FFI 124 July 2022

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° 124 July 2022 - 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: Top Italian companies focused on export Advertorial i4F Patents & Technologies (B)

When speed’s important, go When speed’s with the fastest

Advertorial Bona (SE)

important, go with the fastest

There’s no faster way to a great finish. i4F drop-lock technologies are up to 30% faster to install than basic angle/angle systems. They don’t need any inserts or special tools, feature extremely high locking strength and Special Isocyanate-free work seamlessly with all materials, in all formats.

There’s no faster way to a great finish. i4F drop-lock technologies

lacquers are up to 30% faster to install than basic angle/angle systems.

They don’t need any inserts or special tools, feature extremely Speak to your existing manufacturers, or contact us to high locking strength and work seamlessly with all materials, in all find i4F licensees already producing flooring powered by formats.

our drop-lock technologies. And get ready to floor your and reap the benefits – fast.

Speak to your existing manufacturers, or contact us to find i4F competitors licensees already producingfloor flooring powered by our drop-lock Special Adjustable technologies. And get ready to floor your competitors and reap support systems for terrace the benefits – fast.

floors

Advertorial Küberit (D)

Special Providers of abrasive materials

Powered by 3L TripleLock® and Click4U®

Powered by 3L TripleLock® and Click4U®

Bona Primers and Lacquers

A WORLD OF RENOVATION POSSIBILITIES Discover a world of renovation possibilities, discover the world of Bona. We believe in offering the widest range of lacquers and primers delivering extraordinary flooring results. You can rely on Bona whether your project is a full renovation, protection of newly installed floors or if you’re seeking new design options.

We continuously increase demand and make a sustainable difference by inspiring floor owners to renovate and refinish wood floors - rather than ripping out and replacing.

bona.com/

Content 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

Editorial

N° 124 July 2022 - 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: Top Italian companies focused on export

‘The world is our oyster’

Advertorial i4F Patents & Technologies (B)

When speed’s important, go When speed’s with the fastest

Things are going really well for i4F, as you will read elsewhere in this magazine. The company, only formed in late 2013, has already claimed a leading global position in flooring installation with its unique drop-Lock technologies powered by its patented 3L TripleLock and Click4U system. Not only has the company won two prestigious awards from Deloitte, but it’s also currently working on the construction of brand new headquarters in Turnhout. i4F is set to more than double the number of employees in barely eighteen months. ‘The world is our oyster’, says i4F Founder & CEO John Rietveldt, and by that he means: ‘You can achieve anything in life or go anywhere you like because you have the opportunity or possibility to do so.’

Advertorial Bona (SE)

important, go with the fastest

There’s no faster way to a great finish. i4F drop-lock technologies are up to 30% faster to install than basic angle/angle systems. They don’t need any inserts or special tools, feature extremely high locking strength and

Special Isocyanate-free work seamlessly with all materials, in all formats.

There’s no faster way to a great finish. i4F drop-lock technologies lacquers are up to 30% faster to install than basic angle/angle systems.

They don’t need any inserts or special tools, feature extremely Speak to your existing manufacturers, or contact us to high locking strength and work seamlessly with all materials, in all find i4F licensees already producing flooring powered by formats.

our drop-lock technologies. And get ready to floor your competitors and reap the benefits – fast.

Speak to your existing manufacturers, or contact us to find i4F

licensees already producingflfloor ooring powered by our drop-lock Special Adjustable technologies. And get ready to floor your competitors and reap support systems for terrace the benefits – fast. floors

Advertorial Küberit (D)

Special Providers of abrasive materials

Powered by 3L TripleLock® and Click4U®

Powered by 3L TripleLock® and Click4U®

VIDEO

Floor Forum International n° 124 July 2022 Photo i4F Patents & Technologies NEZ DE MARCHE 845 · Facile à installer · Insertion pour revêtement de sol et moquettes jusqu‘à 3-5 mm d’épaisseur · Ressemblance de décor ou contraste sur les nez de marche avec des revêtements identiques ou différents · Convient pour la publicité ou des indications sur les escaliers avec notre technologie d‘impression numérique TRAPNEUSPROFIEL 845 · Eenvoudig te installeren · Inschuifmogelijkheid voor vloerbedekking en vasttapijt tot 3-5 mm dik · Decor matching of contrast op trapneuzen door dezelfde of verschillende vloerbedekkingen · Mogelijkheid voor reclame of aanwijzingen op de trap dankzij onze digitale-printtechnologie www.kueberit.com

John Rietveldt

4

Inside news

8

Advertorial i4F Patents & Technologies (B)

‘The new headquarters, which will be ten times bigger than our current offices, is representative of the next step in our development. We’ve adapted our vision and mission, defined as transforming connections to enhance where people live, work and play with ingenious technologies, from the floor upwards.

10 Review Carrefour International du Bois (F)

Our narrative is taking on more and more body and developing constantly. This is also why we need a new and bigger R&D division.’

CEO i4F Patents & Technologies

17 Special Who has levelling products which dry rapidly?

20 Special Look for a reliable manufacturer if you choose LVT,

PVC, or vinyl floors 22 Special Isocyanate-free lacquers 24 Advertorial Bona (SE) 26 Special Providers of abrasive materials 29 Special Producers of hybrid adhesive 32 Advertorial Küberit (D) 34 Special Adjustable floor support systems for terrace floors 37 Special Drying oil/lacquer using LED 38 Special Finishing and maintaining of wooden exterior walls 40 Special Producers of skirting boards with inlay of LVT, PVC,

vinyl or laminate 43 Special Who has an oil which can be finished in one coat?

46 Special Invisible lacquers: who has them?

49 Special Who has reaction stains?

52 Special Machines and products for giving old Marmoleum

and linoleum a new finish coat 53 Industry news 54 Special Top Italian companies focused on export 58 Product news

‘In the new headquarters, we’ll continue to focus on our core business, locking technologies, but will also be looking at material compositions as well as adjacent technologies and industries. Think about, for instance, digital printing or construction materials, as long as it relates closely to the flooring industry we can bring something to the party.

Everything we do must always be enveloped by a “sustainability blanket”.

‘It’s no coincidence that we’re committed to sustainability. We held a workshop with Deloitte which illustrated very clearly the importance of ESG criteria (environmental, social, and governance). We, as a company, have the potential to change a global industry and that means you have to carefully define the environmental, social, and governmental criteria which can affect society or the environment. We aim to establish measurable and responsible investments and that’s why we are saying that at least 75% of our new inventions has to support sustainability. Innovations simply have to be sustainable and represent our strategic corporate identity and values.’

‘Our new premises in Turnhout reflect this and represent a visually perceptible mega-new phase for our company where we’re taking another step towards further growth, responsibly. At present, we also have an R&D division in Hamont, but we’ve literally grown so fast that a relocation was essential. We’ve had assurances that the new premises will be ready by end December 2022, but it seems wiser to me to aim for early in 2023.’

‘We are also growing our presence in many more regions of the world, including China and Vietnam as well as forming a team in the US. One of our employees will move permanently to the US to work as closely as possible to the market and customers. In terms of employment, the premises in Turnhout will be able to accommodate 40 people and 30 employees will be based there in the immediate future, bringing the global i4F team to over 50. The extra people will enable us to develop more specialisation in relation to our 6 technology clusters - drop-lock, digital printing, surface finishing (featuring True Grout®), wall & ceiling, board composition and process technologies. Basically, we want to be the spider in the web for flooring and keep in touch with all, so-called, stakeholders in the industry. Our future lies in developing this idea further and helping various parties of the industry work together to improve the situation. For instance, we can bring parties together who don’t know each other. Co-ordination in the global flooring industry is one aspect for which we want to be known. “The world is our oyster” is the best summary of that.’

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 Parquetvinyl: Nakuru, the quietest vinyl floor

We are living increasingly closer together, and the construction of apartment blocks seems never ending. This makes our lives more and more hectic, making us yearn for some peace and quiet or just to do our own thing at home. And that’s what the Nakuru collection

by Parquetvinyl seeks to achieve: a floor that allows you to live life to the full without disturbing housemates or neighbours. With Nakuru, Parquetvinyl presents the quietest floating vinyl floor on the market, with no additional subfloor required. These innovative vinyl planks are made up of layers of different materials that each block out a different sound frequency. The integrated orange subfloor, a feature of all Parquetvinyl collections, helps make installation easy. The hard numbers speak for themselves: Nakuru reduces noise transmission by 21 dB ΔLw and 10 dB ΔLlin. It therefore easily meets the most stringent acoustic standards that apply to the project market in the Netherlands, and therefore the European standard too. No more noise disturbance from stiletto heels or furniture being moved. It also noticeably increases absorption of so-called reflected noise, which is a bonus in any home.Nakuru is being launched in 10 natural colours, 6 of which come as planks and 4 as herringbone. The synchronous wood structure of the planks and highly matte gloss level give this floor the appearance of parquet. As with any Parquetvinyl collection, skirting and profile options are available to match every floor.To help draw distributors' attention to this collection, we have designed a new display that compactly showcases the wide range of natural colours and allows consumers to test the unique features of the floor themselves.

Because this floor is more than just quiet: it is highly shock and stain resistant, stable, fully water resistant, easy to install and maintain... In short, it is suited for total enjoyment, and minor dramas.

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Floor Forum International 124

Küberit : New sample case

The new edition of our popular profile sample case Küberit-Best is available.

The high-quality transport case contains 370 individual samples for almost all flooring applications, divided into 3 drawers. New are the printed cardboard inserts with the content overviews of the drawers.

- high-quality carrying case with over 370 individual samples in 3 drawers - professional sales aid with demonstration of the different application possibilities and functions - profile samples for almost all flooring applications - colour collections for optimal colour selection - including profile book for reference detailed information Sample case Küberit®-Best Our profile sample case Küberit®-Best presents itself in a new, high-quality design with three removable drawers. In addition to the novelties of the last years, selected profile systems have been added to the sample case for the first time.

Additionally, the case contains the unique Küberit® The Profile Book.

Välinge Terminates License Agreement with Chinese Licensee

Licensed by Välinge has terminated its license agreement with the Chinese resilient flooring producer Jiangsu Lanrui New Material Technology Co., Ltd, formerly known as Jiangsu Lansen Integrated Material Technology Co., Ltd (“Lanrui”). The license agreement is terminated due to severe non-compliance with the contractual provisions of the license agreement. Lanrui has committed several material breaches of the license agreement, among other, Lanrui has sold products produced under the license agreement without labels in breach of the holographic label system, L2C. The general effect of the holographic label system is that products produced under a license from Välinge that leave factories of the licensed partners in question without appropriate labels, are considered unlicensed and infringing products.

info@valinge.se | www.liteback.se |

Brookhuis.

Because every process is unique.

Predict the unpredictable Detect board cupping and cracks early.

Guarantee flooring board dimension and shape stability. With the correct moisture content.

Thanks to Brookhuis measuring equipment.

www.brookhuis.com

∂ Inside news Lanrui is accordingly no longer entitled to use any of Välinge’s intellectual property rights. Any subsequent use or sale of unlicensed products supplied by Lanrui could consequently constitute acts of infringement of Välinge’s intellectual property rights covering such products.

If you need additional information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Välinge by email at legal@valinge.se or by phone +46 42 23 78 15.

GFA forecasts a slowdown of the market Last month, the Global Flooring Alliance (GFA) scheduled an additional meeting to discuss the current market situation in the flooring industry. High inflation, rising energy and transport costs and the war in Ukraine are putting pressure on margins worldwide.

Although the members of the Global Flooring Alliance are still reporting positive sales growth, profit and margins are under pressure.

They therefore conclude price increases are necessary because

of all these costs. However, caution is advised in this regard since the consequence of this is that at the end the consumer is presented with the bill. The market should not be ‘locked’ due to ill-considered price increases. GFA keeps a close eye on interest rates which threaten to slow the economy at the moment. In addition, delivery times and availability of products are also putting pressure on the market. The members of the GFA are therefore cautious with precise forecasts for the second half of 2022. They expect a slowdown and possibly a decline in sales compared to the same period last year. The GFA sees partnership as the key to dealing with the current market conditions.

Maintain a good relationship with supplier and customer and share the pain. Work together wisely and thoughtfully. Don't just switch suppliers.

It is especially important now to understand partnership and put it into practice. A positive market approach applied in this way can take the sting out of today's challenges. Despite these many challenges of this moment, members of the GFA view the continued growth in turnover as promising. The housing markets in the countries of the members affiliated with the GFA are also still outperforming. GFA chairman Einar Gottskalksson emphasizes the importance of cooperation and partnership: “The massive inflation and cost increase worldwide and the unpredictability of delivery times calls for a sensible partnership with suppliers and customers. This is not only about supporting each other with regard to logistics and products, but especially the exchange of information and the sharing of experiences is invaluable. Information

The premium polymer of choice for your isocyanate-free flooring adhesives.

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Floor Forum International 124

∂ Inside news sharing has made Global Flooring Alliance an important partner for the trade for over 30 years, offering precious added value for its affiliated members.” The Global Flooring Alliance hopes to welcome new members at the General Meeting which will be held later this month.

More information regarding Global Flooring Alliance can be acquired via the website www.globalflooringalliance.com

Here we go - Beaulieu International Group (B.I.G.) is ready for a sustainable future With an annual report entitled 'Here.We.Go' and a sustainability report 'Shaping sustainable living, together', B.I.G. is also publishing a strong ambition for a sustainable future.

Offering sustainable flooring and material solutions will be the number one priority for the coming years. The Group's first sustainability report is built around a self-designed sustainability model - "Route 2030" - which is based on achievable commitments, covers the main priorities and reflects B.I.G.'s vision in a sincere way. “We fully

Tools Day - in autumn 2022!

Look, ask, try it out for yourself This was the motto of the first TOOLS-DAY at our factory on 6 and 7 May. What did we offer? ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Various live demonstrations Tours of our production facilities Trying out tools for yourself Interesting discussions with our technicians, trainers and mechanics.

In our opinion, it was an all-round successful event!

Unfortunately, you couldn‘t take part this time?

Never mind!

You can look forward to our next Tools Day - in autumn 2022!

realize that the road ahead is still long and bumpy, but if there is one thing we have learned in recent years, it is this: the greatest threat to our planet is thinking that someone else will save it. Today, we feel ready and equipped to take on our responsibility” says Pol Deturck, CEO. Our vision for the B.I.G. change is to actively build a better future by reducing our carbon footprint to zero, taking care of our people and those around us, and doing business in a transparent, integer way. In this sense, it is the perfect translation of the Group's purpose defined in 2021: shaping sustainable living, together.

Pol Deturck adds “By 2030, together with a broad group of suppliers, stakeholders and partners, we want to be the leader in sustainable flooring and material solutions. Specifically, our future value proposition is based on products and services that are environmentally & climate friendly, circular and offered by talented, innovative people with an emphasis on integrity and respect for values. This results more in a recurring value proposition for the future.”

Clear growth ambitions As a 100% family-owned international Group with a clear long-term vision, we stayed true to our plans and kept on investing in all areas of our business. Just as our past investments allowed us to thrive in 2021, today’s investments will make us even stronger in the years to come.

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

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Floor Forum International 124

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Advertorial

i4F Patents & Technologies (B)

JOHN RIETVELDT (CEO i4F)

TO BE HAILED AGAIN AS A BEST MANAGED COMPANY IN A GLOBAL AWARDS COMPETITION IS A GREAT HONOUR i4F has taken the flooring industry by storm. That’s been confirmed again via the i4F’s winning of various awards from Deloitte, which provides services in accountancy, tax advice, consultancy, financial advice, and legal advice. i4F, a group of companies which supplies patents and technologies to the flooring industry, has been hailed as one of the Best Managed Companies (BMC) in 2021/22 for the second consecutive year and has also been nominated again for the 2021/22 Excellence Award for Strategy.

‘For i4F these prizes are a serious reward for our motivated teams, as they show that they are at the forefront of all new and major forms of technology. At the same time, we’re also convinced that our global IP strategy and our corporate model are unique because they can be replicated in many other sectors and contribute to the greater good.’

What’s the secret behind the success of this company, which didn’t see the light until late 2013? Two men, the current CEO John Rietveldt and CTO, Eddy Boucké, set up their own business in Curaçao and spent most of the early years travelling to negotiate licences all over the world for i4F’s unique 3L TripleLock droplLock technology. i4F now operates all over the world and the headquarters in Belgium are due to relocate in early 2023 from Hamont-Achel to premises in Turnhout which are now under construction and will be ten times bigger.

At the time of going to press, Floor Forum International didn’t yet know whether i4F would also win the Excellence Award for Strategy, but, in fact, a nomination is virtually the same as a win.

John Rietveldt says: ‘In each field, five companies are nominated from the many candidates. Last year, we won the Strategy Excellence Award and the fact that we’re in contention again is already a huge sign of appreciation.’

‘These bigger premises won’t be a luxury,’ CEO, John Rietveldt says with a laugh. ‘Indeed, within eighteen months, our employee base will have doubled in size. We now have 24 people, but that’s set to double in the near future. We’re growing not only here, but also elsewhere in the world including China and Vietnam. For instance, we’ve recently formed a company in the USA and we’re building a team there. We’re also looking to India and South Korea because we’re convinced you have to be close to your clients.’

What the i4F CEO is particularly pleased about is that these awards assess performance: ‘Before working for i4F, amongst other things, I had a long career in white goods and I learnt a vital lesson from the then CEO. He kept things very simple and said that the best strategy is simply the one which sells. And so, with these awards they consider firstly whether a company is growing well and then they look at how that growth is supported via the processes to improve your company.’

