FFI 128 February 2023

Page 1

Special: Poland

Review Domotex Hannover (D)

Special Outdoor floors: wood & composite

Transforming connections

Special Who sells walkbehind machines for roughing up old tiles, grinding the screed, and removing old carpet, etc?

At i4F, we develop patented technologies that are revolutionizing the flooring industry, and beyond. Working with our partners, we’re creating the most advanced locking designs in the world, delivering innovative, robust, durable and easy-to-install solutions.

Find out more at i4f.com/technologies

Special Wooden floors with a wood powder top layer: the strength of the finish

INTERNATIONAL trade journal for import, export, distribution and laying of parquet, laminate, cork flooring and related products BAU 2023, MESSE MÜNCHEN APRIL 17–22 HALL A6, STAND 128
Advertorial Auer Metallprofile (D)
by enhancing where people live, work and play with ingenious technologies from the floor upwards
N° 128 February 2023 - Price: €8 - Published 7 times a year - (Feb, March, May, July, Sept, Nov, Dec) Office of delivery 9099 Ghent X, P911092, BC 31359 - Responsible Publisher: Filip De Ridder

NEW PRIMER

A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR LASTING FLOORS

Bona Classic UX – The primer with better user experience

Bona offers a full range of premium primers, designed to complement all Bona lacquers. Now we’re adding the all-new Bona Classic UX to the primer family, a primer with significantly better user experience.

To create a stunning wood floor surface and preserve the floor investment, a primer is the key. With the new Bona Classic UX you will experience easier abradability, great filling ability, and a natural light wood colouration, creating a beautiful end result that lasts over time.

bona.com

Editorial

“You get an ideal win-win situation if you involve the entire supply chain in a production process. ”

John Rietveldt is CEO of i4F, which is based in Hamont, but moving soon to brand new premises in Turnhout. i4F licenses new forms of technology for the floor industry and in autumn 2022 launched Be-Lite®, a sustainable way to make SPC panels with less use of material.

‘Sustainability is the order of the day, and you get an ideal win-win situation if you involve the entire supply chain in a production process without raising the cost price. That’s exactly what we achieve with our Be-Lite®, which we launched in the fourth quarter of last year. The contacts during Domotex in Hanover and at Surfaces in Las Vegas, where we officially launched this material-saving technology for SPC panels, confirms how much further consideration of what you launch on the market can lead to success for all the parties concerned. And that applies not only in Europe, but also worldwide.’

‘Be-Lite® is all about making panels differently and achieving a considerable saving in the extrusion of the panels. If, for instance, you want to make an SPC panel which is 5mm thick, with our technology you only need to offload 4mm thick panels from the extruder. You press into the warm material with a profile in wafer or honeycomb shape on a roll, so that your panel becomes 5mm thick. The benefit in terms of material is immediately clear in this example: You save no less than 20% due to the lower consumption of the raw material.’

‘The benefit doesn’t stop with the lower material consumption. Your end product is obviously lighter, a benefit for the processor, but at the same time this means a considerable saving in transport costs. These sorts of products are usually transported in containers, so if you can put more material in the same container, that’s a good thing. Depending on what people want to make with our technology, it’s all about a material saving of up to 20% and a reduction of transport costs by 6%, depending on the thickness of your product. It’s quite simple: If traders take out a licence with us, they eventually increase their profit margins. It’s quite logical that the market has reacted with enthusiasm because we’re offering the market a sustainable no-brainer. We’re used to sustainability costing more, but in our case we’ve simply turned the tables.’

‘Be-Lite® illustrates our philosophy perfectly: constantly questioning our market and striving for innovations as the motor for growth. It’s about daring to penetrate existing markets and questioning the high consumption of energy and material and the very low level of product recycling.’

Relocation will soon be finalised.

‘You can see the literal illustration of the i4F philosophy in our new building which we’ve built in Turnhout. The entire R&D department in our new premises, which are ten times bigger, has already relocated to its brand new R&D hall and, in late March or early April, the offices, which will remain operational in Hamont until then, will follow. At our new premises in Turnhout we’ve immediately catered for possible expansion in the future. There are still about 2500m² of unused land, so we can continue to grow flexibly if we deem it necessary.’

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

Publisher Filip De Ridder

Lay-out: Be-able Communicationwww.be-able.be

Production: Lowyck - Oostende

Advertising & subscriptions

Filip De Ridder sales@media-pact.com

Adriana Dascalu info@media-pact.com

Hilde De Ridder floorforum@telenet.be

Editors: Jan Hoffman

Ludwig Janssens † Jean Paul Talbot

Filip De Ridder Jacques Legros

Translation: Michael Robinsonwww.glossa.be

Floor Forum International

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. Content Subscriptions to Floor Forum International: Mail to info@media-pact.com
news
is a
4 Inside
(D)
(D)
8 Advertorial Auer Metallprofile
10 Review Domotex Hannover
(NL)
20 Editorial Aspecta
the strength of the finish 28 Special Levellers: who sells what and what about dust reduction 31 Special Who has adhesives for various screeds in combination with floor heating 32 Special Outdoor floors: wood & composite 38 Special Silane adhesives for LVT, PVC, and vinyl floors 40 Special How do I assess the base and which product should I use? 42 Special New trends in laminate, LVT, PVC, vinyl, and design floors 44 Special Who sells walk-behind machines for roughing up old tiles, grinding the screed, and removing old carpet, adhesive residue, and such like? 46 Industry news 47 Special Poland 50 Product news Special: Poland Hannover (D) Special Outdoor oors: wood & composite Special roughing up old tiles, removing old carpet, etc? Special wood powder top layer: the strength of the finish Auer Metallprofile (D) At i4F, we develop patented technologies and beyond. Working with our partners, we’re creating the most advanced locking designs in the world, delivering innovative, robust, durable and easy-to-install solutions. i4f.com/technologies by enhancing where people live, work and play with ingenious technologies from the floor upwards Transforming connections Floor Forum International n° 128 February 2023
22 Special Wooden floors with a wood powder top layer:
Photo i4F

Soudal invests in precompressed tapes and acquires French market leader Tramico

TURNHOUT – Soudal has acquired the French company Tramico, market leader in precompressed foam tapes for the construction sector, with headquarters and production facility in Gournay-en-Bray. The business will continue to expand its production and market leading sales activities in precompressed tapes and noise insulation in France.

part in a Guided Tour. In addition, visitors who have been invited with a ticket code can register and activate their LIGNA ticket via the ticket shop.

The prompt release of the LIGNA ticket shop this year is also due to the difficult visa situation in some visitor countries. The organizers, Deutsche Messe AG and VDMA Holzbearbeitungsmaschinen, are hoping that early ticket purchase and appropriate planning time will facilitate visa approval. The LIGNA team will be happy to assist visitors who need an official letter of invitation for their visa application.

Networking: meet tailor-made contacts

With over 60 years of experience, Tramico has developed a leading position in the market for waterproof joint sealing and noise insulation. In France, their Compriband® brand has become synonym for waterproofing with precompressed tapes. The product further completes Soudal’s product portfolio in the sector of joint sealings and window construction. Soudal has been very active in the French market for decades with local headquarters in Lyon. It has developed a strong position in the construction and retail markets with a wide range of PU foams, sealants and adhesives. As such, combining the know-how of the respective product groups of Soudal and Tramico will generate synergies to serve a wide customer base in construction even better than today. Dirk Coorevits, CEO of the Soudal Group: “The market potential of both leading companies will allow us to grow locally, enhance our position in the building industry and generate additional potential to widen and deepen our product mix internationally. We are proud of yet another foreign acquisition, again emphasizing our global growth ambitions.” The employment at Tramico remains unchanged and the current management will stay at the helm. The Tramico production facility in Gournay-en-Bray will be the 25th production plant of Soudal worldwide.

The LIGNA ticket shop is open

The ticket shop for LIGNA, the world's leading trade fair for the woodworking and wood processing industry, which takes place in Hannover from 15 to 19 May, is now open. Interested parties can purchase tickets for the event via the webshop.

Hannover. The ticket shop for LIGNA, the world's leading trade fair for the woodworking and wood processing industry, which takes place in Hannover from 15 to 19 May, is now open. Interested parties can purchase tickets for the event via the webshop. You can choose between day or full-event tickets (39€/56€), reduced tickets (up to 15€) and a full-event combination ticket (76€), which also entitles you to take

After the regular registration of tickets or exhibitor passes, networking will be available to all LIGNA participants from March. After logging in to the LIGNA website, visitors and exhibitors can activate this service via their personal dashboard. In the profile, availability and individual time slots can be set and imported into their own calendar. Participants can complete their own profile with pictures, contact details and business interests. To receive new business matches, participants also activate their visibility for matchmaking via the profile. After activation, visitors and exhibitors will be suggested suitable profiles based on their stated interests and have the option of searching for potential business matches using keywords. In this way, participants can get in touch with each other in the run-up to the event, arrange appointments during the show and prepare their visit or exhibition at LIGNA in the best possible way.

LIGNA & Interzum: One ticket, double trade show experience

This year visitors to LIGNA will once again benefit from the fact that their ticket purchase also includes access to Interzum (9-12.5.2023) in Cologne. So visitors to LIGNA can also use their LIGNA ticket to visit Interzum, the event for the furniture manufacturing and interior design industries - and vice versa. This gives visitors an all-round overview of the industry.

About LIGNA

The world’s leading trade fair for the woodworking and wood processing industry is jointly organized by Deutsche Messe and VDMA Woodworking Machinery. It showcases the entire range of products and services for the primary and secondary industries – tools, machines and systems for custom and mass production, surface technology, wood-based panel production, sawmill technology, energy from wood, machine components and automation technology, as well as machines and systems for forestry, round wood and sawn wood production.

LIGNA | The World of Woodworking

The world's leading trade fair with a global range of tools, machinery and equipment for woodworking and wood processing will be held in Hanover from May 15 to 19, 2023.

Floor Forum International 128 4 ∂ Inside news
From left to right: Bart Moonen (Soudal NV), Hayley Crosby (Vita Group), Stuart Rob ( Vita Group), Vic Swerts (Chairman Soudal NV), Dirk Coorevits (PDG Soudal NV), Jurgen Vandervelden (Soudal NV), Ronan Bariou (Tramico)

You can consult both the most recent and previously published magazines, read the vacancies and news reports from the sector, and find a summary of the leading national and international trade fairs. Last but not least, you will also find all the answers to your questions regarding applications and the use of machines and products.

Visit our website www.floor-forum.com ! More information : sales@media-pact.com

Välinge

TISE truly exceeded all our expectations!

Thank you for making this event so special! We are beyond grateful that you took the time to visit our stand, for sharing your feedback and the strong interest you showed in our innovative technologies and excellent – and growing – product offer.

i4F and its partners settle all pending and threatened digital printing and digital embossing patent disputes

As you know, we are in an expansive and rapidly moving phase and are truly enthusiastic about an exciting year full of opportunities. Below you’ll find useful links and information about Välinge’s brand-new innovations and highly appreciated technologies and the exciting news that Välinge Flooring and Bjelin are uniting as one strong flooring brand – Bjelin.

Technologies from Välinge Innovation

Välinge Innovation are among the top industry-leaders in the world, well-known for developing groundbreaking technologies and challenging traditional ways of thinking.

Floor locking technologies

5G® Portfolio

The 5G® Fold Down system is recognized to be the fastest, easiest and most reliable installation system on the market. All startling floor locking innovations from Välinge originates from this smart and easy solution.

More information about our versatile 5G Portfolio Brochure: https://www.valinge.se/products/ click-flooring-technology?media

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt48kg-Sg3I

5G Portfolio highlights

5G® Dry™

The leak-proof 5G Dry floor locking system has the same fast, easy, and durable installation as the popular 5G Fold Down – but with a watertight joint. This means zero-risk for leakage through the floor panels without needing extra coating or chemicals. With a watertight installation system there are no longer any needs to worry – you get a long-lasting floor that perfectly fits a modern lifestyle. More information: https://www.valinge.se/products/ click-flooring-technology

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB1zTwLqZ0o

Media bank: https://media.valinge.se/ web/53894544a7bf3d24/5g-dry-media-bank/ Read more on www.floor-forum.com/en/news

Agreement includes all relevant patents covering direct-on-board digital printing and digital embossing technologies

Licensees of i4F’s Digital Printing Technologies cluster, which includes, patents of i4F, Hymmen, Classen and Kronospan, will now be free to operate under Unilin, Barberán and Zeetree patents HAMONT, BELGIUM – i4F®, a group of companies providing patents and technologies to the flooring industry, today announced that it has entered into a settlement agreement with different parties concerning digital printing and digital embossing technologies. The agreement, covers all relevant direct-on-board digital printing and digital embossing patents from i4F, Hymmen, Classen, Kronospan, Zeetree, Barberán and Unilin and is effective immediately. i4F represents and holds the licensing rights for all digital printing and digital embossing patents from Hymmen and Classen.

As a result of this agreement, all pending and threatened litigation between the various parties, relating to digital printing and digital embossing patents outlined in the agreement, in domestic courts as well as before the European Patent Office, are withdrawn. i4F’s Digital Printing Technologies cluster licensees will now benefit from an expanded freedom-to-operate through an undertaking that Unilin, Zeetree and Barberán patents will not be asserted against the manufacturing, distributing and selling of digitally printed and/or digitally embossed products.

The scope of the digital printing settlement agreement covers decorative panels with any type of wood, mineral and/or polymer based core, including MDF, HDF, LVT, SPC, WPC, MgO, PP, PU and cork.

i4F and Hymmen entered into a strategic patent partnership in January 2021 giving i4F licensing rights for all Hymmen’s digital printing patents and technologies for flooring production, including Hymmen’s award winning Digital Lacquer Embossing Plus (DLE+) technology. i4F continues to work in close collaboration with Hymmen to promote new digital printing opportunities in the flooring industry.

Over the past years, pending and threatened patent litigation resulted in continuous legal uncertainty, costs and commercial risks which hindered the adoption of breakthrough digital printing and digital embossing technologies in the global decorative panel industry. To end the stalemate and to accelerate market adoption of digital printing and digital embossing technologies, the various parties have agreed to settle their pending and threatened disputes. For existing and future licensees of i4F’s Digital Printing Technologies cluster, this allows them

Floor Forum International 128 6 ∂ Inside news

to benefit from a significantly expanded freedom-to-operate when producing and selling decorative panels with a digital décor print and/ or digital embossing. This means that i4F licensees can manufacture and sell their products without the threat of a patent infringement litigation.

i4F believes this settlement facilitates the accelerated worldwide market adoption of digital printing technologies with unlimited digitally embossed-in-register décor design possibilities.

MMFA welcomes Decora S.A. as the first new member of 2023

Brussels, 31 January 2023 – MMFA, the Multilayer Modular Flooring Association, is delighted to announce that Decora S.A. has joined the association as an ordinary member.

President of the MMFA Jan Dossche (COREtec®) welcomed Decora S.A. to the MMFA: “With its commitment to innovate by continuously investing into R&D over the last 28 years and pursuing state-of-the-art manufacturing methods, Decora serves as a role model for other flooring manufacturers. We are looking forward to the cooperation and expertise this new membership will bring into the MMFA.”

“At Decora, we are devoted to supplying our customers with flooring solutions that are as sustainable as they are innovative. With our goal being to achieve zero waste production, we are looking forward to exchanging know-how with other MMFA members and encouraging greener initiatives through the association.” said Artur Tomikowski, Marketing Director at Decora S.A.

Decora S.A. is an international company offering, under Arbiton, Ewifoam and Afirmax brands, vinyl click flooring, underlays, skirting boards and floor profiles. With its products manufactured at two different European plants, the company produces an innovative flooring category, SPC – vinyl with a high-density mineral core. Moreover, Decora manufactures floor underlays using three different technologies, namely PUM, XPS and PEHD Aquastop.

