’

When you fit a wooden terrace, there are some elements which you barely see, if at all. Amongst other things, that applies to adjustable floor supports. They play an absolutely essential part in the creation of a splendid outdoor floor, but you no longer see them once the terrace is finished. These adjustable floor supports have to cope with a lot e.g. bear considerable weight, absorb gradient angles, be adjustable, help respond to diverse brand standards, resist the wind, and be easy to relocate. Then, there’s the fact that it should ideally be possible to re-use or recycle them later.

Floor support producers know what they have to do to launch their products on the market. We also note that these producers continually question their own equipment in order to respond as efficiently as possible to the needs and wishes of fitters and end users.

Weight and slope If we consider the weight, we see that modern adjustable floor supports can cope with up to 1000 kg/pc, even for greater heights. As a rule, you can also reckon that on average at least three floor supports per square metre are used, so they can cope with a lot of weight.

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Special

Producers of adjustable floor support systems for terrace floors

We also note that they respond diligently to the degree of slope. It is standard for floor supports which can be adjusted in the height to have no problem whatsoever with a slope up to 5% (you only need 3 to 4% for a drainage slope). If a bigger slope is necessary, that, too, is no problem. The addition of a slope corrector will suffice for that purpose so that a correction of 10% can be achieved. There is also a very wide range of floor supports. These range from fixed supports for any sort of material whatsoever to the very latest bearers with self-levelling heads, which adjust the slope automatically. There are lots of benefits from this. There’s not only the quick and easy fitting, but also you have the opportunity to opt in one single product for a self-levelling or fixed head. That means you can control the stability in the most critical situations and along the perimeter of a terrace.

Some other specialists have their say: Impertek

Height and adjustments The question which we also need to ask is how easy it is, if necessary, to remove the planks after the fitting. What is certain is that the floor supports can be adjusted once the floor is fitted, if the planks are fitted directly onto the bearer. If that is not the case and the planks are fitted onto wooden or aluminium beams, the support structure has to be adjusted before the plates are fitted. And so, various factors mean that you have to consider in many cases that it is impossible or difficult to avoid damage if, for instance, only one plank has to be replaced.

It’s interesting to note that the heights which can be achieved vary considerably. Thanks to modular systems, you usually start around 10mm, but you can go up above 1100mm. There are also rail systems on offer whereby it is possible to apply various shapes and materials creatively, such as ceramic tiles or wooden ‘boards’. That’s not insignificant in a world where designers and their clients increasingly want more freedom of expression, whilst the end result must still be a perfect flatness, something which was unimaginable with traditional fitting systems.

Ecological awareness is growing Finally, it’s noticeable how most manufacturers stress that they are looking for and continue to go for (preferably light) materials which can be recovered or recycled to the full. What’s also noticeable is that they often go for synthetics in the shape of polypropylene, which is often already made partly from a recycled raw material. The quality of this polypropylene certainly guarantees impeccable resistance to bad weather conditions, ageing, ultra violet light, fluctuations in climate, and, in some conditions, wind.

Impertek offers a wide range of supports for raised floor. Our modular system allows to reach heights from 10 to 1050 mm, to correct slope up to 10% and to install floors of different shapes and materials thanks to Rail System. Each pedestal can load up to 1000 kg. In a single support you can choose between the self-adjusting head, to automatically correct the slope up to 5%, or the fix head, to improve stability in the most critical situation or along terraces’ perimeters, guaranteeing a fast and easy installation. Our pedestals can be regulated from the top once the floor has been laid if the slabs are installed directly on the support or, where the project involves the lay on wood or aluminium joist, the substructure must be adjusted before the installation of the planks. The supports can be laid on waterproofing membranes without fixing or, thanks to the holes in them bases, can be also fasten mechanically in all the other laying surfaces. With our pedestal all wooden floors are no longer in contact with the ground but remain isolated from the its humidity, significantly increasing the life of the flooring. The lightness of the final floor makes this system perfect for all the renovations.

Pedestal adjustable de 18 à 955mm

CREATE YOUR TERRACE WITH PEDESTAL BUZON www.buzon-world.com

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Floor Forum International 117

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Special

Producers of adjustable floor support systems for terrace floors

Profilpas

Progress Profiles

With the supports for outdoor raised floors PP Level DUO® by Profilpas, there is the possibility to choose between fixed and tilting head in an instant, directly during the installation. A choice that can be made easily, thanks to the special converter Perfect Ring. Indeed, if you insert it between the head and the screw, the support becomes fixed. On the contrary, if you need to compensate the slope of a surface up to 6%, it will be sufficient not to insert the ring to obtain a self-levelling system.

There is the possibility to reach all heights with just five supports PP Level DUO® thanks to the extension elements. Moreover, PP Level DUO® can be adjusted in height from the top thanks to the specific adjustment key. For the installation of single-format and multi-format ceramic planks, Profilpas has created a special double joist system for guaranteeing a greater stability and resistance: a system composed of two joists in natural aluminium that must be fixed on a special head, thus creating a rail for the positioning of the spacer.

Progress Profiles has patented two new solutions to fit a perfect outdoor floating floor: Prosupport Tube System and Prosupport Slim System ensure a practical, steady and perfect realization of any kind of floating floors - screeds, smoothed concrete, wooden floors and old floors -, with 10 to 1000 mm heights, making sure to save working time and guaranteeing long-lasting results. Prosupport Tube System is an innovative pedestal composed of 7 elements in polypropylene (PP) and is equipped with a load resistance of 1,300 kg/piece. Matching Prosupport Tube System and Prosupport Slim System, the Italian firm also patented an additional modular system, Prorail System, which guarantees a steady and resistant substructure providing to the installer all the necessary elements for the work. It consists of 2 aluminium joists, Prorail and Prorail Ret, Prorail Ring, 2 cross spacers with removable flaps Prorail Spacer and one anti-noise and anti-slip rubber Prorail Rubber.

www.progressprofiles.com

IN LOVE WITH DECKING

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PATENTED 1407796 1424326 EP 2573296 B1 EP 2952652 A1

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Photo – Buzon

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Azienda certificata UNI EN ISO 9001:2015

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LA SAN MARCO PROFILI SRL Viale Europa 63 - 31010 Soligo, TV - Italy Tel. +39 0438 980106 r.a. - Fax +39 0438 980176 info@lasanmarcoprofili.com - www.lasanmarcoprofili.com

Special

Curing oil and lacquer with LED

IS A LED FINISH FOR WOODEN FLOORS STILL A TRENDY MARKETING TOOL? TRADITIONAL UV CURING IS STILL THE STANDARD TECHNIQUE FOR NOW Arjan Maatkamp (DecoRad Systems bv - NL) DecoRad Systems bv from Veenendaal in the Netherlands offers a full range of portable on-site UV/LED curing equipment plus industrial LED equipment. UV equipment from DecoRad Systems is suitable for all UV lacquers and coatings which are currently available worldwide. General manager Arjan Maatkamp explains: ‘Parquet is one of our three segments. We also focus on the finish of concrete and flexible floors.’

Recently, this company, which is part of an electronics concern, has invested in new corporate premises. All together, the concern numbers sixty employees. Arjan Maatkamp likes to stress the unique selling points of DecoRad Systems: ‘Worldwide, we have a handful of rivals, but we’re the only ones who do our own designing, building, and marketing. We control the entire process. Customers here can be sure of quality, partly through CE, TÜV, and an ISO 9001 quality guarantee.’

‘Customers usually contact us first of all via the web site, where they get a good look at our range of equipment. To give an idea of where the equipment is made and by whom, we’ve made a company video, which we send with all our price quotations. This video has proved to be a nice solution in view of the restrictions on travel.’

Flexible floors as a growth market We mentioned above that the DecoRad market consists of three segments. The current focus is on flexible floors. ‘This is a very sizeable market, which includes schools, hospitals, elderly care homes, airfields, and such like. Then there are large surfaces of Marmoleum, PVC, and vinyl. Polymering often comes into play there, but there is an attractive alternative. Polymering means putting three coats of wax onto each other and leaving them to dry for a few hours. That’s a process which takes some 10 to 12 hours. Once or twice a year, those coats of wax are stripped using an alkaline agent to soften and remove them. And so, the waste water goes down the drain and you discharge millions of litres of stripped chemicals each year.’

‘The biggest gain with UV coatings is that you never need to do that again. A permanent seal with UV coating is solventless and it dries at once. The result is a really durable solution which also lasts much longer (three to five years, with some frequent dry cleaning and/or with a damp flat mop). In today’s sustainable society, with solar panels, windmills, and electric cars, isn’t it logical that we dispose of an ancient and environmentally unfriendly technique like polymering? After all, we have a fantastic alternative.’

Breaking patterns with UV ‘For those who like figures, did you know that five million square metres of Marmoleum is fitted in the Netherlands and Belgium alone? That means lots of polymer waste is scrubbed off and rinsed through the drains. If you break that pattern, it’s a win-win.’

‘This has given rise to a partnership with Forbo Eurocol, the biggest linoleum floor supplier in the world. Forbo Eurocol 326 UV-CareShield is a mono-component permanent protective layer for high-traffic linoleum floors. Forbo Eurocol 326 UV-CareShield has been developed using DecoRad UV equipment and we’ve become the worldwide distributor for this product due to our expertise in on-site UV. In our view, the shift from polymer to UV on flexible floors would get the most benefit from UV technology. It’s a positive development for everyone and for the environment.’

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Floor Forum International 117

17

Special

Curing oil and lacquer with LED

Everyone seems to be talking about LED curing. The question is, however: What’s the real market share of LED and is it really worth all the fuss? We spoke to a specialist Dutch company, DecoRad Systems bv, and their views are as follows: LED curing could have a decent future, but, in 2021, 95% of curing is still via traditional UV and there’s no sign of much change in the near future.

DecoRad Systems is the ideal source for an interview. The company operates worldwide in marketing mainly portable UV and LED curing apparatus, including for hardwood floors. We spoke to general manager Arjan Maatkamp and asked him first of all to outline the main difference between LED and UV curing.

LED versus traditional UV ‘First of all, you have to understand what it’s about,’ he explains.

‘Basically, UV curing consists of two things. On the one hand, there’s a UV lamp as a transmitter and, on the other hand, you have the chemistry as a receiver. These two elements have to be harmonised minutely to yield full curing plus the required properties in a tenth of a second. The biggest challenge with LED is curing on site. The most common wavelength of LED is close to that of daylight, so an unwanted reaction can occur.’

‘LED curing with pre-finished parquet is another matter because you have more control over the conditions in a factory and can keep variables to a minimum. For instance, in a factory you can keep shining sunlight out by covering the windows. You even have to take account of skylights.’

Shooting as a sniper or shooting hail?

‘UV curing is generally more user-friendly than LED, but especially on site. Traditional UV has a broadband spectrum where, put simply, various wavelengths are transmitted. These reach several receivers (photoinitiators) which are built into the chemistry, whilst with LED there is only one type of transmitter and receiver. If you express it

more plastically, you could say that with a UV lamp you shoot with hail (and therefore it’s easier to get a good result), whilst with LED you’re a sniper. The limited possibilities mean there is only one chance of curing and getting the right properties.’

When people talk about LED, one of the positive features which they invariably stress is that it saves a lot of energy. According to Arjan Maatkamp, however, that is not the whole story when it comes to curing lacquers on wooden floorboards.

‘If we compare various things with a machine which is 40cm wide, a traditional UV machine has a voltage of 3000 watts, whilst for LED this is barely 700 watts. That sounds good, but various things mean that the choice of chemistry is very limited and it’s not possible to achieve high production speeds. With the deployment of heavier LED modules (water-cooled), the range of chemistry is greater and higher production speeds can be achieved, but then we come back to the voltage, which is the same as that of traditional UV. Where’s the energy benefit in that?’

Problem of the chemistry or of the LED development?

‘The question to ask yourself is whether or not the much more expensive LED systems can be justified financially at present, certainly if they only yield the same result. Yes, LED will have its day in the future, certainly in industry, because you can create the ideal conditions for it there.’

Arjan Maatkamp’s opinion is quite clear. The real evolution of LED is taking place in lighting, but that’s certainly not the same as LED for curing. That is happening due to the difference in demand. And so, for now, we have to accept that what we really need is not yet available and/or affordable. The floor industry won’t give its general approval until LEDs with lower wavelengths and sufficient W/cm² become affordable and available (combi-LED modules). That will make it possible to work with greater coat thicknesses and higher production speeds and there will be a diversity of lacquers, coatings, and oils available for wooden floors.

Arjan Maatkamp concludes: ‘LED is absolutely revolutionary as a replacement for traditional UV in the printing press and labelling industry. In those industries, installations of a few hundred thousand euros are somewhat more easily accepted.’

Two other specialists have their say: Ciranova

Photo – DecoRad Systems

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The use of LED technology is relatively new for the wooden flooring industry, so there’s still a lot of unknown territory to explore. The system has lots of positive features and Ciranova – Debal Coatings is continuing to investigate the correct applications, drying techniques and product development. The company has expanded its know-how of LED products and application this year thanks to the takeover of the company Geka coatings from Deinze. Geka Coatings has already several years of experience in LED and UV technology in various sectors. They are using this know-how for research in order to obtain top quality LED drying products for the parquet sector. We are familiar with Light Emitting Diode or LED from daily life. A UV LED generates UV energy in the form of photons. The interaction of these photons with the photo-initiator creates a chain reaction between binding agents (monomers and oligomers) and the fluid is converted into a solid substance. Knowing that short wavelengths are good for surface drying

Chimiver LED systems are the future for the curing process of coatings. Chimiver, always moving with the time, offers you LED OIL, an efficient and performing product which embraces this technology.