Management capacities and corporate practices

‘At i4F, we’ve extended the range of patents considerably in recent years to include diverse clusters, which are always rooted in an R&D structure. For instance, recently we’ve appointed someone as director of material science and, in turn, that means we’ll be recruiting more staff for the laboratory now under construction in Turhout. The construction work started in May of this year and we’re due to make it operational early in 2023. In Turnhout we’ll have buildings ten times bigger than those we have now, partly due to the construction of a big R&D department. This means we’ll be able to institutionalise innovation processes once again.’

With its annual BMC programme, Deloitte looks for the best managed private companies. The programme assesses the management capacities and practices of a company and acknowledges all the corporate performances and growth. i4F received a 2021/22 Best Managed Companies award as a tier one player which has displayed a number of best management capacities and practices. This includes strategy, culture and commitment, capacities and innovation, and finances and ESG in a competition which weighs up sector rivals against each other.

In addition, just like last year when it won this category, the company has been nominated for the 2021/22 Excellence Award for Strategy. This Award is assessed by a panel of prominent leaders from various sectors, but the winner won’t be announced until 21 June, 2022 during a ceremony in the Netherlands, where other BMC winners receive a prize.

‘At present, we’ve won one and we’re certain of the nomination in the other category. In the best possible case we’ll again walk off with two top prizes,’ says John Rietveldt. ‘To be hailed yet again as a “Best Managed Company” in a global awards competition is

8

a great honour. After all, these are global awards given to just a select few companies all over the world. They’re companies which, in our case, are private, so not listed on the stock exchange, with a turnover above €50 million.’

Floor Forum International 124

The best strategy is the one which sells

Finally, John Rietveldt tells us about the most recent narrative to demand their attention, namely the comprehensive environmental narrative: ‘There, too, we’re fully committed. Sustainability goes far beyond a commitment to electric vehicles, for instance, and in the flooring industry, too, you have to show great commitment.

You can do that by means of a good mix within a sustainable corporate policy, in our case initiatives and investments in the development of new technologies, but also in leading and conducting our daily operations.’

For more information you can visit their web site: www.i4f.com

When speed’s important, go with the fastest There’s no faster way to a great finish. i4F drop-lock technologies are up to 30% faster to install than basic angle/angle systems.

They don’t need any inserts or special tools, feature extremely high locking strength and work seamlessly with all materials, in all formats.

Speak to your existing manufacturers, or contact us to find i4F licensees already producing flooring powered by our drop-lock technologies. And get ready to floor your competitors and reap the benefits – fast.

Powered by 3L TripleLock® and Click4U®

Review

Carrefour International du Bois (F)

CARREFOUR INTERNATIONAL DU BOIS BREAKS ALL RECORDS 20% MORE VISITORS THAN FOR THE LAST EDITION BEFORE THE PANDEMIC (2018) Isabelle Polfliet (Vandecasteele Houtimport - B) ‘Carrefour International du Bois was a great success and confirmed the attraction of wood.’

Vandecasteele Houtimport, based in Aalbeke – Belgium, sounds quite familiar to anyone who is involved in the wood industry. You can say the name has a ring of excellence to it.

The family business, founded in 1883 by Louis Vandecasteele, is now led by the fourth and fifth generations (Stefaan & Louis Vandecasteele) and has established a reputation as well in Belgium and abroad as a leading supplier of hardwood from Africa, South-East Asia, and South America, plus Scandinavian softwood, North American soft and hardwood, and European hardwood.

A company like Vandecasteele simply could not afford to miss the latest Carrefour International Wood Show in Nantes.

After an interruption due to the covid pandemic, everyone was yearning for the opportunity to meet clients and suppliers in person.

Isabelle Polfliet tells us: ‘We were craving a new Carrefour and it was very clear that we weren’t the only ones. " The Carrefour International Du Bois exhibition in Nantes was a great success for Vandecasteele. The number of visitors who popped by was amazing and the quality was second to none, and with exhibitors coming from near and far, the event was a true international mix.

The Timber show is one of the best timber showcases in Europe, and the 4-year gap between the last show and now made the atmosphere even better – definitely well worth waiting for.

There were times when our stand was overlowed with visitors. After the interruption caused by the Covid pandemic, everyone was eagerly looking forward to finally meeting their customers and suppliers again.

Striving for 100% certified wood At the stand, amongst other things, Vandecasteele presented its extensive range of sawn wood with over 130 different species from all over the world, including several species suitable for parquet floors. Furthermore, there was a broad range of finished garden wood products on display. They highlighted how they not only import timber from all over the world, but also how they purchase timber in a responsible way.

‘The most important message we must remember after Nantes is that wood still proved to be a viable raw material and this even more so than it was in the past. Though it may be an ‘old’ product, but it fits in very well with the climate narrative.’ It’s a completely renewable building raw material that is 100% recyclable and still retains the absorbed CO², even as a finished product.

Own audits with suppliers ‘Obviously, checks are necessary in order to show that this is all true. That’s why we’re fully committed to using only certified wood; we’re not quite there yet, but we are striving to achieve this by 2025. It’s been a few years now since we have employed our own forest engineer, who audits our Brazilian suppliers and their harvesting projects on site. At present, there is also an audit in progress of a partner in Congo. One of the purposes here is to make the public more aware that it is important to use tropical wood. Sustainable forest management is the key to guarantee the safeguarding of the forests’ future, everywhere in the world. Indeed, if the forest generates income for the local population, the forest will remain forever. This ensures the ongoing existence of the forest, so it won’t be used for something else (cattle, agriculture, mining, and other land use). In our case we can say that we are assuring future generations that their tropical forest will be preserved by using only certified timber.’

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Floor Forum International 124

Apart from Carrefour, we also asked about the immediate future of Vandecasteele Houtimport. They certainly do have plans: ‘Not only are we striving to get our wide range of wood species fully certified, but also we’ve invested in a new client portal where our customers can log in to our stocks and order on-line, we also guarantee a swift delivery.’

Choose life, Choose wood

They are clear about their participation at trade fairs in the near future. Next year in April they plan to take part in Bau in Munich.

They will also be present in Nantes again: ‘Both shows are top class, so we simply must attend. Those two appointments are important to us because they generate a lot of face-to-face contacts in a short space of time.’

We all had a long wait for the next edition of the Carrefour International Wood Show in Nantes. Due to the pandemic we’d waited four years for the next show, which took place early in June. At the show there was a clear hunger for renewed physical contact. On Friday 3 June, organiser Fibois Pays de la Loire closed the show after a three-day event with no fewer than 20% more visitors than last time.

Special in three respects Jean Piveteau, brand new chairman of the show, expressed his delight after the event: ‘This edition was exceptional in three respects. Firstly, you had the record number of exhibitors, supported subsequently by an increase in the number of visitors. Obviously, we’re delighted with an increase of over 20%! More surprising, however, is the observation that the wood industry is now so much more professional and that it bears no resemblance at all to what it was 30 years ago when the very first Carrefour International Wood Show was organised.’

‘This edition also exceeded the previous one with regard to the enthusiasm of both exhibitors and visitors. Everyone was clearly excited to be together again after such a long period of absence,’ Jean Bureau adds, chairman of Fibois Pays de la Loire. ‘We concluded the show under very promising circumstances. We encountered a euphoric wood market and a market which is responding explicitly to the ecological aspects of wood, particularly for the future.’

2,500 m3 certified European Oak prompt available Photo © Dieter Dejonghe

The organisers have announced that this year they welcomed no fewer than 607 exhibitors, a figure which considerably exceeds the 563 in 2018. These wood professionals came from about 40 different countries and welcomed over 14,000 visitors to their stands, an increase of 20% as compared to 2018. Moreover, it was also noticeable that there were lots of visitors from abroad, also more than last time. And so, the sixteenth Carrefour International Wood Show certainly lived up to its advanced promises and confirmed itself as one of the major international events for the entire wood industry.

Prompt delivery

Furniture, flooring & parquet industry

Using timber is good Using certified timber is wonderful

Exhibitors confirm positive sounds The exhibitors agreed wholeheartedly with the organisers’ enthusiastic comments. A good example of that was the local company MDP Finition, an SME from Nantes which took part for the first time. MDF Finition is a subsidiary company of the MDF Group and concentrates on varnishes.

Contact Bergstraat 25 8511 Aalbeke België vandecasteele.be

genevieve@vandecasteele.be +32 56 43 33 00 dave@vandecasteele.be +44 15 94 83 43 32

Review

Carrefour International du Bois (F)

‘Obviously, we were looking for new clients to enable us to extend our activities,’ says Jacky Bourgeais, finishing manager at MDP Finishing.

‘We’re delighted with the results of our meetings and, in particular, with the quality of those contacts. Various factors mean that we’ve already decided to reserve a prominent place at the next edition.’

We heard a similar reaction from the Spanish company Siero Lam, which took part for the fifth time. Alexandre Flambard, manager of international corporate development with this company which specialises in the first and second transformation of wood from its own forests, responded very positively: ‘We’re a regular client at this unique business event in Europe and we take part mainly to attract clients. Moreover, we felt that this edition had a special tint because we could finally renew our contacts with our clients. In just three days, we reached huge numbers of people, for whom we were able to give product demonstrations face-to-face.’

A few more exhibitors have their say ADMONTER HOLZINDUSTRIE AG

This was the first time we exhibited there, but certainly not the last!

Our goal is to offer a product, which along with the quality ensures durability and longevity. We have presented our innovative Hardened Wood Woodura® wooden floors with a genuine wooden feel that is several times stronger than other wooden floors and utilizes renewable raw materials in an optimal way. Hardened Wood floors are suitable for almost all rooms in homes or commercial areas that are exposed to normal wear (offices, waiting rooms, shops). We are always open to new cooperation, and new projects. If you didn’t have the opportunity to visit us at the fair, you can contact us at any time.

Please send an e-mail to: info@bjelin.hr, spacva@bjelin.hr.

Bona France

ADMONTER HOLZINDUSTRIE AG is an international company with approximately 280 employees and an annual turnover of 69 million euros (2021) that manufactures natural wood products for interior design and decoration. All products are 100% made in Austria.

Simply timeless, Admonter products are the first choice. The advantages of natural wood last for a very long time: ADMONTER offers wood from sustainable forestry, hand-tested quality workmanship and a timeless design, which creates atmosphere in all circumstances.

Timeless natural wood products are of particular interest to architects, designers, property developers and retailers of natural wood products.

Admonter offers a concept, all from a single source, for all kind of interior applications. The wood is very versatile and is used indoors as wood flooring, wall and ceiling coverings, furniture, doors, stairs, tables and even kitchen fronts. Thanks to the use in all these sectors, entire room concepts in wood can be created according to the wishes of the customer. Admonter exhibited for the first time at the “Carrefour International du Bois” fair in 2022. The need for interior design solutions in wood is enormous. Discussions with customers and potential new customers at the show made this clear.

Bjelin Bjelin exhibited at Carrefour International du Bois among many renowned exhibitors from all over the world This year's Carrefour International du Bois fair gave us the opportunity to show our dedicated work. It gave us a good insight into the latest trends in the wood industry, our customer needs, and expectations.

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BONA France took part in the Carrefour International Wood Show 2022.

The BONA France team were delighted with the excellent turnout at this year’s event. Visitors had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with new products from Bona, such as the ‘Bona box’, which is used to store accessories for the Bona Flexisand sanding machine. This is an innovation which saves time when using the machine and prevents damage to the tool. At the same time it was an opportunity to present the Bona adhesive assortment, which is suitable for all sorts of surfaces and situations. There was also the launch of the new Bona Traffic HD Raw lacquer, which offers the raw feel of parquet with an ultra-matt look. Julien Josse, sales director at Bona France comments.

‘We had a lot of very good feedback from visitors at our stand and we’re delighted with the meetings which we had at the show. We’re planning to take up a top position for the next edition! We’d like to register now for 2024!’

Denderwood

supplies on a regular basis of rough sawn timbers and 3-ply KKK & DKD. Those who are open to new ideas have found solutions or alternatives in the various products. For those who have not had the opportunity to visit the fair, no problem!

Contact us at info@denderwood.com.

Design Parquet

For this 2022 edition, Denderwood was present at the CIB of Nantes.

This year, the JAVA TEAK range was highlighted with in particular the 3D wall and the shipdeck flooring with black Sika rubber. Other products are appearing such as exotic wooden tiles for raised floors. New species that have been “tested” for about 12 months have been introduced and will be launched in September this year. As usual, Denderwood continues to promote PADOUK, which it has been importing for thirty years. Convinced by the advantages of this specie, you can find different products at the importer place: decking, cladding, paneling, flooring and laminated scantling. Denderwood continues its

June 1st marked the opening of the Carrefour International du Bois 2022, a show that had been cancelled for the past two years. On this occasion, many professionals from the sector came to the show and took the opportunity to learn about the latest innovations and developments in the wood industry. The French and international teams of Design Parquet were able to welcome numerous business

Hardened oak VISTORP VISTORP is a hardened oak floor in the select sorting finished with a white matt lacquered surface.

See the entire collection of colors at www.bjelin.com

Wide planks in

Hardened wood Innovative floors for creative interiors

Floor Forum International 124

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partners, establish new contacts and discuss the wood market and its current problems. Design Parquet was also able to present several new products, such as Rivoli (brushed, distressed and matt varnished) and Bastille (brushed, stained and matt varnished), chevron parquets with character and authenticity. The fair was an opportunity to highlight the revival of exotic wood floors, such as Wenge, Jatoba and Teak. Exotic species that are also found in the Navylam+ range, which has been specially developed for wet areas such as bathrooms.

An offer for floor parquet without limits of solutions So as to meet all comfort constraints in homes and places open to the public (high resistance, laying on heating /cooling floors), Design Parquet is able to present: solid support, semi-solid Loft Pro (multilayer support in birch plywood that combines the durability of solid wood with the great stability of engineered).

The parquet floors are available in many aspects: old fashioned, structured, band saw marks light or strong, heavy brushed, with or without bevels. At Design Parquet, the floors are adorned with natural varnished, oiled finishes, Roc varnish for heavy traffic, or decorative design colors (white, grey and brown). With its unique collection for the bathroom and in particular its Navylam+ range, Design Parquet is a benchmark brand in the floor parquet.

Design Parquet, customized excellence The ultra-modern production tool guarantees it an almost unique specificity on the market: its ability to offer bespoke panels (Versailles, Chantilly, Wagram, Chambord, Aremberg, etc.) and customizable, with more than one million combinations.

In 25 years, its innovative positioning has enabled it to become a key player on the French market and to develop internationally.

© Marc Roger

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Lamett

Lamett looks back with satisfaction on its presence at Carrefour International du Bois. The rustic wood collection Cottage 300 was in the spotlight. These planks have a length of up to 2.2 m in combination with a width of 30 cm, resulting in an impressive floor! The showpiece however was the new Nakuru collection, the quietest floor on the floating vinyl floor market. This Parquetvinyl collection easily reduces noise transmission by 21 dB ΔLw and 10 dB ΔLlin. It therefore meets the most stringent acoustic standards that apply to the project market in the Netherlands, and therefore the European standard too. It is ideal for projects with neighbours everywhere, but equally for anyone who loves peace and quiet. Parquetvinyl unites lots of assets such as 100% watertightness, a sublime wood look and structure, low maintenance,

shock resistance, etc. The result is a qualitative top floor and that's what the visitors also thought!

an extremely natural overall look. In addition to the two château plank formats, an elegant new herringbone format (700 x 140 mm) has been launched in eight ultra-matt-lacquered surfaces.

Design flooring MeisterDesign. rigid: with integrated soundabsorbing cushion The waterproof rigid core flooring range from MEISTER is now available in 36 variants. The rigid core floors, are characterised by high stability and brilliant decors, and – like all other MEISTER floors – are made in Germany.

MEISTER

PLASTOR

Herringbone, water-resistance and innovative ultra matt lacquer: MEISTER present their new Lindura range at the Carrefour International du Bois.

The resource-efficient Lindura château planks are now impregnated with AquaStop edge impregnating agent, making them waterresistant for 24 hours and suitable for humid rooms. An innovative ultra matt lacquer provides greatly enhanced stain-resistance and high resistance to micro-scratches. Lindura’s signature Wood Powder is now lighter and more harmonious with the wood surfaces to result in

Our commitments, your successes PLASTOR, specialist in the protection and decoration of wood floors

Custom-made

C

M

J

CM

MJ

CJ

CMJ

LOFT PRO

N

OAK PRIME-BIS PARQUET Chevron Laying Finishing : Natura oil Section : 16 x 90 x 600 mm Tongue & groove - 4 bevels Semi-solid parquet with birch plywood base

www.designparquet.com Floor Forum International 124

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for more than 60 years, was present at the International Carrefour International du Bois trade show from June 1 to 3 in Nantes!

Thanks to its great technical expertise, the brand provides a dedicated sales force to provide professionals with all the necessary support and never stops meeting its partners and applicators.

The PLASTOR team is delighted to have met with you during these three days, and would like to thank the many visitors for these friendly, quality exchanges.

For more information, please visit our website: www.plastor.com.

See you soon on a next exhibition !

The PLASTOR team

SOBOPLAC Successful Carrefour International du Bois for SOBOPLAC It was a real pleasure to meet each other again for this 2022 edition after four years of absence and restrictions. The general sphere was good, with a real dynamism and positive spirit, despite the problems and uncertainties in the past and future. This was a dynamic edition full of optimism. For Soboplac, this show provided an opportunity to meet lots of clients and prospective clients, plus colleagues and partners, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. To be precise, it was a chance to present their new products, especially the recently launched Panelio line wall cladding with wooden strip effects, which was a great success.