Decora brand Ewifoam E. Wicklein GmbH was an associate member of the association since 2014. The membership will now be held by Decora. With this membership addition, MMFA now has 29 ordinary members (producers of MMF flooring or their European representations), 30 associate members (supplier companies) and three supporting members (scientific institutes).

Functionality and design: Pioneering innovations from FN Neuhofer “live” at Domotex

The Austrian family business was pleased to take part in Domotex in Hanover and present its innovations for 2023 to existing and potential customers in person. In addition to the functional design acoustic panels, the company presented an innovative fastening system as well as its new, state-of-the-art digital printing system.

“We are very pleased to take part in trade fairs in person again and meet customers ‘live’,” said Managing Director Franz Neuhofer, who was on site in Hanover with his sales and product development team.

FN Neuhofer presented the FN Acustico, its functional acoustic panels

in various designs, as well as the new, screwless fastening system

“FN Clipholder CH25”. This clip is a true innovation – without tools or drilling, it quickly and easily clamps into the expansion joint between the floor and the wall.

The skirting board is held in place by the compressive force of the floor. Another highlight was the presentation of the incredible potential of the state-of-the-art digital printing system for panels that has already been installed and activated at the Zell am Moos site. With this system, FN Neuhofer can produce panels made of MDF, metal (e.g. AlcanDibond/alu-composite), rigid foam (e.g. Forex, Sintra), soft foam (e.g. Kapa), three-layer panels made of spruce, pressboard panels as well as folding carton/corrugated cardboard, and glass.

It is able to print FN Acustico panels up to a width of 250 cm in the highest resolution. The potential applications are wide-ranging and the system perfectly complements the FN standard range.

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

Floor Forum International 128 7 ∂ Inside news
Check our news 2023 !

AUER METALLPROFILE 2023

Auer Metallprofile GmbH has dedicated itself to the production of metal profiles made of aluminium, brass and stainless steel for floors and walls. The use of extremely high-quality and hard-wearing materials is particularly importat - the result is quality for the demanding professional! Due to the constant development and manufacture of new products, investments in machines and new production capacities, Auer Metallprofile can better and better fulfill the wishes of the customers and offer an even larger repertoire of services.

The product range currently includes over 6500 products made of aluminium, brass, PVC and stainless steel for indoor and outdoor use, including a large selection of stair nosings, transition profiles, skirting boards, two- and three-part system profiles, tile separation and expansion joint profiles, stair rods, insert -, ramp and special profiles; everything you need for the various types of flooring, such as laminate, parquet, carpet, tiles and LVT/design flooring. There is also a range of photoluminescent and LED-illuminated products, as well as a large selection of accessories.

In addition to the catalog, AMP manufactures profiles on request as a problem solver and also offers a huge range of services, such as production to final dimensions, miter cuts, special drilling patterns,

production of other colours and surfaces (anodized, RAL powdercoated, enamelled, gold-plated, burnished, matted, polished , ...), profile bends according to radius or template and much more, since individual construction situations and customer requirements also require flexible profile solutions. In addition to a laser punching nipple center, the profile manufacturer's machine park has recently also included a laser welding system in order to optimize existing products and enable new ones.

The new year 2023 is now starting with new energy - so does Auer Metallprofile - the profile manufacturer has again implemented a number of innovations for 2023. In order to increase the selection of design covering profiles, the Auer team now offers the tile separator profile with a wide support leg (518) no longer just for 3 mm coverings, but also for 2.5 mm covering heights. This profile can be used on the floor as an edge joint cover or as a skirting board for attachment to the wall.

In the spring there will be a new version of the popular AMP standard sample case. A wide range of high-quality profiles for everyday use, but also rare special profiles and the most important profile innovations for 2023 are clearly presented to customers in the case.

The previous range of ramp profiles of 2 mm, 3 mm, 5 mm and 8 mm will be expanded in 2023 by heights of 10 mm, 15 mm and 22 mm and

Floor Forum International 128 8 Advertorial Auer Metallprofile (D)

at the same time suitable accessories such as straight connectors, 90° corner connectors and flexible corner connectors will be addedfor the professional laying of ramps, intermediate floors, exhibition stands and platforms.

On the one hand, a 20 mm wide and 3 mm thick, discreet but stable bridge transition profile made of aluminum was designed, which is available in the colours silver and stainless steel with a fine finish. Other colours, be it anodized, enamel or RAL powder-coated, are of course available on request, as always at Auer.

On the other hand, black anodized has now been added as the standard colour for the 10 mm and 18 mm angle profiles, as well as the 28 mm and 38 mm transition profiles, which means that this colour is immediately available for these items. Although black anodized profiles have been sporadically produced at AMP for around 20 years on request within a few days, black has not yet been included as a

standard colour in the catalog range, due to the sustainable production setting not wanting to bind too much material inflexibly. Due to its continuing popularity, this colour has now been added to selected products in order to further increase the customer advantage in terms of speed in this regard.

Because the wishes of the customers are always the focus at Auer Metallprofile. It is therefore not surprising that a whole series of smooth insert profiles, without grooves on the tread, has now been launched in order to do justice to even more creative laying situations. In detail, these are the aluminum insert profiles 3 mm, 5 mm, 8.5 mm and 15.5 mm, as well as with a 7 mm nose in the slide-in heights of 3 mm and 5 mm. These are now available in silver and stainless steel coloured anodised.

All NEWS 2023 can be found at www.Auer-Metallprofile.de or on request.

For more information visit us on www.auer-metallprofile.de

Floor Forum International 128 9

THE ABSENTEES MISSED A TREAT!

FOUR-DAY GLOBAL TRADE FAIR FOR CARPET AND FLOORING PROVES A HIT DESPITE SCALING DOWN

Per Nygren (Executive Vice President, Välinge Innovation Sweden AB)

“During Domotex, we once again demonstrated how we are innovators at heart”

In Hannover, Välinge Innovation was one of the exhibitors that drew a lot of attention. Once again, it illustrated how it has remained a pioneer in technical revolutions for the flooring industry since its inception in 1993. During Domotex, the Swedish company with its headquarter in Viken, put the spotlights on its new 5G® Cross™, that premiered at the show. This 5G® Cross™ is yet another addition to its floor locking portfolio.

Our post show reaction comes from Per Nygren, Executive Vice President of Välinge Innovation Sweden AB. Mr. Nygren, who has been with Välinge since 2003, has a profound knowledge of the company. He leads us through its innovative technologies, its advanced products and the incredibly journey Välinge Innovation is making.

Exceptionally good traffic

First of all, we want to know how the company experienced Domotex. Quite a few traditional exhibitors were not present and others doubted if they had made the right choice to take part. How did Välinge Innovation approach the show?

Per Nygren: “We never had any real doubts. We did, however, expect the general number of visitors to be slightly lower since many important producers chose not to exhibit this year. In reality, we experienced how the traffic in our booth was exceptionally good, in combination with an overall top-level quality of our visitors. The interest in both our technologies and our products was very high.”

World premiere of 5G® Cross™

As stated earlier on, the new 5G® Cross™ was highlighted. It goes without saying, there was a whole lot more to discover at the stand. What interested visitors most and what was the overall gist of their reactions?

Per Nygren: “We had the pleasure to meet both existing and potential customers. On the technology side, we experienced a major interest in our technologies in general. Our 5G® floor locking portfolio with 5G® Fold Down, 5G® Dry™ and 5G® Climb™ gained a lot of support and so did our Woodura® and Liteback® technologies. It’s also fair to say that the world-premiere of our new 5G® Cross™ got some truly well-deserved attention.”

“In fact, we were overwhelmed by the positive response we got on our brand-new technology 5G Cross. We knew we already have the best floor locking system on the market with 5G Fold Down and it’s only natural for us to keep evolving this technology, based on what the market demands. Before 5G Cross, it used to be a real hustle trying to install floors in rectangle or square patterns without panels moving and shifting. But this is the perfect way to finally make straight set floor installation fast, easy and reliable. It works with all materials, is compatible with 5G Dry and in combination with Decorative Grooves, it brings the authentic look and feel of a stunning ceramic floor, without the hassle of grout. Installation is a breeze, and the specially designed cross-component assures a 100% lasting pattern.”

“All visitors with an interest in our high-performing flooring collections, integrated with technologies from Välinge, were genuinely appreciative about both existing products and our new releases. Of course, there was a large interest in getting to know more about our plans of merging Välinge Flooring and Bjelin together as one brand – Bjelin.”

Merger Välinge Flooring and Bjelin

Now you mention the merger with Bjelin later this year: is it possible to tell us a little more about this? What can we expect and what are the main reasons for this merger? How will this benefit your customers?

Per Nygren: “Both brands, Bjelin and Välinge, will remain. Going forward, Bjelin will become the united name for all industrial activities and our large – and growing – product offer. Välinge will continue to focus on its core business of innovation and licensing. Välinge’s

Floor Forum International 128 10 Review Domotex Hannover (D)
Licensed by

well-known licensing model and supportive partnership will stay unchanged and through Bjelin, we gain the possibility to create worldwide attention for our revolutionary technologies.”

“The upcoming merger aims to optimize coordination in production and sales and to draw maximum synergies from the global footprint of the Välinge Bjelin Group’s joint ventures and unique innovations. Välinge will continue to be among the industry leaders regarding innovations and R&D and Bjelin will take a leading role in all parts concerning production and sales within certain categories of flooring and furniture. For all our product customers, this creates major advantages such as an even larger product offer, highly improved stock availability and an optimized capacity to faster meet market requirements. The opportunity to incorporate our own market-leading technologies in production will efficiently shorten the time to market for all new inventions and technologies and lead the way for all our licensees and partners. The licensing benefits will keep expanding and Välinge Innovation will be able to even further evolve and improve our technologies and our extensive licensee support.”

Future of Domotex

Coming back to Domotex Hannover in general: what is, according to you, the ideal future for the fair and what are the most important features you look for in a trade fair?

Per Nygren: “Domotex has for decades been the leading international flooring fair where the whole industry gathers and meets partners, customers and competitors. In the past, we have felt that Domotex, BAU and TISE/Surfaces in just a few weeks’ time was too much. A good idea would be that Domotex considers going for biannual events. This would mean that flooring companies and exhibitors that chose BAU this year will return to Domotex next. The industry needs this event, and the international visitors will come back. For us, this is a great way to meet existing and new customers, get time to present all technologies and products at the same time and meet other stakeholders in the industry.”

Several new launches in 2023

One last question: is Välinge developing spectacular new products at the moment? And are there plans to expand into new sectors of the market?

Per Nygren: “Under the Bjelin brand, we will have several interesting launches this year. New floor formats will become available and the much-appreciated selection of our Hardened Wood floors will be increased. All products will be made with Välinge’s Woodura technology and leak-proof installation system, 5G Dry.”

“Our furniture technology Threespine® makes it truly effortless to assemble furniture. This easy click solution has gained a lot of attention lately and at Interzum in May we will share some truly exciting news. You should look at it this way: in our company, we are innovators at heart. This means we will continue to improve and develop technologies for easier installation, smarter disassembly, and with waterproof features. In doing this, we will always keep a strong focus on sustainability to improve the overall environmental footprint of the flooring industry.”

Floor Forum International 128 12 Review Domotex Hannover (D)

Before the start of Domotex, both the organisers and exhibitors were anxiously waiting to see how the show would turn out after a two-year absence due to the pandemic. Since there was only limited space for our sector this time, the range during this four-day global trade fair for carpet and flooring was certainly rather smaller than in the past. However, when the show concluded in mid- January, there was only one conclusion: The absentees missed a treat; a smaller range certainly didn’t make it any less attractive and that feeling was echoed by virtually all the masses of professional visitors.

69% international visitors

The visitor figures prove that the four-day Domotex international show has lost none of its attraction. No fewer than 69% of professional visitors came from outside Germany and that figure complies with our impression during our own visit. What stood out in particular was that Domotex has developed even more so than in the past, if that were possible, into a contact show. The number of innovations wasn’t so overwhelming, but that couldn’t spoil the enjoyment. After all, the core business on this occasion was to maintain existing business links and clinch new partnerships. With regard to both the first and second aspect we picked up scores of enthusiastic reactions on the show floor, including from FN Neuhofer from Austria, where Caroline Schön summarised the mood perfectly.

A remarkable number of new contacts

Ms Schön told us: ‘We have to be honest and admit that we thought long and hard about taking part. Finally, we decided to set off for

Hanover with a smaller stand. In hindsight, we’re absolutely delighted that we did go. We were pleasantly surprised. Not only were there a lot more visitors than we expected, but also the quality of those who turned up was extremely high. Nor had we expected to forge so many new contacts. Moreover, they included new contacts from the other side of the world, such as Mexico and Peru. There’s only one possible conclusion: Domotex is still a pioneer show due to its international character!’

That was most certainly noticeable in the walkways. Exhibitors who decided to miss this show nevertheless sent representatives ‘to test the water’. Amongst them we heard equally enthusiastic reactions, mixed with a certain regret that they didn’t have their own stand this time.

Every two years?

We encountered, for instance, Frederic Tuypens, sales director of Europe Flooring at the Belgian company Decospan. In the past, Decospan has had quite large stands, but this year they decided to wait and see. Mr Tuypens told us: ‘I’ve lost count of the number of clients I’ve met in the walkways. And so, it’s been a good show because I’ve had vital face-to-face contact with so many people. I do think the organisers must consider opting for less frequency; I think every two years would be ideal.’

Various players made that same suggestion for a two-yearly show, including Bruno Descamps from the Belgian company Lamett. We met him, too, in the walkways, where he also said that he would like to return to Domotex as an exhibitor in the future every two years.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ Floor Forum International 128 13
Photo Deutsche Messe

To come back briefly to Frederic Tuypens, we also heard him say that his own company actually did very well both during and after the pandemic; veneer is clearly growing partly due to the rising wood costs and the growing shortage of the raw material. And so, Decospan has invested considerably in new machines and a new factory. He tells us: ‘We’re highly ambitious; we aim to increase our volume threefold within two to three years. We also want to guarantee our clients prices in the long term.’

Trend presentation

The favourable reactions should certainly not shield the fact that the organisers do have at least some work to do. The main component which we waited for in vain was the approach to trend presentation. This was given a roaring build-up, but the end result did not meet expectations. We think that some more work is called for, especially on the atmosphere.

ABETECH-ABRASIVES

It was a real pleasure for ABETECH-ABRASIVES to be back at the Domotex fair after a 2 years hiatus due to Covid. Despite the amount of hall being downsised this year, we were really keen on seeing our clients again and meeting new ones. We think favoring human contacts instead of only relying on digital exchanges is a real plus. Therefore, we invested in a brand new stand so we can display our product and novelties as well as welcoming our clients and prospects the best way. For those who missed us, you can still consult our catalog online : www.abetech.be or if you have any question you can mail us via abetech@abetech.be or by phone : +32 71 30 17 12.

Also note that ABETECH will be participating at the BAU fair in Munich from the April 17 to April 22 2023. To Sum up this 2023 Domotex edition, the fair was a great success and the good mood was really part of the atmosphere.

We will definitely attend the 2024 edition as well. See you next year !