PRODUCT: - It cures instantly under LED light and wood can be walked on immediately - Very high chemical and wear resistances - Solvent free, no ozone emissions, no unpleasant odour and that longer wavelengths have less energy, but penetrate deeper into the coating, we can say that UV LED performs well for drying in depth and that the classic UV technology (halogen lamps in particular) yields better surface drying. At Ciranova, too, they have great faith that LED will be the technology of the future. Since both the product and drying are still developing rapidly, Ciranova prefers to concentrate on industrial finishes. For more information and samples please contact Ciranova info@ciranova.be or tel +32 (0)51 30 11 40.

- 0% VOC - Natural look and feel - Available transparent and colored - Easy maintenance with Lios range of products LED-CURING UNIT: - Longer service life: LED lights last up to 20000 hours whereas UV lights up to 700/1000 - Energy saving - Low working temperature

Forbo Eurocol

UV-CareShield

of your Take careo� g! outd livin Restore your decking and outdoor wood worned by the sun and bad weather using professional and easy to use products:

Lios® Grigioff

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Lios® Sundeck Wood Oil

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Lios® Sundeck Soap

Clean and nourish

Floor Forum International 117

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Special

Providers of abrasives

UNDENIABLE MOVE TOWARDS A LONGER LIFESPAN SILICON CARBIDE AND ALUMINIUM OXIDE MAKE WAY FOR ZIRCONIUM AND EVEN CERAMICS There are few materials which require as much professional expertise as wood. Each wood sort has its own characteristics and that means that you have to take that into account, certainly with sanding. If we look at market developments, we see a clear line: abrasive materials with silicon carbide and aluminium oxide have been ousted for some years now by zirconium, ‘the new strong man’. Much more recently, ceramics have started to emerge as an abrasive material.

Whilst aluminium oxide and silicon carbide had the last word until about ten years ago, at present we notice that zirconium and also ceramics have taken the market by storm.

Zirconium versus aluminium oxide and silicon carbide At present, sanding with zirconium (or with a mix in which zirconium is the most prominent element) stands out, and that really is no surprise. The main reason for choosing this material is simply that the bands last up to five or six times longer than aluminium oxide and silicon carbide. Whilst the latter products soon become blunt and jaded, we note that zirconium hardly ever behaves like that, if at all, due to its extra grain hardness. Yet it offers the same grip and sharpness to ensure smooth sanding. The point is that the grain always breaks off a very small piece to retain the same sharpness. This is in contrast to the bluntness of aluminium and silicon.

Moreover, an extra benefit, certainly for parquet floor fitters working with wood, is that zirconium processes very well. The reason for that is quite simple. The grains with this product are further apart, so it is much easier for the dust to escape. The result is that the wood doesn’t get burnt (so there are no characteristic black marks) because the temperature doesn’t build up anything like as quickly. Various things also mean that you always see perfectly what you are sanding, and that can only contribute to a high quality end result. Moreover, there’s one more benefit: Zirconium is also ideal for renovation jobs. After all, it removes extremely hard coating systems much better, such as UV hardened lacquers or DD lacquers.

Scrubbing brushes have their say

Parallel to the main article we want to give separate consideration to scrubbing brushes and we consider scrubbing brushes under stationary and non-stationary machines (or rotary sanding machines). Why and when do we use these scrubbing brushes?

If we go back in time, you have to realise that for brushing a wooden floor in situ there has been a change from a sanding drum with sandpaper to a brush which is put under the machine. Such a stationary machine does have a certain drawback: It compels you to stay quite a long way from the side and, after that, you have to finish the job on that side manually. Moreover, the brushing result is also relatively coarse. A good answer to this are the rotary machines with a plate for several discs. If you put brushes onto that plate, it is possible to ‘dive into the sides’ more subtly and easily.

What we certainly have noticed on the market is that there is a tendency towards greater use of multi-disc sanding machines.

These are very efficient due to their relatively low weight. There is, however, one comment by way of reservation: That lighter weight makes them less suitable for a number of heavy jobs, such as removing old coats of lacquer.

Some specialists Bona

The ceramic story Where do ceramics fit into this story? You can say that the basic difference is that ceramics are even harder than zirconium. In practice, this means that ceramic bands are ideal for rough sanding and, after that, you can do the rest with zirconium. Finally, ask yourself: Why doesn’t anyone use glass or diamond? The answer is short and to the point. Glass is certainly not suitable for the parquet industry and diamond even less so because they are considerably more expensive.

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The key to the best sanding results lies in a perfect combination of machines and the abrasives used. The Bona sanding assortment yields not only excellent results, but also their systems are developed for maximum efficiency, comfort, and safety.

A selection from the wide range of Bona abrasives: Bona Ceramic (Series 8700 - Grey) Superior abrasive material made from ceramic quality for the simple removal of hard UV lacquers and adhesive residue and for levelling

very uneven floors. In combination with the Bona 8300 series, an ideal system for high sanding performances for a nice smooth surface.

Bona Ceramic Mix (Series 8600 - Green) Abrasive material with a long life and it sands effectively. Yet it prevents unnecessary damage to the wood fibres. The unique mix of ceramic and aluminium oxide offers a 30% faster sanding process and lasts 50% longer than standard abrasive material.

Bona Anti-static Zirconium (Series 8300 - Blue) Top class abrasive material with an ideal mix of zirconium and silicon carbide for a perfect balance between aggression and surface-finish.

The Bona 8300 abrasives are highly durable and have an anti-static top layer which prevents filling, does not overheat, lasts longer, and discharges dust better. The grain used constantly forms new sharp points during use.

Bona Diamond Abrasives Exceptionally durable sanding discs with diamond parts. For polishing ceramically reinforced UV lacquer and other hard lacquers. It reduces the risk of scratches. Covers at least 100m² - Improves the adhesion before applying more lacquer.

and underlays must be used. The development and manufacture of such abrasives requires the use of high-quality materials in combination with sophisticated testing and manufacturing processes.

After countless tests, this ultimately resulted in our LÄGLER® abrasives. They have been specially developed for the optimum use of the LÄGLER floor sanding machines, meet the high quality requirements of craftsmen and cover the complete range of applications.

Devo

FLIP ® - Corner attachment Can you build up an emotional attachment to corners?

Over the last 40 years, the range of Devo® sandpapering materials has become a regular fixture amongst parquet traders due to innovation and high quality. There has generally been little renewal in terms of basic raw materials. Most ‘new’ materials which enter the parquet sector have existed for a long time, but are now also found on the parquet market due to a growing demand for high-performance materials. In the past, parquet traders used hardly anything except aluminium oxide and silicon grains. Nowadays, they also use zirconium and ceramic materials due to the greater sandpapering grain hardness. The composition of the materials has undergone some change as a result of technical developments. For instance, in 2017, Devo innovated with the Devo® Fiberpad™. This is a completely new sort of sanding disc which offers scores of benefits for floor fitters.

Yes, because now you will love them!

With our FLIP® corner attachment you will work corners easier and faster than ever before!

Lägler - intelligent solutions for clever craftsmen!

LÄGLER Nowadays, craftsmen expect high-performance abrasives with long service lives, which have optimum aggressiveness and at the same time, guarantee a uniform sanding pattern. These should withstand the highest mechanical and thermal loads and be able to process the most diverse surfaces. Let it be softwood, hardwood or tropical wood, or coatings with varnish or oil. The appropriate cutting materials, binders

+49 (0) 7135 98 90 0

info@laegler.com

Floor Forum International 117

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Special

Finish and maintenance products for wooden wall claddings

FOLLOW YOUR TASTE A FINISH IS OFTEN UNNECESSARY, BUT IT SOMETIMES MAKES A NICE BONUS

Photo – Osmo

When should you finish a wooden wall? The answer is fairly simple. In most cases it depends on your own taste.

Obviously, the chosen wood sort also plays a part. Basically, wood sorts with both high and moderate durability don’t need a finish. Obviously, this wood undergoes a natural ageing process, but that doesn’t in any way affect the durability or technical qualities of the wood.

A finish for moderately durable wood sorts

If you do want to apply a finish, you have a choice of a transparent (stain) or covering (paint) finish product. You have to take account of a number of factors. For instance, it is helpful to realise that once the wood starts to age, it won’t need any more maintenance treatments, but it is impossible to counteract ageing with a colourless finish.

Moreover, oddly enough, if you want to preserve the original shade of the wood, you have to apply a coloured finish.

A finish for wood sorts with low durability

A finish for highly durable wood sorts Highly durable wood sorts (heartwood from classes I-II) don’t actually need any extra protection. Nevertheless, the wood ages under the influence of the climate and starts to display surface cracks. If you want to do something about that, you can give the wood a coat of covering paint. Non-covering treatments are also possible. Here we think of C2 products, which protect the wood with pigmented transparent and respiratory C2 products. This protects the wood from surface discolouration and rain water. These products are easy to apply in two to three coats. People also talk about CTOP products (or satin lasures/ stains). These give the wood a semi-film or complete film and are non-breathable. And so, they are not suitable for finishing solid wood

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wall claddings due to the risk of the planks becoming distorted and the tendency of the finishing coat to peel off towards the end of its life.

As we said in the introduction, moderately durable wood sorts (heartwood from class III) basically don’t need any extra protection either.

Nevertheless, the same batch can sometimes contain less durable planks. That is why it is advisable to apply a treatment with a C1 product before the finish. This treats the wood effectively against moulds, insects, and discolouration.

For wood sorts with low durability, it will be necessary to treat them to make them more durable and there are various procedures for doing that. However, do be aware that here, too, these treatments will not counteract natural ageing.

Maintenance Maintenance, too, is something which needs to be considered. If you look for a wall finish using C2 products, you will notice that the maintenance frequency depends heavily on exposure. For instance, a wall facing the south-west will need some maintenance after barely three years, whilst a similar wall facing east or north-east will need maintenance only every eight to ten years. What you might notice is the emergence of small, but unsightly grey marks. If you do see this, you know at once that the wall is due for maintenance. This maintenance is limited to light sanding with fine sandpaper (e.g. a 200 grain) followed by the application of one coat of C2-product.

Cleaning In connection with the maintenance, you also have to keep an eye on certain aspects related to cleaning, certainly if the wall cladding is left untreated. Imagine, for instance, that the wall is exposed to strong air pollution. In that case, you will notice that the wood turns dark grey or almost black (i.e. not the expected silver grey). In such cases you clean the wall with products based on detergent and bleach or, in stubborn cases, with bleach water. After you have cleaned the wall using a brush (which contains no metal!), don’t forget to rinse with water to prevent the formation of bleach marks later. This can also be done to remove light brown marks of discolouration, mildew, or algae growth.

To remove unsightly light brown marks or rings as a result of the migration of soluble components, you can also use a solution of 50% methyl alcohol in water. A finish with a pigmented outdoor stain makes the wood surface smoother so that pollutant substances find it harder to lodge.

crack. Also available in LIGHT version, which doesn't alterate the natural colour of wood, particularly indicated for the treatment of south-american species (i.e. IPÈ Lapacho, Tobaco etc.) and other similar types of outdoor woods painted in autoclave (usually green colour). Doesn't degrade rubbers and expansion joints.

Osmo

Main source: houtinfobois.be

What’s on the market ?

Ciranova Depending on the customer’s choice, Ciranova has 2 products in its range for finishing claddings and exterior wood.

Ecoprotector is a waterbased finish available in 8 colours. The most popular colour is natural for finishing sidings and claddings. By giving a water-repellent natural finish, the wood is aging evenly and without mold stains. People choose regularly a grey colour of Ecoprotector to give new wood an aged look.

Ecoprotector can easily be applied with a brush or by spraying. In addition to Ecoprotector, you can also use Ciranova Decking Oil. Decking Oil can be applied by brush and is available in 8 colours.

Decking Oil has an extra built-in UV blocker to slow down the aging of the wood. For the maintenance of sidings and claddings finished with Ecoprotector and Decking Oil, first clean the wood with Woodcleaner and apply a new coat of the used product.

For more information and sample request please contact Ciranova by info@ciranova.be or by phone +32 (0)51 30 11 40.

Chimiver LIOS Sundeck Wood Oil is an outdoor wood impregnator particularly recommended for the treatment of outdoor wooden floors (swimming pool edges, verandas, walkways), window ad door frames, fences and canopies made of wood. It contains natural and synthetic oils, with the addition of UV ray absorbers and special anti-ageing ingredients against the wood decay. It doesn't

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Optimal coating for timber cladding – the choice is all yours More and more often, natural raw materials like wood are chosen for the cladding and decoration of house frontages. The demand for modern greys as well as for colourful accents on window shutters and wooden beams is increasing. Osmo offers various products to protect wood optimally. For a modern grey stained wood cladding, Osmo Natural Oil Woodstain in various shades of this colour is the optimal choice. Colour accents are added with Osmo Country Colour in different colour tones. By treating wood surfaces with Osmo products, optimal protection is achieved after two coats. With or without UV protection, matt or satin sheen – the choice is all yours; Osmo has the right choice of products.