The Panelio range, available in four collections with three references per collection, offers a range of 12 decors, all in a wood strip spirit with the nicest effect. They also presented the new INTENDANCE XL range with hard vinyl planks. This is a collection of four very realistic products with a finely processed synchronous effect for a very realistic

effect. The long and wide planks make it possible to offer high-quality products with a distressed effect which will charm wood lovers. These products will be available from July and will be complemented at the end of the year with new collections of hard vinyl to complete the series of options for their clients. Finally, they were able to present their new parquet products, their lacquered look of raw wood in Hungarian point and herringbone composite wood, as well as the extension of their O'tantik range, with even more refined products and wider strips in 220mm width with the O'tantik Premium range. They are looking forward to the next edition and the opportunity to see everyone again.

Välinge

THE ULTIMATE INVISIBLE FINISH

BEST SOLD PRODUCT for a natural finish

35% BIO-BASED CONTENT

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS

ULTRA MATT APPEARANCE

EXCELLENT STAIN & SCRATCH RESISTANCE

Tel. +32 (0)51 30 11 40 - info@ciranova.be – www.ciranova.eu

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For Välinge Flooring, this first participation at the Carrefour International du Bois was an opportunity to measure the impact of the brand on French territory. Little known for the moment, or at least more known for its licenses than its flooring, the presentation of the Välinge Flooring collections was a real success. Not a moment of respite during the show which was punctuated by visitors from all over France and around the world – from our European neighbors to Africa or Oceania. David Sarcinella, General Manager France and Thomas Hamelin, Regional Sales Manager were present during the show and were supported by Simon Darbyshire, General Manager UK and Andreas Nilsson, Key Account Manager Europe. The team was very satisfied with the attendance, whether from a quantitative or qualitative point of view. A first participation that predicts many upcoming meetings and promotes an acceleration of the development of the brand in France, the next edition is also already validated with even greater ambitions.

The floor coverings presented and above all the technologies such as Woodura®, the concept of surface densification based on wood powders, the 5G®Dry™ technology resistant to water 24H or the latest concept of indoor air purification Hygienius™ were all appreciated at their fair values. For sure, an edition that will go down in history and portends a bright future for Välinge Flooring.

Special

Who has levelling products which dry rapidly?

EVENNESS AND PROTECTION THE HOW AND WHAT OF USING (FAST-DRYING) LEVELLING AGENTS Luc Wouters (business developer in floor technology for Belgium at Bostik) ‘You always have to see high-speed drying in its context.’

Bostik specialises in adhesive systems and its products are used worldwide in several applications, from production and industrial assembly to hygienic disposables. The wide range also has solutions for the building industry, from new work to renovation, in both residential and commercial settings.

Bostik’s construction solutions also include an extensive range of levelling compounds. Luc Wouters, business developer in floor technology for Belgium, is the ideal person to tell us about this range. Luc has over 34 years of experience at Bostik and spends his working days giving and offering advice for substrate preparation and training courses. Luc explains: ‘Floor technology includes all products for repairs to covering floors, damp screens, levelling agents, and wall and floor adhesives. Bostik has products for all phases of a project and suitably adapted materials.’

Ultra-high-speed is not always necessary ‘Analyse the base and the floor,’ is Luc’s first piece of advice. ‘The levelling compound used depends on the type of floor. Whether you fit ceramics, carpet, PVC, linoleum, or parquet, each floor has specific requirements which you have to consider.’

Features such as drying time, required layer thickness, strength, and flexibility have to be taken into account. And so, ultra-high-speed drying levelling compounds are not necessarily the ideal solution.

‘A completely flat base is a necessity with a flexible floor covering such as PVC or linoleum in order to achieve a tight result. Adhesives cannot level out any unevenness. With parquet, it’s a different story. A higher adhesive consumption, and therefore a thicker layer of adhesive, means you can eradicate unevenness. Moreover, with solid parquet, great compressive and tensile strength are essential because the wood continues to work into the base. And so, each installation needs the right leveller.’

As we’ve already said, the layer thickness is another requirement. Each levelling compound has its own maximum applicable layer thickness. Luc comments: ‘In practice, not every base is uniformly flat, so it can happen that in one corner you have to absorb 4mm, whilst you have a much greater difference in another corner. The Bostik levelling compound SL C940 XL (SL = Self-Levelling and C stands for cement-bound) even goes up to 5cm thick. The SL C780 FLEX is ideal for levelling a wooden base. This is a fibre-reinforced leveller with greater bend strength.’

The next piece of advice for professionals is always to respect the stated dose with water: ‘The last thing you want is a powdery end result. And so, you stick strictly to the prescribed quantity of water. Bostik always indicates these recommendations clearly on the pack.’

Look at the use Originally, high-speed-drying levelling compounds were developed for application in retail and public areas where renovations have to be carried out quickly and efficiently. The closing time has to be kept to a minimum. Opting for a high-speed-drying levelling compound means that you can fit a new carpet or tile floor within two to four hours. The fastest-drying levelling compound from Bostik is the SL C990 SPRINTER. ‘Under perfect atmospheric conditions you can fit stone or carpet after barely two hours and a PVC floor such as LVT strips, for instance, after four hours.’

However, linoleum or parquet require a perfectly dry base. Both products are simply too sensitive to moisture. And so, it is recommended to wait 24 hours before you fit the floor, so there’s little point in using a high-speed-drying levelling agent.’

Developments and the environment Finally, we consider innovations in the field of levellers. ‘On the market generally, but also especially at Bostik, lots of effort is made to offer ecological solutions. For instance, all our levelling compounds have at least one emission certificate, either EC1 or even EC1+. And so, they are absolutely ideal for use with green projects (BREEAM and LEED).’

Visit www.floor-forum.com

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Special

Who has levelling products which dry rapidly?

Photo – Bostik

The attached testimony clearly defines the difference between fast-drying levelling agents and ‘ordinary’ levelling agents. To make things clear, it’s necessary first to have a good grasp of what a levelling agent actually is. Amongst other things, we’re going to verify how you apply a levelling floor, why you fit it, how thick it has to be, and which substrates are suitable.

A levelling floor is a floor which levels itself and comprises mainly cement and synthetic resin. These raw materials make the floor extremely strong and flexible, so it won’t easily crack or burst. Levelling floors are often used to level out existing substrates and to prepare them ideally for the finish.

Levelling and protecting As you know, there are diverse sorts of levelling agents on the market.

Some of them will be particularly suitable in combination with concrete floors, whilst other products do particularly well with wooden

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substrates. You should remember that levelling floors are often used as preparation for a different type of floor, such as a cast floor.

What you shouldn’t forget is that a levelling floor is not only fitted to level the subfloor completely, but also that it serves to protect the floor finish. It’s important that the substrate is perfectly level, especially with thin floor coverings such as Marmoleum and vinyl. After all, any unevenness will show clearly through the floor covering. Moreover, sharp stones in the subfloor can damage the floor covering. Think also of thin ceramic tiles which can crack as a result of concentrated loads.

Preparation Good preparation is half the work and that applies no less to levelling agents. Therefore, never forget to start with a carefully cleaned and grease-free subfloor. Dust, dirt, and unevenness must be avoided at all costs and, in addition, the floor has to be completely dry. If there are still any cracks and joints, don’t forget to seal them. You can use a kit or PUR for the latter job.

As for the application, you apply a special primer first. This makes the adhesion of the levelling agent even more efficient. The latter is essential with tiles, for instance, to get a good end result. Then, you stir thoroughly the levelling grout, which is made in line with the instructions, before the application because you want to avoid lumps at all costs. The levelling agent is then spread evenly over the tiles.

Bona H660 is a cement-bound, acrylic polymer-reinforced, selflevelling 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.

Limited thickness

RASOCHIM FAST Fast drying cementitious self-levelling for interior works of industrial, commercial and public floorings up to 30 mm thicknesses RASOCHIM FAST is a thixotropic cement smoothing for floors and walls with thicknesses up to 30 mm. It is a quickdrying cement grey powder composed of special cement bind, it can be used only indoor.

RASOCHIM FAST mixed with water becomes a thixotropic creamy paste, easy to work with high adhesion to supports. The product 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.

Levelling agents are not cheap and since they are designed specially for levelling substrates, you keep the thickness of a levelling floor to a minimum. That’s why, in practice, you won’t find many levelling floors thicker than 2-3cm, and usually they are only 1 or 2mm thick.

The precise layer thickness also depends on the subfloor and type of levelling agent. One more point: Since a traditional cement covering floor takes longer to dry than a levelling floor, people often add a drying time accelerator to the cement mix. This can reduce the drying time considerably, so that the works can start sooner.

Suitable substrates In a previous edition we considered the types of substrates on which levelling agents are used, but let’s repeat ourselves briefly. Remember that basically a levelling agent can be applied to any sort of substrate, provided that it is stable enough and watertight. Tile floors or concrete floors are good examples. Wooden floors, too, may be suitable, but remember that floorboards must be secure with no joints between planks. Moreover, joints and cracks between wall joints must be sealed carefully with a kit or PUR foam. Thankfully, a levelling agent is slightly elastic and bridges cracks.

Sources: gepolierdebeton.be and gepolierdebetonvloer.be

Bona All suitable for floor heating:

Chimiver

Tover

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.

In its range for the preparation of indoor substrates, Tover offers a levelling compound full of advantages: Rockfloor F10. Its main characteristics are a long self-levelling time, the possibility of applying 10 mm thickness per coat and the possibility to lay the parquet only after 24 hours. Reinforced with fibres, it is particularly strong and its final rough surface improves the adhesion of glues. It is perfectly suitable for underfloor heating. In order to increase the adhesion of the levelling compound to the screeds, we recommend to use the water-based promoter Primer C4.

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Look for a reliable manufacturer if you choose LVT, PVC, or vinyl floors

BENEFITS AND NO DRAWBACKS? THE STRONG EMERGENCE OF LVT AND RELATED PRODUCTS IS CERTAINLY NO COINCIDENCE LVT floors have most certainly taken the market by storm. As we’ve outlined a number of times, LVT is a vinyl floor and LVT is simply an abbreviation for luxury vinyl tiles. What is it that makes these types of floors so popular and why do we see them gaining ground in both the residential and commercial markets? The answer lies in a number of benefits (lots of them), which we’ll try to set out.

LVT is also a hard flooring, but why would you choose it instead of floors such as wood, linoleum, or laminate? What we certainly can say is that vinyl has long since ceased to be the cheap product which was discarded for so long. On the contrary, it is an increasingly high-quality flooring which more and more people are considering as an alternative.

Structure makes many things clear What’s worth knowing for a start is how LVT is put together. We note that the structure comprises a watertight synthetic bottom layer, various fibreglass layers for good stability, a design layer, a protective covering layer, and a protective top layer. The latter prevents wear and tear, keeps the number of scratches to a minimum, protects from damp, and simplifies the maintenance.

Perhaps the biggest benefit is the form in which LVT is presented to the outside world. The vinyl which we all know used to be offered on rolls, which also had to be glued to the floor. That chore was anything but pleasant and extremely time consuming. However, LVT comprises planks and tiles in different sizes, designs, and textures which are fitted floating quickly and easily above the floor. Moreover, you can combine planks and tiles in different sizes and colours to create a well-nigh infinite range of patterns. Are you put off by talk of vinyl planks, PVC strips, or modular vinyl floors? Fear not! Those are simply different names for the same thing.

The above also makes it clear that LVT is a worthwhile product not only for residential floors, but also for commercial projects. It’s certainly no surprise that more and more people are expressing a preference for it in offices, shops, etc. Moreover, it has a thin structure, and that means that it highlights itself explicitly when it is time for renovation. Due to its limited thickness, this type of floor can easily be fitted on top of existing floors and in some cases it is easy to cut the planks or tiles to measure with a knife and without generating any dust.

Various other arguments One major benefit of LVT is that it is also extremely durable. And so, it is no longer exceptional at present that half of PVC consists of recycled raw materials and that the latest LVT floors on the market can be recycled even 100%.

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Apart from the durability, the watertight bottom layer, and the protective top layer which we’ve already mentioned, we must also point out the minimal level of noise from footsteps. Moreover, the available designs are now almost without exception of top quality and obviously with a structure. Nowadays, you can hardly distinguish a wood or stone design from the real thing, so with stone you change the cold feel for warmth on the feet (also an easy combination with floor heating or cooling).

Finally, we must also talk about the fitting. Flat and hard covering floors such as concrete, anhydrite, wood, or tiles are sufficient for easy fitting, obviously provided that they are levelled.

A specialist Parquetvinyl by Lamett Parquetvinyl is the latest generation of sturdy vinyl floors and no longer bears any resemblance to old techniques such as vinyl on a roll. The planks can hardly be distinguished from real parquet thanks to the extremely matt finish (2-4% gloss), realistic decors, and staggering synchronous wood structure. The planks not only look like real parquet, but also have several assets such as fast installation thanks to the integrated underlay and the simple click system. They don’t need to acclimatise and can be fitted on top of most existing floors. Finally, you can install Parquetvinyl in one piece up to 400m² or 20 running metres. June will witness the launch of the premium collection ‘Nakuru’, the most silent vinyl floor on the market. This collection ensures a reduction in transmission sound of 21dB ΔLw and 10dB ΔLlin. This means it complies with the strictest prevailing standards in the Netherlands for the project market and therefore also the European standard.

Share your #invictusflooring @invictusflooring www.invictus.eu

Special

Isocyanate-free lacquers

MANDATORY TRAINING IS ON THE WAY FROM 24 AUGUST 2023, WORKERS MUST BE TRAINED ON HOW TO USE ISOCYANATE-FREE PRODUCTS SAFELY Marie-Claude Conversy (Tover - I) ‘We were already the pioneer in isocyanate-free work ten years ago!’

The rules for working without isocyanates are getting stricter each year and the floor covering industry has no exemption from those rules. The Italian company Tover realised more than ten years ago that a change was needed and in 2012 was a pioneer in the sector with the launch of Bella, its first isocyanate-free two-component lacquer.

Marie-Claude Conversy, export manager, explains the policy of her company, which is specialised in wooden floor finish products: ‘In the industry we’re facing very strict European legislation.

Isocyanates are the top target. In our field we now have to comply with Regulation 2020/1149, which stipulates that, from 23 August 2023 onwards, professionals who use products which Bella natur contain a certain amount of isocyanates must be trained before they can use those products.

Some countries, such as the Netherlands, go even further. The sale and use of products (such as paints) which contain isocyanates are prohibited for private people. This standard is expected to be introduced gradually in other European countries. With our formulations, we make products which are a step ahead of the stricter rules.’

‘The question is how to avoid using isocyanate with a parquet finish. To that end we offer a range of mono-component lacquers which can cope with very high traffic. Think of our Uniqua SQ. The next logical question is: Why do we still have two-component lacquers? The answer is that professionals prefer them because these two-component products are considered as more resistant to stains and have better adhesion. And so, it is difficult for professionals who prefer them for technical reasons to switch over. As manufacturers we have to convince them that there are alternatives which perform equally as well. We’ve already proved that in 2012 with our isocyanate-free two-component Bella lacquer.’

Scores of benefits ‘The benefits of two-component coatings such as Bella are now quite clear, now it’s been technically perfected over a period of ten years and has been tested by several clients. One huge benefit is that safety is guaranteed both for professional and private users. Moreover, component B has no hazard symbol on the label, so it is neither irritating nor corrosive and it contains no pollutant substances for the marine environment. It also has the EN 71 certificate, which guarantees the safety of children.’

‘Other benefits are that these products target a wide public which is aware of the problem of safety and environmental effects; the finish is applied in two coats without any primer (for resistance to high traffic and stains), so it saves a lot of time. Moreover, this lacquer is available in all possible aspects: glossy, matt, extra matt, and invisible, so it meets all demands in terms of aesthetic results.’

Even more visibility is needed ‘In Belgium we had a lot of success after the initial launch of the product at Domotex Hannover, followed by Publicity campaigns and a follow-up via our social media. We’re not surprised by this success in Belgium, since people there are well aware of the store ban in chain stores. Recently, we’ve decided to launch this highly innovative product again because the subject is increasingly under consideration and we’re convinced that public interest will increase and force professionals in some way or other to use it.’

‘The above also immediately raises the question as to what we plan to do in the (near) future. For instance, we’ve now added another product to our range, namely Natural Wood Oil. This is a water-based natural wood oil which is perfectly compatible with the isocyanate-free B-component. And so, it can be given a catalyst to increase its resistance. The big benefit is a super invisible and extra matt finish with a gloss degree below five! Moreover, the product is formulated with vegetable resins and therefore has only a minimal impact on the environment. In short, this is an outstanding solution which combines performance and respect for the planet.’

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On 3 August 2020, in the context of REACH, the European Commission published a restriction for working with products which contain more than 0.1% free di-isocyanates monomers. What is particularly important to know is that professional and industrial employees who work with these products have to complete successful training on the safe use of di-isocyanates by 24 August 2023.

the end of each course, participants are given a document for the training which they have received.

It’s worthwhile for professionals to view the following YouTube clip, where ISOPA and ALIPA aim to persuade users to register for the training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHHfn7jnvEg. Sources: VVVF, Feica, VLK, be-mastics.be, and ISOPA + ALIPA.

Obviously, the parquet industry cannot evade this restriction. Indeed, the rule literally states that there are no professional groups exempt from the training, which does not apply to consumers. They don’t need any training because they work only sporadically with these products.

What we should also mention is that the gravity of the training is in proportion to the intensity of the use of products with di-isocyanates monomers in the aforementioned concentration; the more intensive the use, the greater the exposure, and the greater the gravity of the training.

Unwanted effects of exposure The new measure is about a specific substance used in adhesives and mastics, i.e. polyurethane or PU. PU is used a lot in construction, packaging, industry, transport, and much more. PU products are created by a reaction of di-isocyanates and polyols and are consumed during the reaction. These di-isocyanates can have unwanted effects if used incorrectly. The new measure aims to reduce any risks of sensitisation in airways. Sensitisation means someone can become allergic to certain substance after exposure, whereby allergic reactions and breathing problems can occur after further contact. Legislators believe that training is the best solution to avoid those unwanted reactions. The fact is it is perfectly safe to use di-isocyanates containing PU products if the workers have the proper training.