Alberani Parketti

Giovanni Pagliara - CEO Alberani Parketti

I would like to thank Floor Forum International magazine for giving visibility to our project. We have been producing pre-finished parquet since 1990, all our parquet floors are produced in our plant based in southern Italy, in Nociglia (Lecce). That’s why we decided to produce using exclusively Mediterranean wood species from our area,

especially Italian Walnut and Olive, putting all the passion and care that wood needs. Our presence at Domotex in Hannover gave us the opportunity to establish contact with companies from all over the world, who are delighted to talk to a company with a strong identity and which represents a specialisation in the field of wooden flooring. The company is based on a family tradition which was founded by my father Angelo Pagliara, it can count today on a young and dynamic team and continues to pass on its acquired traditions and knowledge. We work with woods that tell the story of man's culture, they stand out for their strong character and personality. We want our customers to enjoy beautiful interiors that represent their tastes and ambitions as well as the uniqueness of their environments. The project is ambitious because it aims to re-establish a balance between Italy's woodland resources and the taste for refined and sophisticated interiors. We select the raw materials ourselves so that we make sure they are beautiful, reliable and sustainable. We invite you to visit our website www.alberaniparketti.com and call us for information about where you can see our parquet floors first-hand. I would like to thank the whole Alberani Parketti team for their hard work in bringing our company to the Domotex trade show, and the organisers of the exhibition for taking care about our needs.

Bjelin
Floor Forum International 128 14 Review Domotex Hannover (D)
At Bjelin, we are passionate about creating change for a better future and constantly challenge traditional ways of thinking.

Bjelin and our sister company Välinge are innovators at heart and believe that breakthrough inventions are one of the best ways to meet our industry’s future demand for smarter and more sustainable products and solutions. Sustainability is not a niche or a competitive advantage, but a business standard that must be adopted by all. Our sister company Välinge is known for its breakthrough innovations and the passion for challenging traditional ways of thinking. We have several breakthrough inventions in our portfolio, and sustainability is an important aspect of every new development. We believe that lasting change is best achieved through smart inventions, and we are honored that our technologies received so much attention at Domotex. We are here to revolutionize the industry, and we will continue to develop smart solutions that meet the needs of the future. If you wanted to know more about us, our offerings, and the future, you visited us at Domotex and celebrated exciting new products with us. Thank you all for making DOMOTEX such a remarkable event! It was fantastic to meet each and every one of you. We appreciate that you took the time to visit our booth and that you showed such great interest in our revolutionary technologies and advanced product offerings. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

For all further inquiries please visit our page at: www.bjelin.com

DecoRad Systems

For the 9th time in a row, DecoRad Systems bv was present at the Domotex Hannover with both UV and LED-UV equipment. Our expectations of the Domotex Hannover were not very high in advance, as many of the brands we knew well, were absent and a fairly large share of Chinese companies was present among the exhibitors. However, we were pleasantly surprised with a very nice and international turnout, especially on Thursday and Friday. We are satisfied with the number of potential new customers that we have welcomed to our stand. At the time of writing this review, we are still working on the follow-up. Our visitors were particularly interested in traditional UV for resilient floors and in the industrial use of LED UV. The high quality and reliability of our products have made our DecoRad brand a world leader in portable UV curing. We also supply proven energy-efficient and highly reliable GEN2 LED-UV equipment for both industrial and on-site use. Our equipment is produced in-house in our factory in the Netherlands. We sell our equipment in over 45 countries, directly from stock to the end user. UV coatings are available for most floor types, both for new, factory floors and for renovation. For more information about our UV equipment, visit www.decorad.com

Design Parquet

At the International Flooring Fair in Hannover (DOMOTEX 2023) Design Parquet launched its new range of bathroom parquet Navylam + exotic species on a plywood base. The new dimension offered for this ship deck aspect parquet is 11 mm thick by 86 mm wide, including 3.5 mm top layer. You discover this new proposal in the following species Acacia, Doussie, Iroko, Wenge. As the teak is the most expected specy, Design Parquet offers 3 possibilities either in solid wood in 9 mm thick by 64/68 mm wide, or in 9X84/88 and to add its collection on a 15 mm thick support, and 136 mm wide (including 3.5 mm of top layer). This last proposal suits also in an environment other than the bathroom such as a dining room thanks to its greater width.

Exportdrvo

Exportdrvo, the leading supplier of high-quality floorings, panels and sawn timber, recently took part in the renowned Domotex Hannover 2023. The event was a huge success for the company, as they were able to connect with both current customers and partners, as well as make new contacts. At the exhibition, Exportdrvo showcased its range of premium floorings, panels and sawn timber, which received a great response from the visitors. The company’s team of experts was on hand to answer any questions and provide in-depth information on the products, allowing visitors to truly understand the quality and versatility of the products on offer. Throughout the exhibition, Exportdrvo was able to connect with a large number of current customers and partners, strengthening existing relationships and discussing new business opportunities. The company was also able to make new contacts and expand its reach, reaching out to potential customers from all over the world. Exportdrvo would like to express its gratitude to all those who visited their stand at the exhibition. The company would also like to thank its current customers and partners for their continued support and is looking forward to working with them in the future. In conclusion, the Domotex Hannover Exhibition was a huge success for Exportdrvo, providing the company with the opportunity to connect with customers, partners and new contacts. The company is already looking forward to the next exhibition and is confident that it will be just as successful as this one.

Visit www.floor-forum.com Floor Forum International 128 15

The Austrian family business FN Neuhofer was pleased to take part in Domotex in Hanover and present its innovations for 2023 to existing and potential customers in person. FN Neuhofer presented “FN Acustico”, its functional design acoustic panels in various designs, as well as the new, screwless fastening system “FN Clipholder CH25”. This clip is a true innovation – without tools or drilling, it quickly and easily clamps into the expansion joint between the floor and the wall. The skirting board is held in place by the compressive force of the floor. Another highlight was the presentation of the incredible potential of the state-of-the-art digital printing system for panels that has already been installed and activated at the Zell am Moos site. With this system, FN Neuhofer can produce panels made of MDF, metal (e.g. AlcanDibond/alu-composite), rigid foam (e.g. Forex, Sintra), soft foam (e.g. Kapa), three-layer panels made of spruce, pressboard panels as well as folding carton/corrugated cardboard, and glass. It is able to print “FN Acustico” panels up to a width of 250 cm in the highest resolution. The potential applications are wide-ranging and the system perfectly complements the FN standard range.

“For us, the participation at Domotex was a complete success”, said Managing Director Franz Neuhofer. The enthusiasm of the many international visitors at the FN Neuhofer booth was very high, making the trade fair an incredible start to the new business year.

FINISHPARKIET Factory of Exclusive Wooden Floors

precise craftsmanship. Finishparkiet was the first in the world to launch two-layer single-lamella parquet with the total thickness of 14 mm and the usable top layer of 6 mm. Each piece of this exclusive wooden floor by Finishparkiet stands for years of tradition, history experience and passion. In its portfolio, the Company has its flagship products:– Finishparkiet and Finishdeska , as well as its highly acclaimed response to the recent market trends, i.e. Finishjodła Francuska (chevron), Finishjodła Angielska (herringbone) and Finishdeska XXL.

The key advantages of Finishparkiet flooring:

- three layers of UV cured oil-wax

- seven layers of UV cured varnish

- clear and precise classification

- highest precision of craftsmanship

- perfect for finishing heated floors

- thanks to gluing the parquet to the floor base, we avoid the effect of resonance

For more information about Finishparkiet and its products, visit our website: www.finishparkiet.com.pl

FloorLaBs

At FloorLaBs, they supply all kinds of flooring and accessories under their own brand. Laminate flooring, skirting boards, and accessories together form an important pillar of their current product range. They continue to grow by increasing their export volume each year. They are currently one of the leading Turkish exporters in SPC and laminate flooring under the same roof, especially in the European market. They are aiming to go on introducing Turkish flooring products all over the world. The price is important, but even more important are stability and reliability. At FloorLaBs, one of their main principles in production is to offer their customers the best price-benefit combination with their extensive range of product portfolio, especially when you enter into a long-term relationship. If you know what you want, they can source it for you, but if you're not sure and need some inspiration, they can provide that as well. Contact them to discuss all your needs in flooring and wood materials. They can meet all your needs and they are always ONE STEP AHEAD!

Korpela Flooring

Finishparkiet Factory of Exclusive Wooden Floors is a family company, which has been pursuing the highest standards in wooden flooring for many years, and setting trends on the market in the process. We cultivate the noble traditions of manufacturing wooden floors, passionately creating products that stand out for top quality and

Korpela Flooring’s vinyl flooring is modern and economic choice on the floor. The flooring looks like textile flooring but it has all vinyl’s best features – the durability and maintenance. The product is ready for use right after installation. It fits for different kind of public buildings like offices, hotels, banks, schools, medical practices and shops. It can also be used in private residences like in kitchens, covered balconies and stairs. The flooring is easy to install and keep clean due its water and dust repellent surface. It is hardwearing material, which can be cut in any direction without the risk of fraying. The flooring works also very

FN Neuhofer
Floor Forum International 128 16 Review Domotex Hannover (D)

well as sound and thermal insulator and it is fireproof. The colours of the products are very sustainable even under UV light. The product will be delivered in rolls and tiles.

Korpela Flooring is a Finnish family company founded 1972. Our long experience in weaving industry quarantees the best quality of products.

Nobel Flooring

Again participating at Domotex after the corona years .... We didn't know what to expect in these peculiar and uncertain times, but what a success we experienced ! Our brand-new stand with parquet planks 9 meters long was literally shining at the fair and could count on amazing reactions from our visitors. We were really pleased to welcome the many international guests and to experience how they also believed in our product and our vision. Finally, valuable trade contracts were concluded, allowing our participation to deliver for the hoped-for results.

operating under the Korner brand on the European market for over 30 years, constantly improving our products and introducing new products in line with the trends and customer expectations. We make every effort to ensure that each stage of production is carried out in accordance with the procedures to ensure that the products are of the highest quality, which will be completely safe for users and their environment. Our new pride - SPC panels produced in Poland is an ideal product for underfloor heating, which perfectly conducts heat without changing its parameters. The second important aspect is the innovative core made of 80% natural components, which in combination with polymers give the floor flexibility and 100% waterproof. The developed technology allows for complete recycling, making our floor fully ecological. Thanks to the click assembly system, the panels do not require adhesives and are extremely easy to install. SPC vinyl floors had their premiere at the Domotex 2023 fair in Hannover. We presented collections inspired by the beauty of nature with varied colors and clearly reproduced wood structure. Thank you very much for visiting our stand so willingly and getting to know our products with curiosity. We invite you to visit our website: www.korner.eu and Facebook: /korner. producent.

Soest

Despite the fact that Domotex 2023 was relatively small, Soest experienced the fair in Hanover as a very good fair. The various machine demonstrations again attracted plenty of attention and Soest spoke to many potential customers from all over the world. On the stand an oil line was demonstrated, oil was applied to wooden floorboards and

Oil Bee

High resistance oil-wax blend for wood

Poli-Eco Poli-Eco is a Polish producer of SPC vinyl flooring, skirting boards, finishing profiles, furniture edges and accessories. We have been
THE ULTIMATE HARDWAX By choosing and buying OIL BEE you help us to protect and save bees. Chimiver will make a donation to BeeLife association for each sale. MAIN SPONSOR Choose Chimiver, toge er for a sustainable future EXCELLENT WEAR RESISTANCE HIGH COVERAGE REDUCES THE RISK OF SIDE BONDING T OCHEMICALSAGENT S EN 13442 RESISTANCE T O SALIVA ANDSWEA T DIN 53160 RESISTANCE SAFE TOYS EN 71-3 Floor Forum International 128 17

polished. The new PUR glue line was also a great success. With this new line not only wooden floors, but also the popular acoustic wall panels can also be easily glued. Of course, this new machine line, like all other machines, can be tested in the Soest showroom in Wormerveer - the Netherlands. You are very welcome for a demonstration!

Renzo Borgonovo and Figli di Nando Trabattoni

The Renzo Borgonovo and Figli di Nando Trabattoni teams gladly take this opportunity to thank everyone for the excellent turn out of this past DOMOTEX 2023 edition, which has brought us to know wonderful

new people and pushed us to expand, once again, our horizons and boundaries. A particular thanks to our historical customers, who, while continuing doing business with us, give us a great boost to improve our products and services with their constructive feedbacks, advice, and new requests. At this show, while showing our parquet sector Borgore 500/ITI Hot Embossing machine with Electrical Lamps and doing live demonstrations with it, we presented various new embossing roller patterns and showed the possibility of embossing on new eco-friendly materials, such as recycled denim and recycled coffee grounds, to promote a circular economy and an eco-friendlier future. Finally, the two companies proudly celebrate this year their 60th partnership anniversary, having started to work together to successfully serve their common clients in the far 1963! Thanking everyone once again, we wait you at our next scheduled event: LIGNA 2023 (15-19.05.23 – Hanover, Germany)!

Automa�c

Automa�c

DOMOTEX

Spraying

EFFICIENCY - THAT PAYS OFF FOR YOU!

Prices are rising everywhere! Not at Laegler! From now on you can save twice with our abrasives - not only time, but also money!

Therefore: get enough abrasives in stock in good time!

✔ We support you! Our prices will not be increased at the moment!

✔ So with us you can safely plan your costs for consumables!

Via Comasina, 125 - 20843 Verano Brianza (MB) - Italy +39 0362 90 13 47 - info@borgonovo.com www.borgonovo.com

www.borgonovo.com

Spraying Machine Hot Embossing Machine NEW DESIGN! FNT

Buy the abrasives now, you will need them later anyway!

✔ The larger the quantity, the lower the price per piece!

Work efficiently and achieve better results with less effort!

Interesting and notable facts about our abrasives can be found on our homepage!

+49 (0) 7135 98 90 0 info@laegler.com
FNT #87 FNT #103
Jan 2023 - HALL 22,
B38
Hannover, DE STAINLESS STEEL PROTECTION NEW! Up to 500 mm of Width! Electrical Hea�ng System Via Comasina, 125 - 20843 Verano Brianza (MB) - Italy +39 0362 90 13 47 - info@borgonovo.com
12/15
STAND
-
Via delle Marcite, 1 - 22030 Castelmarte (CO) - Italy +39 031 62 13 03 - rollers@traba�onistampi.com www.traba�onistampi.com Machine Hot Embossing Machine FNT #103
STAINLESS STEEL PROTECTION NEW! Up to 500 mm of Width! Electrical Hea�ng System
DOMOTEX 12/15 Jan 2023 - HALL 22, STAND B38 - Hannover, DE
Floor Forum International 128 18 Review Domotex Hannover (D)
Via delle Marcite, 1 - 22030 Castelmarte (CO) - Italy +39 031 62 13 03 - rollers@traba�onistampi.com www.traba�onistampi.com
#106 FNT #108 FNT #109 FNT #107
2023, be ready for a New, Worldwide Aspecta collection. Discover the ESSENTIALS, EXCELLENCE and CONTOURS collections at www.aspectaflooring.com Learn more about our commitment to sustainability on the website Carbon Neutral floors for a better future! The new EXCELLENCE and CONTOURS collections are carbon neutral. C LARTUENNOBRA LARTUENNOBRAC BRAC O N NEUTRAL CARBON NEUTRAL

Marcel Kies (President HMTX Global) and Claudia

ASPECTA PAVES THE WAY FOR YOU EVERY DAY

At Domotex in Hannover, the Aspecta stand drew a lot of attention. This should not surprise as the company had a lot to tell, both about the way how it reorganized in 2022 and how it tackles its future and relaunched its brand and portfolio in 2023, introducing three brand-new collections (Essentials, Excellence and Contours) under the header ‘Embrace the ease’.

At the stand, both Marcel Kies (President HMTX Global) and Claudia Kunath (Vice President Global Design at HMTX Industries) walk us through their story.

company headquartered in Norwalk, USA, and is a leader in LVT manufacturing. Within HMTX Industries, HMTX Global (headquartered in Oud Gastel, the Netherlands) focuses on architects and designers as a high-end contract brand.”