RIGO Verffabriek ROYL OUTDOOR The master oil makers of RIGO Verffabriek have been making ROYL floor oils from 100% vegetable oils for almost 40 years.

ROYL OUTDOOR was developed and added to the ROYL range for the protection of exterior wood. Just like ROYL OIL, Outdoor protects the wood from the inside out.

Finishing your wood with ROYL OUTDOOR will enhance its durability and longevity by impregnating and nourishing the wood, seeping deep into its pores and polymerising into a tough, dense protective layer inside the wood. ROYL OUTDOOR gives wood a beautiful, highly water and dirt-resistant surface. ROYL OUTDOOR can be tinted with separate colour pigments. Besides, adding a colour pigment will also protect the wood against aging caused by sunlight. ROYL OUTDOOR comes in 23 authentic wood colours. Treat your wood regularly with ROYL OUTDOOR for long-lasting protection and to prevent weathering. ROYL OUTDOOR can be used for both vertical and horizontal surfaces.

Floor Forum International 117

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Special

Producers of hybrid adhesives

COMBINING THE BEST OF MANY WORLDS HYBRID ADHESIVES PICK AND CHOOSE FROM VARIOUS FORMS OF TECHNOLOGY These days, you hear the term hybrid everywhere. For instance, if you want to buy a new company car, you are encouraged to buy a hybrid model. In the parquet industry, too, hybrid adhesives are attracting lots of attention.

What are hybrid adhesives? You can compare them to how hybrid cars work. You link the benefits of different forms of technology and you’re on your way.

If you consider solely the word hybrid, you notice how it refers to a combination of different forms of technology, silicone, and polyurethane. To be precise, this involves the combination of great strength (PU) and ongoing elasticity. (silicone). This means that such products have a very wide scope of use, often even without the need for a pre-treatment of the substrate. Thanks to their high elasticity, the swelling of materials can be absorbed without compromising on effectiveness.

Comparing is the skill And so, aren’t there any drawbacks? Well, there is the price. That is often somewhat higher, but floor fitters should simply weigh up the benefits and compare them with this drawback. Make sure that you look beyond the first few weeks during and after the fitting. Obviously, any adhesive will adhere well initially, but in the course of time you do notice differences. And so, this raises the question as to whether choosing a cheaper product is always the right choice.

What’s on the market ?

Devo

For glueing a wooden floor you have to consider various factors. For instance, do you want to restrict the natural movements of the wood completely or on the other hand do you tolerate them to some extent?

What is the nature and flatness of the substrate? What sizes are the floorboards? Do you have to consider floor heating? If so, choosing a hybrid adhesive can be logical as it takes something from everything.

The stress is on the so called ‘good’ features, whilst the lesser ones are discarded.

Devo® Glue MSP150 is a semi-elastic, silicone and isocyanate-free hybrid MS polymer adhesive especially for factory-finished, multi-layer stabilised parquet. The adhesive does not contain water, is free of VOC and has excellent spreadability. In its range of MS polymer adhesives, Devo also offers the new high-performance Devo® Glue MS300, a 100% pure MS parquet adhesive that can be used for the most diverse applications, substrates and wood species. Both adhesives are made from Kaneka's original MS polymer raw material. All Devo® parquet adhesives meet the highest quality requirements. In addition to high-performance adhesives, Devo also offers the necessary technical primers for the preparation of problematic substrates. On-site advice, expertise and training are ingrained in the organisation and form the strength of the Devo® adhesive and primer range.

Safe, easy to spread, and high-quality

EMFI

A number of indicators which hybrid adhesives share can be summarised with the following terms: safe, easy to spread, and high-quality.

Safe refers to the fact that producers have considered the floor fitter’s health and the various existing environmental regulations in the different countries. As regards spreadability, we notice that hybrid adhesive producers boast proudly that their products have properties which are just as good as their classic predecessors. We notice there how producers have responded with excellent spreadability, an increasingly long open time, and a longer shelf life.

A hybrid adhesive is by definition an adhesive which uses two different forms of technology. In the field of parquet glueing, a hybrid adhesive is a reactive adhesive which deploys the reactive functionalities of silicone chemistry (alkoxy silanes) to react to the damp and help with the polymerisation of the glue. These functionalities belong to a polymer from a different form of technology than silicones. Hybrid adhesives

Sharing certain benefits Hybrid parquet adhesives share a number of properties (e.g. easy spreadability) in combination with all sorts of benefits. Think, for instance, of the absence of water, solvents, and isocyanates. This means that extra precautionary measures are unnecessary. The benefit for floor fitters is clear and, moreover, the adhesives are often available in ecological packs.

In terms of quality we can say once again that producers are striving for qualitative glueing without a primer on smooth substrates. They’re also paying attention to preventing blistering in the adhesive mass to create a stronger continuous layer of glue. Obviously, they also want

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these adhesives to attract as little water as possible to reduce the chances of discolouration and to reduce greatly the chances of sensitive wood sorts curling on substrates with little or no absorption.

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represent the vast majority of the spreadable glues used for the full glueing of parquet floors. The most common combination is between polyether polymer and alkoxy silanes (STPE) plus the combination of polyurethane polymer with alkoxy silanes (SPUR). Hybrid adhesives have the advantage that they adhere well to different sorts of materials and also that they don’t bear a strict EHS label. These adhesives can be formulated with a very low VOC content, so they can qualify for environmental approval such as EC1 or A+. Obviously, these hybrid adhesives are used for fitting parquet, but they can also be used in the shape of putty for diverse adhesion applications in construction and/ or in industry.

Chimiver ADESIVER HERCULES is an odorless two-component adhesive for wooden floors with a very low sensitization level, free of solvents, water and isocyanic resins. ADESIVER HERCULES is epoxy resins based with a MW > 700. This adhesive is classified as "ELASTIC" according to ISO 17178. It has outstanding traction resistance, workability and coverage. Also suitable for gluing wooden floor onto underfloor heating and cooling system.

Destinations: suitable for laying pre-finished and pre-calibred wooden

floor as well as any other type of timber flooring including boards without having to prepare a bed of wood laths.

Soudal Hybrid adhesives are found everywhere.

The term ‘hybrid’ indicates a combination of different forms of technology, namely silicone and polyurethane.

The association of increased resistance (PU) and durable elasticity (silicone) gives them a very wide scope, often without the need for a pretreatment. Their high elasticity allows them to absorb the movements of materials without compromising on performance. The two biggest markets for hybrid solutions are assembly adhesives (like Fix ALL®) and adhesives for parquet. With a fine range of adhesives for parquet, the greater part of the parquet market is served by hybrid adhesives.

They are easy to use and combine all sorts of advantages such as an EC-1 Plus classification, they contain no water, solvents, or isocyanates, and they can be used without any sort of extra precautions.

Moreover, drops of glue can easily be removed without damaging the base. These factors greatly increase the floor fitter’s comfort. All hybrid adhesives for parquet from the range are also available in a more ecological packaging.

PREMIUM USABILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

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Special

Producers of reactive stains

NO TWO REACTIONS ARE THE SAME REACTIVE STAINS ENSURE A DISTRESSED EFFECT

BY REACTING TO THE TANNIC ACID IN THE WOOD You can protect wood in various ways. One of them is staining, which involves the application of a transparent or covering coat. This protects the fibres against weather and wind and gives the surface an attractive appearance. Stains differ from lacquers in that a stain penetrates partially into the wood. Here it’s good to know that all wood sorts can be stained, although softwood sorts cause more problems than hardwood sorts due to the presence of resin.

stains suffice perfectly here. For instance, water-based products, odourless products, and a total lack of harmful substances (and ammonia) with these reactive stains are almost compulsory. We also refer again in this context to the diverse colour stains now available in a wide range of colours. And so, to get a totally different aspect and look from parquet, stains can be the ideal product, certainly if you combine them afterwards with an oil, bees wax, or a lacquer.

Amongst stains there are, in turn, various ‘sub-sorts’. For instance, there are stains which merely change the colour without providing any protection. Moreover, there are various types of water-based, oil-based, and alcohol-based stains and, with transparent stains, various colours are used to give a hint of different wood sorts. There are also colourless variants, which preserve the original colour, but provide less protection from sunlight and discolouration. A ‘special one’ amongst all these stains is the so called reactive stain.

An overview Bona

A unique look is created The name largely tells us what it’s all about. If you know that reactive colouring agents react to fibres and thereby enter into a very strong chemical bonding, then you realise at once that you have to think in the same way with reactive stains. Specifically, the stain reacts to the tannic acid in the wood to create a discolouration in the stained wood and give a unique look.

What you certainly must remember is that no two reactions are the same. Each tree has a different content of tannic acid, so the end result is never 100% predictable and your experience continues to play a very big part. Certainly with the oak wood used everywhere in our part of the world, you will notice that plenty of traders offer lye stain whereby you can strive for the look of a distressed floor. With products from manufacturers, you will notice how they offer different intensities whereby you can generate individual and colour effects which connect up with personal taste.

Responding to the artificial distressing trend The first rule of thumb is to consider how these reactive stains respond mainly to the trend towards artificially distressed surfaces.

This applies not only to floors, but also, for instance, to furniture and even door frames. In all this it is vital to follow the maker’s instructions closely because the application quantity and type also affect the exterior of the finished surface. For the processing, makers will usually state that the stain can be processed in the same way as oil.

You apply it, rub it in, and then rub a little more. Usually, one coat will suffice, and after that most makers will say that you can finish the floor the next day after it has dried overnight.

The nice thing about stains is they fit in nicely with the sign of the times. At present, craft and natural beauty are really in fashion and

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Bona NORDIC TONE – the Scandinavian atmosphere (for oiled floors) Bona Nordic Tone is a pre-treatment for Bona Craft Oil and yields the unique character of a Scandinavian whitewashed floor. It slows down wood discolouration and can be applied to both soft and hard wood.

You can change or further reinforce the colour of Bona Nordic Tone by adding 5% Bona Mix Colour (colouring). In combination with Bona Craft Oil, it can be supplied in different colours, so you can create your desired Bona 2-dimensional effect.

Bona Nordic Tone should never be used as the final finish.

Product base: light alkaline solution; pigmentation Dries quickly and easy to apply· Whiteness can be regulated through the number of applications · Water-based and odourless Bona RICH TONE – Dark and smoky colouring (for oiled floors) Bona Rich Tone is a pre-treatment for oak floors for the creation of a rich and dark-grey colouring. The surface is then treated immediately with Bona Craft Oil. To reinforce or change the colour of Bona Rich Tone, you can add up to 5% Bona Mix Colour. The greying effect is brought about by a chemical reaction with the oak wood. Results will vary depending on the range. Bona Rich Tone should never be used as the final finish.

Product base: alkaline solution Dries quickly and easy to apply – Water-based and odourless

Ciranova

Ciranova is the absolute market leader in reactive stains. Ciranova has various ranges such as Reactive stain, Reactive stain NT, Aquavintage and Vintage. Each Reactive stain has its own specific properties and applications. Since parquet fitters and manufacturers are always looking for novelties, Ciranova reactive stains offer a wide range of possible colours. The big advantage is that you can obtain highly natural distressed floors in combination with the water-based Ciranova finishes. You can also combine reactive stains with Ciranova colour oils to obtain unique finishes. Many parquet manufacturers worldwide are industrial spraying reactive stain and finishing with industrial products from the Ciranova range of industrial products. Onsite our reactive stain is used more frequently by the specialized professional. They are using a pressure sprayer to apply the reactive stain on the floor and for leveling afterwards. The floor can be finished with a Ciranova Hardwaxoil.

For more information or for samples please contact Ciranova.

Devo DevoNatural® Reactive 300-600-1200 is a reactive distressing product with a smoked effect for ‘oak’ parquet and wooden floors, doors, windows, furniture, etc. The product is an ecological mix of hexa hydrates and does not contain any harmful or irritating substances or ammonia! Reactive 300-600-1200 can be applied only to oak! Devo Natural® Reactive is a distressing product which is available in three concentrations, namely 400, 600, and 1200. The higher the figure, the stronger the reactive distressing. On oak wood DevoNatural® Reactive gives the wood a naturally aged look. The effect can vary, depending on the area of growth, the sort of oak, and the diversity of the oak wood. The tannic acid content of the oak determines the colour effect!

Chimiver The R&D laboratory in CHIMIVER has developed a new and innovative range of reacting solutions for ageing your wood: OLD WEST. The use of OLD WEST allows to obtain a large variety of effects imitating the old weathered woods. OLD WEST is different from classical stains or dyes which are coloring the wood hiding its grain structure; OLD WEST enhances the natural beauty of wood standing out color differences into the wood grain.

The OLD WEST reacting solutions are clear and pigments free; the natural wood color is changed through the reaction of the solution with the tannin or resins contained in the wood.

Consider that the final results can change based on: - Quantity of product - Possible dilution of product - Reacting solution overlap - Humidity and temperature during working and drying. Drying conditions in between the coats - Wood preparation (sanding, scraping, brushing etc..) - Application method - Tannin and resin content - Country of origin of the wood - Chemical nature (water or solvent-based) of the fixing prymer.