Photo – Tover

Certificate In the meantime, another element has come into effect: As of 24 February 2022, the labelling has to be adapted. From now on, the packaging must display the following words: ‘As of 24 August 2023, the professional and industrial use of this product requires appropriate training.’

We must also mention that employers themselves are responsible for ensuring that their employees do the training and obtain a certificate.

Participants who finish the training and final test successfully receive a certificate that is valid for five years. After that, they must take a refresher training course.

Web site with a training programme Two European chemical organisations have now designed a web site and have worked out a training programme for the safe use of di-isocyanates for industrial and professional users. ISOPA, the association of European producers of aromatic di-isocyanates and polyols, and ALIPA, the association of European producers of aliphatic isocyanates, presents the web site ‘safe use of di-isocyanates’ (https://www.safeusedi-isocyanates.eu), where industrial and professional users can register for a training course. On 1 November last year, the online training course in English started and that was followed on 1 December by a training course in German. This year, the course will also be launched in other languages, including Dutch and French.

The level of training depends on the risk of exposure. There are three levels of training: basic level, medium level, and the highest level. At

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Advertorial

Bona (SE)

PRIMERS AND LACQUERS FOR ALL WOOD FLOOR CHALLENGES

In recent years, the possibilities in wood floor renovation have dramatically increased. Today, there are a great variety of wood floor treatments and styles to consider.

From almost ultra-matt to high gloss surfaces, all is possible with lacquers and primers, including trendy colourations thanks to the overcoatable oils. Surfaces can also be brushed achieving a wonderful haptic sensation of natural wood structure, combined with a durable lacquer protection, regardless of where the floor is located.

At Bona, we believe in offering the most comprehensive range of sustainable, high performing solutions for wood floors. As a professional contractor you can rely on Bona whether your project is a full renovation, protection of newly installed floors or if you’re seeking new design options. Our products set industry standards, delivering extraordinary flooring results. We continue to work towards making a difference through developing waterborne products, that follow our wood floor philosophy - renovate and refinish - rather than ripping out and replacing.

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BONA SYSTEM – COMPATIBLE RELIABILITY Some things work better together. That’s why we combine all our primers and lacquers into one exceptional, truly comprehensive, and compatible system. Each product property is carefully adapted in our ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified company. This, to ensure absolute topclass results for you as a contractor and your customer.

Regardless of what style or level of durability your floor project needs, Bona offers you a premium sustainable solution. Developing our own polymers which are giving the characteristics of the coatings means an absolute optimized performance for wood floors.

SUSTAINABLE FLOOR RENOVATION We consider sustainability an integral part of our company and our offerings. The contractor and floor owners health is a key priority in terms of ergonomics, dust free sanding, and low VOC as well as through waterborne solutions with environmental certifications like EC1 Plus, Leed and Breeam. We continue to improve sustainability in our production by investing in renewable geo-energy and solar panels.

At our main plant in Sweden, 25 % of the total energy consumption is

from these sustainable sources. We also fund independent research in climate savings regarding wood floor renovation versus floor replacement. By renovating a floor rather than installing a new one, the CO2 savings are as high as 95%. For your customer, that means renovating 50 m2 versus a new installation will save more in CO2 emissions than would be produced by a 1100 km car trip or by driving from Berlin and Paris. Something to consider when the condition of the floor allows for renovation!

SHEEN OPTIONS CONTRIBUTING TO THE DESIGN Reaching this far, it’s time to look at the sheen levels delivered by the choice of topcoats. A higher sheen level deepens the colouration,

matt surfaces, depending on the demand of the floor owner. If going for Bona Traffic HD Raw on top, the floor will have a unique ultra matt coloured oiled look, yet with the protection of a lacquered floor.

PRIMERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE Maybe the easiest way to visually alter a customer’s wood floor is to begin with a primer. Apart from that it’s more cost efficient than just adding another layer of topcoat, it also gives a colouration option from white to deep, depending on the desire of the floor owner.

A Bona primer has many advantages when creating a great surface.

Not all contractors use primers. However, let’s look into the reasons behind the ones who choose to apply a primer before the topcoat and why they are successful. Unlike a topcoat, a primer is optimised for an absorbent surface and ensures a high application safety on bare wood for an even wood colouration. A primer is also forgiving against small differences in application rate between different areas. With a primer, a strong adhesion to wood is established, securing a long, durable life. A Bona primer is formulated to follow the movement of the wood which happens due to variations in air humidity and the risk of side-bonding is greatly reduced. Since the primer is the first product the wood meets it will decide the colour, which can be varied to one’s personal liking.

THE RIGHT LACQUER FOR EVERY CONDITION The topcoats determine the durability of a wood floor. For decades, Bona have been offering top of the line products and we have the Bona Traffic HD and Bona Mega families to show for it. We continuously keep on adding members to these families, with Bona Traffic HD Raw and Bona Mega ONE being the most recent. As durability consists of different components, such as resistance to wear, scuff, scratch and chemicals, Bona offers a wide range of topcoats to match various floor owner situations. Among these are sports floors, where our designated range called Bona Supersport System meets the FIBA requirements.

while a lower sheen level makes the floor more neutral. It all comes down to your customer’s demands. Some of the topcoats have a wider range of sheens, check the preferred topcoat for possibilities.

To achieve a protected wood floor with an absolute natural and ultra matt impression, the ultimate choice is Bona Traffic HD Raw. The lacquer is almost invisible, still it’s there, assuring long-lasting protection of the wood floor.

EXPANDING THE WORLD OF FLOOR COLOUR POSSIBILITIES If you as a contractor want to offer even more colour options than the ones possible with primers, then Bona Oils come in to play. A huge number of colour combinations are available, for use as a topcoat with Bona Traffic HD and Bona Traffic HD Raw for durable protection.

COMBINING OIL WITH THE DURABILITY OF LACQUER As with colouring with primers, choosing different sheen levels of the topcoat can enhance the impression of the coloured oil even further. Again, there are possibilities to go from extra matt to silk

When designing the surface of a wood floor, you need to think about both functionality and design. What are the needs regarding durability, slip resistance and design? Does your customer want a glossy surface, or a matt? All these factors are important when deciding on a coating. Whether you need a high trafficked floor finished for an airport, a library or even a private home exposed to intense foot traffic, Bona has the answer in our Bona Traffic HD family. We offer a solution, meeting the absolute highest traffic demands, customised to your practical and aesthetic requirements. Choosing a coating is also about considering the full customer benefit, meeting demands on total economy for the floor’s optimal performance over time.

Again, the Traffic HD family will save your customer money over time whilst preserving the wood floor for years to come.

Speaking about your customer, we also provide a wide palette of communication actions towards the private floor owner. It´s all about creating awareness of all the wood floor renovation possibilities, driving demand for your services. Here are some examples: “Find a contractor” section on Bona Consumer web, inspiration and information of wood floor renovation possibilities on Bona Consumer SoMe channels, “Floor renovation” section on Bona Consumer web and communication of climate savings when renovating a wood floor just to mention a few. Most welcome to join the Bona world of wood floor renovation possibilities!

For more information visit us on www.bona.com

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Special

Providers of abrasive materials

WHEN GRAIN SIZE IS IMPORTANT CONSIDERING THE RIGHT SANDPAPER FOR EACH WORK SESSION IS ESSENTIAL Katerina Topouzoglou (CEO Smirdex - GR) and Klaas Van Dyck (Woodmade - B) “Our premium quality abrasives are ready to conquer both the Benelux and Europe” When talking about premium quality abrasives, the name Smirdex is relatively new in the Benelux. However, the coming months and years, we can expect this Greek company to penetrate our – and the European – market a lot more. This should be no surprise, as this company from the north of Greece found a new partner in Belgium, Klaas Van Dyck, who is working the parquet market intensively with these high quality abrasives. What is Smirdex and what can we expect?

We interviewed Smirdex CEO Katerina Topouzoglou and her Belgian business partner Klaas Van Dyck.

Katerina Topouzoglou: “My father founded Smirdex in 1981 and meanwhile we have become a leading company in the field of manufacturing premium quality abrasives for a wide range of applications. Ours is a well-structured family business, and, with the continuous efforts of our fully qualified staff, the company has been progressively led to growth, both in production and absolute alignment with top quality standards, through quality European raw materials, a certified production process and development of innovation via a specialised research.”

“We focus our commercial activity on the international market. Smirdex trades 85% of its sales in more than 76 countries worldwide, through its network of dealers and associates, while the remaining 15% is distributed to the internal Greek market. Last year was very good, with a 30% increase in turnover of 30 million euros. This is the result of working with a load of enthusasm and a verh high concern for quality, while keeping our prices normal in comparison to other brands.”

The ceramic evolution Among other things, Klaas Van Dyck mainly distributes the Smirdex 750 series, a ceramic net abrasive ensuring a revolutionary almost 100% dustfree sanding. Instead of a paper backing, the net fabric structure permits maximum absorption of the sanded particles.

Thus, a much healthier environment is created for the user and less effort is needed to clean up the workplace. Smirdex only offers ceramic grained nets, leading to a high cutting performance.

Katerina Topouzoglou: “I was very impressed by pictures i saw from Klaas and his customers. I also saw how good it was brought to market in the stores and we decided to start a cooperation in the high-competitive Benelux market, where there are a lot of high end companies. We are not deterred by this, as we bring products to market that can compete.”

Klaas Van Dyck: “I found Smirdex when I was looking for alternative abrasive products. Most of what came my way was of very poor quality, in total contrast with Smirdex. Katerina and her team sent me samples, I tested these together with a number of parquet installers and was amazed by the quality. Next, I visited the company in Greece and discovered a well-organised, solid company with a very high focus on product quality. As a result, I started to import and sell the 750 ceramic net series a little over 1 year ago, and the product was very well received.”

“What I like especially about Smirdex is how very responsive this company is, it’s about more than ‘only’ quality. I have seldomly seen such a short lead time, together with real support and quick and good answers, combined with stable prices.”

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Katarina Topouzoglou: “That is exactly what we want to achieve with Smirdex: offering very good quality, value for money and reasonable prices. This combination makes it easier to penetrate the market, especially with a high-tech product such as our net.”

“Our partnership with Klaas is the same as with all of our partners. We only look for the best partners and do everything we can to support them. This is a benefit of being a relatively small company, people that want a stable business relation with us always come first!”

Growing importance of wooden floors When we talk further, the same thing always comes back: products such as the 740 and 750 net series are only being put to market when they have been perfected. After their launch, the company keeps looking for further improvement.

Katerina Topouzoglou: “The Benelux market is very interesting for us, as this is a region where wooden floors are important. In a way, we focus now on what my father wanted from the very start: axing on furniture and flooring and perfecting our sanding materials for these.”

“In conclusion, I would like to add that we also have a special way of dealing with raw materials, that we buy in Europe. We always took care of having a very big stock, with almost 6 months stock for production. In these troubled times, this is a big asset and we can assure that we will never be late with deliveries.”

Klaas Van Dyck: “For me, this is an enormous advantage as well. It shows how dedicated this company is and how the central line of thinking is to always be ahead of the needs of the customers. If you ask me, Smirdex is more than ready to conquer the world of abrasives for wood. We are now looking into participating in a number of fairs, to further penetrate the wooden flooring market.”

In a previous edition we considered the fact that in the parquet industry there is a clear and noticeable trend towards raising quality in the direction of zirconium and ceramics, with aluminium oxide and silicon carbide as the most important materials. Each of these materials has specific benefits and drawbacks, so the key is to choose the right material for the right application.

- Fine: P180, P220, P240, P320, P400, and P600.

- Medium: P100, P120, and P150.

- Coarse: P60 and P80.

What it comes down to is how you choose the best sandpaper for the specific application you have in mind. To that end, it’s vital to consider a number of basic conditions which we’ll set out. Obviously, all sandpapering requires its own sort of adapted sandpaper. The question here is what to use. The rule is that most sandpaper grains are made synthetically, so that continual high quality is assured.

A real illustration: Rough wood or old (poor quality) coats of paints can be sandpapered with a grain between P80 and P120. To get a smoother end result, you sand the primer with finer grit i.e. P150 to P220. For extremely attractive and rigid work, you could use P320-400 for the top coat of paint.

From coarse to fine The main thing is the size of the sanding grain. The basic rule is: the more grains applied per square centimetre, the finer the sandpaper. Various things mean, for instance, that fine sandpaper will not suffice to remove old coats of paint. On the contrary, a more coarse grain is needed, and you always work from coarse to fine during the various sessions. To make it easier, we list three groups below. Obviously, there may be a deviation, but the main thing is to work towards fine, medium, and coarse.

Photo – Smirdex

Quality matters

Lefki, Xanthi, P.O. Box 109, P.C. 67 100 Xanthi, Greece Tel.: +30 25410 27836 - Fax: +30 25410 72323 - e-mail: sales@smirdex.gr

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Special

Providers of abrasive materials

Features of sandpaper As we’ve said, there are various sorts of sandpaper on the market.

To make the right choice, you can apply a number of criteria whereby various features are verified.

A list: - Flexibility: To see how flexible the sandpaper is, look at the used bottom layer. Here, amongst other things, you notice paper, polyester, and linen.

- The type of adhesive used: If the adhesive is not waterproof, you can only use the material for dry Sandpapering.

- Grain size of the abrasive: As you can see in the list above, this is indicated with a number whereby a higher number indicates finer sandpaper.

- Sort of grain: Here we identify the four major sorts of grain, namely aluminium oxide, silicon carbide, zirconium oxide, or ceramic.

- Shape of the abrasive tool: Obviously, you choose the right sheets with the used material. Everything is adapted, and a sandpapering sole for a machine is not the same as sanding belts for a belt sander.

- Thickness of the grains: Remember that the grains should not be too close to each other, certainly with mechanical sandpapering (this soon fills the machine and/or it becomes non-operational).

Guaranteeing good adhesion We don’t need to convince you of the importance of sandpapering. If you don’t do it, there’s no guarantee of good adhesion between the substrate and the top layer. It’s good to keep in mind that you can remove even surface rust marks and weathered wood with sandpaper.

Moreover, you can make welds and rough substrates smooth so that the end result looks much slicker.

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.

Lägler

Other specialists have their say Bona Bona offers its products as a ‘system’. They are designed to be perfectly compatible with each other and combine all their product assets. This is how Bona supports its clients from the fitting of the floor over the protection and up to and including the maintenance. Bona abrasives are therefore developed on the basis of features of the Bona machines. Five years ago, ceramic abrasives came onto the market, something which led to a real revolution. However, you do need to take care with names which can sound attractive and you should remember that it is the concentration and the composition of the material which determine the quality. The sort of abrasive which is used to remove all tiny scratches before the colouring is of crucial importance. Ceramic 8700 is still the market reference.

Devo® 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

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Abrasives have to fit - to man, machine, application and surface!

Optimum aggressiveness is required, coupled with a long service life and maximum resistance to mechanical and thermal stresses. The most diverse surfaces are processed with them. A uniform sanding pattern of the highest quality is required as a result. LÄGLER abrasives not only easily meet these requirements, but even exceed them by far. They are efficient, durable and achieve the best sanding results.

Perfectly matched to LÄGLER parquet sanding machines, they can be used to effortlessly process a wide variety of wood surfaces, such as softwood, hardwood or tropical wood and coatings with lacquers or oils.

Only the highest quality materials are used in the production, sophisticated testing and manufacturing processes are an integral part.

LÄGLER abrasives are application-optimised, resource-saving and therefore also future-oriented!

Special

Producers of hybrid adhesive

THE BEST OF SEVERAL WORLDS A PARQUET INDUSTRY WITHOUT HYBRID ADHESIVES WOULD BE UNTHINKABLE The main question which we need to answer with hybrid adhesives is where and when is it best to use them. Here, we simply have to consider their composition. These products are versatile, monocomponent, and can be used immediately without mixing from the pack (bag, bucket, or flexible sausage). That immediately tells us that they can be used quickly and easily.

If we take an MS polymer adhesive, we see that this is a single-component adhesive based on hybrid polymers. This type of adhesive is undoubtedly the easiest to use and also yields the best results. This adhesive can be used for the direct elastic glueing of parquet floors in various wood sorts on cement-bound or wooden subfloors. This adhesive can also be used to glue parquet planks onto tiles or other non-absorbent, grease-free, and soap-free substrates such as natural stone or glass, for instance. MS polymer adhesives give ongoing elastic adhesion, even with glueing onto floor heating.

Flexibility means durability It’s good to know that hybrid adhesives are highly durable for fitting long planks due to their great flexibility. Another handy aspect is that the composition of hybrid polymer adhesives requires no coercive precautionary measures in legislation. What you do have to consider is that hybrid adhesives are not the cheapest in the trade.

They clearly belong in the top segment of the market for professional flooring adhesives. Actually, that higher price tag shouldn’t be a problem because hybrid glues are now a major component of the professional parquet market due to their many technical assets and high versatility. We also see that the most common combinations of glue technology are vinyl glues, epoxy-polyurethanes, polyurethanes (mono or bi-component), and polymer hybrids.

Benefits and convenience

Photo – Blanchon

A parquet industry without hybrid adhesives would be unthinkable. Actually, that’s quite logical. After all, these sorts of adhesives take from various forms of technology precisely what is most suitable. Whether we’re talking about a completely flat substrate, a large or small size of floorboard, the type of floor covering, the desire to tolerate natural movements or not, or any other aspect, the fact is that a hybrid adhesive comes more or less into the picture.

We’ve already outlined the benefits partially above. The biggest benefit of hybrid parquet adhesives is that they are so versatile.