“Important to explain is how the former company Aspecta BV got a completely new identity. It merged with Vertex Floors and is from now on part of the new sales division HMTX Global. HMTX Global offers high-quality, sustainable LVT flooring solutions with excellent surface textures, superior design and authentic colours. The company serves the market outside North America in more than 40 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific with LVT flooring solutions that enable residential customers, architects and builders to work comfortably and efficiently.”

HMTX Global

“The first thing to explain, is how our company functions”, says Marcel Kies. “Aspecta is part of HMTX Industries, a family owned flooring

“HMTX Global is one of the four towers of HMTX Industries”, adds Claudia Kunath. “HMTX Industries consists of Halstead (a leading supplier of luxury vinyl tile to the home center market in the US), Metroflor corporation (representing residential and commercial segment in North America), HMTX Commercial (focussing on healthcare and institutional) with the two brands Teknoflor and Aspecta.”

Floor Forum International 128 20 Editorial Aspecta (NL)
Kunath (Vice President Global Design at HMTX Industries)

Discover the New Aspecta range

At Domotex, we saw how the slogan ‘Aspecta paves the way for you every day’ explained a new approach of the market. Aspecta is now a ‘One-stop -solution’ for the customer, covering different segments with different range concepts and selective specification and designs.

“There comes an end to the previous separate brands, sales strategies and market activities”, says Claudia Kunath. “What this means for HMTX Global is that a much clearer image for the consumer will come about. Since the inception of HMTX Global in 2014, yearly new ranges were created and this grew enormously, up to 400 SKU’s. This is way too much for the customer to understand and that is why we downsized to 225 SKU’s. At the same time, we refreshed the range and brought it up to trend.”

Embrace the Ease

Aspecta now presents everything in three overarching collections, under the header Embrace the Ease.

“These are three brand new collections, ranging from good basic LVT products, to even better qualities and the absolute top of the range. These three are, respectively, Essentials, Excellence and Contours”, Claudia Kunath summarizes.

“The Essentials collection consists of durable and sophisticated LVT flooring that is perfect for residential or light commercial use. However, the biggest group of designs you will find under Excellence, with no less than 107 designs. This core collection makes design and technology become one and new standards are set for LVT flooring for residential, commercial and industrial use It is available in different product thicknesses as Glue Down, ISOCORE Click and Loose-Lay flooring”, Marcel Kies explains. “The Excellence collection

comprises various plank and tile formats, ranging from a standard size to extra large planks that can be used in exceptionally vast spaces.”

“Contours is the collection for the highest end of the market and offers special patterns”, concludes Claudia Kunath. “This collection comprises LVT-flooring in iconic layout patterns such as chevron, herringbone and basket weave in different plank sizes. It does this as a robust Glue Down 55 or state-of-the-art ISOCORE Click 55 flooring, that is suitable for heavy commercial use.”

Central objectives

Still to mention in conclusion: in her effort towards a greener future, HMTX Industries focuses on two central objectives. One is to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and the other is to aim to be carbon neutral by 2035.

Both HMTX Industries and HMTX Global are also investing heavily. HMTX Industries will open two new LVT factories in the US, in Pittston and Texas. In the Netherlands, HMTX Global has just moved to a totally new warehouse in Roosendaal.

For more information visit us on www.aspectaflooring.com / www.hmtxglobal.com

Floor Forum International 128 21

Special Wooden floors with a wood powder top layer: the strength of the finish

THE MULTILAYER FLOOR COMPLETELY REVISED

NEW WAYS OF PRODUCING TOP LAYERS REDUCE THE NEED FOR WOOD DRAMATICALLY

"The winners of today and tomorrow are those who can drastically reduce the use of raw materials"

One of the pioneers in powder technology for the creation of top coats for multi-layer wooden floors is Austrian Stöckl Parkett. Stöckl Parkett markets the three-layer B:hard, using a technique developed by Swede Darko Pervan (founder of Välinge in 1993).

We interview CEO Georg Stöckl, the man who runs Stöckl Parkett. We want to hear from him why his company opted for wood powder technology and what the advantages are compared to traditional multilayer parquet.

Two types of multilayer

"I should mention right away that we bring two types of multilayer parquet to market. Our traditional multilayer parquet is twolayer and is offered under three names. First, there is Actus, with a top layer of 3, 4 or 6 mm. Then you have Epico with a 3 mm top layer and finally there is Kreativ, which allows for different patterns. We offer this with tongue and groove, for glued installation. The parquet comes varnished or oiled in various colours," Mr Stöckl clarifies. "Our parquet made with powder technology is three-layer and is marketed under the brand name B:Hard. We offer this in planks that are either 223 mm or 283 mm wide, at a fixed length of 2.20 metres. There are also special patterns, with a herringbone (under the name B:Hard Modern) measuring 129 mm wide and 774 mm long. B:Hard is offered in oak and walnut, brushed and with Microbevell. Most finishing is done with oil, but we also offer this varnished. Of course, we also supply various colours."

100% wood

It goes without saying, we want to know why a company starts marketing this kind of product. What are the USP’s of boards made with wood powder technology?

"For this you have to keep several things in mind, the most important of which is that the world today simply uses way too much material, we consume twice as many raw materials as are available. Just looking at the EU, we saw that the so-called overshoot day fell in July last year. B:Hard provides a solution to this. We work with 100% wood, no plastics and the result is that we can make ten times more oak surfaces than with comparable, normal wooden floors. This is an answer to a challenge, in which, if you ask me, the winners both today and tomorrow will be those who manage to drastically reduce the use of raw materials."

"To briefly explain the process: we start from a Compositek (wooden fibre) board with a density of more than 1,000 kg. Powder is applied on top of that and a top layer on top of that. This is then pressed using presses that can be compared to presses for plywood, which means that you work differently than with multilayer parquet. The enormous force causes the powder to liquefy and penetrate the pores of the wood, which you literally petrify. So it basically comes down to using a mix of wood particles and various resins."

Ecological and other benefits

From the preceding explanation, there is a clear ecological benefit of this technology. Can Mr Stöckl say a little more about that, including the other advantages?

"The biggest advantage is of course that you use ten times less wood and thus contribute to reduced CO2 emissions at the same time. In the superstructure, we also use Compositek as a carrier, a wooden fibreboard made in the same way and which is a lot more suitable than traditional plywood. It has greater surface density, exhibits only one-tenth of the surface swelling and the amount of formaldehyde released is much lower than with a traditional HDF board."

"Another interesting thing to note is that we work with a top layer of only 0.6 mm. So only a minimal amount of wood is used, which is certainly an advantage when you see the increasing problems with the supply of oak, among others."

Floor Forum International 128 22

"Yet another advantage is that in addition to a particularly high fire resistance (class B, virtually non-combustible), there is great compatibility with underfloor heating, with correspondingly much lower heating costs. Our underfloor heating resistance is by far the best of all wood floors, specifically 0.065m2K/W glued or 0.071 floating. By the way, this is a completely glueless process, as the powder takes over the function of the glue and also locks up the knots and pores. This creates a very hard top layer, so no dirt penetrates the pores. Renovating even becomes unnecessary because finishing with hardwax oil is sufficient. If damage occurs, you simply remove the hardwax layer and apply a new layer. Our product has already received several certificates. We are already ISO 14001 certified and ISO 38200:2018 will be added soon. That way, we meet the requirements of both PEFC and FSC."

Coming soon: click Dry

In which markets is B:Hard already present? And what innovations can we expect in the near future?

"We started in our own Austria, but other interested markets were soon added, such as France, Germany, Switzerland, Finland and Norway. And of course also the Benelux, where we are notching up nicely," concludes Mr Stöckl. "Of course, we are constantly working on further innovating our product, and one of the things I can say is that we will be introducing our click Dry to the market before the end of the year. This is a floor that is guaranteed to remain waterproof for 24 hours, further details will follow at a later date."

www.stoeckl.com 100%realwood lowestconsumptionofresources 3xhardersurface easytoinstall easytoclean likeparquet.butbetter. WoodTec-floors

Two editions ago, we introduced the new wood powder approach. This technique is designed for top layers of wooden multilayer floors and deploys a sort of powder which creates a completely new sort of top layer via a specially developed technology for hardening wood. What it comes down to is that this powder is a mix of wood particles which are mixed with resins.

This new technique has lots of benefits. Perhaps the main one is that you need a lot less wood than with the traditional approach to top layers. What it comes down to is that you start with an HDF panel. The powder is applied to the panel with the wood veneer on top. This is pressed and the force exerted makes the powder fluid. It penetrates into the pores of the wood which is literally petrified.

Eight times less wood is necessary

In the meantime, a number of producers have embraced the technique, including the German Meister Werke Schulte GmbH. They are launching on the market the Lindura wooden floor, which has been produced with this technology. We consider a number of aspects of this product to give a better impression of the possibilities.

First of all, we consider the much smaller quantity of wood which is necessary for the top layer. At Lindura they say that you only need one eighth of the normal quantity of wood necessary by melting a fine powder made from wood fibres and mineral components with the top layer of real wood. The extra benefits which this yields are as follows: The surface becomes extremely durable and wear-resistant, the floor can withstand heavy pressure, and the floor is very easy to clean. That latter holds true mainly for the ultra-matt variants, for which the ultra-matt lacquer Duratec Nature has been developed. This penetrates deep down into all the wood pores and ensures minimal maintenance together with a strongly refined stain-resistance with anti-footprint effect and high resistance to micro-scratches and wear and tear. All this means the floor looks like anything but a lacquered floor.

How do you fit such a floor? Meister told us that Lindura can be fitted floating without glue and that it can also be fitted perfectly well onto floor heating. There is very low heat resistance due to the special product structure and thereby the heat soon radiates through the floor and around the room, even with a floating fitting.

Floor Forum International 128 24 Special
Wooden floors with a wood powder top layer: the strength of the finish
Photo – Stöckl Parkett

Is sanding possible?

The most pressing question which you probably want to ask: How does such a thin top layer cope with renovation sanding? That is certainly a problem, but we can give a convincing answer which makes it clear why the question about sanding is superfluous. With wood powder technology you don’t sand in the classic manner, but renovation is certainly possible. With naturally oiled surfaces, you simply apply a fresh coat of oil (you can even do this in patches) and with matt lacquered variants the Bona Recoat system is offered. This means you can renovate a floor quickly and affordably which has reached its expected term of life. What it comes down to is that you lightly sandpaper the top coat of lacquer and seal it again. This means that residue of maintenance products, footmarks, and light scratches are removed so that the floor is ready for use the next day.

Also for walls and stairs

An extra aspect which we should mention with this Lindura is that you can use the floorboards not only on the floor, but also on the wall and stairs. There is a rail system available which can be fitted in a vertical position. This system was developed originally for classic wall panels, but also serves for this purpose. Once the rails are fitted in the right spot, you can fit the floorboards without a hammer and nails using the fastening clips. With the right stair profile, you can even use Lindura for stairs.

Now for those who wonder about watertightness: The edges of the floorboards are treated with the Aqua Stop impregnation. The result is watertightness in 24 hours and the product is suitable for use in damp

rooms. All surfaces, both ultra-matt lacquered and natural oiled, also boast an antibacterial effect.

Bjelin

Thanks to our outstanding, patented Woodura® technology from Välinge Innovation, Bjelin hardened wood floors are three times as hard as traditional wood flooring. They’re also highly water, scratch and dent resistant. The normal expectancy is that these floors will not

Hardened oak VIKEN

VIKEN is our widest hardened oak floor in the Nature sorting finished with a natural hard wax oiled surface.

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

Floor Forum International 128 25
Wide
Innovative floors for creative interiors
planks in Hardened wood

Special Wooden floors with a wood powder top layer: the strength of the finish

need to be renovated on a later stage in their lifespan. The surface is so hard, it is not likely to be worn, and this is due to the versatile wood powder technology, Woodura®. Under Woodura®, the powder mix includes wood powder, preferably recycled from the existing production. Hardwood flooring manufacturing has advanced so much in the last few years that floors can easily last a lifetime of normal everyday wear and tear. Apart from the super strength and durability of the floor, the high-density and moisture-resistant core also minimise the risk of swelling, which further adds to the product’s durability. When looking at the process itself, you see how our innovative, patented process involves fusing a thin sheet of wood onto a wood fibre core through a unique powder mix layer. By heating and pressing the wood and wood powder layers, it’s possible to squeeze every grain of goodness from each oak, walnut, or ash tree. This process has evolved over the last few years and continues to develop. Our product has another main advantage, as it has ecological benefits. Thanks to our Woodura® technology, less wood is needed. The unique process of heating and pressing the wood and wood-powder layers results in up to 10 times more flooring from the same amount of lumber. In addition to this, all waste is recycled to create wood powder, which is then used in our Woodura® process. Also, most hardwood flooring is manufactured in such a way that it is CO2 negative.

Meister

Lindura® wood flooring - what makes it so special?

Lindura is a wood flooring that is sustainable, robust and suitable for everyday use. This is what makes Lindura the wooden floor of the future because its surfaces only require one eighth of the raw wood material used by conventional multi-layered parquet flooring. The so-called wood powder technology is used for the production of

Lindura. Wood Powder is a fine powder made from wood fibers and mineral components that is fused with the real wood top layer to form an extremely durable surface. Lindura can be installed as a floating floor and is also perfect for use on underfloor heating due to its very low thermal resistance. Thus, the heat quickly penetrates the floor into the room, which saves energy. Because of the extremely hard wood powder layer, sanding down the Lindura wood floor is not possible. But this floor can also be renovated: with naturally oiled surfaces by simply re-oiling (also partially), with the ultra-matt variants using the Bona Recoat System.

Floor Forum International 128 26
Photo – Parky

Parky

Parky, the original high-performance wooden floor Parky was born in 1990 as a real wood veneer floor with a clear goal: to deal with the disadvantages of traditional parquet. Easy to install, easy to maintain, no need for re-sanding and a much more ecological use of wood. After 30 years of knowhow and focus on innovation, Parky made a real revolution in the world of wooden floors in 2020: the undeniable charm, authentic structure and lively look and feel of real wood was now combined with next-level durability - suitable for intensive commercial use - and a waterproof surface. The secret lies in its wellthought-out structure. First of all, Parky has a top layer of real wood. Wood is precious and therefore we use it sparingly, by slicing it into thin layers. Moreover, this wood only comes from sustainably managed forests. To protect that wooden top layer Parky developed a unique technology which makes the floors ultra-strong. On one hand, the top layer is pressed onto a high density fibre board (HDF), which makes the floors hugely impact-resistant and more stable than traditional parquet. On the other hand, the wood is finished with our Titanium finish, that consists of eight robust layers of lacquer. This makes the floor even more resistant to daily wear and tear as well as scratches. Its usage class 33 stands for intensive commercial use whereby Parky floors are now also suitable for offices, hotels, retail stores, etc. In addition, the Aqua Sealing Complete finish guarantees a 12 hour waterproof surface. The wood pores and bevels are protected right into the smallest corners from damp and dirt, which makes maintenance a piece of cake. And so, Parky floors are ultra-strong and waterproof, but thanks to the super matt and brushed finish the natural feel and timeless elegance of wood are still preserved. Parky is available in

different wood species, colours, sizes and patterns. A classy herringbone – with the handy fold-down Unifit X clic system – is just one of the many options. In short, Parky floors are real wooden, sustainable floors with unprecedented convenience and durability. And that is the exact reason why we say: “It’s good to live on wood”. For more information contact info@decospan.com.

Real wood A sustainable choice Usage class 33 Waterproof surface The strongest wooden floor more information www.par-ky.com

THE PERFECT CORRECTION

IDEAL LEVELLING CERTAINLY ISN’T AN EASY JOB

Pieter Pruijn (Lecol BV -NL)

‘Our products are getting closer to the ultimate ideal of working dust-free.’