Osmo Oak surfaces with the on-trend antique look Artificially aged surfaces are really in style. With Reactive Stain from Osmo, this antique look can be achieved on flooring, furniture and other building elements made from Oak. Reactive Stain comes in three different intensities: Grey Effect Light, Grey Effect Medium and Grey Effect Intense. Since every piece of wood has its own natural tannin content and the stain works by reacting to the tannin in the wood, individual and varying staining results are always created. The application amount and application type also influence the appearance of the finished surface.

RIGO Verffabriek ROYL Reactive Stain The master oil makers of RIGO Verffabriek have been making ROYL floor oils from 100% vegetable oils for almost 40 years. ROYL oils are available in the 45 standard colours of our Greys and Woods ranges. These colours can also be mixed. By combining ROYL shades of grey and wood colours with a primer coat of ROYL REACTIVE STAIN, you can open up a world of limitless colours to create your very own, unique finish.

ROYL REACTIVE STAIN gives wood an aged look. The stain can be processed as oil: apply, rub, rub dry. 1 coat is sufficient and after drying overnight, the floor is ready to finish.

ROYL REACTIVE STAIN is available in four colours: White #4011, Grey #4012, Burned #4013 and Smoked #4014.

The stain must be finished with a ROYL oil product or SKYLT Overcoatable colour oil + SKYLT. Only the white stain can also be coated immediately with STEP or SKYLT.

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Special

Who has an oil which can finish in one coat?

A MATURE PRODUCT NOW FINISHING A WOODEN FLOOR WITH JUST ONE COAT OF OIL IS NO LONGER UNUSUAL NOWADAYS Artur Podkowa (Stauf - D) German adhesive specialist STAUF Klebstoffwerk GmbH in Wilnsdorf (North Rhine-Westphalia) has been around for almost 200 years. Stauf develops, produces and sells chemical products, especially adhesives with a major focus on flooring in general.

AKZENT (with as baseline: ‘Balm for wood’) is a brand by STAUF that focusses on all kinds of products that beautify the wooden floor. We talk to Artur Podkowa about the very special characteristics of this oil that can be applied in only one layer. Mister Podkowa is head of Stauf’s technical department, that in itself is part of the division R&D. “What’s so special about AKZENT Oil in One is that you only need to apply one coat onto the wood, protecting the wood extremely well. What we do, is basically ‘simply’ impregnate the wood and fill its pores. These pores are completely saturated with oil, making it nearly perfectly protected with just one coat (applied with a roller or spatula and polish the wood floor). This is also a very pure product, consisting of nothing else but pure oil (mixture between linseed oil and soy bean oil), with less than 1 percent added dryer, that prevents the oil on top from becoming sticky. This dryer is not based on the carcinogenic cobalt, making it very user-friendly and protecting the health of the installer.”

“The name of the product speaks for itself: you only need one product. This can be used pure, without any hardener, even though there is always the possibility to add such a hardener. The latter is not really necessary, but some users prefer it this way to raise resistance to liquids and wear, even though there is absolutely no need for this. This all in one oil is natural and simple and can later on easily be redone. Take, for example, a warehouse where forklifts cause a lot of wear: just like in an ordinary living-room, you only have to clean and reoil and the wooden floor looks like new.”

“The drying time should be mentioned separately, as you only need to wait for about 1 hour before polishing out the oil. This oil can also be used as a primer, with a waterborne finish later on being put on top, but I repeat: there is no necessity for this, nor for residential, nor for commercial applications. The oil is moreover also labelled as a colour version, with 34 readymade colours that can be mixed. And don’t forget: this oil in one can also be used as a renewing product and even as a care product! Just to be complete: it goes without saying that our product complies to the different European standards and such as the German standard BGR181 (R9, R10 and R11) for slip resistance.”

Development towards outside Artur Podkowa has quite a surprise up his sleeve towards the end of the interview. He emphasizes how the product is now being intensively tested for use… outside!

“This product is so multifunctional, that some users even apply it outside. To make it clear: we officially don’t recommend this, but might do so in the not too distant future. We are conducting intensive tests towards the development of a real field application, such as for a terrace. When we will bring this to the market? Look, as of now, nothing is official, but there is a chance this might become our next launch...”

People assumed for a long time that if you oiled a wooden floor, you would be better off applying two coats. However, that claim no longer holds true. Can you apply just one coat of oil to a floor and still get an end result to bear comparison with ‘the good old days’? The answer is a resounding ‘Yes, you can,’ and that goes for both residential and commercial applications.

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Various producers bring these sorts of ‘mono-coats’ or ‘oil in one’ products onto the market and it’s noticeable that there is a clear effort to offer a product which is as natural as possible. Producers are also trying to include colouring options in the same product so that applying the oil and colouring are achieved in one single coat.

Saturating the pores This story can be confirmed, for instance, by the Germany producer Stauf. They have launched an all-in one oil on the market and you can read more about that in the attached frame piece. Here they stress how the key point is to saturate the pores, but basically the product works in a similar manner to what is written above and can be used for both residential and commercial applications.

If we consider the performances of the oils in one coat, we note that they are now doing a super job and that there are dozens of standard colours available. Furthermore, they also like to stress that the products contain no solvents or water, that the maintenance is very easy, and that there are no streaks or overlaps. Moreover, these oils can be used on all wood sorts, they are highly resistant to wear and tear, and they set and dry very quickly.

The major advantage, of course, is that you need only one product, which unites all possible features in itself up to and including a care product. Then, there’s the obvious time saving (and, therefore, fewer costs), so it immediately becomes clear that oils in one coat are a great success.

For instance, you must never forget that wood surfaces to be treated must be dry and free of oil, wax, grease, and dust (with the final sanding use a grain of at least 100 - 120) and that you must remove grinding dust carefully with a brush or vacuum cleaner. Moreover, don’t forget to stir the oil thoroughly before use and be sure to apply it using equipment recommended by the producer. What you certainly must avoid is the formation of pools of oil during the application and you should remember that it is essential to saturate the wood pores.

And so, apply the oil preferably in one spot at the same time. Then, let the oil soak in for a while and rub the oil with a pad to remove surplus matter. Apply it to the adjoining areas with some overlap to prevent differences in colour. Repeat the polishing process as well if, after the polishing, there is still surplus matter on the treated area.

Some other specialists have their say: Bona

Don’t forget the preparation Does this mean that applying oil is a piece of cake? The answer to that questions is, ‘Yes and no.’ Yes, the oiling itself is now really simple and can be done quickly. No, because you still have to pay a lot of attention to the preparation and you have to do the job properly in line with professional standards.

A PERFECT MATCH

From subfloor preparation to surface treatment

WW W.A KZENT-W OODC A R E . CO M

Our claim is consistently high quality and products that meet the highest requirements in terms of healthy living, occupational safety and durability. And that without any undesirable interactions. So we put together a perfect team from STAUF subfloor preparation to AKZENT surface treatment!

S TRI B UTE D BY FloorD IForum International 117

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Special

Who has an oil which can finish in one coat?

BONA CRAFT OIL 2K – Parquet oil 2-components – 1.25L and 400ml Bona Craft Oil 2K’s unique vegetable oils formula ensures rapid drying and ultimate protection. It is the ideal finish for sometimes troublesome wood sorts such as kambala, afzelia, and walnut. It is also suitable for use on smoked oak and steamed beech. Bona Craft Oil 2K ensures a particularly fresh and waterproof and stain-proof surface and is ready for use after a drying time of only 8 hours (Neutral) to 12 hours (Colour Oil).

Colours: It is supplied in 17 modern colours as standard – you can mix the colours with each other to get any colour you wish. Other colours can be obtained by adding effects with Bona Nordic Tone and Bona Rich Tone (reactive stains).

For even better protection of the parquet oil, can be lacquered over, if necessary, with Bona Traffic parquet lacquers to make it easier to maintain the wooden floor.

Recommended finish : Alt. 1 – Average/Heavy use 1x Bona Craft Oil 2K Alt. 2 – Heavy/Commercial use 1x Bona Craft Oil 2K 2x Bona Traffic / Traffic HD / Traffic Natural Alt. 3 – Average/Heavy use 1x Bona Tone 1x Bona Craft Oil 2K.

Ciranova Oil is still very popular with customers because of the natural look and many possibilities that oil offers. A colored oil can be used to simply color the wood. Ciranova has different types of oil in its range of products, among them UN1CO, the 2-component one coat oil that colors and protects in just one layer and provides good chemical and mechanical resistance. The combination of oil with hardener ensures

rapid drying. UN1CO is VOC-free and is made from 90% renewable raw materials, making the product a sustainable and ecological solution.

UN1CO is used for both residential and commercial applications.

UN1CO can be finished with a waterborne finish FORTICO 2C and for the best possible protection without using a waterborne finish, UN1CO can be finished with Hardwaxoil TITAN.

Chimiver LIOS BIOIL 2K is a two-component natural oil treatment for wooden floors in only one single coat. It has very high chemical and physical resistance, high coverage and it is very easy to be maintained; it gives to the wooden floor a warm and soft effect.

LIOS BIOIL 2K is formulated with natural oils and it is VOC free.

RIGO Verffabriek

ROYL OIL 1K & 2K The master oil makers of RIGO Verffabriek have been making ROYL floor oils from 100% vegetable oils for almost 40 years. Demand for our oils

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is still as high as ever, thanks to their evident benefits for processors and end users alike. End users prefer our oils because of their beautiful, matte natural look and our wide range of 45 standard colours.

For professionals ROYL OIL offers great ease of use, non-marking application and short lead times: apply, rub, rub dry. The oil is so strong that a single layer will do. 1 litre will cover 30 to 40 m2. ROYL OIL comes in a 1K and 2K version. With our 2K oils, you will be able to walk on your finished floor within 24 hours. The ROYL OIL 1K is a 100% vegetable-based product, which is available in the 24 standard colours that can be made with base Clear. The ROYL OIL 2K is available in base Clear, base White and base Black, giving rise to a range of 45 standard colours.

RUBIO MONOCOAT THE PIONEER FOR OIL IN ONE SINGLE LAYER Revolutionary in the market The Rubio Monocoat oil is revolutionary for various reasons. The idea for the Rubio Monocoat oil started in the year 2000. At the company behind the brand, Muylle Facon, they were busy designing the first monocoat oil for wood protection. Moreover, the product was not only supposed to protect all wood types, it would also colour it in the same layer. The cherry on top was the ecological production process and the VOC-free product itself. From 2005 on, the oil with revolutionary molecular binding was available on the market and the whole world was able to get to know this quality product.

A growing success Meanwhile, Rubio Monocoat has come a long way. In addition to their success product Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C for interior wood, they

developed a version for exterior wood, namely the Rubio Monocoat Hybrid Wood Protector.

For public places the company came up with a fire retardant oil system Rubio Monocoat FR Oil System as well.

The company itself also grew along with its success. A new factory started up in Izegem in 2016 and now Rubio Monocoat is already exporting to over 80 countries. copyright © Rubio Monocoat Creative with wood Additionally, Rubio Monocoat oil offers countless possibilities thanks to the extensive colour palette. With no less than 40 different colours you can give your wood a unique touch. Moreover, you can choose a custom-made colour, mix colours with one another or combine a standard colour with optional pre-colouring. You could choose to maintain the natural look and feel of your wood, or make it colourful with our trendy pop choices.

In the townhouse featured in the photo they chose to maintain the natural aspect of the wood. Therefore, they worked with Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C, colour Pure.

r Safe fo s, animals human ts & plan (when

dry)

e for Suitabl s toys n' .3; childre N EN 71 acc. DI Tested to saliva and nt resista ion at perspir

OSMO: THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR INTERIOR WOOD Oil Stain

Wood Wax Finish

Polyx®-Oil Original

www.osmo.de/en

Polyx®-Oil Anti-Slip

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Special

Who has levelling products which dry rapidly?

PROGRESS IS RAPID DRYING TIMES GET SHORTER YEAR BY YEAR

Photo – Chimiver

The importance of levelling a floor cannot be underestimated. If you want a perfect end result before you fit the final floor, you have to deal with the substrate first.

This means that terms like precision and flatness are used a lot when it comes to levelling agents.

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Equally or more important when it comes to a subfloor is the concept of speed. You don’t finish a levelled floor in a slovenly manner; for instance, you keep a watchful eye on the drying time, certainly if you’re going to fit wood on top. Wood and damp just don’t mix. And so, in this context, where should we put the so called super-speed levellers? In particular, what is their market position?

Cement and anhydrite-bound First of all, we notice that the levelling agent market is buzzing.

Obviously, the players are responding to screed floors, but even there we notice that change is on the way, certainly in the Netherlands. The emergence of anhydrite floors (i.e. based on gypsum) is yielding an increase of new products. The big problem with traditional levelling agents is that they dry slowly, and that creates imperatives, especially for fitting wood. Usually, guidelines of 12 hours are cited, but most experts opt for the much safer duration of double that length of time.

When speed is of the essence What if we need the work done faster and have to use a fast-drying levelling cement? Here we notice that amongst the so called ‘superspeed levellers’ there is an ongoing race in progress. For instance, we notice at Wakol Z610 that a wooden floor with a layer thickness of 5mm can be glued after a drying time of barely six hours. Between 5 and 10 mm we’re looking at 12 hours and for a layer thickness of up to 30 mm it’s a matter of barely 24 hours.