Moreover, there are no reasons not to use them and they can be used on all properly prepared substrates. Their performances make it possible to glue all sorts of parquet (in accordance with the maker’s specifications, generally divided into the sizes of planks to be glued).

The absence of odours and isocyanates are also two very important qualities. Moreover, hybrid adhesives are hardly susceptible to residual damp in covering floors and they retain virtually the same consistency season after season. And so, fluctuations in temperature or damp have very little impact on usage comfort. In addition, these adhesives form a ‘skin’ even sooner than those of a polyurethane adhesive, but this adhesive is better suited to glueing parquet.

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Special

Producers of hybrid adhesive

What’s on the market ?

Blanchon Blanchon offers a number of hybrid adhesives in its range for professionals.

Specifically, there are three hybrid polymers: the AB 1300, AB 2000, and cordon adhesive.

The first, the AB 1300, is very easy to spread and can be used perfectly well for all conventional glue applications (up to 130mm wide). The AB 2000 is more powerful and absolutely ideal for applications up to 200mm. Finally, there is the adhesive for glueing in cordon. This is indispensable in some cases.

The special feature is that this adhesive has very strong adhesion and does not run out when used vertically.

Bona Thanks to its revolutionary Titanium technology and FCBA technical approval, Bona Quantum represents the latest generation of silane adhesives. This brand new formula offers exceptional resistance which develops over time. This unique formula combines the benefits of hard-elastic and hard adhesive in a single product. Bona Quantum is initially hard-elastic, but gives the floor the time to acclimatise and ‘set’, before gradually hardening into a strong and solid adhesive.

Bona Quantum is both a damp screen and an adhesive. It covers 90% of glueing needs and takes on the colour of white oak for a perfect finish. For higher viscosity you can opt for Bona Quantum T.

Chimiver ADESIVER HERCULES (A+B) Two-component epoxy-polyurethane hypoallergenic adhesive for wooden floors, free of solvents ADESIVER HERCULES is an odorless twocomponent adhesive for wooden floors with a very low sensitization level, fire retardant, 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 floors onto underfloor heating and cooling

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system. ADESIVER HERCULES meets the fire protection requirements of the European Marine Equipment Directive 2014/90/EU (IMO-MED certification). 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.

Devo® Devo® offers the parquet adhesives Glue MS 300, Glue MSP 150 1C, and Glue PU 500 2C. Glue MS 300 is a mono-component, pure MS, and elastic parquet adhesive for glueing all sorts of parquet onto cement covering floors or tile floors. It is applied for hard-elastic parquet glueing directly onto concrete, a cement covering floor (screed), anhydrite, fermacell panels, and wood. It can also be used on grease-free ceramic tiles or marble and screed floors with floor heating. This adhesive is suitable for glueing all sorts of wood, solid wood up to 20cm wide, according to DIN EN 13226. The product should be brought up to room temperature before use and is ready for use.

Glue MSP 150 1C is a mono-component, semi-elastic, and hybrid MS polymer adhesive that contains no silicones or isocyanates and is designed for multilayer parquet and narrow solid wood strips. It is used specially for glueing multilayer parquet directly onto concrete, a cement covering floor (screed), anhydrite, fermacell panels, and wood.

It is also suitable for use on floor heating and tile floors. What’s interesting is that MSP 150 1C is absolutely ideal for parquet floors finished in the factory. This product, too, should be brought up to room temperature before use and is ready for use. Glue PU 500 2C is a waterless, dual-component, and polyurethane epoxy parquet adhesive specially for glueing wooden floors (all wood sorts) onto cement-bound substrates or onto existing floors (tiles, marble, wooden floors, etc.). It is used for semi-elastic parquet glueing directly onto concrete, a cement covering floor (screed), anhydrite, fermacell panels, and wood.

Without a subfloor it can also be used on grease-free ceramic tiles or marble. During the preparation, the product should be brought up to room temperature before use. First of all, you stir the hardener (component B), then you add it to the bucket (component A). Mix with a hand mixer for a few minutes.

Emfi Hybrid adhesives are more expensive per kilogramme than vinyl adhesives or solvent adhesives. Generally speaking, they can be compared to PU technology. These adhesives often provide the best solution because they are highly versatile, glue all sorts of parquet, and are compatible with heated and/ or cooled floors. At present, hybrid glues are the most popular on the market and have replaced solvent glues completely and mono and

dual-component PU glues to a large extent. The most common combination is silicones with other chemical substances such as polyether (MS POLYMER, STPE) or PU (SPUR). These glues require no safety markings, gloves, or masks for the application and the products are graded as EC1+ and A+. Moreover, they are easy to apply and to clean.

STAUF STAUF SPU parquet adhesives combine the benefits of PU technology, namely maximum dimensional stability (strength) and universal use, with the freedom from mandatory labelling enjoyed by silane-based adhesives (STAUF SMP).

The results are SPU adhesives, classified in the favorable Emicode EC1-R plus: - STAUF SPU 570 universal parquet adhesive can be used for all types of parquet, especially large format boards (10:1 and wider) - STAUF SPU 555 is a very fast setting silane adhesive with high shear strength.

- STAUF SPU 460 is suitable for many types of parquet. Its strength makes it ideal for solid boards.

- STAUF S-Press is an elastic silane wood flooring adhesive for the

most common wood flooring types in an 1800 ml aluminum sausage foil bag for the application in suitable adhesive application devices.

To learn more about the special features of each STAUF hybrid adhesive turn to: www.stauf.com

Tover Tover has chosen Kaneka MS polymer resins for the manufacture of its silane-based adhesives as an alternative to hybrid ones. This technology has many advantages for laying wooden floors: these adhesives have a high yield, it is suitable to all supports including heated subfloors, tiles or metal supports, it is free of solvents, isocyanates, symbols of risk. It complies with the UNI EN 14293 standard for elastic adhesives. In addition, it is easy to clean from prefinished surfaces. But above all, the quality of the resins remains constant and the short supply chain makes it possible to avoid any shortage of raw materials! Tovcol MS is available in buckets, bags and sausages and can be used for laying engineered floors of all sizes and species and solid wood up to 200 mm width.

Tovcol MS Start, on the other hand, is perfect for engineered floors regardless of their size.

LVT PREMIUM FLOOR & WALL

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SPECIFIC FOR ELASTIC FLOOR COVERINGS! Long open time

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Advertorial

Küberit (D)

KÜBERIT WITH NEW INTERNET PRESENCE KÜBERIT TURNS ITS WEBSITES INTO A COMMUNICATION AND SERVICE PLATFORM

Clearly and straightforwardly designed, equipped with intuitive user guidance and a comprehensive Product Information Management (PIM), the new Küberit website is an advanced service portal. In 11 languages and direct contact tools to the entire sales team at home and abroad, Küberit presents itself as a service-oriented international player on the market. The new logo is also eye-catching: the modern capital lettering is a statement and makes clear the development that the profile specialist has made in recent years.

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products with all details and in all available colours. All the information has been brought together here centrally and is also available as a download," says Lars Maier, Sales Manager Germany, describing the advantages of the new product platform. "The image database is important for us, as we are always making larger image data available to our partners. A new interface, via which we can make the image data available even more easily and quickly, is currently being programmed," says Guido Krakau from the graphics department.

Integrated PIM database

Simple but extensive filter options - for example, by flooring type or application area - make the search extremely efficient. At item level, further filters are available for colour, length and versions.

While the modern layout of the site and the new logo are eye-catching, the content and user-friendly tools are much more interesting for the user. For the new, independent product platform, which is linked to the website www.kueberit.com, Küberit has set up a comprehensive PIM database. "All important data, specifications, dimensions, colours, the material and usage data are stored for our approximately 14,000 products. The matching accessories with technical description are also linked to each article. Detailed 3D representations show the

"This new database enables visitors to find what they are looking for intuitively and even faster, and to easily find the right profile, the right accessories or the right underlay", says Lars Maier. For registered users such as floor layers and dealers, further data is available in the log-in area. Here, price lists are stored and information intended for dealers can be called up. Of course, the new websites comply with all current security guidelines and data protection regulations.

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Positioned for the digital future With the new database, Küberit has taken an important step into the future. In the medium term, a connection to BIM (Building Information Modelling) will follow and also the official partners of Küberit and Parkettfreund will get their required data from the PIM. Corresponding export interfaces are in preparation. In addition, the database will be

integrated into internal processes so that workflows and processes can be further optimised.

For more information visit us on www.kueberit.com https://pro.kueberit.com/en/profiles

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with rounded edges

STAIR NOSING PROFILE 845 · easy to install · insertion for floors and carpets up to 3 mm · decor matching or contrast on stair nosings with the same or different coverings · suitable for advertisement or indications on stairs with our digital-printing technology

Floor Forum International 124 www.kueberit.com

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Special

Adjustable floor support systems for terrace floors

LOOKING FOR THE IDEAL SOLUTION A NUMBER OF FEATURES WHICH MAKE ADJUSTABLE PEDESTALS MORE SUITABLE Guillaume Pasteur (Eurotec - D) Deputy Commercial Manager France "Striving for the highest level of technology at the right price in Europe” Eurotec is a company founded in 1999 that develops, manufactures and markets products for the construction industry. It is active in the timber frame, deck construction and concrete fastening sectors, and in 23 years has built up a solid reputation among professionals in Europe.

In the area of fastening technology, Eurotec is gaining ground, especially since it started producing a range of wood construction screws on its first machine in Hagen, Germany, in January 2013. In the meantime, the machine park in Germany has expanded to eight.

We spoke to Guillaume Pasteur, deputy commercial manager for France, about the specific plans for floor technology (and thus the adjustable floor plots). The common thread of the conversation: Eurotec, as a company, strives for the very highest technicity of its products in Europe and couples that with a right price.

"If we are talking specifically about terrace construction, you will notice that we supply everything from the adjustable floor supports to the clips for invisible fixing. These are suitable for use with all kinds of floors, from wood to composite to ceramic. Our products are manufactured entirely from polypropylene on our own machines, with direct injection, and are characterised by the highest possible level of technology, which is constantly being honed. In a very competitive market, we bring products on the market with great durability, which are resistant to all kinds of weather conditions. The word that sums it all up is quality. This is not surprising when you know that the company is run by a man who is an engineer: for someone with that background, providing the very best is simply the starting point of everything the company does, while always striving for the best value for money."

"How do we differentiate ourselves from others? Actually, the answer has already been partly given, but it should be stressed that we also strive for maximum availability of our products. These products, which must always function perfectly even under the most difficult circumstances, are embedded in a very wide range of accessories that must make the professional's life as easy as possible.

For the distributor, we ensure the easiest possible management of his stocks and offer an easily manageable programme. A simple example: we pack all our floor supports in cardboard, which makes both storage and dispatch extremely simple.

Naturally, we would like to know what position Eurotec currently occupies in the market. Guillaume Pasteur does not comment on the Benelux, but explains the position in France: "In France we are number one among professionals. We deliberately chose not to do wholesale distribution here, just as we did in Germany, among other countries. We try to serve the professionals in the best possible way. Therefore, in recent years we have mainly been working on complementary accessories for the adjustable supports and we have developed aluminium base layers for the terraces. In the near future, craftsmen can expect us to go even further in this respect and to offer even more accessories and the possibility of mixing. For example, wood or composite with ceramic materials."

"Already now we are leading in many areas. Take, for example, our heights, where we start at a height of 1 cm (with Profi-line adjustable floor plots) and there are actually no height limits, thanks to the use of self-developed expansion rings, with which we can handle any height. For slopes we also have an excellent system, Nivello, with which you can handle slopes of up to 10%."

Distributors wanted "I would also like to mention that we are looking for additional specialised distributors in Europe. We organise training courses for them in many places. These take place in our production department in Germany or at one of our existing distributors."

More information: www.eurotec.team

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BUILDING PATIOS HAS NEVER BEEN SO EASY!

WHY A EUROTEC SUBSTRUCTURE ?

Thanks to being modular, our system is the perfect solution for creating substructures for garden decking and paved patios. Our system comprises quality adjustable pedestals and matching aluminium profiles that, used together, make the perfect alternative to conventional approaches for creating quality and durable substructures. No matter whether you’re using large stone slabs, wood or WPC boards, visible or hidden fasteners - we have the right solution for every application.

ALUMINIUM SUBSTRUCTURES

VISIBLE AND HIDDEN FASTENERS

DECKING SCREWS

Our aluminium system profiles are dimensionally stable, have a high load-bearing capacity and are weather, UV, insect and rot resistant. The profiles’ special shape reduces the risk of the fastening screws being sheared off as a result of the decking swelling and shrinking.

Depending on the type of wood, patio decking boards can be fastened in a number of different ways. We offer a range of innovative solutions that meet a wide range of individual requirements and preferences for fastening your patio decking boards.

Our high-quality decking screws make fastening patio decking boards quick and easy work.

We can also coat our screw heads in RAL colours on request.

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YOU WILL FIND MORE DECK CONSTRUCTION AND LANDSCAPING PRODUCTS ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.EUROTEC.TEAM/EN

Special

Adjustable floor support systems for terrace floors

Floor pedestals play a major part in a variety of areas, and in our case we think primarily of fitting terraces. You certainly have to consider several factors, such as joint width, drainage, stability, and slope correction. Only if all this is accommodated properly are you in a position later to consider the need for maintenance, walking comfort, or the lifespan of the terrace.

Pedestals give you a simple and lightweight solution to meet the above needs. Indeed, they ensure that the planks or tiles are fitted nicely and securely next to each other and at the same time they create free space below the terrace, space which can be used in turn for elements such as pipes or cables. Moreover, the systems use open joints to ensure the best possible drainage. If the joints are closed, water could freeze, resulting in cracks.

Specific solution Floor pedestals are also recommended for challenging settings.

Think here of swimming pools or industrial settings. Each setting also requires a specific solution, where height adjustment forms a special asset. Moreover, using the latest sort of adjustable pedestals can save considerably on labour costs, even up to 50% of the ‘traditional’ hours.

Obviously, there are lots of interesting products on the market, but, generally speaking, it’s best to take account of a number of features.

For instance, it’s best to choose pedestals which are modular and easy to extend. The fitting method via a special adjusting key is also important. Indeed, after the fitting, you can make adjustments without removing the top layer. Obviously, you also consider the height which can be adjusted and you check the material from which the equipment is made. Floor pedestals which are sustainable and 100% circular are obviously the ideal choice.

applications... Buzon® offers solutions for every project.

A simple and effective solution for creating an outdoor space without masonry work With an installation on pedestals, the tiles are directly raised to the right height, just like a terrace on stilts. Perfectly stabilised, it is reassuring and allows you to follow the slightest wishes of your installer.

Adjustable pedestals for terraces Buzon® pedestals are adjustable in height, allowing for elevated terraces up to 1120 mm. The wide range of accessories offers solutions to all requirements, including slope correction up to 5% or 10%. They allow the implementation of terrace coverings of various types and shapes.

The advantages of Buzon® pedestals The quality of our adjustable pedestals ensures that they are resistant to weathering, ageing, UV rays, climatic variations, and so on.

Find all the information on: www.buzon-world.com

Progress Profiles

Other two specialists have their say Buzon Pedestal International A multitude of possibilities thanks to Buzon® pedestals

Creating a terrace in a conventional manner is not always easy.

Expansion of the joints, difficulty evacuating the water, dealing with slopes, etc. All these problems strongly compromise the durability of the terrace. It is in this context that laying on pedestals quickly became a requirement, responding to all the constraints encountered on the sites. As a true pioneer in the sector, Buzon® has been able to meet market expectations and develop solutions and products for all types of projects. Residential terraces, flat roof terraces, garden landscaping, fountain terraces, podiums, marquees, technical floors for industrial

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Progress Profiles has patented two solutions perfect to create floating floors in a simple and fast way, without removing those under, with a reduction in the costs caused by demolition. PROSUPPORT TUBE SYSTEM and PROSUPPORT SLIM SYSTEM can be used to make floating floors from 10 to 1000 mm high, for a complete personalization of the outdoors. PROSUPPORT TUBE SYSTEM is composed of 7 polypropylene (PP) elements, while PROSUPPORT SLIM SYSTEM consists of two 10 mm high bases, anti-noise and anti-slip disks, and levelers with a thickness of 2 mm to reach the ideal height without further steps. To ensure a steady and resistant substructure the Italian firm also offers PRORAIL SYSTEM: together with the other two modular systems, it provides to the installer all the necessary components to work. It consists of 2 aluminum joists (PRORAIL and PRORAIL RET), PRORAIL RING, 2 cross spacers with removable flaps (PRORAIL SPACER) and PRORAIL RUBBER, one anti-noise and anti-slip rubber.

Special

Drying oil/lacquer using LED

THE MARKET DICTATES DEMAND CURING WITH LED: PRODUCTION INFRASTRUCTURE DETERMINES THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRODUCTS In recent years, more and more professionals have considered drying oil or lacquer with LED. The question is how far LED curing has actually penetrated the market and what it includes. One thing which we can note is that LED curing still has its limitations and that traditional UV curing still largely prevails. However, that takes nothing away from the fact that LED curing can still have a future.

We look first for an answer to the question as to how new drying with LED lamps is and in which fields is it used. We hear from the market that this sort of curing (or, rather, curing of the film, where drying more properly means that a fluid which contains solvents or water loses these components through natural or imposed vaporisation) has been developed over the last ten to fifteen years. Initially, it was used to print cosmetic packs such as bottles, boxes, tubes, and such like since this technology enables us to print and cure this spot.

However, for some years now, it has been possible to cure UV inks through exposure to UV LEDs and that has been done more and more.

Since one question raises the other, we also have to consider the technology behind this procedure. This means we have to consider how the curing process works and what the major difference is with UV curing.