When it comes to reducing dust, you simply cannot ignore the Dutch company Lecol BV, which comes under its parent company Maiburg. This company is heavily committed to reducing the impact of its products on both the environment and the health of users, and that means marketing levelling agents with as little dust as possible. Sales and product manager Pieter Pruijn explains the how and why of the dust-free levelling agent narrative.

When we ask about the most significant operations in recent times, Pieter refers first of all to the various standards which governments have made to reduce dust emissions on building sites.

Three main groups of measures

Pieter Pruijn: ‘If we consider the situation in the Netherlands and Germany, you notice that the government subdivides elements into three main groups of measures to unhealthy dust emissions. Generally speaking, these comprise an approach at source, the suction, ventilation, or purification of the air, and PBMs or personal protective equipment.’

‘The approach at source means introducing alternative products with little or no dust. Here we use our low-dust levelling agents levelling agents from Wakol, with the Z610 as the crème de la crème. It’s a cement-bound and low-tension product which covers in one layer and is both solventless and low-emission. For the second part we have a solution whereby if you mix the levelling agent in a tub or bucket, you can put a ring or semi-open lid on it. This sucks up most of the dust. If you can’t tackle the problem at source or don’t have enough suction, we also have FFP2 masks, so you can work safely for 30 minutes. If you need to work for longer periods, you can switch to a full face shield.’

Development of levelling agents

In recent years, producers have worked hard on adapting the content of new levelling agents with dust prevention as their top priority. How has this development been going at Lecol and what does the composition of the latest generation of low-dust levelling agents look like?

Pieter Pruijn: ‘Our levelling agent programme falls into four sorts. We have, of course, the ‘old fashioned’ products, but you can regard the Wakol Z610 as the leader. Last year, we adapted this product to improve the end result on the floor even more. Obviously, we can’t give you our formulas, but what I can say is that we’ve added an adhesive to the powder formula so that the powder more or less sticks in the air together during the filling and mixing. We’ve launched comparative tests and noticed vast improvements in the area of the dust clouds which arise. It’s not yet dustless, but there is certainly a huge reduction in dust. However, that takes nothing away from the fact that it’s still better for floor fitters to wear an FFP2 dust mask for the sake of their health and absolute safety.’

Standards

How much dust is still spread during the application of the Lecol levelling agents? How harmful is this (still) to the user’s health?

Pieter Pruijn: ‘I had a look for the standard and found it in Germany from the so called BG Bau (Berufsgenossenschaft der Bauwirtschaft). The BG Bau is an umbrella organisation for everyone connected with construction. The BG Bau draws a distinction between so called A-dust, which penetrates deep into the lungs and causes the most harm, and E-dust, which comprises bigger particles which don’t penetrate as deeply into the lungs.’

‘For A-dust, it sets a limit of a maximum of 1.25mg dust per cubic metre. With E-dust, the limit is 10mg/m³. We had our Wakol Z610 tested against those figures and the results which we achieved speak volumes. We recorded 0.39 and 2.72 for the A-dust and the E-dust respectively. And so, we’re well within the formulated standards and comply with the law with room to spare.’

Floor Forum International 128 28 Special Levellers:
who sells what and what about dust reduction

‘In that connection I’d like to mention our cut-price product, the Z680, and another development, the mass filler Z645. The Z680 doesn’t work as fast and spreads less thickly (up to a maximum of 10mm, with a drying time of 24 hours), but it’s an excellent project product which is also low in dust. We’ve developed the Z645, the mass filler or rapid cement, which dries in only a few hours. This is available low in dust for finishes from 1 to 5cm, so you don’t have to work very long for the finish.’

Extra representative for Flanders

In closing, Pieter Pruijn gives us some more news hot off the press. Since 1 January, Stephan Berckmans, the permanent representative for Flanders, has had a new colleague, namely Kevin Bresseleers. Bresseleers has worked previously at Amorim Belgium and will now be responsible for East and West Flanders and Brussels. Stephan will look after the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg.

Don’t forget that even the strictest surface tolerances can still be too wide for some coverings (high gloss, for instance) and that specific conditions can mislead. Even if you apply a levelling layer to rectify the specific surface defects of the subfloor before an elastic floor is fitted, you still can’t rule out the possibility that under some conditions (e.g. grazing incidence of light through big windows) even the smallest blemishes remain visible. Various things illustrate how vital a good substrate is.

Levelling on different substrates

Levelling is possible on various substrates such as wood, tiles, or concrete. To do that, you always use a suitable adhesive primer before applying a levelling agent. As we’ve already said, the total standard thickness is about 2mm. First of all, you allow this levelling agent to set and you should follow the producer’s instructions meticulously. It’s best to roughen up the floor first before the fitting.

Levelling floor as a finishing floor

We’ve written a few articles in the past about the use of levelling agents to level floors. Those articles made it clear how this is done with ready-for-use or other products which are designed to prepare a subfloor or another substrate for a floor covering such as cork, vinyl, tiles, parquet, or laminate. In this article we consider briefly the main reason for levelling a floor and highlight a special case, namely the levelling floor as a finishing floor.

Firstly, we should reiterate that levelling serves mainly to rectify surface defects in the subfloor. You also strive to improve smoothness and want to ensure the surface is solid, healthy, and dust-free for fitting the floor. That’s the only way to get the best possible end result after fitting a new floor.

Assessing levelling

What is good levelling and how do you assess what it looks like?

Remember that you should never do this job when there is a backlight or a grazing incidence of light. You always do the commissioning during daylight (no exceptions) and with the naked eye. You look straight ahead at the surface to be inspected and at a minimum distance of one and a half metres for floor coverings.

A levelling floor is applied mainly as preparation for fitting a new floor covering onto it. However, this doesn’t always have to be the case, as it’s also possible to keep a levelling floor as a finishing floor. What happens after the application of the levelling agent is that the applied layer sets very hard and sticks to the substrate. This layer of levelling agent makes the substrate completely flat. If you consider using a levelling floor as a finishing floor, you have to keep a number of things in mind. For instance, it is vitally important first of all that the substrate is completely clean, compression resistant, and tensile. You fill in any deep cracks and holes using a filler. After that, you level the substrate in a well ventilated room to prevent air holes in the leveller. For the application of the levelling agent, you apply an adhesive primer and, after that, you make sure at all costs that the levelling agent is not laid too thickly, with the usual thickness being a maximum of 1 to 2mm.

As with so many other operations, it is essential that the levelling agent dries properly. Allow for a drying time of one day per millimetre of thickness. Afterwards, it’s best to apply a special coating to the levelling floor because you want the surface to be durable.

The reason for choosing a levelling floor as a finish layer is the industrial and rigid look. It’s also possible in several colours, with grey being the most popular due to its concrete look. However, by adding pigment, you make it possible to have a wide range of other shades.

Sources: egaliseer.be and gietvloeren-expert.be

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ Floor Forum International 128 29
Photo - Lecol

In the Bona range: 3 levelling agents and 1 repair grout. These products are suitable for floor heating and have very low emissions (Emicode EC1 Plus).

Bona H600

Cement-bound, acrylic-polymer reinforced levelling agent. Self-levelling – Can be laid after 12 hours. Compatible with primers Bona D510 and D520 or Bona R590. Unevenness - fill big gaps with Bona H610.

For application under: ¬ Mosaic, wood engineered, multilayer, and solid parquet ¬ Also under flexible floors, textile floors, and solid cork tiles ¬

Layer thickness: 1-20mm

Bona H605

Calcium sulphate levelling agent: Based on Alpha-hemihydrate. Gives flat and absorbent substrates for the subsequent installation of flooring.

Self-levelling – Low tension. Compatible with primers Bona D510 and D520 or Bona R590.

For application under: ¬ Flexible floors ¬ Textile flooring ¬ Also for parquet which is glued with Bona silane adhesives ¬ Layer thickness: 1-20mm

Bona H660

Cement levelling agent. Like Bona H600, but takes a little longer to dry.

Treat the substrate with a suitable primer, such as Bona D510, D520, or Bona R590. Unevenness - fill big gaps with Bona H610. For application under: ¬ Mosaic, wood engineered, multilayer, and solid parquet ¬ Also under flexible floors, textile floors, and solid cork tiles ¬ Layer thickness: 1-20mm

Bona H610

Cement-bound repair grout: A fast-setting and rapid-drying watertight grout for indoor repairs. Substrates should be treated with primer Bona D510, D520, or R590.

Application: ¬ Ideal for filling holes and cracks in covering floors ¬ Repairing and restoring concrete staircases and risers ¬ Repairing and restoring sand-cement screeds, concrete floors ¬ Repairs around pipes, doors, and window frames ¬ Layer thickness: no limit.

Chimiver

RASOCHIM AL

Fast drying cementitious self-levelling for interior works and public floorings up to 10 mm thicknesses

RASOCHIM AL is a grey powder for internal use consisting of special cements with rapid hydration, with graded silica sand, resins and special additives.

RASOCHIM AL mixed with water becomes smooth, fluid and easy to

apply wth high bonding strenght and fastdrying. It can be laid down up to 10 mm thicknesses onto cement subfloor, concrete, tiles, marble etc.

PRYMER A

Single-component water-based anti dust primer

Ready to use single-component water-based anti-dust primer based on a nano-dispersion of resin with guarantee high penetration even in low absorption subfloors and anhydrite and heated subfloors. It’s suitable for reactive glues and perfect for superficial consolidation.

RIGO Verffabriek investigated the demand for a suitable finish for self-levelling concrete floors with an industrial look. In addition to a seamless appearance and a high degree of water resistance, a finish should also retain the matte look of the self-levelling concrete layer. The masters of lacquer crafting at RIGO Verffabriek looked for and found a way to retain the untreated appearance of finished surfaces over 15 years ago: SKYLT. SKYLT protects the treated surface and strengthens its original appearance. With a SKYLT finish, wood keeps its pure, wooden appearance. Thanks to the introduction of SKYLT Sealer, this untreated look can now also be applied to mineral surfaces. SKYLT Sealer #5030 is a functional primer that negates the hydrophilic qualities of the mineral surface through a thick, high-build coating that initially discolours the surface. With a second coat of SKYLT Sealer, the protective layer is practically waterproof. Once sealed, the surface can be finished seamlessly and without any issues with two coats of SKYLT Original, resulting in the desired, untreated appearance. The discolouration will disappear without a trace. SKYLT Sealer is also highly suitable as a finish for walls.

Floor Forum International 128 30 Special Levellers: who sells what and what about dust reduction
Bona
RIGO Verffabriek

CHOOSE THE RIGHT SOLUTION

THE IMPORTANCE OF USING ADHESIVES WHICH ARE BOTH HEAT-RESISTANT AND FLEXIBLE

When floor heating is used, it’s a good idea to fit the floor glued. After all, a glued floor swells and shrinks up to 50% less than a floating floor and glueing ushers the heat to its proper place sooner.

It’s important to choose the correct adhesive solution for glueing in combination with floor heating. Generally speaking, it is advisable to choose either an MS polymer adhesive or a PU adhesive. This is because those types of adhesive are both heat-resistant and flexible. Such flexibility in the adhesive is vitally important. After all, if you use an adhesive which isn’t flexible and it gets too hard during the setting process, there is a risk of this adhesive ‘breaking up’ over time.

PU and MS polymer

When we talk about PU adhesives (obviously solventless), you see that they are available in both one and two components. They can be used on both absorbent and non-absorbent subfloors. MS polymer adhesive for floor heating is an adhesive based on hybrid polymers. It is also designated as an SMP adhesive (silyl modified polymer), a special type of adhesive with a built-in hardener. This adhesive reacts by means of moisture and is highly flexible, something which also makes it ideal for use on substrates with floor cooling.

Applying the adhesive

When these adhesives are applied to a floor with floor heating, it is important to switch off this floor heating during the fitting. Moreover, be sure also to use the correct notched trowel and don’t forget to put on special PU gloves. After all, you want to avoid the well known dirty hands, which are the result of a reaction to damp on the fingers.

Bona

Bona Quantum/Bona Quantum T is a 1-component silane parquet adhesive for the installation of a wide range of parquet and wooden floors. The adhesive is equipped with the revolutionary Titanium Crosslinking Technology and ensures rapid initial adhesion. The unique formulation combines the benefits of both hard-elastic and hard adhesives in a single product. This guarantees a perfect result and a balanced floor for its entire lifespan. Moreover, Bona Quantum can also act as an adhesive and a damp screen all in one. It is for use on concrete and cement covering floors with a residual moisture value of no more than 5CM% or 95% RH. The easy use, good adhesive back, and the durability of the product make Bona Quantum the absolute premium product for daily use. Bona Quantum T has a higher Viscosity, and this results in an even better adhesive back, so there is less risk of hollow spots appearing.

Properties:

- Powerful Titanium Crosslinking

- Floor can be sanded after 12 hours

- Integrated damp screen ¬ Broad scope of use

- Refined tensile strength ¬ also for use on metal bases. Bona Quantum is suitable for use in combination with floor heating. With these floors, keep to the heating protocol for floor heating to allow the covering floor to dry properly!

Chimiver

ADESIVER HERCULES (A+B)

Two-component epoxy-polyurethane hypoallergenic adhesive for wooden floors, free of solvents

ADESIVER HERCULES is an odorless two-component adhesive for wooden floors with a very low sensitization level, it's fire retardant, free of solvents, water and isocyanic resins.

ADESIVER HERCULES is classified as "ELASTIC" according to ISO 17178, it has an outstanding traction resistance, workability and coverage. Thanks to its elasticity, ADESIVER HERCULES is suitable for gluing wooden floors onto underfloor heating and cooling system. ADESIVER HERCULES also 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.

Visit www.floor-forum.com Floor Forum International 128 31
Special Who has adhesives for various screeds in combination with floor heating

Sustainability as top priority

Filip D’Haeseleer: ‘The EU has also introduced new legislation to counter deforestation and guarantee biodiversity. This new legislation introduces stricter conditions for the purchase of wood in forests outside Europe. An example: If you want to buy wood from Brazil, in the future you will have to consider that you won’t get permission any more if the wood originates from a so called clear-cut or unmanaged forest. This gives us an extra demand on the purchase side, but at the same time it’s also positive because it targets both deforestation and the ‘use of land’. This covers both plantations (e.g. soya and palm oil) and meat production, for instance. Actually, this fits in perfectly with our philosophy, which makes an absolute top priority of sustainability.’

Floor Forum International 128 33 NV/SA SPECIALIZED IMPORTER OF TROPICAL HARDWOOD J. Cardijnstraat 3 - B-9420 Erpe-Mere - Belgium Tel: 0032 53 73 74 74 - Fax: 0032 53 73 74 75 www.denderwood.com WALL CLADDING AND TERRACES WOOD IN TROPICAL HARDWOOD: INFO@DENDERWOOD.COM PEFC-Certified PEFC/07-32-219/2 is from sustainably managed forests and controlled sources. www.pefc.org

In previous editions we’ve considered the composite range for terraces. This time we’re concentrating on the original material from which terraces are traditionally made, namely wood. What are the benefits of this warm and natural material and how do you set about the fitting in practice? We consider a number of points.

First of all, obviously, we need to consider wood sorts. For terraces there are various suitable wood sorts, some of which have a lifespan of over 50 years. If we talk about wood, we’re obviously talking about hard wood, namely wood which is cut from slow-growing trees with high resistance to climate fluctuations and damp. They combine this with great strength and durability.