Until recently, the difficulty with these super-speed levellers was the very short spreading time. However, we also notice that here, too, there has been considerable progress. The aforementioned resource guarantees about 20 minutes and that’s plenty of time as compared to the still relatively recent past. Spreading and being able to walk on the floor in just two hours sounds like music to the ears. Certainly because you get not only hardness, but also a dust-free working method. It’s worth also mentioning that there are now lots of tests in progress to find out how fast-drying levelling agents can be applied via pumping. The results so far have proved to be very good. Hundreds of square metres can be tackled quickly, pumping is possible via a tube at a reasonably safe distance, and the end result looks completely solid without any dents. Obviously, it goes without saying that this isn’t a job for a man or woman working alone and that it has to be well co-ordinated in advance.

Anhydrite Until recently, we were talking almost exclusively about sand-cement covering floors, certainly in Belgium, but now we see that there, too, there has been some progress. For instance, you notice that in the Netherlands where half of the covering floors are fitted on a gypsum base (i.e. anhydrite).

Various things also mean that anhydrite resources are making progress and that they are being used more and more for levelling, certainly with thicker covering floors. One minor drawback with anhydrite is that the drying is somewhat slower, but since this is a waste product from coal power stations there is a favourable environmental element. This is also in response to (Dutch) legislation which states that no more than 40m² of cement covering floors may be made manually per day and per person. In the case of anhydrite you don’t have this problem because pumped floors do not constitute a problem in that respect. This means that you will see anhydrite covering floors more and more on the project market, as it certainly does involve the traditional bending and hard work. On the other hand, you can tackle several houses at once.

Two specialists Bona Bona Egalines (levelling agents) – all suitable for floor heating: Bona H600 is a cement-bound, acrylic polymer-reinforced, selflevelling, and rapid drying levelling agent for use under mosaic parquet,

engineered parquet, multilayer parquet, and solid parquet. It is also suitable for use under elastic floors, textile floors, and solid cork tiles.

Bona H600 can be applied in 1 treatment up to 20mm. Floor ready for use*: after about 1.5 - 2 hours; For fitting*: with 1-10mm after about 12 hours / with 10 - 20mm after about 24 hours, for elastic and textile floors. For wooden floors 24 hours (*at +20°C and max. 65% residual damp). Bona H605 is a calcium sulphate levelling agent based on Alpha hemihydrate. It yields flat and absorbent substrates for the subsequent fitting of elastic and textile floor coverings and also for parquet which is glued using Bona silane parquet adhesives. Bona H605 can be applied in 1 treatment up to 20mm. Bona H660 is a cement-bound, acrylic polymer-reinforced, self-levelling levelling agent for use under elastic floors, textile floors, and solid cork tiles. It can also be used under wooden floors. Bona H660 can be applied in 1 treatment up to 10mm. For thicker layers you should mix Bona H660 with dry quartz sand.

Chimiver RASOCHIM FAST is a thixotropic cement smoothing for floors and walls with thicknesses up to 30 mm.

RASOCHIM FAST is a quickdrying cement grey powder composed of special cement bind.

RASOCHIM FAST can be used only indoor.

RASOCHIM FAST mixed with water becomes a thixotropic creamy paste, easy to work with high adhesion to supports. RASOCHIM FAST hardens without shrinking, without forming slits or cracks, with rapid development of mechanical resistance.

RASOCHIM FAST has a high resistance to compression, abrasion and to the action of wheelchairs. It can apply on cement screed,old plaster, not-absorbent shiny surfaces, concrete, etc. In accordance with european EN 13813 it is classified CT-C35-F7A22-B2,0. Also suitable for heated subfloors, requiring a fast hardening and drying.

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Special

Invisible lacquers: who has them?

LESS THAN 10% REFLECTION? INVISIBLE! INVISIBLE LACQUERS CAN EASILY COMPETE WITH MATT IMPREGNATION OIL Joeri Vervoort (Devomat Industries - B) ‘Invisible biological lacquers have ensured a third technological revolution.’

At the end of 2019, Devomat Industries launched the revolutionary product Lignum Pura (this means ‘Pure Wood’ in Latin) on the market. This invisible lacquer has ensured a technological revolution in the world of flooring. After the initial solvent products and then the transition to waterborne, Lignum Pura has provided a third generation of lacquers within barely a few decades.

Joeri Vervoort, managing director of Devomat Industries (which sells products under the Devo® trademark), sees how this new generation of vegetable lacquers has ensured nothing less than a revolution. Indeed, environmentalfriendliness is linked to sound performances and unprecedented application and drying times, plus low maintenance.

‘Literally everyone wins,’ he says, ‘the environment, the end user, and the floor fitter. The point is that there’s a new generation of vegetable polyurethane binding agents being used. The vegetable raw material reduces the proportion of fossil raw materials drastically.’

‘We’ve been down this road before, but, until recently, for invisible lacquers it was too early to guarantee that the new product was at least as good as or better than what was already available. This was the case here because the drawback of waterborne lacquers has been offset with ease. The matting limit which you had with waterborne lacquers because you can’t continue to add matting agent ad infinitum has disappeared completely. In this case the binding agent in itself is already extremely matt, so we don’t need to make it more matt because it is already much more matt than the lacquers available on the market. In the meantime, Lignum Pura has passed the practical tests with shining colours (pun intended).’

Apart from the ecological component, the things which stand out are the easy application, durability, and incredibly fast drying time.

‘We launched it as a 1K lacquer, and not as a 2K, because we didn’t want to depart from the concept of a purely ecologically friendly technology. 2K was not necessary, because the durability is still very high even with one component. That in itself is quite unique, as with the previous generation of lacquers 1K wasn’t durable enough for use in some residential applications. That’s not the case with Lignum Pura, which is ideal for all residential and light commercial applications.’

‘At all events, parquet floor fitters are impressed with the unique spreading properties. For instance, there is very little risk of streaks and the product dries rapidly in barely two hours per coat. That latter point sounds contradictory, but it is quite possible to apply three coats in a single day and then walk on the floor with no restrictions the next day! If you don’t want to do UV curing in situ, this product makes that equipment superfluous. You not only avoid extra expense, but also you get an exceptionally high level of convenience for which you don’t need any extra knowledge.’

Obviously, there’s still the question of what the future holds for Devomat Industries. Understandably, our interviewee doesn’t wish to say too much about the development of new products, but he does refer to a revised marketing strategy: ‘We’ve been occupied for a while with branding our Devo® trademark intensively. This is a logical step, certainly now that our exports have grown in recent years. We want to continue this international growth, so this is the only correct approach.’

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If you want to get as close as possible to the look of sandpapered and untreated wood, using an invisible lacquer is an obvious choice. Yet what is it that makes a lacquer ‘ invisible’? And when do you use them? And are there any drawbacks to consider before you choose an invisible lacquer and what about their general quality? Those are the main questions to consider.

First of all, we need to define what invisible actually means. We made some enquiries on the market and arrived at the following working definition: Below the 10% reflection is a degree of gloss which corresponds best to an invisible lacquer.

Consider the filling If you want an extremely matt gloss with an invisible lacquer, this percentage guarantees that you will approximate as closely as possible to the look of sandpapered and untreated wood. Sandpapered and untreated wood is by nature extremely matt and with oak it has a much lighter colour than with a traditional solvent lacquer or oak which is treated with a normal waterborne lacquer.

With an invisible lacquer, a light colour is important as well as the extreme matt effect. It’s important here to consider the filling of the invisible lacquer. This invisible lacquer must not fill the pores of the wood too much because otherwise the wood will start to look like untreated and sandpapered wood. Usually, you use three lacquers, but there are now also products on the market in the shape of 2-component waterborne polyurethane lacquer which guarantee a perfect finish in just two coats. The two advantages of that are quite clear: You save time and money and the end result is just as good.

What also characterises a good product is that it is not ‘excessively matt’. If the matt is too excessive, it ‘floats’ as it were to the top of the coat of lacquer and, after that, the extremely matt top layer erodes to leave glossy patches as people walk on the floor. However, if your product is uniformly matt over the entire coat, you avoid this effect.

Matt or invisible?

One of the most important next questions is when to opt for invisible lacquer over a matt oil. Here, too, the answer is quite straightforward.

If you opt for quality, you should always choose an invisible lacquer over a matt impregnation oil. The reason for this is that the application of an impregnation oil impregnates only the pores of the wood. With an invisible lacquer, the pores of the lacquer are more or less sealed by the latter coat on top of the wood. This creates a finish layer which is more resistant to elements such as wear and tear and dirt. People often choose an impregnation oil due to the price. After all, it is usually applied in just one coat, so you do save on equipment and labour costs.

Furthermore, an impregnation oil almost always deepens the colour of the wood, whilst the application of an invisible lacquer preserves the original colour of the wood. And so, what you choose depends purely on the customer’s taste.

Points for attention with the application Finally, what about scratch-resistance and lifespan? And what do you have to consider with the application? With the application, remember mainly that most invisible lacquers contain white colour pigments to keep the wood finish light. Moreover, as everyone knows, lacquers with colour pigments require extra attention with the application. This must be done very precisely because any overlaps may remain visible because it can create a colour effect which is twice as white.

Scratch-resistance and lifespan We can answer the question about scratch-resistance equally briefly.

A polyurethane lacquer gives extremely high scratch-resistance to bear comparison easily with other systems. As regards the question of lifespan, too, we can refute a myth: Actually, it’s simply comparable to the more glossy lacquers. As is often the case, the central condition par excellence for ensuring the maximum lifespan is the maintenance.

You should preferably use a maintenance product which leaves behind an extremely matt maintenance film and then you will extend the lifespan considerably.

Main source: Lecol

From the sector…

Bona

Lignum a r u P

INVISIBLE

WOOD

PROTECTION üExtremely matt üFast-drying üNon-yellowing üDurable

LIGNUM PURA : Extremely matt, noncolouring, single-component wood and parquet lacquer with high resistance to wear. Sustainable water-based, biobased polyurethane.

BLACK LABEL BY

PROFESSIONAL FLOOR PRODUCTS

Devomat Industries NV - Florent Geversstraat 31 - B-2650 Edegem - T +32 03 450 94 70 - info@devomat.be - www.devomat.be

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Invisible lacquers: who has them?

Natural wood is something special. The waterborne 2-component parquet lacquer Bona Traffic Natural seals and protects wooden floors, but with the look and feel of pure wood. Unlike conventional parquet lacquers, the surface feels more like raw and finely sanded wood.

Bona Traffic Natural is based on the unique Traffic formula which guarantees long-term durability and reliable results.

Ideal for floors in commercial and public areas.

Features: It preserves the look and feel of pure wood • Superior protection for floors in commercial and public areas • Easy and safe to apply • EC1R graded for low emissions and low air pollution indoors • Green Guard approved for low emissions indoors • Does not turn yellow with age.

for coating light and dark wood species. ECOWOOD 2K has also excellent chemical and physical characteristics and is suitable for heavy traffic floors.

Devo Lignum Pura You don't really see "invisible"!

Ciranova

Ciranova leads innovation in both on-site and pre-finished floors in natural and almost invisible appearances. For Ciranova such a finish isn’t proven unless it enhances the natural character of the wood in pale, coloured and distressed finishes. With the new PLUS range, Ciranova has the number one reference for invisible finishes for wood. This new range which has been developed amongst other things with an innovative self-matting and bio-based raw material has three different versions, depending on the client’s wishes.

Woodlook PLUS gives a light bleaching finish, Ecofix PLUS provides a natural finish and Oculto PLUS yields a slightly intense finish. The PLUS range provides a high scratch resistance and the chemical resistance can be increased by adding a Hardener PLUS (10%).

For industrial parquet manufacturers Ciranova has developed a system to achieve the same result finished with an extra matt UV-oil.

For more information and to receive samples you can contact Ciranova: info@ciranova.be or by phone +32 50 30 11 40.

Chimiver ECOWOOD 2K is a two-component water-based polyurethane lacquer with natural wood look effect. The use of special resins gives to the flooring an extremely matt, natural and anti-reflection effect. Thanks to its special formulation ECOWOOD 2K is also suitable

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But what if the real invisible were also durable, biological, wearresistant, and, if possible, easy to use and maintain?

You don't think that would be possible?

Anyone who has invested in sustainable organic paints to date has always had to compromise on the performance of the product. What was organic or environmentally friendly was usually not wear-resistant or user-friendly...and vice versa.

Devo's lab technicians quietly worked on an innovative product formula with a new type of vegetable binder. The corona pandemic unfortunately caused some delay in the development of the product, but we are now ready with a product that will astonish you: Devo® Lignum Pura!

Devo® Lignum Pura consists largely of vegetable bio-polyurethane, which drastically reduces the proportion of fossil raw materials. In addition, 100% recycled HDPE from a Belgian manufacturer was chosen for the packaging. Devo® Lignum Pura takes the lead in a new generation of organic lacquers, and this unique composition also gives the product unprecedented new advantages!

- After drying, Devo® Lignum Pura does not discolour the wood and the product is so matt that the end result is truly invisible. A board treated with Devo® Lignum Pura is indistinguishable from a board without a protective layer!

- Due to the extreme dullness of the binder, no matting agent is added, which means an enormous reduction in the susceptibility to attack. In addition, the finished floor is very wear-resistant and not sensitive to gloss marks!