Monochromatic source The main thing to realise is that UV LEDs (ultraviolet light-emitting diodes) form a monochromatic source with a very well defined wavelength. By contrast, mercury vapour lamps have a much broader spectrum which reaches into the infrared. And so, the advantage is that no energy is wasted and that you can work towards a precise aim.

On the other hand, the very wide commercial range of UV LEDs on the market causes users some confusion. For instance, you can still say that a lot of UV LEDs still have a very low capacity without any relation to a ‘normal’ use on a wood finish. What you also see is that manufacturers concentrate on varnishes or oils which can be cured with UV LED and that these ranges could be extended considerably. It’s also interesting to note here that the production infrastructure dictates which products are developed. Manufacturers keep a close eye on these matters and upgrade their production lines when new products are developed. What this comes down to is that people are always looking for the ‘balance’ on the market between what is available and what is necessary. What a producer like the Blanchon Group does say is that the machine capacity for use on site is still not so high. In comparison with ‘classic’ UV machines, which are fitted with mercury vapour lamps, according to Blanchon they still don’t achieve the same results. They do also add that this obviously doesn’t apply to a finish in the factory, which takes place under different conditions.

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Cost price?

Finally, we have perhaps the most crucial questions, and we also put them to the Blanchon Group: What is the cost price? How is LED curing doing in comparison with classic UV curing? They do say that with equal intensity (expressed in W/cm²) UV LEDs consume less energy.

As we’ve already said, however, we hear that there are only a few UV LED machines with sufficient intensity to yield high-quality finishes in a conventional thickness.

Some specialists have their say Chimiver LED HARD WAX OIL - Oil based UV LED laquer LED HARD WAX OIL is a LED UV curing oil, modified with acrylate oligomers, suitable for varnishing wooden floors. The wooden floors varnished with LED HARD WAX OIL are characterized by excellent hardness, distension and elasticity. It confers the wood item a natural look, soft to the touch and oil-like staining. LED HARD WAX OIL is a laquer suitable for the application by roller coating machines. It is crosslinked by LED lamps.

CERTIFICATES: RESISTANCE TO COLD LIQUIDS (EN 12720) AND RESISTANCE TO SALIVA AND SWEAT (DIN 53160) AND SAFETY OF TOYS (EN 71-3). CERTIFIED ACCORDING TO EN 13501-1.

Osmo UV and LED oils are very similar to their oxidative curing counterparts.

Technically they only differ through the fact that they can forego the use of solvents and that the chemical curing is possible thanks to UV or LED radiation within a short period of time. The surface finish protects the wood surface against the penetration of moisture and dirt.

Osmo UV and LED-curing oil-and-wax combinations can be adjusted on the customers’ coating units to achieve the optimal colour tone, wear resistance and gloss level. For excellent finishing results, two coats are recommended (< 20g / m2). The current market trend is a very natural, raw-look wood surface.

Tover If compared to traditional UV Mercury or Gallium lamps, LED technology has several advantages as far as the respect of the environment Is concerned: since LEDs do not emit ozone, they do not require suction systems, while their heat output is low just like their energy consumption. Besides, LED technology allows the wood boards to be packed for shipping immediately after passing under the LED lamp, thus avoiding storage on shelves for drying. Tover proposes PROTECT LED, an oil available in neutral and coloured versions, giving the wood a warm, natural and matt look. You can apply it in combination with Tover colouring systems, such as Belle Epoque or Tintoretto Design to achieve a wide range of customized effects.

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Finishing and maintaining of wooden exterior walls

TO FINISH OR NOT? OPTIONS WITH THE DIVERSE WOOD SORTS

Photo – Chimiver

Wooden walls are exposed mercilessly to increasingly fluctuating weather conditions, certainly in our part of the world. Therefore, those who opt for wooden wall cladding must ensure that the wall is not only finished, but also that it is given the necessary maintenance afterwards.

from white to ‘light chocolate’ and oak takes on a dark brown shade like that of ipe), something with commercial benefits since the assortment is diversified and it becomes possible to raise the value of local sorts which are sometimes undervalued. Finally, pine, larch, and douglas spruce can be treated thermally, resulting in considerable technical benefits.

If we look at terraces, we know that not all wood sorts necessarily have to be finished. The question is whether not this also applies to wall cladding.

Does it always have to be finished per se?

Ageing

Which wood sorts?

According to specialists, some wood sorts can also be exposed to the open air (and therefore to the weather and UV rays). In this case we are talking mainly about western red cedar, douglas spruce, and larch. Since this wood originates from the heart wood of the tree, it is absolutely essential to use only planks with no sap to ensure the durability of the structure.

And so, some sorts show good external resistance before the fitting after a pre-treatment in the factory. Here, we are talking about sorts such as maritime pine (after treatment in an autoclave), robinia (false acacia), and certain European hard sorts such as oak, ash, horse chestnut, or poplar, after a heat treatment. You notice here that the original wood sort shade changes to some extent after this treatment (e.g. poplar changes

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Mechanical resistance doesn’t mean that the wood doesn’t age. Each sort of wood which is exposed to UV light will change in colour to some extent, depending on the sort, the quality of the wood (presence or absence of sap), and the exposure. The architect and/or the client sometimes strive for a slight ageing of the structure, but, understandably, they don’t react enthusiastically to darkening (the result of the penetration of blue fungi on non-resistant and unprotected sorts).

Remember that in the vast majority of cases clients want stability in the original wood colour. The fact is that in many cases they choose a sort for its colour and it’s normal to want to preserve it, even if a certain patina is accepted or even desired. Don’t forget, too, that lots of sorts used for outdoor furnishing cannot be glazed durably (such as larch or douglas spruce or red cedar not at all).

Maintenance frequency When the wooden wall is finished, all systems also have to be maintained, obviously. You can assume the following: glazes (six to eight years before

maintenance),saturation agents (two to four years, depending on the chosen quality), and anti-UV systems (four to five years). A good composition should make it possible to apply a maintenance coat without any other special preparation than dusting (especially the need to sandpaper before the application would be a major handicap).

For that matter, special products aren’t necessary. Protected wood can be maintained with the products or systems which were used originally.

For wood protected in the factory, the manufacturer or supplier offers suitable maintenance products.

Photo – Blanchon

You don’t need to sand for renovation either. That’s why non-film impregnations and some glazes don’t need sanding (at least if they’re well composed and applied correctly) before the maintenance. It is simply recommended to clean the woodwork with a simple water spray (no high pressure!) in order to remove the deposited dust. Apply the maintenance product as soon as the wood is dry.

Source: Our thanks are due to the Blanchon Group.

What’s on the market ?

Chimiver LIOS SUNDECK WOOD OIL Impregnator for outdoor wood LIOS Sundeck Wood Oil is an outdoor wood impregnator particularly recommended for the treatment of outdoor wooden floors (swimming pool edges, verandas, walkways), window and door frames, fences and walls 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 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).

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 Olie Exterieur The master oil makers of RIGO Verffabriek have been making ROYL floor oils from 100% vegetable oils for almost 40 years. ROYL Olie Exterieur was developed and added to the ROYL range for the protection of exterior wood. Just like ROYL OIL, Exterieur protects the wood from the inside out.

Finishing your wood with ROYL Olie Exterieur 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 Olie Exterieur gives wood a beautiful, highly water and dirt-resistant surface. ROYL Olie Exterieur can be tinted with separate colour pigments. Besides, adding a colour pigment will also protect the wood against aging caused by sunlight. ROYL Olie Exterieur comes in 24 authentic wood colours. Treat your wood regularly with ROYL Olie Exterieur for long-lasting protection and to prevent weathering. ROYL Olie Exterieur can be used for both vertical and horizontal surfaces.

Tover

Osmo

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

Outdoor wood (cladding, windows, shutters, barriers, etc.) requires protection against the atmospheric agents to which it is constantly subjected; the sun, rain, frost but also moss and mold accelerate the process of aging and degradation. Tover offers a water-based impregnation product: waxed Xilocolor available in transparent and coloured versions (wood colours, white, black, dark green). This stain is applied by brush or spray in two coats. It does not turn yellow over time and compared to solvent-based products is extremely easy to renew as the product does not flake off. As long as you clean the surface and apply a new coat, no sanding is necessary. However, it is possible to further increase the resistance of the product by applying Xilolak water-based protective lacquer available in matt and glossy versions.

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Special

Producers of skirting boards with inlay of LVT, PVC, vinyl or laminate

ALL FINISHED NICELY SKIRTING BOARDS WITH INLAYS OFFER GREAT SCOPE In many cases a floor isn’t finished until a skirting board is fitted. The fitting is even more special if you use a skirting board with inlays, and here our attention focuses mainly on inlays with elements such as laminate, PVC, or vinyl. Such skirting boards are quite popular and form a reaction mainly to the trend for maximum personalisation in the interior which has been ongoing for several years.

As you know, skirting boards aren’t the first thing on a client’s mind.

And so, the point is that you need to offer good advice from the very beginning and give clients some idea of the cost price so that they can take that into account when financing their project. It can be helpful to mention skirting boards with inlays because they both extend and considerably simplify the range at the same time.

In particular, remember that a skirting board can mean some serious extra expenditure. And so, clients may often suggest that the skirting board can be fitted a few years later, but that’s not wise. It’s best to finish everything properly at once, since delay often results in a rather more expensive finish later, which, moreover, doesn’t suit the previously fitted floor.

Obviously, you don’t have to do everything on site. Nowadays, a skirting board often leaves the factory with an inlay selected in advance.

Think of the cost Whether you fit an inlay or not, what you certainly always must do is give clients some indication of the cost in advance. For instance, there’s a big difference between the cost price of the various types, so you must consult with your clients in advance. In particular, you draw up an estimate which is as accurate as possible for the room to be fitted with a skirting board.

Generally speaking, we can say that the total cost of just adhesive skirting boards, for instance, will be between 1 euro and 15 euros per m². If necessary, you can advise clients to fit the cheaper versions upstairs. Moreover, what you certainly have to mention is that an extra rigid corner finish and repairs can raise the price considerably.

Some specialists Küberit The New Küberit Skirting Trim

A skirting board is part of a trend narrative If we consider it in terms of trends, we can note a number of elements.

Obviously, first of all, we need to consider the two most obvious elements: Does the skirting board ‘suit’ the wall onto which it is fitted and does it also suit the floor? Moreover, is there even a decoratively valuable connection with the ceiling and/or the doors? We can add here that it’s even quite possible that the skirting board doesn’t have to suit anything at all and is being used simply as a decorative interior element.

Where most manufacturers are heavily committed these days with inlay skirting boards is the use of innovative and digital print technology. And so, they offer various film bearers, since they have long ceased to use only paper or veneer. This printed inlay is finished with a hightech finish which offers great scratch resistance and the ideal degree of gloss. A popular item here is the profile into which a strip from the flooring can be fitted to create the perfect match with the floor. They’ve even thought of watertightness, including waterproof LVT flooring.

Also a technical element Obviously, there’s more than purely the decorative aspect. What you certainly have to make clear to the clients is that a skirting board is a technical element at the same time. You can often supplement skirting boards which come like this from the factory with a strip or piece from the fitted floor. Technically, this can be done in various ways. For instance, you can slide a strip from the floor into the skirting board, you can glue it to the bearer, or you can fasten it using a click system or a felt-like material. Inlay skirting boards are on offer in various thicknesses of floor types so that they can be used for all possible materials and therefore certainly for laminate, PVC, LVT, or vinyl.

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Skirting trim professionally renovated Renovations are trending as the leading share of residential construction at 68%. Work on existing buildings in commercial and public building construction is also predominant. * For this major potential, the profile manufacturer 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. When installing LVT flooring, they enable a base that is as attractive as it is durable and has the same decor.

Smart Solution Renovations - whether partial or full - are still the most important factor in interior design. That's why products that ensure clean, safe, fast

and low-noise work are particularly in demand. For example, tile and stone floors often disappear under modern LVTs. Removing tile bases is possible, but involves a lot of dirt and extensive rework. A smart solution is the new Küberit skirting trim made of aluminum in the anodized colors silver and stainless steel optic brushed. 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 builders a wide range of design options and offers craftsmen the possibility of a professional and durable implementation.

Covers all common skirtings Küberit has transferred its proven profile technology from floors to cover trims for skirtings. The 51.5 mm high profile can be installed effortlessly and at variable heights by skilled craftsmen: The inner or covering gauge of 8 mm is calculated to cover the most common skirtings. If the standard dimension of 250 cm is too long, the skirting can be quickly shortened to the required length. After laying the floor, it is glued to the existing skirting with a mounting adhesive, whereby it is irrelevant whether the adhesive is applied to the old skirting or to the profile. Next, insert the precisely cut LVT strip into the profile with the production edge or a beveled bottom edge; dots of adhesive on the profile help hold the strip in place. Finally, press the trim down firmly towards the floor. The inner and outer corners, which are also available and are made of high-quality plastic in matching colors, are placed on the strip from above and fastened with adhesive. The 100 mm long end pieces can be cut to the desired height and glued afterwards. The result is an elegant, decor matching base, which is optimally protected against impacts by the aluminum profile.

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

Neuhofer

On one hand the inlays of LVT, PVC, Vinyl or laminate give the professional a lot of flexibility, but on the other hand we see that most of the

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Special

Producers of skirting boards with inlay of LVT, PVC, vinyl or laminate

applications are made with a regular waterproof skirting that is décor matching to the floor. The installation of a prepared ready made décor matching skirting is much faster than preparing inlays from rests of the floor – and in most cases it is the time for installation that counts.

Thanks to the innovative digiprint technology, skirtings can be produced in identical decoration to the flooring. Digital printing offers Neuhofer a high degree of flexibility, which in turn gives their customers the benefit of very rapid turnaround times. An inlay in PVC or LVT is also possible. Our range of products also includes all-round talents like aluminium skirtings among others the KU037, in which floor strips, e.g. various thicknesses of vinyl, can be laid, and the skirtings automatically levels up the different floor thicknesses of 3,5 - 5 mm.

The inlay is put in by the professional on site, because he has to use the same material as the floor.

Progress Profiles focuses on quick and easy customization of the skirting board with PROMULTISKIRT SQUARE and PROMULTISKIRT ROUND. These two patented models are 100 mm high, but they can be easily cut to 80 or 60 mm heights thanks to the non visible pre-incisions on the back and front.

Progress Profiles Many of the skirting boards produced by Progress Profiles match entirely to the floor. SKIRTING 7011 and SKIRTING 7016, for example, are vinyl resin foam models perfect for laminate, LVT, floating or glued wood floors. Thanks to over 30 different shades available, from oak to zebrano till silver or black, they can be chosen of the same color of the floor, to create an elegant effect. These skirting boards can be laid with suitable adhesive, nails, screws or using the pre-punched support fixed to the wall. The Italian firm also produces internal, external and end caps with the same finish of the skirting board chosen. For the inlay, it fits to order and is industrially applied, varying one from another.

No matter if it is for exterior or interior.

OSMO: THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR WOOD.

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Special

Who has an oil which can be finished in one coat?

ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS DIVERSE CRITERIA DETERMINE WHAT YOU USE, WHERE, AND WHEN

Photo – Bona

Oiled parquet floors continue to be all the rage and there are several reasons for that. The question is what is possible with oil which can finish and protect in one coat. For instance, is it just as good as a finish in varnish? The answer to that is simple: It’s best not to compare them, but weigh up their various features before you make a well founded choice.

Oil has the advantage here of highlighting the look of the wood fibre, so the floor looks natural almost automatically. We should also point out that parquet oil is almost perfectly compatible with most decorative aspects. Think here, for instance, of distressing agents, stains, reagents, patina's, etc. Also worthy of note are recent technical developments by various producers of ‘oil + glazer’ systems, which combine decoration and simple maintenance.

No one should be surprised that oil is so popular. This product simply has a vast array of plus points. First of all, there are the numerous decorative options, particularly in combination with a preliminary stain.

Then, there’s the vast creativity of the producers who offer scores of colours and shades to take account of the latest trends. For instance, we’re seeing the emergence of opaque shades to create clear colour effects which respect the nature of the wood.

Don’t compare oil with varnish

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In the introduction we said that it’s best not to compare oil with varnish. Obviously, that statement needs more clarification. With varnish, always remember that it covers and ‘seals’ the wood, so it provides a protective and decorative film. As long as this film stays in place, the floor is protected, decorated, and easy to maintain. By contrast, oil impregnates the wood and covers the wood fibres to protect them

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Who has an oil which can be finished in one coat?

from damp and dirt. However, the surface protection is weak and needs regular maintenance. If this is neglected, the fibres are soon exposed through abrasion and get damaged.

that a real test on the client’s floor is possible. Solid'Oil 2K is now used a lot, for instance, on high-quality parquet floors.

Bona

Oil does have a big advantage, however, when it comes to renovation. With oil, you can carry out an unobtrusive stain renovation at a high-traffic point or a point of heavy pressure on the floor (e.g. from falling objects, scorch marks, etc.). To sum up briefly, each finish has lots of benefits and a few limits. However, there is never a universal recipe because each job has specific requirements.

Application in one coat What we also want to consider is whether or not oil is sufficiently nutritional to protect the floor and give it a good outward appearance.

Where do you have to take special care if you apply oils in one coat?

And what’s the big advantage of a finish in a single coat? The answer to the first question is that you have to apply the ‘correct’ oil to the ‘correct’ place under the ‘correct’ conditions. This means an oil which is adapted to the traffic, can respond to the pressure which is put on the floor, and is applied correctly. Moreover, in the course of time, you also need the correct maintenance to be prescribed and carried out.

Whether the oil is applied with a high solid oil (wax-oil, hard wax-oil and therefore by definition in one single coat) or with classic oil (i.e. in two or three coats) is not of primary importance. It’s all about the first suggestion.