Hardwood sorts and thermo-treatment/heat treated

As regards sorts, the range is wide, but the most suitable ones for use on a terrace are as follows (the durability classes are given in brackets): African padauk (I), basralocus (I), cumaru (I), ipe (I), itauba (I), afzelia (I), jarrah (I), sweet chestnut (II), merbau (I-II), moabi (I), massaranduba (I), afrormosia (I-II), purperhart (I-II), robinia (I), sapupira (II), jatoba (II), makoré (I), oak (II-IV), tali (I), and tatajuba (I-II). You can find an alternative to these natural hardwood sorts in the shape of thermo-treated or heat-treated wood sorts. By applying this method, you widen the range to include a lot of extra sorts. This brings soft coniferous sorts such as pine, deal, douglas, Oregon pine, and larch into consideration. Obviously, they have to be thermo-treated or heat-treated first.

Main benefits

What are the main benefits from using wood? The main one concerns maintenance: A wooden terrace requires little or no maintenance. A second benefit is the aesthetic aspect: Due to the influence of direct sunlight and changing weather conditions, wood ages evenly and exceptionally beautifully without this affecting the mechanical properties or lifespan of the wood. Even if you don’t want the wood to age and you opt for the original wood colour, it’s easy to find a solution through the application of pigmented oil. It is advisable to apply four coats with adequate drying time in between. You should suggest that clients contact you every two to three years to ask you to roughen up the surface lightly and apply a renewed finish coat. That gives you extra business as a fitter.

What you do have to look out for with wood is that terrace wood with a ribbed surface is no less slippery than ordinary surfaces. Moreover, these ridges collect dirt and damp particles and stimulate algae growth. And so, you should advise clients to treat their terrace with algae killer spray to prevent a slippery surface. Another possible benefit: The presence of ridges means that some flaws in the wood are less visible. You see a lot less clearly things like small cracks or gaps between planks which can appear in the course of time.

The fitting

Finally, we need to consider briefly the fitting because fitting a wooden terrace requires considerable expertise. Don’t forget that a wooden terrace must have a stable base. Think here of a light and porous

WOODEN FLOORS FOR OUTDOORS IN LOVE WITH DECKING 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 MULTISPACER PROLEVELING SYSTEM PROLEVELING WEDGE SYSTEM The only one with 2 elements Save 3 pieces on intersections Completley visible joint PATENTED 1407796 1424326 EP 2573296 B1 EP 2952652 A1 PATENTED Turn Remove Laying Protection cap Remover Complete Transparency for a perfect installation. Tighten Remove Space and remove Lay PATENTED PATENTED Progress Profiles SpA Azienda certificata UNI EN ISO 9001:2015 GET ON Erhältlich bei www.progressprofiles.com
Floor Forum International 128 34 Special Outdoor floors: wood & composite
® www.novowood.it The Italian WPC manufacturer Skin Pro Wood colour Wall cladding profile
Visit us in hall B5, at booth 308
New Aldebaran Building - Catania, Sicily - Project by LineaTstudio

stable base and a polypropylene membrane (and anti-UV) which prevents weeds. Don’t forget, too, to provide good drainage (concrete is possible, too). For the fitting you also need to leave sufficient distance between the underlays (30 to 55cm) and between the terrace planks (4 to 10mm).

Source: houtinfobois.be

Wood composite is a sustainable and ecological alternative to hardwood. It also does not rot and is splinter-free. In addition, composite boards are also less slippery.

INVISIBLE FIXING

No screws or nails that distort the view or hurt you. Thanks to the specially designed clips, boards are fastened to the wood composite or aluminium beams. With the Duofuse® aluminium substructure you will save at least 50% on installation time compared to traditional screwed systems. Due to its low weight, this system is also ideal for installation on roof terraces. The demand for wood composite is increasing because of the ease of maintenance and durability of the material. Moreover, these boards are also available in trend colours, such as grey and anthracite.

All Duofuse® materials are 100% recyclable

Wood composite is a sustainable and ecological alternative for hardwood. It is made from a mixture of wood flour and PVC. As a result, it contributes to the protection and conservation of tropical rain forests. It also does not require follow-up treatment using oils, harmful preservatives, pesticides and so on. The estimated life expectancy surpasses that of conventional wood and once it was come to the end of its useful life it is completely recyclable.

Eurotec

Eurotec Stone System – a multifunctional installation system for deck coverings

Eurotec offers a wide range of high-quality fastening systems and aids that help realising any deck project. For fixing decking boards

or stone slabs, you will find various products for visible or non-visible fixing in the range. Especially with the multifunctional Stone System from Eurotec, the construction of the deck is reduced to a minimum. With this system, products from the categories of patio supports, substructures and fasteners are put together to build the optimal deck. The Stone System proves to be extremely advantageous – enormous economy, time-saving and uncomplicated installation is ensured. A wide variety of combinations of stone slabs with e.g. wood or WPC decking boards are possible, whereby the longevity of the deck is basically assured. Eurotec has many years of experience and know-how in the field of deck construction and will be pleased to support you in the planning phase as well as in the realisation of your deck project.

La San Marco Profili
Floor Forum International 128 36 Special Outdoor floors: wood & composite
At La San Marco Profili, we offer both timber and composite deck. Regardless which material you choose for your decking project, you

can count on us to deliver superb quality and workmanship. The important thing to remember is that your deck choice should be done first according to the place where the decking is going to be installed, rather than according to aesthetical reasons. Therefore, in your decision on which type of deck you prefer, knowing the core differences between timber decking and composite decking, and the various features of both, will be helpful to avoid any problems and to make the right choice among the many different options within each of these categories. That is why we always do an accurate quality selection of materials we supply to our customers and we help them finding the right decking solution according to their needs. Among timber decking La San Marco offers the following woods: Teak, Ipe, Garapa, Iroko Africa, Angelim Amargoso, Itauba , Thermo Ash. All woods that could easily been installed in almost every places, of course considering all their specific characteristics and properties. Decking, with its very natural effect, offers designers and furnishers outstanding solutions for indoors and outdoors walls, for an elegant finish in the most exclusive areas. La San Marco Profili provides everything you need for the installation , even for the most complex installation solutions. Furthermore, the company adds to its already wide offer some special materials such as the new SMarc Bamboo composite: ultra-resistant and eco-friendly, because 30% made with recycled material. SMarc Bamboo is the brand new product of La San Marco Profili ideal for outdoors: it is a composite made up of 60% Bamboo fiber, 30% of recycled material and 10% of additives. It is a product very resistant to climatic variations, temperature and stains and it is not subject to major color variations. SMarc Bamboo is supplied in two decorations: Walnut, which can be used laying the classic nonslip side at sight or the more refined side with saw cut effect, and Teak, that can be used by laying the side with the modern squared grooves at sight or the particular side with a rustic effect.

NOVOWOOD

and providing a long durability. The acronym WPC describes today a product that might look simple at a first sight, and almost all the same on the market, but in reality customers can find many different formulations that give products with different peculiarities. Novowood exclusive formulation was born in 2004 from the collaboration with the University of Ferrara and it’s made by 65% of recycled wood, 25% of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and 10% of additives. It’s specifically the additives, together with the quality of wood flour and the typology of the polymer, that provide a high durability product, suitable for outdoor use even in very aggressive environments such as the marine ones, reducing maintenance at the minimum. Novowood is also stable in shape and colour, it doesn’t split and it’s resistant against woodworms, insects and fungus. The product is available in multiple colours and finishing, some closer to the look of natural wood and others with a more distinctive character. Sustainability is one of the most important aspects of Novowood. It has indeed obtained in 2021 the Remade in Italy® certification, which proves a percentage of recycled material inside it of at least 81,5%; it’s also recyclable: once its life cycle is over it can be regenerated up to 20 times with no need of new materials. The product substitutes traditional wood in all the outdoor uses. Decking, cladding, louvers: the wide range of Novowood products offers solutions for all the environments, from private houses, to facades of shopping centres and walkways in marinas. It is not just a simple alternative to natural wood: Novowood is a unique product, that represents the first choice for architects and designers who used it in 37 nations all over the world. Novowood will be attending BAU 2023 in Munich: visit booth 308, in hall B5.

Outdoor Wood Concepts®

Outdoor Wood Concepts® is mainly about wood. 95% of their sales are in wooden profiles, so you can describe them as wood lovers; indeed, wood is clearly their preferred material. They distribute three wood sorts, namely massaranduba, African padauk, and ipe. Their love for wood takes nothing away from the fact that composite is also important. The main benefit there is that it is usually fully antislip in the rain, something which isn’t always the case with wooden profiles, not even with profiled terrace planks (unless they have a type of polymer with anti-slip material). The anti-slip feature is sometimes a benefit, such as, for instance, when composite is used in catering businesses. For that matter they have changed to a new system in composite, but this hasn’t yet yielded a higher turnover. They haven’t yet ventured to try thermowood, since they don’t yet have enough experience of this ‘new wood’ and its long-term effects.

Novowood is the Italian Wood Plastic Composite that stands out for its ability to give the sensation of natural wood, eliminating its defects
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+
Floor Forum International 128 37
© Outdoor Wood Concepts®

Special Silane adhesives for LVT, PVC, and vinyl floors

THE MARKET REACTION

MAKERS CONTINUE TO REFINE INCREASINGLY EFFICIENT SILANE ADHESIVES FOR FLEXIBLE FLOORS

With silane adhesives you glue something in such a way that it adheres securely, but, at the same time, what is glued does not stick unyieldingly in place. In the past, we’ve often considered the benefits which silane adhesives have for glueing a wooden floor, but we’ve not yet done that for flexible floors, such as LVT, PVC, or vinyl floors. And so, what is the situation there and what’s on offer on the market?

We know what silane adhesives are all about: You get an adhesive with a durable and high-quality adhesion, which, at the same time, gives your floor a chance to ‘move’. And so, this is ideal for a live material such as wood, where allowing for (a little) swelling and shrinking only works in your favour.

Let’s just briefly repeat how silane adhesives work before we can make the step to LVT, PVC, or vinyl. An explanation about their composition is necessary for a proper understanding. We’re talking here about adhesives which consist of modified silane molecules. An adhesive bonding is created because moisture which is naturally present in the air reacts (polymerises) with the silane bondings. These adhesives can consist of one or two components. Two components are generally used if the aim is more rapid setting, and you also have the benefits of flexibility, elasticity, and resistance to cracks.

Scope is getting broader

In the past, silane adhesives were used less for floor coverings such as PVC, LVT, or vinyl and the price was the main reason for that. These products can be rather expensive, certainly if you opt for high quality. Makers have reduced the price of their products considerably and

we can see the result of that on the market in so far as they are now also being used more and more for flexible floor coverings and are challenging the classic, water-based, and acrylic adhesives. The secret lies in the fact that the makers have continued to find extra solutions so that the adhesion on so called ‘difficult’ floors like PVC or LVT has improved, and polymers certainly guarantee good adhesion. The fact that this means lower adhesive consumption is equally a nice bonus.

What do the makers say?

The first maker which we find with silane adhesives which you can also use for LVT, PVC, and vinyl is Lecol. Apart from the universal WAKOL MS 290 parquet adhesive, Lecol also offers silane adhesives which serve equally as well with its flexible siblings. These are WAKOL MS 550 and MS 552, which respond specifically to a different need if you fit PVC. PVC contains softeners and they diffuse from the product for the lifespan of the floor, so the adhesive can be affected. Both of these special MS adhesives for PVC floors are developed in such a way that they do not affect the adhesive quality. You can use these adhesives in most situations: absorbent and non-absorbent substrates, damp rooms, high temperatures, and you can even use them outdoors. These silane adhesives don’t have to be mixed, have no expiry date, and you don’t have to discard the remains. In the case of PVC you apply these low-emission and solventless adhesives with a notched trowel.

Another maker which has also refined its silane adhesives for LVT, PVC, and vinyl is Bona. Bona Quantum LVT immediately stands out here. According to Bona, this is a new generation silane adhesive for LVT with very low emissions. It is suitable for fitting a wide range of LVT and multilayer modular floors and complies with EN 16511.

Floor Forum International 128 38
Photo – Bona

Bona Quantum LVT is a new generation of silane adhesive for LVT and has low emissions. This silane adhesive is suitable for the installation of a wide range of LVT and multilayer modular floors and complies with EN 16511. Bona Quantum LVT differs from traditional dispersion adhesives through its strong initial adhesion whereby the flooring can be fitted immediately with the option of adapting it later. As soon as the adhesive has set, the forming of thermal joints is offset by a great shear strength. This silane adhesive for LVT floors can be used in areas with a high humidity level and is even resistant to rising damp from the substrate.

- 1-component silane adhesive

- Very high initial adhesion with no evaporation time

- 100% solid substances

- Long open time (up to 45 minutes)

- No sensitivity to excessive residual moisture in the substrate, no risk

of saponification

- Very low consumption

- Very low emissions (EC1 Plus)

- Leaves no traces behind

- Compatible with floor heating systems

- Suitable for chairs with wheels and complies with DIN EN 12 529.

Devo®

The Devo® silane and hybrid glues are suitable for all types of wood. There are certainly some types of glue which are designed specifically for multilayer or for solid parquet. Devo® Glue MSP150 and MSP300 are all silane or hybrid glues. The Devo® Glue MSP 150 1C is a monocomponent semi-elastic, and hybrid MS polymer parquet glue which contains no silicone or isocyanates and is designed for multilayer stabilised parquet. Devo® Glue MS 300 1C is the best-seller at Devomat Industries. This glue is suitable for glueing all types of wood, solid wood up to 20cm wide, and is recommended particularly for fitting pre-finished parquet. The glue contains no water or VOCs and spreads excellently. Devo® Glue MS 300 is a hard-elastic glue (about 70 Shores) with great adhesive strength, conforms to CSN EN 14293, and has the EC1-Plus (EC1-R) classification.

Bona
The premium polymer of choice for your isocyanate-free flooring adhesives. Or visit us at European Coatings Show, Nuremberg Hall 1 - booth 336 Want to know more? Get in touch with us! www.kaneka.be

A CLOSE-UP ON KEY FACTORS

THE INFLUENCE OF DIMENSIONAL AND MECHANICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND THE MOISTURE CONTENT

Moisture content of the substrate

There’s no need for us to say that a maximum moisture level is always required for the subfloor when you fit a parquet floor. Never forget to measure the moisture level. The ideal tool for that is a calcium carbide tool, but there are also electronic tools on the market. The latter give an indication of the moisture content, but they don’t usually provide absolute certainty.

You must also never forget that when you fit a new subfloor, you have to allow sufficient time for it to dry. Important factors here include the room temperature and air humidity, the composition of the subfloor, and whether or not there is damp in the substrate.

A substrate has to meet lots of requirements before you can fit a parquet floor. These divide into a number of key factors, three of which we outline below. We consider in turn the dimensional characteristics, the moisture content, and the mechanical features.

Dimensional characteristics

If we start with the dimensional characteristics, we have to consider the level, the flatness, the roughness, and the stability. The level means the top level of the subfloor on which the floor lies or has to be fitted. The level is determined by the thickness of the parquet so that this parquet is fitted at the correct height. The flatness is partly determined by the fitting method and the type of parquet. An example: If parquet still has to be sanded a lot, it can be fitted more easily onto a substrate with less flatness than pre-finished parquet. You mustn’t forget that a minimal flatness class has to be respected for fitting the floor.

A subfloor should also not be too smooth if you want adequate adhesion with glued parquet. If it isn’t adequate, you should roughen it up first. If a substrate is very rough and gritty, for instance, this could indicate a weak substrate which requires extra levelling. Under stability we understand how a nuisance can be created with a glued fitting as a result of an unstable substrate. And so, this leads us to the possible swelling or shrinking of that subfloor, which has to be made fixed.