- With an ultra-fast drying time of barely 2 hours per layer, a

craftsman can finish the floor with 3 layers - without starting - in one day!

- Devo® Lignum Pura is a 1-component varnish, so: no unusable product surpluses, no hassle mixing A and B components and easy to apply.

- Devo® Lignum Pura meets the customer's requirements in every respect for a modern and environmentally conscious floor finish.

With this innovative product, the craftsman has all the assets to deliver a beautiful natural and well-protected floor quickly and effortlessly.

Contact us and get to know Devo® Lignum Pura. You will surely be as enthusiastic as we are.

RIGO Verffabriek SKYLT ORIGINAL The master lacquer makers of RIGO Verffabriek had been looking for a way to preserve the untreated appearance of wooden surfaces, when they developed SKYLT ORIGINAL. The invisible lacquer for pure wood enthusiasts.

SKYLT ORIGINAL provides invisible protection to matt and freshly sanded wood. Whatever the light and from whatever angle you may look, you will not see any layers or lacquer. The untreated look is currently very popular and is making its way into more and more

homes.

SKYLT is a water-based lacquer that is easy and quick to work with.

SKYLT is non-marking can also be applied to surfaces smoked oak flooring and patterned wood floors, and can be coated after a mere 3 to 4 hours. SKYLT need only be buffed before the final layer.

SKYLT ORIGINAL was developed especially for light surfaces, while SKYLT TITANIUM is particularly suitable for dark surfaces. SKYLT can be combined with SKYLT Coatable 2K Colour Oil, allowing users to mimic the appearance of an oiled floor whilst retaining the strength and ease of maintenance of a lacquer.

Photo – RIGO Verffabriek

Visit www.floor-forum.com

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Producers of distressed floors

THE TREND WHICH JUST WON’T GO AWAY STILL A BIG DEMAND FOR A WEATHERED AND NATURAL LOOK Eric Bonneu (Di Legno - B) ‘Once upon a time …. a fairy tale based on true facts.’

For the restoration of mansions and castles, architects clamour as much as possible for the preservation of the ‘soul’ and authentic elements of properties to safeguard them. The patine of parquet cannot be equalled by new materials and gives the interior a unique aesthetic look, a rich ‘base’, and a subtle character. However, the wood is often no longer in good condition, shortcomings arise, and the technical side for refitting presents problems and is very labour-intensive.

This also happened 22 years ago when a team of architects was asked to restore a castle in all its fine detail. The architect asked the advice of the three founders of Di Legno to imitate some oak parquet which was 100 years old, including the patine parquet, so that the architect could work away its shortcomings and provide a charming and technically perfect floor. Di Legno was born … the subtle ageing and patination of oak floors in new European oak, with suitable measurement and fitting, and completely protected and low maintenance with natural oils.

During this quest, we made a second discovery. The natural process to which we subjected the oak wood created ‘natural weathering’. This yielded a very special aged look. It was that same architect who noticed this shade of grey during one of his visits to the production hall and asked us explicitly to preserve this colour and look as such. He called it a colour and finish which only nature itself could conceive and which could never come from a pot or a factory. He was absolutely right because the shade of grey and look were the result of the wood’s natural process. We didn’t conceive it, but nature did. And so, each plank is different in identity and character. We still respect that natural process and we give nature the time to do its work and produce a unique result.

Respecting what nature gives us Research has shown that children who grow up in a city often no longer realise that milk comes from a cow. This illustration also applies partly to parquet. Do we realise, respect, and cherish sufficiently the fact that we are bringing a piece of nature into our homes when we opt for an oak floor? The structure, the grains, and the colour all trace their origins back to the existence of a tree and, thankfully, no two trees are alike. At Di Legno we try to respect fully the richness, the authenticity, and the uniqueness of the natural product and too allow it to come into its own.

Some trends come and go, whilst others stick around longer.

In the case of distressed floors it is clearly the latter which applies. Artificial ageing (not only of wooden floors) has been in fashion for a few decades and still is. Moreover, we also see that distressing is being applied not only in the look of the floorboards, but also in the return of classic patterns such as herringbone and Hungarian point.

The question is: How is distressing work carried out? The answer is that there are few treatments with such a wide range of different approaches. There might be some main threads throughout the entire story, but approaches vary from manufacturer to manufacturer and sometimes acutely.

Two editions ago, we covered the mechanical options e.g. drumming, lashing, planing, sawing, etc. This time we pay more attention to the other distressing element, the use of chemical agents. These agents

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are used for ‘ageing’, so they are a reaction to a demand for the look of a naturally weathered floor. The idea is to imitate the specific features of an old floor as naturally as possible, especially the effect of damp upon wood to produce discolouration and traces of wear from footsteps. This is linked to a hint of woodworking techniques where the mechanical element comes to the fore.

Smoking, staining, and colour distressing The technique which stands out the most is smoking, a technique which goes back a long way. Smoking, certainly with oak with its high tannic acid content, is caused by the creation of ammonia fumes (i.e. it has nothing to do with lighting a fire) which provoke a reaction from the tannic acid in the wood. As the fumes penetrate, they yield a somewhat darker appearance. This colouring process does not yield uniform colouring because sapwood doesn’t discolour and you can do it singly or doubly. If the wood is smoked doubly, the colour changes from light to dark brown. You also obtain a darker colour using a closely

related technique, namely that of staining (for more information about reactive stains please refer to the article about this elsewhere in this magazine).

Why ammonia fumes, you might wonder? This is no more than logical and in line with how things used to be done in the past. The living rooms of farmsteads were often located right next to the stable. If you think of animals, you think of faeces and, therefore, ammonia, which worked its way naturally into the wood.

In addition, we must cover the different method of the closely related colour distressing technique. In this case we use special pigments or colour oils, and it is striking to note how popular shades of white and grey are. This contrasts with the result of smoking where you aim for darker colours.

Patination Another possibility is the application of patines between the primer and the top coats. These are used to apply shadow effects or shades of colour. Dry patine, which is sometimes referred to as dust patine, consists of a special colour pigment with denatured ethanol as solvent system.

Due to the rapid drying, the patine hardly sticks to the substrate. The finish coat dissolves the patine again so that there is no good adhesion between the coats. The patine is either lightly sprayed or applied with a patine spray. The excess is sandpapered away later with a scouring pad, for instance.

Environmental considerations

Q-FLOOR - Antiqua With a distressed floor from our Antiqua collection, we always start with a freshly produced plank for both solid wood and engineered parquet. Our ‘manually’ distressed oak floors get their authentic and weathered look through the use of various techniques, from manually planed to manually scraped, with or without light or heavy brushing.

The options also include manual surface distressing, sawn effect, or distressed or manually scraped edges.

Smoking the wood or treating it with reactive stains gives planks an extra dimension to provide a warm and intense colour. This means there is a choice from a wide range of colours. It is essential that the wood contains enough tannic acid, so the region of the wood’s origin largely determines the beauty of the end result. The combinations of these finishes and techniques are endless, so we always design Q-floor to meet the customer’s wishes. Herringbone and Hungarian point are still uniquely popular and, together with the distressed and weathered look, they really are an eye-catcher in the interior.

Anyone who talks about the use of chemical agents obviously has to think at once of the potentially harmful effects to the environment, the worker, and the user. For one company from Limburg in Belgium, that awareness was a central consideration from the very start over 20 years ago and nowadays few people would want to make any concessions. In the meantime, other manufacturers have also got the message, not least due to the increasingly strict environmental regulations.

Two other specialists have their say: Houtbedrijf Kerkhofs Houtbedrijf Kerkhofs offers distressed designs in traditional parquet 6mm, 9mm Burgundy, 15 and 20mm Solid wood, and 15/16 and 20mm engineered. Houtbedrijf Kerkhofs still sells lots of distressed floors. At all events, these floors are fairly popular, but it is questionableKwaliteitsparket as to whether or not we can talk of a trend. The most VOOR & DOOR PROFESSIONALS popular method of distressing is by beating. Something also very popular at the moment are manually distressed sides with no distressing on the flat surface. They have their own opinion on the brushed design: ‘In my opinion, this is a completely different look. What I personally find more attractive is to use planed planks with a distressed floor. When you start brushing, the distressing doesn’t stand out on the flat part.

You probably notice it only on the sides because they are more broken/ deformed.’ At Houtbedrijf Kerkhofs, too, most of what is used for distressing is oak.

However, it is also possible to apply it to many other Tel: +32(0)11 63 64 00 - www.parketkerkhofs.be types of wood. Houtbedrijf Kerkhofs delivers what the end client wants.

“Alle producten voor de perfecte vloer.”

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Just because you can’t see it,

doesn’t mean it’s not there.

Internal Crack Detector No more hidden deficiencies.

Scanning up to 300 boards per minute.

Accuracy of 98.7%.

www.brookhuis.com

Special

Producers of hard wax oil

DIFFERENCE FROM ORDINARY OIL LIES IN THE LOOK TIPS FOR THE APPLICATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A WOODEN FLOOR TREATED WITH HARD WAX Do I treat a wooden floor with oil or hard wax oil? That’s a question which you’ve probably asked yourself several times.

The real question is: When do you go for oil and when do you go for hard wax? If you opt for hard wax, you do that for a number of reasons which make this choice more suitable than ordinary oil. We look for the why and also give some tips for the application and maintenance.

The maintenance

The major difference between oil and hard wax lies in the way in which they treat the wood. Oil saturates the wood and makes it waterproof.

Hard wax oil, however, does something more; indeed, it also fills open pores.

You tackle the maintenance and the care of a wooden floor with hard wax oil in accordance with a number of set rules. For instance, there is obviously the standard maintenance which is prescribed for every wooden floor i.e. the daily removal of dirt and dust. With a floor which has been treated with hard wax oil, the difference is that you can simply mop the floor. Obviously, you mustn’t pour out any buckets of water over the floor. A much better choice is a well wrung mop in combination with the use of a mopping agent which is prescribed for the type of floor used. In addition, don’t forget that maintenance oil needs to be applied two to three times a year. If there are worn or slippery patches or walkways have emerged, you should increase the frequency of the maintenance.

To fill the pores or not The main thing to remember is that sandpapering a wooden floor creates minor differences in height in the wood. You can see those differences in height as sorts of ‘pores’. If you use oil, then the oil covers these pores, but doesn’t fill them. Hard wax oil goes a step further and does fill the pores. The latter does have some advantages: The floor will attract less dirt and be easier to clean. Therefore, hard wax oil is no more than a combination of natural oils and waxes. You apply this hard wax oil directly to the untreated floor, usually in two coats to create a durable finish for the wooden floor. However, it is also possible to apply a 2-component oil in one coat.

What about maintenance? With both finishes you can assume that proper maintenance they will be resistant to dirt and damp.

Furthermore, damage which isn’t too deep and stains which aren’t too stubborn can be rectified in patches. For scratches or marks which are not too deep, you therefore sandpaper the floor lightly. After that, you rectify the surface with hard wax maintenance oil.

What’s on the market ?

Bona

The application Where you have to take particular care in the application of both products is to make sure that you use the correct amount of (hard wax) oil.

After all, you want the oil to soak into the wood, but you don’t want any oil to be left behind as a layer on the floor. Indeed, this oil will set and it is precisely that which results in unsightly streaks. On the other hand, if you don’t use enough oil, the wooden floor will absorb dirt more easily and will look much less attractive. And so, what it boils down to is that you get that precisely beautiful, matt, and extremely natural finish that you’re looking for. Moreover, this also makes the saturated oiled floor resistant to damp and acids (think in practice of elements like dog urine or red wine stains).

And so, what is the difference between an oiled floor and one which is treated with hard wax? The difference lies mainly in the look. Oil has the most matt and most natural look because the oil has penetrated into the floor. With hard wax, the hard wax lies both in and on the floor to create more of a satin gloss. Hard wax oil is best applied using a special hard wax cloth. If you want more gloss on the floor, you could use a polishing block or buffing machine.

Bona Hard Wax Oil is a natural oil which is modified to provide even better protection for wooden floors. It gives the warm look of an oiled floor and yields a durable and stain-proof surface which can be restored in patches and is easy to maintain. The safe and durable formula contains no cobalt or ketoximes and is largely odourless. It is easy to use. It is ideal for wooden floors with floor heating and it gives an open and breathable surface which reduces the risk of tacky edges.

It is available in silk matt, matt, and extra matt. Bona Hard Wax Oil is

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Producers of hard wax oil

ideal for finishing a coloured version of Bona Craft Oil and/or Bona Rich Tone to highlight the wood grain and colour. An oil treatment preserves the original beauty of the wooden floor, improves the exterior of the wood, and provides good protection. For high-traffic floors Bona Hard Wax Oil is an excellent choice for long-term protection and excellent resistance to wear and tear, shoe marks, and damp.

Devo

Ciranova

Ciranova has a detailed range of different oils. The oiled floor gives a matte, natural finish that maintains the natural appearance of the wooden surface. The oils are providing natural protection to the wood and have excellent chemical and mechanical resistances, easy to maintain and to protect. The most popular oils are the Hardwaxoil TITAN, UN1CO and Hardwaxoil MAGIC. Hardwaxoil TITAN is especially developed for onsite application with a roller providing natural protection. Its also possible to finish our Hardwaxoils and UN1CO with the Hardwaxoil TITAN as a finishing coat for a perfect protection.