If you’re talking about the advantage of a single-coat finish, you have to consider that a finish with one coat is very attractive for professionals because it saves them a considerable amount of time with the initial oiling. On the one hand, the quality of this initial oil treatment (carried out on bare wood, which is prepared properly) will make it possible to offer an incomparable quality of oil, thanks to the ‘wealth’ of the oil treatment, and on the other hand it will mean that not much maintenance is required. However, it is still necessary to take special care with the latter, certainly when we’re talking about a tinted or coloured oil treatment on a previously distressed or tinted wood.

Protective oils represent 10 to 20% of the market in France. Although they offer attractive decorative options, they are a niche market worldwide. Dual-component oils are suitable for applications on surfaces which are subjected to intensive high traffic. Oiled parquet floors require good and regular maintenance, but they have the advantage that repairs can be carried out locally in patches Craft Oil 2K is applied in one coat and several colours are available. You can apply Hard Wax Oil to extend the lifespan of your colour oil.

Ciranova

Source: Our thanks are due to the technical cell of the Blanchon Group.

What’s on the market ?

Blanchon Solid'Oil™ impregnates, colours, and protects parquet floors in one single operation. When it is applied, it creates upon contact with the wood an interactive network which feeds and preserves the wood deep down. It is composed of several very easily renewable vegetable raw materials and ensures fast drying, especially when used with Blanchon Oil Hardener.

Solid'Oil™ 2-component oil is a technical success amongst professionals, who appreciate the easy application and fast drying (one coat will usually suffice). Solid'Oil™ is highly practical and economical in use, with its range of 41 shades (including a metallic grey), all available in three classic and practical volumes (1/4, 1, and 2.5 litres, with hardeners in corresponding volumes), but also in bottles of 25ml, so

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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

Tover

LIOS BIOIL 2K

Two-component natural oil-based treatment for wooden floors 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.

It’s available in two versions: STANDARD, to keep natural the look of the wooden floor, and COLORATO (in different colours and on request).

L’Olio 100% by Tover is a 100% dry residue oil, composed of oils and hard waxes of vegetable origin, very resistant to stains and intense traffic. It is solvent and isocyanate-free, compliant with the EN71-3 standard for a better respect of the environment and the health of the user. Available in a palette of more than 30 colours, it makes it possible to get customized wood floors in one single coat, with an extremely natural look. In order to further increase its resistance to wear, it can be catalyzed with the hardener Oil-Linker. It is also very easy to maintain and renew.

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 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.

Photo – RIGO Verffabriek

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Invisible lacquers: who has them?

THE INFLUENCE OF MATTING AGENTS WHEN TO CHOOSE BETWEEN INVISIBLE VARNISH AND MATT OIL Invisible lacquers are making great strides on various fronts. For instance, not only have more and more producers emerged, but also they have continued with research into increasingly better use capacity. They have various points for attention, including the extension of the lifespan.

An interesting question to ask is how the lifespan compares to that of more glossy varnishes. To get an answer to this question and many others, we called on a specialist from the Blanchon Group.

Lifespan The first thing which we learnt was that there’s no doubt that the ratio, quality, and nature of the matting agents used to obtain an invisible exterior are vitally important. You have to consider the intensity of the matting, ease of application, beauty of the film, resistance to traffic, low maintenance, and a whole series of other things.

If you use a so called ‘matting agent’ which tends to pile up on the surface of the film, an infinite number of small cracks can arise to diffuse the light and give a matt or even an ultra matt effect.

However, there is a risk of this effect fading over time under the influence of intensive traffic or friction. The matting agents start to scour and ensure that the surface becomes satiny and in some cases even glossy (in the latter case it is sometimes claimed that the lacquer ‘whitens’).

A permanent solution is to use matting agents spread over the entire thickness of the film to ensure a permanent matt effect. These matting agents are certainly more expensive than the substances which we first presented and it is even more complicated to achieve an ultra-matt effect. With the latter you have to consider that an excess percentage of matting agent has an adverse effect on the clarity of the coat of varnish and can cause unwanted effects. The look sometimes becomes ‘whitish’, something which doesn’t look good, particularly on dark wood sorts.

Photo – Tover

If the varnish contains surface matting agents, they will in most cases be less durable than the

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satin counterpart. If you use thicker matting agents, the traffic resistance becomes fairly even.

Invisible varnish or matt oil?

Another logical question is when to choose an invisible varnish over a matt oil. Our spokesperson from Blanchon starts by telling us that the behaviour of both products is not the same in terms of wear, use, and chemical abrasion.

The answer is that a varnish which is well formulated and made with quality substances will require less maintenance than an oil, even if oil floors are now much simpler to maintain. Moreover, lots of oils on the market do give a matt finish, but that is far from necessarily being ultra-matt or ‘invisible’.

From an aesthetic point of view, the ‘decorative’ limit between the two major families of parquet finishes has faded considerably. When it comes to a colourless finish, the choice is now determined by the limits of the parquet and the maintenance which it can be given. Obviously, the financial aspect also plays a part when it comes to public areas.

Special precautionary measures Finally, we want to know whether using these varnishes makes it necessary to take special precautionary measures. In this instance, our spokesperson refers first of all to the quality of the components.

According to our spokesperson, the quality of the components considerably affects the ‘usage comfort’. In the case of ‘thick matting agents’ excess thickness will not be noticeable during the application. However, the person immediately adds that this doesn’t mean that an ‘invisible’ varnish can be applied without the care of a demanding professional!

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.

Devo® You don't really see "invisible"!

Some specialists Bona Bona has recently extended its assortment of Traffic HD lacquers to include Bona Traffic HD Raw. The dual-component formula is designed for extremely high traffic in places such as airports or museums and shopping centres. Bona Traffic HD Raw has a gloss of 4%, the lowest in the range.

It has the advantage that the gloss degree is the same over the entire surface. The lacquer has a rough wood effect and has won the Excell certificate, which guarantees indoor air quality in places with food and drink, including wine cellars. The fumes do not affect the maturation of the wine in the cellars.

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.

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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

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Invisible lacquers: who has them?

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.

Chimiver ECOWOOD 2K

Two-component water-based polyurethane lacquer with natural anti-reflection effect finish for wooden floors 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 for coating light and dark wood species.

ECOWOOD 2K has also excellent chemical and physical characteristics and is suitable for heavy traffic floors.

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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.

Tover

Once again Tover has pioneered innovative lacquers to get the most natural look to new raw wood or during refurbishments. The twocomponent Essenza lacquer is totally invisible on light woods such as oak, but the surface, which seems untreated, is highly protected. Bella represents a real revolution since this two-component lacquer is isocyanate free, guaranteeing maximum safety to the user. Both are perfectly suited to heavy traffic areas; two coats are enough without the prior use of a primer and the extra matt finish is imperceptible.

Look no further!

Special

Who has reaction stains?

SIMILAR, YET COMPLETELY DIFFERENT A REACTIVE STAIN REACTS COMPLETELY DIFFERENTLY FROM A CLASSIC STAIN

Photo – Ciranova

We’ve already devoted articles to reactive stains, which work totally differently from standard colour stains. When you apply a reactive stain, the stain reacts with the tannic acid in the wood to discolour the stained wood. The discolouration is very intense since it occurs in the cell wall of the wood.

It’s worth knowing that no two trees contain an identical quantity of tannic acid. This means that the end result will always depend on the amount of tannic acid. In this article we ask a number of specific questions and we start with how reactive stains are applied.

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Who has reaction stains?

The application The basic application principle is the same as with classic stains i.e. in contact with the wood and without a primer. You start by sanding the wood carefully. Don’t forget that a reactive stain reacts differently from classic stains and works in more on hard fibres than on soft ones. You can apply it with a roller or spatula. It’s advisable to apply a thin coat in the direction of the fibres, and not to rub with a single brush, to get the best possible effect. Rubbing could mitigate or blur the effect.

for two-dimensional effects. For an elegant and durable finish you can finish the floor simply with Bona Hard Wax Oil. This oil, used as part of the Bona oil system, creates the exact shade which suits any style and character.

A closely related point is that you have to know what the function of reactive colouring agents is. Here, you should always remember that they are used mostly for their distressing effect. The trend is towards lighter shades which imitate the passage of time on the wood.

Beware of water Colour stains are usually water-based, so they are sensitive to water. If you apply them mechanically with friction (e.g. with a spatula, roller, or brush), it’s not advisable to cover them with a primer, sealant, varnish, or an oil in the water phase. It is technically possible to ‘block’ the resulting shade with a solvent primer, but this will reduce the decorative effect to some extent. In this case makers like the Blanchon Group recommend a traditional oil (i.e. a solvent oil) in a neutral shade, either in harmony with the reactive shade or precisely the opposite. All decorative effects are possible.

If the finish is applied by spraying (or rolling) on an application line, there will not be any friction, so all water or solvent finishes are possible. This means that the distressed effect which is obtained stays the same or is even reinforced.

Another question is how well reactive stains are doing at the moment.

The brief answer is that they are faring quite well, especially because distressed floors are still very much in fashion. Distressing is still a major trend, both with new construction and renovation. Moreover, an attractive feature is that you can apply reactive stains on site, on the production line, or in the workshop.

Difference with coloured oil In conclusion, we also need to consider the difference with a coloured oil. Here we have to consider how both products work. Colour oil impregnates the wood fibres, applies a coat, and thereby provides decoration and protection in one operation. By contrast, a reactive stain identifies the fibres on the basis of their nature (in fact, summer fibres/winter fibres), the quantity and nature of the tannic acid in the wood, the quality of the sanding, and, possibly, the defects on the planks (defects which can be natural). For that matter, the best effects are obtained on ‘natural’ or ‘rustic’ choices or by means of special treatments [against the grain in brushing, bumps, scratches, etc.).

Above all, don’t forget that a reactive stain should always be covered.

It doesn’t have the capacity to protect the wood, but serves solely to apply a decoration, a tone, or an atmosphere.

What’s on the market ?

Bona Bona Nordic Tone and Bona Rich Tone are pre-treatments which can be mixed with Bona Mix Colour to obtain the widest range of shades and nuances. Combine them with Bona Craft Oil or a contrasting colour

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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 Magic.

We are proud to announce our new REACTIVE STAIN COLLECTION, the Château collection, containing 16 brand new reactive stains, finished with different systems, a combination of Ciranova and Blanchon technology.

For more information or for samples please contact Ciranova.

Chimiver OLD WEST LINE Water-based wood ageing reactive system The R&D laboratory in CHIMIVER PANSERI S.p.A. 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

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

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.

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!

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.

Tover

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

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Tover can propose a pre-colouring system with reactive agents giving a more or less intense aged appearance to new wood. These waterbased products - Bosch Vej, Ciair, Fossil, Antique - create a greyed, smoked, black or bleached effect according to their reaction with the tannin contained in the wood, accelerating the process of natural oxidation of the matter. They are particularly suited to tannin-rich oak.

The finishing cycle can be completed with an oil as well as with a traditional or UV/LED lacquer.

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Machines and products for giving old Marmoleum and linoleum a new finish coat

IDEAL ECOLOGICAL THOUGHT RENOVATION OF LINOLEUM IS A WIN-WIN Is linoleum passé? The very thought has been outdated for many years now. After all, this flooring fits in perfectly with the current ecological mindset and is enjoying a new lease of life. The composition of linoleum speaks volumes, apart from the vast progress in its design. And so, at the same time more and more people are trying not to remove the (old) floor, but at least to give it a new life.

Linoleum is made from natural and renewable raw materials, such as limestone, resin, jute, linseed oil, and other ecological products which are fully biologically degradable after use. The production process is also highly ecological, so the product has very little impact on our surrounds. If we can also renovate this low-maintenance product instead of discarding it, that’s the best possible scenario.

Renovation plus points The fact that there are many other plus points makes a nice bonus.

Not only is renovation merely about half the cost, but also there are several strong benefits on site. The biggest benefit is the time saving, as rooms are ready for use again very soon after renovation. Moreover, you don’t have to take account of collateral damage to the buildings or walls.

With renovation you do have to remember that you should follow a set step plan. The first step is to scrape and strip all dirt and old protective layers, and, after that, you can tackle scratches and other flaws. You then apply a primer and a finish. At the end of all that, you mustn’t forget to give clients some maintenance tips which are appropriate for the expected future use of the linoleum floor.

The finish in practice Various finishes can be applied to the renovated linoleum floor. One very popular finish at present is a UV coating. This means a PU coating is applied, which, after drying, is cured with a UV installation (once a primer has been applied to guarantee adhesion). This method is popular because the room is soon dry and therefore ready for use again, whilst the inconvenience is minimal.

It’s quite obvious when this method is preferred: If the inconvenience has to be limited and you want to use the room quickly again, you opt for a UV coating. Think here, for instance, of a shop or a care home.

Moreover, this method is also attractive if there is a need to tackle damage from scratches. Since this UV system corresponds the most to the treatment given in the factory, it also gives you the best guarantee of a good end result.

Another quite popular choice is to work with a 2K PU. This coating has proved its qualities over many years and remains popular, certainly for projects. In contrast to UV coating, this process deploys air-drying.

Allow one full week for complete drying time, but don’t forget that you

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can walk gently on the floor within 48 hours. Here, too, you need to apply a primer first to guarantee the adhesion.

Maintenance for a renovated linoleum floor We’ve already considered advising clients about maintenance.

Linoleum might be an exceptionally low-maintenance product, but don’t forget to give the necessary tips. Occasional vacuum cleaning will suffice in most cases, but periodic maintenance with the appropriate maintenance products is no luxury. Linoleum might enjoy a long lifespan, but a minimum of care is still necessary. What we should also certainly mention is that abrasive detergents must be avoided at all costs. Indeed, such products could damage the top layer of the linoleum (and ruin your renovation).

Sources: Info Floorcare.be and Interieurdesigner.be

A specialist Bona First of all, we need to draw a distinction between new (unfinished) linoleum and old linoleum. The former has to be protected to facilitate maintenance, whilst the latter has to be regenerated. The popularity of linoleum lies in its relation the ‘ecological’, since it is made from natural materials.

Since linoleum is a porous floor, it is necessary first of all to apply a pore filler such as Bona Lino Prime, followed by a coating. The choice of the coating should be geared to how the surface will be used (Bona Super Sport Pure HD for sport linoleum), Bona Pure for health-related surfaces, and Bona Pure HD for trade surfaces. For regeneration you can apply a coat of paint before the seal.

∂ Industry news Lios® Grigioff

Lios® Sundeck Wood Oil

Renew and Restore odld ooEuropean Beekeeping protect wBeeLife Chimiver supports y e r g Coordination through its Corporate Social Responsibility Programme

Lios® Sundeck Soap

Clean and nourish

the European Union. BeeLife works for the protection of pollinators in Europe, highlighting their value for nature and people. With 25 members (beekeeping and farming associations) from 12 different European countries, BeeLife links policy, science and field observations to promote a more sustainable future for pollinators and their role in ecosystems.

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

MEISTERWERKE publishes first sustainability report

The family-owned Italian company Chimiver is the first company engaging in the long run to support BeeLife European Beekeeping Coordination activities. Chimiver has developed a new product called Oil Bee, a product using European beeswax for the protection of wooden floors and surfaces. Chimiver supports BeeLife through its Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, with a series of donations based on a variable sum of the total annual revenue of the product Oil Bee in 2022 and 2023. For Chimiver, choosing BeeLife is a natural consequence of the path taken by a company that focuses on innovation, which has set itself the ambitious goal of becoming totally sustainable in the coming years. Not just reaching carbon neutrality, but also giving active support to all actions aimed to protect the ecological balance.

BeeLife is well aware of the ongoing commitment to the environmental and social sustainability of many companies. The association is willing to engage with these companies, that is why BeeLife is a member of the 1% for the planet initiative, that brings together companies (who are willing to dedicate 1% of their sales revenue for the protection of the planet) with environmental organisations. BeeLife creates win-win situations, which are beneficial for the environment and the European beekeeping sector while helping companies with their sustainability.

Oscar Panseri (CEO of Chimiver) said: “Aware of our role in the chemical sector, Chimiver has been promoting environmentally friendly activities for many years. Environmental protection is the base of our Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, all Chimiver products are conceived, designed and manufactured in order to safeguard applicators’ health and offer high-quality standards to end customers. For these reasons we are very glad and proud to support BeeLife, we want to be an active part in building a better future for the next generations.”

Francesco Panella president of BeeLife European Beekeeping Coordination added “We are very pleased with the support received from Chimiver, which is not only a charitable donation but grants us the possibility to strengthen our activities such as advocating for the reduction of synthetic pesticides by 80% by 2030 in EU agriculture and the EU reform of agriculture statistics.”

We hope this collaboration between BeeLife and Chimiver is the start of fruitful work ahead, to build a healthy, socially and environmentally responsible future where pollinators and people can thrive, not only in Italy but across the globe.

About BeeLife European Beekeeping Coordination BeeLife European Beekeeping Coordination is an NGO formed by professionals of the beekeeping sector from different countries of

Sustainability is an issue of ever-growing importance in our society.

MEISTERWERKE has now published its first sustainability report. In the online Sustainability Report 2021, the German family company outlines the goals it has already met, and describes the company’s future strategic positioning in regard to sustainability. A new page has been created for the topic on the company website www.meisterwerke.com, which users can access via the menu option “Sustainability”.

From sustainable materials to employee development “We have been practising our own version of sustainability for decades already,” remarked Managing Partner Guido Schulte. “In creating the report, we have purposefully put our environmental awareness and sustainable business model to the test and documented where we are right now and what we want to achieve through consistent further development in the areas of economy, ecology and society on behalf of our stakeholder groups.”