Mechanical characteristics

It is essential to consider the mechanical characteristics. These can be divided up into four: the surface cohesion of the floor, the stability, the thermal requirements, and the acoustic requirements. If we consider the surface cohesion, we have to say that it is particularly important with glued parquet. Since a glued parquet floor can exert force on the subfloor, the substrate composition is very important. In short, there has to be good adhesion between the bottom and top layers.

With the stability of the substrate, you check to see whether or not the subfloor has enough mechanical strength and whether or not it will sag excessively under the force of ongoing pressure. If we’re talking about a screed, you can assume that its stability will normalise after about four weeks. We check to see whether or not a floor meets a certain compressive strength, something which is measured using a covering floor tester.

With the thermal requirements you have to realise that wood is a thermally insulating material. This means that wood delays the conveyance of heat from the subfloor to the room. Nevertheless, it doesn’t insulate sufficiently to insulate the entire structure of the floor, and this means that the real thermal insulation has to be provided in the substrate. In considering the acoustic requirements, you have to take account of the acoustic properties of both the substrate and the parquet when you choose the floor structure. It might even be necessary to apply extra acoustic insulation.

Source: W&A Parket

Floor Forum International 128 40 Special How do I assess the base and which product should I use?
Photo – Thomsit

Regardless of the floor, the damp, or the unevenness, Bona has the products which you need, from primers and levelling agents to high-quality adhesives.

Primers (all suitable for floor heating)

Bona D501 – A 1-component primer for preparing substrates prior to using silane Bona adhesives, such as Bona Quantum and Bona Titan.

Solventless - Permeable – Dust-binding

Bona D515 (before levelling) – A dispersion primer for Bona levelling agents. Universal – Good adhesion on many substrates.

Bona D520 (before levelling) – Based on acrylate dispersion. Specially developed for application on substrates such as ceramic tiles, before the application of the levelling agent. It gives a very good grip.

Bona R590 – silane damp screen – For priming and/or blocking residual damp in cement and concrete covering floors. It blocks damp up to 5CM% inclusive or 90% residual damp.

Levelling agents (all suitable for floor heating)

Bona H600 – cement-bound, acrylic-polymer reinforced levelling agent. Self-levelling

Bona H605 calcium sulphate levelling agent – It gives flat and absorbent substrates. – Self-levelling.

Chimiver

PRYMER FAST 500

Fast drying odorless polyurethane primer for subfloors preparation

PRYMER FAST 500 it's a single-component fast drying primer with very low emissions of volatile organic compounds. It's recommended as anti-dust, superficial consolidate treatment and Damp Proof Membrane (DPM) on cement subfloors. The subsequent laying of the wooden floor can be carried our already after one hour. PRYMER FAST 500 is recommended as anti-dust treatment on anhydrite and heated-subfloors. It's ideal for consolidation of old wooden flooring and for synthetic mortars preparation. It's certified EC1 PLUS.

Devo®

Devomat has a wide range of products for preparing substrates.

Devo® Primer Compact is an odourless silicate primer for reinforcement depth impregnation of granular and sandy cement covering floors. The product guarantees a probing reinforcement for granular and sandy cement covering floors. It increases tensile strength and compactness so that some cement covering floors can be repaired which would otherwise have to be dismantled. Some benefits: It penetrates down to a few centimetres deep; it is odourless; it is easy to apply; it has a long working time; it sets very well. Devo® Primer Hydroblock 3C is a tri-component primer which is strongly watertight. It is also suitable for non-absorbent floors, such as marble, old tile floors, etc. Due to the combination of high-quality epoxy binding agents and the hygrophobic properties of quartz powder, Devo® Primer HydroBlock 3C has exceptional waterproof qualities and provides excellent adhesion. Devo® Primer HydroBlock 3C can therefore be used for applications where other primers will not suffice. Finally, Devo® Primer Express PU is a fast-drying, waterless, and solventless PU primer for fixing dusty covering floors and screeds and it acts as insulation against residual damp.

Thomsit

Thomsit has solutions for various problems like damp, frailty, cracks and splits, dirt, oil, or old glue residue. These products are usually compatible to those of other brands, yet Thomsit prefers works from a one-brand system. According to Thomsit, there are certainly universal primers to solve many of the aforementioned problems, but none to cover all problems in one product. The Thomsit best-sellers are Thomsit R 729 Silicate Cast Resin for filling cracks, Thomsit R 766 Multiprimer for priming, Thomsit R 755 Damp Screen for keeping out damp, Thomsit R 790 Filler and Primer for filling joints and priming in one operation, TF 201 Thomsit Floor membrane for covering a bad floor without dismantling it, and Thomsit RS Fix for removing unevenness and differences in height.

Visit www.floor-forum.com Floor Forum International 128 41 Bona

LAMINATE IS FAR FROM FINISHED

EPLF SEES A BRIGHT NEW FUTURE FOR THE ‘OLD’ ALTERNATIVE TO WOOD

In this article we consider at length the future of laminate flooring following a study by the EPLF (Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring) carried out late last year. According to that research, which we supplement from time to time with a smattering of very recent information from the MMFA (the Multilayer Modular Flooring Association), laminate has most certainly not had its day and is holding its own quite well in comparison with mainly flexible floors in PVC and vinyl.

According to the EPLF, the laminate as a product will move in the near future towards greater sustainability. It will do so in combination with designs which look increasingly natural. In addition, there will be a clear commitment to natural colours, textures, and materials. These express the content of today’s fashion buzz word, namely sustainability, for clients who are looking for authenticity and guaranteed lifelong performances.

Floor Forum International 128 42 Special New trends in laminate, LVT, PVC, vinyl, and design floors
Photo – Meister

Cold grey has to go

If we consider colours first of all, you cannot ignore how well playful and striking decors are going to do. By contrast, we’re seeing how cold grey certainly no longer has everything its own way. On the contrary, the new laminate designs are leaning even more closely on original wood patterns with authentic, light, and fresh decors. Those decors have a naturally matt texture and show subtle knots, which yield a harmonious look.

In the area of imitation wood sorts there are few surprises for 2023. Oak has already dominated the scene for a long time and that will still be the case. We see in the current ranges of the EPLF members mainly blond, natural brown, and bleached oak colours. This fits in seamlessly with the natural character and warmth which is taking centre stage in the interior these days.

The choice for oak comes as no surprise at all because this is a wood sort which yields a more peaceful overall picture, certainly in its raw form, to create harmonious decors, which range from light and purely natural shades to nutmeg brown. A number of EPLF members exercise some restraint in connection with this oak. They note that they’re seeing at the same time how other wood patterns apart from oak are gaining ground, so 2024 could occasionally throw up some surprises. Moreover, we should also mention that stone decors are proving remarkably popular.

Herringbone and wide planks

What the EPLF members also mention is something which we notice with PVC and related floors. Special formats which are the result of committed and ongoing R&D, led by herringbone, are still doing well in laminate. There is also a clear penchant for wider planks, something which is a logical consequence of the signs of the times. Wider planks yield tranquillity in the interior and that’s precisely what consumers are looking for in these hectic days. The house is now a haven of rest and laminate floors help you to protect yourself from aggressive influences from outside.

Technical innovation

Obviously, the players are also tinkering with the innovation of the product itself. The EPLF members mention that they are committing themselves explicitly to sound reduction, waterproof character, and sustainability, something which we saw confirmed at various stands during Domotex (obviously not only with laminate).

What we notice is that the players are committed to making products completely waterproof and, amongst other things, they are providing new solutions which ensure that the joint is not a vulnerable point for moisture to seep through. Various elements should mean that laminate can now be purchased without any worries for traditionally problematic rooms, such as the bathroom.

What’s also interesting to note is how much the players strive for optimal circularity. Laminate producers are paying more and more attention to launching products on the market which are authentic, ecological, and longlasting. Like the MMFA, the EPLF supports this latter point actively via its ‘Made With Wood’ campaign, which highlights the ecological features of laminate floors.

EGGER

The EGGER Design Green Tec floor – sturdy, waterproof, and sustainably produced

The sturdy, waterproof, and stain-proof surface withstands daily use, whilst the integrated cork bottom layer absorbs impact noise. And so, there’s no need for an extra subfloor to provide sound insulation. The innovative covering layer makes the floor durable, resistant to tiny scratches and stains, and easy to clean. Unlike vinyl floors, the EGGER Design Green Tec floor has no PVC whatsoever. The floor is waterproof for up to 72 hours, so it is suitable for kitchens, bathrooms, and such like. Moreover, the surface is anti-slip and meets the conditions for use class 33 (commercial use). You can get that little bit extra in a room by choosing the right plank size, and there are two options. Big rooms come more into their own with broad and long planks like the Large size, whilst smaller rooms will look bigger with narrower planks in the Classic size.

Meister

MeisterDesign. rigid design flooring: the new generation of vinyl

The MEISTER rigid core floors are characterised by high stability and brilliant decors, and – like all other MEISTER floors – they are made in Germany. The surfaces with excimer lacquering have been successfully tested to ensure an antibacterial effect. With the integrated high-quality sound-absorbing cushion, which is used in all MeisterDesign. rigid variants, and planks that measure over 1.80 m in length with no decor repetition, the floors in the RL 400 S long plank collection really are unique on the market! Thanks to the secure click connection, the floors can be comfortably laid as ‘floating’ installations and even over tiles, for example, without any sign of the old flooring showing through.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ Floor Forum International 128 43
MeisterDesign. rigid RL 400 S / Natural spring oak 7431 / Wood effect

Special Who sells walk-behind machines for roughing up old tiles, grinding the screed, and removing old carpet, adhesive residue, and such like?

THE HOW AND WHY OF GRANULATING

YOU GRANULATE CONCRETE AND NATURAL STONE FOR VARIOUS REASONS

Ad Groenen and Kris De Rudder (Husqvarna Construction surface and floors Benelux)

"Maximising ergonomics plays a crucial role"

When it comes to 'surface and floor' surface and floor machining, Husqvarna Construction is an authority you cannot ignore. In terms of Walk behind machines for roughening concrete, removing old tiles, sanding terazzo, removing carpet or glue residues, and so on, the company has everything it needs to win over the flooring industry.

We talk to Kris De Rudder, sales manager surfaces and floors Benelux, who is responsible for all areas that have to do with surface and floor treatment in the Benelux, and Ad Groenen, account manager, a man with more than 30 years of specialised experience in the flooring industry. Both men outline how Walk behind should be seen very broadly these days. Of course, there are the classic machines you walk behind, but in addition, the evolution of remote-controlled implements is moving at lightning speed. There are several reasons for this, with maximising ergonomics at number one. They go on to point out how important dust extraction is and how every solution is aiming for a cordless, battery-powered alternative in the future.

Ergonomics, battery power and dust extraction

Kris De Rudder: "In the various applications, we listen to the customer's needs and have predominantly electrically powered machines. Of course, evolution and innovation do not stand still. We already have several battery-powered machines in the Husqvarna range, including also within surfaces and floors, such as the ride-on-stripper and in the near future also some dust extractors."

Ad Groenen: "The aim is to minimise the load. It almost goes without saying that you start looking mainly at the heavier machines, because there is a lot of power involved and the choice for remote control is the most logical one."

Kris De Rudder: "Dust extraction is an extremely important working point. For example, you can attach a dust extractor to everything at our company these days. Working in a healthy environment is crucial, which is why you also need to be able to capture the finest dust. For the latter, we use the Air Cleaner, which you place in the corners of the room to be treated and which 'captures' all the dust. This fits into Husqvarna's overall concept, which we explained earlier."

Gamma consists of five parts

Moving on to the Walk behind range, you can see how it is divided into five parts: floor strippers, milling machines, shavers, sanders and blasting machines. The first three components are mainly focused on floor preparation, the last two are mainly related to further finishing."

Floor strippers

Ad Groenen: "The floor strippers involve machines that can remove floor covering, glue residues, tiles or even parquet. The strippers consist of about four types, from fairly small like the BS 75, to the BS 220, a total ride-on with full battery pack that you can work with for 6 to 8 hours. The smallest, the BS 75, is a typical machine that an individual will use. It runs on mains power, weighs 128 kg without added weights, is fully dismountable and comes with the necessary dust extraction (DE 120). Slightly heavier is the BS 110 and even heavier is the BS 150, a ride-on 230-volt for removing tiled floors and possibly parquet and carpet."

Milling machines

Kris De Rudder: "The milling machines also broadly come in four different types. The entry-level model is the single-phase BMP 215, which runs on normal mains electricity, but can also be supplied with a fuel engine. This BMP 215 is suitable for small areas and light roughing work and possibly also removing thin coatings and glue residues. Then you go heavier and heavier. This leads to the BMP 265 (380-volt high-voltage, optionally also with fuel engine), the BMP 335 (380-volt high-voltage, optionally available with remote control) and the BMP 4000 (high-voltage, optionally with fuel engine and/or remote control). The BMP 335 is intended for milling away somewhat thicker wearing courses or screeds, while the BMP 4000 is used for heavy-duty jobs. Think, for example, of large industrial halls and possibly even road construction."

Floor Forum International 128 44

Shaving machines

Next, we move on to the shaving machines. These can also be used for milling, but the difference is that the tools underneath are different.

Ad Groenen: "I point to the BMC 335 and the BMP 4000. Both come with conversion kits and they are multifunctional machines for creating a different speed. Both machines can also be fitted with remote control, with the BMC 335 being the lightest of the two. The material to be removed can be anything: old glue or levelling layers, coatings, screeds, cement layer,... to even a terrazzo floor."

Kris De Rudder: "Shaving is perfect for removing anything that cannot be removed with other technology, without causing a lot of vibration. The dust and contaminants generated by the shaver are discharged to a special dust collection system. Thus, the process is virtually dust-free in a closed circuit."

Blasting machines

With the blasting machines, as indicated earlier, we are in another segment, that towards further floor finishing. In this category, we find a dozen types, with both a hand blasting machine and Walk behind machines.

Ad Groenen: "For smaller surfaces, the hand blaster 1-5HH at 230 volts is ideal. The range goes all the way up to the large 2-48DS. As a Walk behind, I can highlight, among others, the 1-7D, a 230-volt bullet blaster, which you push yourself. I should mention here that all blasting machines should always be combined with a larger dust extractor."

Sanders

Finally, there are the sanders, which we covered earlier. The range is particularly wide, and we particularly point out the distinction between single-head sanders and planetary sanders (with three or four heads).

Kris De Rudder: "Single-head machines are for smaller surfaces and aggressive sanding, it's about removing material locally. An interesting one for the parquet worker seems to me to be the BGS 250 on 230 volts. With planetary machines, you work on larger surfaces and also roughen up floors. If necessary, you sand a floor completely and polish through to an aesthetically pleasing finished floor. Among the three-headed machines, the PG 690 RC with remote control stands out the most for me. Among the 'four-headers', I point to the HTC RX8 RC, also with remote control."

Moreover, for all these machines, Husqvarna has an extensive range of accessories and diamond tools that make the job go smoothly and competently.

In a previous article we covered walk-behind floor strippers and rotary disc sanders in depth. Those machines remove existing floor coverings. In that article we referred briefly to granulating concrete. This time we’re going to consider this granulating in more detail. What is it and why is it done?

Concrete floors can be (or become) too slippery, for instance. If that is the case, the surface can become a hazard for everyone in the vicinity. Under these circumstances you can opt to roughen up the concrete floor to make it rough and rigid again. This cleaning and roughening up of concrete is called granulating, and it is a job which can be done manually or mechanically.

Hammers and rollers of tempered steel

With granulating machines for concrete, you roughen up the top layer by using hammers and rollers of tempered steel. This can possibly be done using a sort of sanding machine with special wheels. You can do the resulting roughening up with various end results in mind. Apart from making a floor less slippery or working on it purely for aesthetic reasons, you might also have better adhesion for another operation as the end goal.