UN1CO is our 2-component, 1-coat oil of the newest generation to colour and protect the wood with just one coat. The combination of oil with hardener ensures quick drying and excellent chemical durability.

UN1CO can be finished with Hardwaxoil TITAN (matt, silk, satin).

Hardwaxoil Magic gives the wood a good filling, a natural colour and very good chemical & wear resistance and is available in 16 trendy colours for onsite and industrial application.

Please contact Ciranova for more information or if you want to order samples : info@ciranova.be or tel +32 (0)51 30 11 40.

Devo® presents DevoNatural® Hardwax Oil in colourless and whitewashed white. DevoNatural® Hardwax Oil can be applied to both commercial floors and high-traffic domestic floors. The product is easy to apply and kneads simply into open wood pores.

Once the product is dry, it forms a strong seal to ward off dirt and fluid. DevoNatural® Hardwax Oil can be applied to all sorts of wood (e.g. parquet, wooden floors, cork, furniture, wooden walls, etc.) and also to porous stone floors such as terracotta. Since the product is waterproof, it can also be used on bathroom parquet and furniture.

Special features: Parquet, and wood in general, stays elastic with DevoNatural® Hardwax Oil and the oil film ensures greater resistance to wear and stains. Maintenance products, such as DevoNatural® Hardwax Oil Cleaner and DevoNatural® Hardwax Oil Renewer, keep your floor in ideal condition and extend its lifespan considerably.

Osmo

Chimiver LIOS HARD WAX BIOIL is a product based on natural oils and waxes. It gives to the wood a satin and uniform aspect with excellent characteristics of water repellence, hardness and soft touch. It keeps the wood with its original tone. It is suggested for treatment of wooden floors in commercial premises. The product can be mantened easily. CERTIFICATION: SURFACE RESISTANCE TO CHEMICALS AGENTS EN 13442.

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Polyx®-Oil – optimal protections for wooden flooring Osmo Polyx®-Oil Original is a microporous and breathable wood coating that is especially suited to protect wooden flooring. After two coats, the wood surface is water and dirt repellent, hardwearing and extremely durable. Osmo Polyx®-Oil Original is based on natural raw materials that enhance the colour of wood. When dry, the wood coating is resistant to saliva and perspiration and thus also suitable for children’s toys. Osmo Polyx®-Oil is available in different variations: Original, Rapid, Effect, Tints and Pure.

∂ Industry news Pallmann Grand Finale of the PALL-X 96 WOOD FLOOR WORLD CUP And the winner is…

Stolzenberger, brand manager at Pallmann. "For me personally, the wide range of projects submitted was particularly exciting. The reference floors couldn't have been more different and each individual project demonstrated the challenges of the wood floor installion and renovation industry."

Read more on www.floor-forum.com/en/news

The Surfaces + Design Event China 2021

Within the context of the international Pall-X 96 Wood Floor World Cup, projects from 18 participating countries qualified for the grand final.

This took place symbolically on 09.06.2021. From all the projects submitted, and after much debate, the project of the Polish national winner was chosen as World Champion. The national winners from Azerbaijan and Argentina were rewarded with second and third place respectively. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, the grand finale with all national winners and the announcement and recognition of the world champion could not take place as planned as a face-to-face event at Pallmann in Würzburg. Nevertheless, fun and entertainment were not neglected: the virtual event was supported by an entertaining presentation and a live band, creating a festive atmosphere and interaction with great music and song requests from the participants.

In the individual countries, the National Champions followed the events on the screen together with their Pallmann relationship managers.

After a review of the milestones of the international competition and an overview of the reference projects submitted, it was finally time for the winners to be announced.

3. Place: Argentina Third place went to the company Pablo Genovese GMEH e hijos from Argentina with the renovation project of 400 m² of chequerboard parquet in pine and walnut in a private villa.

2. Place: Azerbaijan ARTEKO from Azerbaijan won second place. The elaborate new installation of sophisticated inlays also impressed the wood floor installers present worldwide. In a private home, in several rooms, the company laid a visually impressive and unique inlay parquetry floor (270 m²) made of oak, ash and various exotic woods.

1 Place: Poland First place, and the title of World Champion, went to the company F.H. HiM Magdalena Marszalek from Poland. The company impressed with the new installation of 750 m² of wood floor in Pałac Czeczów in the village of Kozy. In the rooms and staircase of the palace, which dates back to the 18th century, the wood floors were newly laid with elaborate installation patterns. The wood types oak, maple and merbau provide exciting colour contrasts. The building currently houses a library, an event hall, exhibition and art rooms. Pallmann is delighted with the large international participation in the competition: "We are still overwhelmed by the large number of submissions," says Klaus

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The Surfaces + Design Event China 2021 (SURFACES China) will be held on November 30 - December 2, 2021, at Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC), in Shanghai China. Comprised of three tradeshows: SURFACES I StonExpo I TileExpo, SURFACES China is a leading tile, stone, floor and wall covering industry event in the region, and it is the industry annual marketplace for architects, designers, distributors, developers, owners, contractors, agents, associations and other industry stakeholders to source, network and do business. SURFACES China annually presents a three-day exhibition and conference with carefully sourced exhibiting brands, crafted content and featured events, that will meet the evolving needs of the industry, connect the industry, and help our clients to develop their business in the emerging markets.

STAUF opens subsidiary in Spain

As of 1 July, the adhesives specialist STAUF is represented by its own branch in Spain. In addition to a 300-m² warehouse, the company headquarters in Murcia also has a showroom and a large training room.

The location, with ideal access to the A-30 motorway, ensures that customers can be supplied quickly. STAUF Tecnología Adhesiva, S.L. distributes the whole range of STAUF products throughout the Iberian Peninsula and in North Africa. The range includes not only adhesives for installation, wood flooring and floor coverings, but also products for subfloor preparation, surface treatment and adhesive technology for sports surfaces. The entire product range is developed and produced in Germany, without exception. “The market in Spain, Portugal and North Africa has such great potential that the step from employing a commercial agency to setting up our own subsidiary instead was only logical”, explains Carsten Bockmühl. STAUF’s Head of Sales and Marketing is also the Managing Director of the Spanish branch.

“Initially, three employees will serve the flooring industry from the Murcia location. A significant part of our business activities will also be devoted to training and advanced continuing education courses for STAUF products.”

The STAUF subsidiary can be reached at: STAUF Tecnología Adhesiva, S.L. Pol. Ind. Oeste, Travesía Saavedra Fajardo, B-15 30169 San Ginés, Murcia info@stauf.es - www.stauf.es

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Special

Discover the possibilities of industrial lacquers

LET’S HONOUR THE ART OF SMALL THINGS COATING CONTRACTORS OFFER MUCH MORE THAN JUST AN INDUSTRIAL FINISH Ann Jordens (Mapo Group - B) We think that you have very probably heard of Mapo in Houthalen-Helchteren.

This company has been active as a coating contractor since 1983 when managing director Jan Schoonbrood decided to start coating contracting for third parties.

At present, they operate mainly in the treatment of wood (mainly oak, but also pine, deal, and occasionally more exotic sorts such as wenge or afrormosia), but in addition indoor walls and wall cladding also account for a lot of their work.

Director Ann Jordens says: ‘We’re only coating contractors, as we certainly don’t want to become rivals of our own clients. Various things mean that we don’t trade in our own ranges of wood and that our client database consists mainly of timber traders, importers, producers, and, sometimes, also parquet traders, who have often found their way to Mapo via one of their own Mapo clients.’

On the market Mapo is well known mainly for the supply of big series. However, that’s precisely where our interviewee wants to put matters right, since those days are long gone: ‘We might work all over Europe, but that image has been out of date for over ten years. Yes, that was certainly true once, but now we do all our work customised to suit clients and that means that even a floor of 5 to 10m² is certainly no exception.’

‘The latter illustrates what we’re all about: offering clients maximum flexibility. We do that not only in volumes, but certainly also in delivery periods and in the range of colours. We always try to think along with the other party so that we always find the best modus vivendi and the best solution for the client in terms of price and technology. And so, various things mean that you explain to the full what you’re offering, that you clarify the treatment process as well as possible, and especially that you indicate why one demand costs more or less than the other. The delivery period is also exceptionally important nowadays, we really do plan from day to day, and we try to help clients as quickly as possible. At all events, this means that over the years we’ve managed to build up a relationship of trust with scores of clients.’

‘What might the future hold? It’s important to realise that we finish everything as much as possible on our own premises where we have state-of-the-art lacquering and oiling lines with which we can also finish ecologically. We also have a manual spray division in Genk, where we’ve also been offering covering lacquering on other floors under our own management. The difference with Houthalen-Helchteren is that everything is much more industrial in the main establishment, whilst traditional skills take centre stage in Genk. Furthermore, we obviously work on the development of our print division in Malle. Personalised wall and floor panels with a print are TOP CLASS!’

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The term coating contractors is a little bit misleading.

Don’t they concentrate solely on applying a finish?

Nothing could be further from the truth; nowadays, coating contractors are involved in all steps of the wooden flooring production process and have developed increasingly into direct contact partners who look for answers to scores of demands.

increasingly specialist world. No one can still do everything alone, even if they (or the company in question) have all the necessary equipment, so outsourcing is necessary. In the world of wooden flooring, that ranges amongst other things from the mass production such as with the well known pre-finished parquet to the floor which a floor fitter installs on the site inclusive.

One fact takes centre stage in the coating contractor profession. It is the ideal point of contact for outsourcing work. This is something which is becoming more the rule than the exception in an

What, then are the reasons for outsourcing work to a coating contractor? The first one is quite obvious. Coating contractors can complete a requested job much cheaper than it would be if you did

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Time is money

it yourself because they possess all the right equipment and you don’t. Then, there’s another factor; since they do such jobs day in day out, the end result will be much better than if you did it yourself.

have experience with all the points related to finishing and thereby can guarantee almost with certainty that they can meet an agreed deadline.

Obviously, a second reason is related to speed. Generally speaking, coating contractors can set up their machines faster for specific requests than manufacturers could do. Indeed, the latter would have to adapt their production process and wait for the most suitable moment to ‘spring into action’. The advantage of a coating contractor is that such a company does nothing else except respond to specific requests and, therefore, can also guarantee meeting a fairly strict deadline. The latter point is because they

The final reason is related more or less to what we’ve already said.

You’re calling upon someone with expertise. Whilst the whole process requires lots of preparation from you, plus a risk of unforeseen delays, coating contractors are specialists who know all the pitfalls and can easily avoid them. Specifically in the wooden flooring sector, amongst other things we’re talking about knowledge of not only various wood sorts, but also the reactions of the various chemical products on the market.

Photo – Mapo Group

FOR THE FINISHING OF YOUR WOOD, PVC and METAL PRODUCTS flooring - ceiling - outside cladding - profiles * decorative - durable - ageing roller coater/curtain coater/spraying/vacuum application – ALSO PRINTING!

MAPO BELGIUM N.V. – B-3530 Houthalen-Helchteren - T +32 11 60 54 93 - info@mapo.be

Visit our websites: www.mapo.be – www.mapoprint.com – www.vepola.be

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Special

Discover the possibilities of industrial lacquers

Progress towards small things One of the most striking developments in recent years has perhaps been that for some time now even the bigger coating contractors no longer turn up their noses at smaller jobs. Gone are the days when you needed hundreds of metres done before you would get a hearing. Nowadays, they even accept jobs for single planks.

Digital printing is another example of something which is being used increasingly nowadays, but not necessarily in the first place on the wooden floor. No one would dream of doing that themselves, but a lot of coating contractors can even do that and thereby they are responding to the trend of our day, namely maximum personalisation.

Take a look outside What can be worthwhile for you is to visit a coating contractor some time to find out what the possibilities are for working together.

That’s the ideal moment, for example once again, to see how they tackle a colour sample and convert it in practice to meet your taste.

At the same time, it’s an ideal opportunity to familiarise yourself with the production process to make it clear to both big parquet producers and individual parquet traders how extensive the range actually is. For that matter did you think that coating contractors work only with indoor wood? If so, you were mistaken! These professionals cover outdoor walls, terrace planks, and construction wood.

People sometimes forget that this, too, is specialist work: 3 or 4-sided treatment to protect the wood, a treatment with a covering paint, the application of a system which may or may not form a

Visit our website:

film. There’s more to it than you might think and there, too, coating contractors can help you.

A specialist Mapo Group Mapo specializes in the pre-finishing of flooring, ceiling and exterior wall claddings. She distinguishes with a large but flexible pre-finishing equipment, The combination possibilities are unlimited : UV lacquer, UV or oxydative drying oils, with additional treatments as there are brushing, staining, distressing and smoking on traditional planks, herringbone or chevron and surfaces of 1 m² and more. Finishes easy to maintain for competitive prices.

Vepola, our manual painting department, offers you special painting treatments in a matt or high gloss paint whereas Mapo Print, digital printing company, services you with a customized image on your panels, well protected with 2 coats of lacquer.

Think finishing, contact Mapo !

www.floor-forum.com

You can consult both the most recent and previously published magazines, read the vacancies and news reports from the sector, and find a summary of the leading national and international trade fairs.

Last but not least, you will also find all the answers to your questions regarding applications and the use of machines and products.