At MEISTERWERKE, aspects of sustainable business range from renewable wood raw material as an integral part of the product, to efficient energy management in the company, to actively practising social responsibility. With a mixture of textual information, charts and infographics, the online sustainability report clearly describes how sustainability factors can influence product and process innovations, the use of resources, and collaboration with partners along the entire value chain.

Next steps on the path to a sustainable future This initial report has elevated the sustainable activities of the Westphalian flooring manufacturer to a binding level – a direction that the company is determinedly pursuing, with the intention of publishing a comprehensive sustainability report according to specific criteria (GRI standards) every three years.

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Top Italian companies focused on export

ALL REGIONS DIFFER DIVISION BETWEEN THE RICH INDUSTRIAL NORTH AND CENTRE AND A MORE AGRICULTURAL SOUTH Broadly speaking, you can divide the Republic of Italy into the richer industrial north and the more agricultural south. The country also includes two bigger islands, Sicily and Sardinia, and some smaller islands. This land of over 60 million people also joins mainland Europe via the massif of the Alps.

Italy plays a major economic part within Europe and is a member of the G7. In 2018, it had the world’s eighth biggest economy and, together with France, is now one of the biggest exporters of luxury products in the world.

Economy and forestry The Italian economy has European dimensions: agricultural products (e.g. oil, fruit, balsamic vinegar, cheese, and pasta), industrial products (e.g. cars), clothes (second in the world), and services, especially tourism. Italy is the fourth biggest power in Europe, with a gross domestic product of 1.75 billion euros. In terms of forestry, Italy isn’t such an impressive player, although about 23% of Italy’s surface area comprises woods, which are used for wood and fuel provision. 60% of Italian woods are located in Northern and Central Italy. The other 40% are found in Southern Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia. For hundreds of years the country was deforested on a large scale, but now there is new plantation which has to offset the erosion. Real wood regions include Trentino-Alto Adige and Lombardy.

The centre of Italy is a dynamic region of Europe with innovative SMEs in family structures and strong trade unions. The urban network consists of medium-sized cities which combine historical heritage with industrial and traditional activity zones (e.g. fabrics, cars, and haute couture). The North and Bologna affect the Adriatic wall of the Marche, but it’s more the Florentine pool (Florence, Prato, and Pistoia) associated partly with the Port of Livorno and partly with Rome, which dominate the centre.

Southern Italy (or Mezzogiorno) is a more rural and poorer region.

It has enjoyed government support and support from the European Union to finance an efficient road network and install industrial ports.

This had consequences for internal emigration from the South to the North-West. Molise and Abruzzen have grown more strongly than the South-West of Italy. Puglia is an equally dynamic region. It is the second largest plain in Italy, so, apart from tourist activities, it also offers intensive agricultural activities. The region has major ports in Taranto, Bari, and Brindisi.

TOVER

Italy has a long tradition of high-quality production and commercial dynamism. Even today, its economy is driven by entrepreneurial dynamism, with major industrial groups such as Fiat, Olivetti, Mapei, Fincantieri, Prysmian, Saipem, or Benetton, public companies which are largely privatised such as Eni, Enel, and Leonardo, and a close network of small and medium enterprises. Most companies and the networks of dynamic SMEs are located in the centre and north of Italy. The MilanGenoa-Turin industrial triangle is part of the European megalopolis.

What is noticeable with the SMEs is that you find them in diversified sectors such as the textile, leather, metal, and mechanical industries.

Italy is the second biggest producer and exporter of machine tools after Germany.

Economic regions Italy is witnessing strong differences in development between regions.

According to the National Institute of Statistics (Istat), the GDP of the southern regions and the islands (Sardinia and Sicily) in 2019 was only half that of the north-western regions of the country. You can divide Italy into four regions which vary greatly in economic development. The North-West, the ‘Economic Triangle’, belongs to the economic heart of Europe. This region concentrates the major heavy industrial activities and is organised around the three big cities Milan, Turin, and Genoa.

The North-East has the highest concentration of SMEs in Europe.

Medium-sized cities like Verona, Padua, Venice, Mestre, Triëst, Modena, Parma, and Bologna provide the urban fabric. Two big ports (Venice and Triëst) operate heavy industry and ship building and offer a market for local industries.

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Export sales represent 50% of Tover's total turnover; how could you explain the success of this Italian SME? A wide range of products, consistent high quality, innovative solutions with low environmental impact. We can come up with other reasons such as the shortest possible supply chain, the use of solar energy to power the manufacturing process and a well-structured marketing action plan. All these elements are of course fundamental for the development of a company, but what differentiates and gratifies us the most is the attention we give to the specific needs of our partners on their own markets, the importance of the customer’s follow-up and care and finally the strong sense of belonging to a close-knit team moving forward towards a common goal. +39 (0) 11 779 28 23 info@tover.com / www.tover.com

PROGRESS PROFILES Progress Profiles is a world leader manufacturer of technical and decorative finishing profiles and fixing/laying systems, including membranes, for construction and interior design. For more than 37 years the Italian firm has been developing and patenting over 15,000 technical products and 18 systems.

With a forward-looking action plan aiming at capturing the latest trends in the sector and its three headquarters in USA, Dubai and Spain, Progress Profiles exports to more than 80 countries worldwide. One of its main purposes is to explore new ideas to develop the most advanced products with the best technologies on the market, while reducing the installers’ effort. The Italian manufacturer provides job to over 180 people and it closed 2021 with increasing revenues (+20%). +39 (0) 423 950 398 - info@progressprofiles.com - www.progressprofiles.com

KARL PEDROSS Founded in 1956 by South Tyrolean Master Carpenter Karl Pedross, the company transitioned to skirting boards during the 1970’s and thereby secured stable growth. Today, along with KARL PEDROSS AG, the VICOVER Business Unit, Bürkle Leisten & Profile GmbH and Stucky Holzprofilleisten AG, the companies are among the world’s leading pioneers in the development, manufacture and marketing of flooring accessories and work tirelessly to inspire customers and partners every day. Approximately 230 employees produce 40 million running meters per year. As a full-range supplier, exporting on a global level and continuously tapping into new markets is key for PEDROSS. The group is highly customeroriented, offering personalised and innovative quality products as well as a 360-degree solution to its customers. +39 (0) 473 722 200 - info@pedross.com - www.pedross.com

IN LOVE WITH DECKING of your e r a c e k Ta g! outdo� livin Restore your decking and outdoor wood worned by the sun and bad weather using professional and easy to use products:

Lios® Grigioff

Restore oldd grey woo

Lios® Sundeck Wood Oil

Renew and protect

Lios® Sundeck Soap

WOODEN FLOORS FOR OUTDOORS

Clean and nourish 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

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Special

Top Italian companies focused on export

CHIMIVER PANSERI SPA Chimiver is the market leader in Italy in the sector of products for gluing, treating, and maintaining wooden floors and it's present in more than 60 countries all over the world with its solutions dedicated to all kinds of floor: parquet, resilients, resin, indoor and outdoor. Since 1965, the year of its birth, the company has focused on quality and innovation, with the ambitious goal of becoming totally sustainable in the coming years. Not just reaching carbon neutrality, but also giving active support to all actions aimed to protect the ecological balance: recycled packaging, renewable raw materials, ecological and ecosustainable products.Chimiver has an equipped and modern laboratory that guarantees the chemical and physical characteristics of each product: continuous tests on raw materials during production and accurate final tests ensure the highest quality levels. +39 (0) 35 79 50 31 - sales@chimiver.com - www.chimiver.com

CARVER Carver was formed in Milan in 1957. In more than 60 years, the company has developed into one of the leading companies in the field of products for wooden floors. In the course of the years, the company has extended its sphere of activity to include products for outdoor wood. In November 2015, Carver became part of the French group Blanchon, something which immediately gave Carver a sound international base and solid market support. The company profiles itself as a specialist in products for fitting, finishing, and maintaining wooden floors and all indoor and outdoor wood. The company offers top quality products with special attention to the health of users and respect for the environment.

Recently, they have reduced their assortment by omitting all products which could pose a health risk. The top products are Epsilon and Omeg-Art, mono and dual-component waterborne lacquers respectively for wooden floors. As regards oil, Primol Plus is the best seller.

Since 2020 they focus on Latin American markets with a number of innovative water-based products. +39 (0) 29 50 01 71 - info@carver.it - www.carver.it

ITALPROFILI Italprofili is innovation and technological research in the accessories for construction industry Resisting over time is our creed, which has guided us since 1976 in the design and manufacture of each product. The whole process takes place in our factory in the province of Venice: design, production, quality control and shipping. Our range guarantees always a first-class service and stable performance during time and it develops into 4 business units: adjustable paving support systems for raised floors, roofing accessories, accessories for foundations, accessories for cementitious waterproofing and liquid membranes.

For us, evolving means innovating, through the development of historical patents that we have led to be recognized on the Italian and world market, in which quality and typically Italian skills to improve make the difference.

We have grown as a company also thanks to the increase in visibility, enhancing in the recent years our marketing department and promotion activities which we believe to be a fundamental element in our evolution. The moment that the global markets are going through is not the easiest, but we are optimistic and convinced that the creation of new solutions and investment in research of opportunities will be able to keep our trend constantly growing.

Italprofili, resistant to time +39 (0) 421 312 059 - info@italprofili.com - www.italprofili.com

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LA SAN MARCO PROFILI La San Marco Profili is an independent family-run company founded in 1989.

Its headquarter based in Treviso, Italy. With over 30 years of professional experience in developing and manufacturing skirting and outdoor flooring, La San Marco offers a full product portfolio of skirting and outdoor flooring and it serves clients around the globe thanks to its well-recognized products quality and services efficiency. In fact, thanks to our increased flexibility and our large and well-furnished stock, we guarantee optimum quality, offering a vast range of outdoor flooring such as Ipe, Teak, Angelim Amargoso, Iroko, Heat Treated Ash and all sorts of skirting for every need. Furthermore, our company’s FSC certificate guarantees a sustainable forest management. La San Marco’s key words are always excellent quality and excellent service. What distinguishes the company is its particular attention in working with details. Well knowing that small particulars make the difference, we are accustomed to search for perfection in small things that however stand out. Following this thought we created all our line accessories, both veneer and solid, in different woods and colours. La San Marco Profili exports its products to lots of countries above all in Europe, but it is always interested in finding new distributors in different countries all over the world in order to expand its already wide distribution network and fulfil its aim of products international widespread. +39 (0) 438 980 106 - export@lasanmarcoprofili.com - www.lasanmarcoprofili.com

IMPERTEK Impertek was founded in 1985 in the province of Venice as a family business for the laying of PVC sheaths and membrane. Over time it has transformed into a solid production reality specializing its market in two sectors: waterproofing and supports for raised floors.

The most important line is Pedestal Line which, thanks also to the recent launch of Balance Pro, offers solutions for any height and a quick and flat installation of any flooring. The same range will soon welcome SteelMart, the new metal support with fire resistance class A1, which also complies with the latest safety regulations. Strengths are the research and evolution of products, the ability to process orders in 24/48 hours for 80% of the items in the catalogue and the attention to the customer provided by 30 collaborators and a network of 50 agents. These characteristics have proved successful also in international scenarios, favouring the growth of turnover and expanding sales to foreign markets such as the USA and Australia. +39 (0) 421 322 525 - info@impertek.com - www.impertek.com

PARQUET IN Parquet In Srl was formed in 1970 and is based in the Italian city of Barletta. The company specialises in the production of exclusive parquet floors, which are ‘Made in Italy’. Years of experience and well trained workers make the difference here. Wood is treasured and processed in accordance with the old processes. Parquet In supplies floors for all styles and interiors. Old traditions from marquetry are raised to new life in multicoloured and versatile variations. With the Elegant Collection, Parquet In combines wood with several marble colours. This is confirmation of the vibrant creativity of Parquet In. Apart from features such as satin gloss, Parquet In also presents for this collection a number of modern colours. Colour is also a central feature in the New Mosaics Collection. These floors give a totally new colour expression with black and white as prominent shades and grey as a mysterious background. Modern and functional! The new mosaic collection presents a huge range of material combinations (e.g. ceramics or glass mosaic). The whole philosophy of Parquet In can be found in the Old Chic Collection, the renaissance of old parquet floors in designs and brushed surfaces. The Old Chic Collection is brushed and pre-finished with UV oil and is ready for fitting. The latest collection is the Capsule Collection by Samuele Mazza. Apart from its collections, Parquet In can also supply customised work perfectly well. +39 (0) 88 35 36 726 info@parquetin.com / www.parquetin.it

Visit www.floor-forum.com

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∂ Product news BJELIN - STABLE FLOOR WITH MULTI-LAYER PARQUET Bjelin offers parquet floors with many different pigmentations. From light to dark. The natural pattern and colour of the oak varies greatly. Therefore, the planks are sorted into grades so that you can choose exactly the look that suits your interior design.

Traditional solid wood floors do not meet the requirements of a modern home. A hydrostatically stable floor can, for example, be achieved by having several layers of wood in the floor where the different layers have different fibre directions or by one of the layers consisting of a wood fibreboard.

Bjelin parquet floor consists of three layers where the wood fibres in the different layers run in a perpendicular direction to each other. The layers lock each other and reduce the natural movement of the wood, providing a stable floor.

The surface layer has a wear surface of 2.5-3.5 mm. The middle layer is strong and durable and is made from pine or spruce. The bottom layer of wood also has a stabilising function.

SOBOPLAC : PANELIO – WALL PANELS WITH THE EFFECT OF WOODEN STRIPS The Carrefour International Wood Show 2022 gave Soboplac the opportunity to present its new PANELIO range of wall panels with wood strip effect. The attraction of this range lies in its depth, with no fewer than four different profiles and three references per profile, i.e. 12 profiles in total.

The planks (12cm wide x 2.70m high) can be fitted quickly and easily with polymer adhesive or even with a simple Velcro, since the product is so light.

The plates are made from extruded polystyrene, which provides plenty of hardness and strength, but at the same time stays light so that these plates are easy to fit onto the wall or ceiling. The products are suitable for bathrooms, so they stand out from most similar wood products. Finally, their well considered marketing enables any dealer to sell the products to clients, purchasers, and architects in a professional and efficient manner.

TOVER In collaboration with PAOLONI s.n.c., TOVER presents a semi-industrial machine for the oiling and lacquering of wooden floors: MINI-TUNNEL. This machine has many particularly attractive features: it is compact and very easy to use as fully automatic. The cleaning operations are simple and give the possibility of changing the type of finish or colours very quickly. Another extraordinary characteristic of the Mini-Tunnel is its extreme versatility: thanks to its numerous accessories (sponge or gummed rollers, sprayers, brushes, etc.) it is suitable to apply transparent and coloured oils, water-based primers and lacquers, reactive aging agents by Tover.

The price is another important advantage: with a relatively small investment, the customer can immediately start showing off a personalized collection of prefinished floors.

DINACHOC C901 – THE PROFESSIONAL HYBRID ADHESIVE They offer DINACHOC C901 adhesive for use in combination with parquet and wooden floors when the whole structure has to be compatible with floor heating at high and low temperatures.

They recommend this in combination with the Dinachoc S801 subfloor to ensure excellent acoustic insulation. And so, the fitting is done with double glueing.

If we consider the preparation for application on site, their DINACHOC C901 adhesive is used without an adhesive primer and it adapts to all types of bearer (tiles, concrete screed, anhydrite screed, wood, ceramics, natural stone, etc.), all widths (even extra wide), and all sorts of wood.

Remove all grease and dust from the bearer for the best possible adhesion.

Their adhesive composition is the fruit of years of progress in the search for the ideal formula and includes no isocyanates, silicones, solvents, or formaldehydes. Moreover, VOC content is also very low. The adhesive is graded as A+ and its EMICODE® class is EC1PLUS, the highest EMICODE® grade.

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170 rue de la Roque�e 75011 Paris contact@dinachoc.com - www.dinachoc.fr Contact : +33 7 83 02 03 14

Votre Spécialiste Acoustique

100% rubber TOP CLASS TECHNOLOGY - THE FRUIT OF RECYCLING Dinachoc S801 is the first rubber underlay to emerge from the circular economy. It is produced from recycled and re-used car tyres. These used products are not naturally biodegradable, so giving them a second life helps to protect the environment.

INSULATION FLOORS AND WALLS

OFTEN IMITATED, NEVER ECLIPSED Special binding agent and special granula�on of Dinachoc S801. This formula is the fruit of long-term technological research, including tests both in the laboratory and on site under extreme condi�ons. This gives it an excep�onally long life span and at the same �me it also guarantees you the best quality of air in the interior.

Thickness

INSULATION AND DURABILITY PERFORMANCES S801 is in classes A+ and EC1. It also complies with the criteria of the LEED and EUROFINS Indoor Air Comfort labels and makes it possible to aim for the HQE label. Guaranteed to provide 50 years of excep�onal insula�on with the use of already available raw materials makes Dinachoc S801 an excep�onal product.

FILTERS NEIGHBOUR NOISE

2mm 3mm 5mm 10mm

50-YEAR GUARANTEE

Tested (and approved) S801 technology for over 10 years

MUFFS ANNOYING SOUNDS

Long-lasting performances Shared serenity!

- Available thicknesses : 2 mm , 3 mm, 5 mm et 10 mm - Acous�c insula�on : from ΔLW 19 dB to ΔLW 22 dB - Highly resistant to cracks, even at extreme temperatures (-40°C to + 110°C) - Unchanging : It does not shrink or distort - Compa�ble with floor hea�ng at both high and low temperatures

LABORATORY TESTED

ADDITIONAL DINACHOC RANGE

UNFINISHED

DINACHOC C901 ADHESIVE

VITRIFIED

WHITE

ELECTRIC DINACHOC P154 SKIRTING BOARDS (NF STANDARDS)

SCAN ME