More information : sales@media-pact.com 46

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Special

Producers of small and medium-sized oiling and lacquering machines

THE OPTIONS CONTINUE TO GROW PERSONALISED FINISH HIGHLIGHTS THE FLOOR FITTER’S EXPERTISE For many years, the market was saturated with pre-finished parquet ready for fitting. A manufacturer made customised floorboards and ensured that they were completely finished before they were sent to the floor fitter (and the end customer). After that, the floor fitter’s work consisted mainly of ‘ fitting metres of floor’. That trend has been modified for a few years now. As with all other things in life, these days, it’s all about supplying customised products to satisfy the customer’s personal taste.

To say it in the words of Willem Kloos, a Dutch poet: ‘Even on the floor we look for the most individual expression of the most individual emotion’. That quotation dates from the end of the 19th century, but could just as easily have been dated two years ago.

Displaying expertise You can see the result of that highly advanced personalisation on the site. Customers want less pre-finished. And so, floor fitters or coating contractors display their expertise by finishing it in situ or in smaller batches whereby they deploy technology for their own benefit. And so, parquet floor fitters can deploy in situ or in their own workshops a small or even medium-sized oiling and lacquering machine, just as coating contractors do.

Obviously, the point here is that there isn’t a single manufacturer who would benefit from taking on very small finishes to be applied only in one place and all that, moreover, in dozens of wood sorts. Various things mean that the finishing gets passed on to floor fitters or coating contractors whom they can call upon. The work starts simply from the ‘bare’ floor and, after that, parquet floor fitters apply the finish themselves and display their expertise. That’s a huge benefit in comparison with the standard range, certainly in the area of colour.

Three parties What we notice is that machine manufacturers with smaller and compacter oiling and lacquering lines target three groups, namely parquet manufacturers, parquet floor fitters, and coating contractors.

Why do we list parquet manufacturers? We list them because there, too, such machines find trade because those compact machines can also be used to finish smaller customised orders alongside the ‘mass production’.

Coating contractors are also involved in this story because it is far from unusual for manufacturers to call upon such coating contractors (as they do with parquet floor fitters for that matter). For a long time, they, too, were accustomed to big jobs, but, as you will read in our other article about them, they have now been putting their hands to even very small jobs for a long time now. And so, to do that, they need suitable machinery with compact tools.

Obviously, for us the most relevant point is what you as a parquet floor fitter can do with such a compact oiling or lacquering line. The main thing to remember is how to reconcile the benefits of the one with the other. Pre-finished parquet has the benefit that the parquet sections arrive ready for fitting and you can now largely take care of that, whilst nevertheless displaying your expertise.

From large …

What particularly stands out is the wide scope and possibilities of the various machines which have come onto the market. For instance, there are compact roller machines, which can also be used in a floor fitter’s own workshop and have the advantage that so much attention has been paid to making it easy to change and clean rollers, if necessary. A quick exchange is particularly important because obviously you want to change to a different colour or from lacquer to oil without wasting time.

… to very small On the other side of the spectrum we see particularly small tools, which can certainly play a crucial part. Here you see processing tools which almost literally fit into the hand, but which you can use, for instance, to apply professional oil coatings for colouring and maintaining wooden surfaces. This guarantees a uniform and high-quality surface finish.

A specialist Osmo The tool for treating larger wood surfaces in indoor areas A time-saving method for treating interior wood surfaces is possible with Osmo HandXcenter. This tool is an optimal and efficient solution for larger wood surfaces.

Osmo HandXcenter is suitable for colouring as well as maintaining and refreshing oiled wood surfaces. It is solely intended for use inside of buildings.

Before treating wood with Osmo TopOil, the surface must be cleaned.

Afterwards TopOil can be applied directly to the wood surface and distributed with the white pad attached to the hook-and-loop fastener disc. Through this work method, TopOil is optimally buffed into the wood surface. Five pads are included with the machine.

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Special

Tanzania

HOPE GLIMMERS ON THE HORIZON SECOND FIVE YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN SHOULD GIVE THE COUNTRY MIDDLE INCOME STATUS BY 2025

One year ago, we did an introductory article on Tanzania.

In that article we mentioned that this country from the South-East of the African continent is not one of the main pioneers. On the contrary, the country is still poor and, amongst other things, faces major problems in the area of forest management. Forest felling is a widespread practice, certainly because the needy population is only too happy to use wood (and charcoal) to meet its own energy needs.

Scaling down donor dependency

We can nevertheless state that scores have initiatives have started up to give a glimmers of hope on the horizon. Projects such as the community forest management in the district of Kilwa, for instance, where community forest management and the execution of forestry strategies help to preserve more vegetation and create a habitat for biodiversity. Or there’s the Mpingo project Rainforest Projects, where the NGO, together with partner FSC, has set up a system of sustainable forest management and is responsible for planting new trees.

The mining and export of soil resources (especially gas) should also help to achieve that aim. At the same time, the government is trying to scale down donor dependency and encourage foreign investment, especially in the agriculture sector. The major Tanzanian economic sectors are agriculture, financial and commercial services, trade, tourism, and production. The agricultural processing of sugar, beer, cigarettes, and sisal rope accounts for a large part of Tanzanian industry. In addition, diamond, gold, and iron mining, salt, sodium carbonate, cement, oil refining, shoes, clothes, wood products, and fertiliser also form a major part of industry. The main exports are gold, coffee, cashew nuts, and cotton. The main export partners are India, China, Japan, Kenya, and, yes, Belgium. In particular, Tanzania imports a lot of consumer goods, machines, means of transport, industrial raw materials, and crude oil.

Such initiatives are essential, even though about 45% of the country is still covered by woods. 45% sounds a lot, but you have to realise that only a small part is exploited in a commercially responsible manner.

Unfortunately, deforestation still continues at a rate of about 91,000 hectares a year.

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From an economic point of view, according to Flanders Investment & Trade, Tanzania is certainly one of the biggest East African countries, but there is nonetheless only limited trade. At any rate, one hopeful sign is that the Tanzanian government is striving for industrialisation and strong economic growth with the help of the second Five Year Development Plan (FYDPII). That should give the country middle income status by 2025.

Also according to the FIT, problem areas for investors include the lack of qualified workers and sound management, the difficulty in obtaining work permits for expatriates, poor infrastructure, and a faulty electricity supply. Most investments are in mining, tourism, the gas sector, and property.

Wood sorts from Tanzania If you mention Tanzania, most people won’t know which sorts of wood come from this country. The country has more to offer than the classic ebony, mahogany, and sandal wood.

Wenge/Panga panga/Mpanga Did you know, for instance, that the splendid, but very expensive wenge is also obtained in Tanzania via the closely related panga panga?

We often assume that it originates from the Democratic Republic of Congo, but Mozambique and Tanzania in particular are major suppliers of panga panga. You might think of a different sort of wood if you hear the name Mpanga, but that’s simply the Tanzanian name for panga panga.

The properties of wenge are well known. This wood is a light shade of yellow-brown when it is freshly sawn, but once it is exposed to light it soon turns a darker shade of brown. The difference between wenge and panga panga lies in the pores of the wood, which with panga panga are sometimes filled with a yellow substance (this is never the case with wenge). Panga panga can also have a somewhat lighter colour than wenge, something which is caused partly by the fact that this wood turns light under direct sunlight. The grain is rough, but this hard sort of wood is easy to work into narrower strips and patterns.

with red to purple streak pattern. When this wood is exposed to the light, the colour turns deep golden brown with purple-red shades.

The maximum 40mm wide sap of muninga has a whitish colour. The structure of muninga is generally even without any striking pattern.

Due to its favourable properties and often beautiful exterior, muninga can be used for various applications of all kinds. It serves well as building wood both indoors and outside and in ship building. Fresh wood is used for furniture, turning, joinery, woodwork, and as veneer for decorative purposes. Since this wood swells and shrinks very little, it is suitable for musical instruments and precision tools. Furthermore, it is also suitable for floors (pedestrian traffic), staircase steps, doors, window frames, etc.

Afzelia We can also give a mention to the much more widely known afzelia. The various sorts of afzelia are known mainly for their excellent properties, but in practice doussie is the best. The various sorts can be distinguished by the different colours of their constituents, but in terms of anatomy the various wood sorts are quite difficult to distinguish from each other. Depending on the growth conditions, the properties of the wood can vary somewhat. The heartwood is dark yellow to reddish brown in colour. The sap is pale yellow and 30 to 50cm wide.

On quarter-sawn wenge you notice a regular pattern of black and brown streaks, whilst flat-sawn wood blazes in an attractive shade of brown and black. When wenge is used outdoors, it has to be treated with a surface repellent because the dark-coloured constituents dissolve in water and can cause stains.

If we consider the applications, you have to say that afzelia, despite its outstanding properties in terms of durability, strength, chemical-resistance, stability, and outward structure, is suitable for lots of applications. It is used for window frames, windows, doors, floors (strips and parquet), sports floors, cycling lanes (including in the open air), joinery indoors and outside, construction wood, thresholds, staircase steps, benches (outdoors and in public buildings), garden furniture, sports equipment, carriage and bodywork construction, bridge decks, ship decks, flood gates, vessels for chemical products, and such like. Moreover, afzelia is ideal for turning and sculpture.

Muhuhu

Major sources: Houtinfo.nl and Flanders Investment & Trade

Much less well known than wenge and panga panga is the wood sort muhuhu, which is also used in the parquet sector. In addition, we should also certainly mention muninga, although it is used much less for parquet. With muhuhu, which is also found in Kenya, the fresh heartwood is clear yellow-brown. When this wood is exposed to the light, it turns dark-yellow brown to green-brown. The sap, which can be 15-30mm wide, has a yellow-white colour. Muhuhu is very hard and heavy and quarter-sawn wood shows a pale yellow to mustard-coloured streak pattern, whilst the flat-sawn wood displays a somewhat vague flame pattern. Whilst sawing or planing this wood, you will perceive a pleasant and aromatic scent of sandal wood.

In Europe, muhuhu acquired a reputation as a parquet wood after tests in Great Britain showed that both flat and quarter-sawn wood are not only highly durable, but also they age very evenly without the surface cracking or becoming rough. Since you cannot nail the wood, it is used mainly for mosaic parquet, which can be glued directly onto stony subfloors. Muhuhu parquet is not only suitable for use in homes, but also in buildings with high traffic or in companies where fork lift trucks are used.

Muninga Muninga belongs to the padauk sorts, but outwardly and in structure bears a closer resemblance to Asiatic padauk than the orange-red African padauk. The colour of the heartwood is light to golden brown

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∂ Product news OSMO: THE TOOL FOR TREATING LARGER WOOD SURFACES IN INDOOR AREAS A time-saving method for treating interior wood surfaces is possible with Osmo HandXcenter. This tool is an optimal and efficient solution for larger wood surfaces. Osmo HandXcenter is suitable for colouring as well as maintaining and refreshing oiled wood surfaces. It is solely intended for use inside of buildings.

Before treating wood with Osmo TopOil, the surface must be cleaned. Afterwards TopOil can be applied directly to the wood surface and distributed with the white pad attached to the hook-andloop fastener disc. Through this work method, TopOil is optimally buffed into the wood surface. Five pads are included with the machine.

I4F WINS TWO PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS: 2020/21 BEST MANAGED COMPANY AWARD AND 2020/21 EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR STRATEGY i4F, a group of companies providing patents and technologies to the flooring industry, today announced that it has won two awards belonging to the international Best Managed Companies (BMC) programme.

The company was awarded by Deloitte as one of the 2020/21 Best Managed Companies and, amongst this year’s BMCs, also won the 2020/21 Excellence Award for Strategy. Nominations were judged by a panel of top leaders coming from a range of industry sectors. i4f now officially joins the global BMC community hosted by Deloitte, and is encouraged to participate in national and global meetings on a diverse range of topics.

Read more on www.floor-forum.com/en/news

VÄLINGE ANNOUNCE NEW LICENSEE FOR GROUNDBREAKING LITEBACK® TECHNOLOGY Välinge Innovation has announced a new licensee for its groundbreaking Liteback® technology.

Jiangsu Success Wood Products — better known as Pridon, has signed a global non-exclusive license agreement for the use of both Liteback® and Välinge’s market-leading 5G® locking systems including 5G-i® Push Down and 5G® Fold Down.

Liteback® is seen as a revolution for the flooring industry — ushering in the era of sustainable resilient flooring. The technology inserts milled grooves into the floor’s core — creating a lighter product and allowing for 20% of raw materials to be reused in the production process. The weight and sustainability savings cause a ripple effect for the whole supply chain — optimising the number of transportations, freight costs, required storage space, and delivery and installation efficiency.

Read more on www.floor-forum.com/en/news

LIGNA.INNOVATION NETWORK: NEW DIGITAL FORMAT IN SEPTEMBER 2021 From 27 to 29 September 2021, Deutsche Messe and the woodworking division of the Association of German Mechanical and Plant Engineering (VDMA) will stage a digital event – the LIGNA.Innovation Network – that focuses on the leading topics of LIGNA. Hannover. From 27 to 29 September 2021, Deutsche Messe and the woodworking division of the Association of German Mechanical and Plant Engineering (VDMA) will stage a digital event – the LIGNA.Innovation Network – that focuses on the leading topics of LIGNA. Read more on www.floor-forum.com/en/news

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Floor Forum International 117

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