There are various ways of roughening up concrete, including granulating, grinding, or blasting the concrete. You can opt for granulating (if necessary in combination with grinding) in a number of specific conditions. We’ve already outlined some of them, but that list certainly wasn’t exhaustive. You might, for instance, have noticed that the concrete layer has started to crack, the so called delamination which occurs in exceptional circumstances. Or you’re confronted with a heavily soiled concrete floor, which has to be tackled before you can

apply a new coating. Thanks to granulating, you can also remove old coatings, epoxy, paint, and adhesive residue perfectly well. This method also proves its worth in the removal of markings, ranging from those on motorways to those on industrial floors, industrial spaces, and factory floors.

Benefits and drawbacks of granulating

What are the benefits if you opt for granulating concrete? The most obvious one is that you can treat big surfaces in a short space of time. Furthermore, it’s also attractive because you see a result at once and an immediate commissioning is possible. This also means that you don’t need to wait for the application of a new finishing coat, such as a coating, an adhesive, or an acrylic floor. However, if we talk about benefits, we also have to consider drawbacks in the same breath. The main drawback of granulating concrete is the great quantity of waste which arises from the emission of the concrete top layer. This means that you’re almost automatically obliged to do some extra cleaning.

Also for natural stone

So far, we’ve only considered granulating concrete, but this operation certainly isn’t limited to this substrate. For instance, it is also quite normal to granulate natural stone. With natural stone, the operation is often carried out in rooms where a lot of people come together, such as in a shopping centre. When we talk about high traffic, we also have to consider the danger of slippery surfaces. If a natural stone floor becomes too slippery, it can be granulated. What is done is actually very simple: You simply create a surface in the natural stone with evenly spread indentations.

Main sources: profloorcare.nl and natuursteen-behandelen.nl

Visit www.floor-forum.com Floor Forum International 128 45

AkzoNobel

We’re delighted to announce that Jim Kavanagh has been appointed as Managing Director of AkzoNobel Industrial Coatings.

Jim will lead the strategic direction across a diverse portfolio, including Coil and Extrusion Coatings, Packaging Coatings, Wood Finishes and Wood Adhesives.

He joined AkzoNobel in 1990 as a development chemist in our Protective Coatings business. During his 32 years with the company, Jim has held various positions, including roles within product management and marketing. From 2000, he worked internationally as a General Manager and Commercial Director based in China, Africa and the UAE. Most recently, he was responsible for leading the Metal Coatings business in EMEA as Regional Commercial Director. Commenting on his new role, Jim says: “I’m very proud to be leading a business with so many talented individuals and teams across such a diverse and impressive portfolio. I’m looking forward to further developing our capabilities and building on our leading global positions.”

Further information about AkzoNobel Wood Coatings can be found at industrial-wood-coatings.com

EPLF

Laminate flooring 2023 trends:

Oak is the essence

Brussels, 8 December 2022 – In 2023, the laminate flooring industry will continue its journey through Scandinavia and the Nordics. The trends continue to lean towards more durable and natural designs. With this in mind, EPLF members are committed to come with new original design and technologies that will fulfil the clients’ expectations. Next year’s trends will prioritize natural colours, textures and materials that will translate how important sustainability has become for customers who seek authenticity and lifetime performance.

It is all about oak

Manufacturers tend to stay away from cold grey tones homes and playful eye-catching decors that consumers are leaving out of their homes. Designs remain very close to the original wood patterns with authentic, light, friendly, and fresh decors, with natural matte texture as well as subtle knots, that translate a harmonious look. Blond, natural brown, whitened oak colours will please the customer’s eye and recreate a natural and warm cosy cocoon at home. Whether we talk about colours or the material, raw oak is the consumer’s favourite. The aim is to create calmer and more harmonious decors from light, pure natural tones through to nutmeg brown tones. However, some members already see the first signals and interest in wood types beyond oak. Stay tuned, 2024 might introduce some surprises… When it comes to the formats, the herringbone patterns continue to be popular on the market.

Additionally, wider formats become more fashionable as they help create a calmer appearance in the interiors. The current trends reflect the consumer’s desire to create a haven at home where one feels safe and protected from external aggressions.

Innovation is in the laminate flooring’s “DNA”

Whether it is noise reduction, water resistance or sustainability, laminate flooring manufacturers are at the forefront of research to ensure quality floors. This is a strong selling point to convince customers. Our members produce an increasing number of water-resistant products to meet customers’ desire to include more and more wood in rooms that previously did not. Sustainability is more than ever at the heart of our members’ concerns as they contribute to building a more circular economy. They focus on supplying authentic, environmentally friendly, as well as lifetime performant products. This is captured in the EPLF Made With Wood campaign, which showcases the environmental properties of laminate flooring. All those efforts have only one goal: continue to make laminate one of the best performing products on the market.

Sustainably successful: EGGER Group once again receives awards for its sustainability performance

Sustainable management is a significant component of the EGGER Group's corporate behaviour. The company has aspired to act sustainably since its founding. A key requirement is the continuous improvement of its own sustainability management. EGGER therefore has itself assessed regularly by external institutions. Most recently, EGGER was able to achieve two awards in sustainability ratings: Prime status in the ISS ESG Corporate Rating and the EcoVadis silver medal.

Sustainability in the DNA

At its core, the founding of EGGER is based on a sustainable idea. More than 60 years ago, Fritz Egger Sr. decided to close his sawmill and devote himself to the production of wood-based materials instead. His essential guiding principle was that wood scraps are far too valuable to throw away. Since then, the company has been using these scraps as materials and refining them into high-quality products. This history continues to this day: EGGER takes responsibility for its products, its own production as well as for employees and society and acts with future generations in mind. In doing so, EGGER strives for continuous improvement, has set itself ambitious goals and has its own performance evaluated annually by leading global ESG rating agencies. ESG refers to the consideration of criteria from the areas of environment, social affairs and responsible corporate management (governance). "We have high standards for our sustainability management and our transparent reporting. Through the objective analyses of external ESG rating agencies, we gain additional valuable insight into how we can further translate our objectives into our processes," says

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

Floor Forum International 128 46 ∂ Industry news

ONGOING GROWTH WITH MAJOR CHALLENGES

‘PLAN FOR RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPMENT’ ENVISAGES REINDUSTRIALISATION WITH MORE PRODUCTIVE BUSINESSES

Joris Philipsen (Arbo Wood Flooring - B)

‘It’s best to do business in Poland through someone who knows that market.’

What’s it like doing business in Poland? We put that question to Joris Philipsen, business manager of Arbo Wood Flooring. His Bruges-based company started doing business in Poland about ten years ago after a discussion during a trade fair. It started with one Polish supplier, but Joris now works together with no fewer than eight Polish companies and knows the country like the back of his hand.

Joris Philipsen relates: ‘Sometimes, life seems to change direction by sheer coincidence. During a show in Munich, I visited the stand of Baltic Wood, a name which I’d heard of before. I got talking, things clicked at once, and the result was that I swapped my Chinese supplier for Baltic Wood. I’d been having doubts about my Chinese links for some time. It wasn’t just about the time limits in doing business there, but, above all, you couldn’t ignore the fact that they couldn’t go on wasting material at excessively low prices. We clearly needed a return to Europe and Baltic Wood provided a good opportunity; I still have a good working relationship with them.’

Small family businesses

What follows is a story which began with scores of trips in Poland. Joris certainly got to know the Polish market very quickly. In Poland he met a vast number of small family businesses which were very efficient, but didn’t have such a wide range of products.

‘Poland has become a sort of woodwork centre of Europe. They have well trained woodworkers, who are supplied with oak from Polish and Ukrainian forests. These are almost always small businesses, so you have to look for several suppliers, obviously depending on your needs. Let me illustrate that with an example: one of them supplies beautiful mosaic floors, another offers solid oak, and still another provides quality multilayer floors. These are in all sizes, from small to large, from 7 to 50cm wide.’

Agent for eight Polish companies

With Arbo Wood Flooring, Joris acts as agent for his eight Polish companies, which operate mainly in the Benelux and French markets. Most of the end clients are large parquet companies with projects, people who import and stock, manufacturers who buy semi-solid wood to supplement the solid wood range, and so on. What exactly is the trajectory from Polish supplier to the European client?

Joris replies: ‘I’m speaking from experience when I say that it’s best to do business in Poland through someone who knows that market. Meeting a friendly chap at a trade fair doesn’t mean that the deal is done. After that, you also have to examine the potential partner critically. Are the products good technically, what about the company’s finances, and how reliable is the supply of wood? It took some time to sort everything out and set up my network, but once I’d done my homework, things fell into place. Moreover, if you can group more and more orders from clients, the Polish supplier will give you priority and you don’t have to wait? That’s a nice bonus, isn’t it?’

‘Are there any drawbacks in trading with Poles? Perhaps I should mention the language problem, as lots of people have a somewhat doubtful level in either German or English, although things are improving with the younger generation. To avoid any misunderstandings, I put everything in writing. That’s the best way to make sure there are no mistakes.’

Wood prices and supply deadlines are stable again

We can imagine that the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have also had a serious impact on trade with Poland. How have things been and what’s the situation now?

Floor Forum International 128 47
Special Poland

‘Covid had a serious impact. There was a moment when production in some Polish regions fell to a very low level, whilst there was a huge rise in demand. It was certainly a general European problem, which led to price rises everywhere. You have to put those prices into context if you compare Poland with the rest of Europe. My personal impression is that in Poland you still pay about 15% less than elsewhere and that makes doing business there still an attractive prospect.’

‘The war has particularly affected the supply of oak. Poland does have a lot of forests of its own, but 30 to 40% still comes from Ukraine. In the first part of last year, that resulted in some tensions, but that problem has largely been solved in the meantime. On the one hand, this is because there has been a transition to more wood cutting in their own state forests and, on the other hand, since there has been a fall in demand amongst consumers on the Polish market due to the war. This has released a lot more wood for export, so delivery terms have been back to their former levels since about the end of November. Instead of six months and even longer, you can now reckon on four to five weeks. Moreover, prices have also stabilised, with even a step towards a drop in price since early 2023.’

In this article we take you to Poland and consider the role of this Central European country in both our own Benelux region and further afield. Poland (officially the Republic of Poland) borders on Germany in the west, Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Lithuania, Belarus, and Ukraine to the east, and the Baltic Sea and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad in the north. The country has a surface area of 311,888km² and 38.5 million inhabitants. Warsaw is the capital and the biggest city in the country.

Politically, this country is a parliamentary republic and a unitary state subdivided into 16 voivodships. Poland is a member of several international organisations, including the European Union, the United Nations, NATO, the World trade Organisation, and the OECD.

Steep growth since 1989

Poland has enjoyed clear ongoing growth since the end of communism. The country’s rise can be illustrated, for instance, by the fact that even as far back as in 1996 70% of Poland’s trading partners were members of the European Union. The country’s strong points were seen as sources of great potential growth, and these included an extensive national market, EU membership, and good political stability. These elements persuaded many foreign companies to invest in Poland.

The basis of the current success should be sought in 1989 after the fall of the Berlin wall and the victory by Solidarność in the country’s first free elections. The foundation for the current success in Poland was laid in the second half of 1989 when the so called ‘Plan Balcerowicz’ was drawn up. You can regard this as ‘shock therapy’, whereby the country switched over in no time at all from a centrally led planned economy to a market economy. Initially, this plan led to a severe economic crisis, but from 1992 the Polish economy set off on a course of unwavering growth. This growth has continued without interruption, even during the economic crisis of 2008-09.

It’s worth knowing that since 2015 Poland has introduced a number of restrictions and fees. Those changes restrict the free economy to some extent, especially with regard to sectors such as banking and insurance, energy, and health care. The figures do show ongoing growth. For instance, Polish GDP invariably grew by 4 to 5% before the corona crisis in 2020 and that result was considerably better than most Western European countries. This growth was partly due to investments by Polish companies in their production capacity, but to a greater extent due to the growth of national consumption and the growth of exports and infrastructure projects which were financed by EU support. Poland, too, did not escape the setbacks which the corona

crisis dealt, yet the economic shrinkage (-3.6%) was less drastic than in many other countries.

Challenges

Is everything rosy in Poland? Certainly not. That’s mainly because in the near future the country will have to face the issue of an ageing population. Moreover, there is still a problem in terms of innovative thought, whereby the economy isn’t as competitive as it should be. In this connection it’s worth pointing out that, in his former post as minister of economic affairs, Polish premier Mateusz Jakub Morawiecki worked out a ‘Plan for responsible development’ together with several measures to withstand the outlined challenges and increase the weight of Polish companies in the Polish economy. The plan envisages a reindustrialisation which will yield more productive businesses and more high-quality jobs. Attempts are also being made to promote the development of innovative companies, the provision of more Polish development capital, the stimulation of international enterprise by the Polish business world, and the development of the more deprived regions.

To give a complete picture, we should mention a third challenge, namely keeping the public finances in a healthy condition. After all, the present government has pressed ahead with several measures which will cost the country some money, such as a reduction in the retirement age.

Sources: Wikipedia and Flanders Investment and Trade

Floor Forum International 128 48 Special Poland

BP TECHEM

BP Techem is a Polish company supplying specialized products and services to companies operating in the industrial sector since 1990. Our philosophy is sustainable development, achieved by diversification of the portfolio of our solutions, and partnership co-operation. Our company consists of 8 divisions, but we will focus more on our Flooring Mats department. We have been manufacturing mats for more than 15 years; we supply Polish customers and also foreign ones from 30 countries worldwide. Yearly we can produce 100’000sqm of mats. Each and every order is important to us, from small ones to those of more than 500sqm. Sustainable development and quality management make us a leader on the Polish market and place us high globally. Our turnover in 2021 was 5-10 mln euro. The year 2023 will be a challenge for all of us, but still we have a lot of ideas, and the main one is: To spread information about our range of eco-friendly products. + 48 500 090 227 - marek.klimkowski@techem.com.pl - www.techem-wycieraczki.com.pl/en/

FINISHPARKIET FACTORY OF EXCLUSIVE WOODEN FLOORS

Finishparkiet Factory of Exclusive Wooden Floors is a family company, which has been pursuing the highest standards in wooden flooring for many years, and setting trends on the market in the process. We cultivate the noble traditions of manufacturing wooden floors, passionately creating products that stand out for top quality and precise craftsmanship. Finishparkiet was the first in the world to launch two-layer single-lamella parquet with the total thickness of 14 mm and the usable top layer of 6 mm. Each piece of this exclusive wooden floor by Finishparkiet stands for years of tradition, history experience and passion.

In its portfolio, the Company has its flagship products:– Finishparkiet and Finishdeska , as well as its highly acclaimed response to the recent market trends, i.e. Finishjodła Francuska (chevron), Finishjodła Angielska (herringbone) and Finishdeska XXL.

The key advantages of Finishparkiet flooring:

- three layers of UV cured oil-wax

- seven layers of UV cured varnish

- clear and precise classification

- highest precision of craftsmanship

- perfect for finishing heated floors

- thanks to gluing the parquet to the floor base, we avoid the effect of resonance

For more information about Finishparkiet and its products, visit our website: www.finishparkiet.com.pl

+ 48 (0) 56 474 26 62 - media@finishparkiet.com.pl

POLI-ECO

Poli-Eco is a Polish producer of SPC vinyl flooring, skirting boards, finishing profiles, furniture edges and accessories. We have been operating under the Korner brand on the European market for over 30 years, constantly improving our products and introducing new products in line with the trends and customer expectations. We make every effort to ensure that each stage of production is carried out in accordance with the procedures to ensure that the products are of the highest quality, which will be completely safe for users and their environment. Our new pride - SPC panels produced in Poland is an ideal product for underfloor heating, which perfectly conducts heat without changing its parameters. The second important aspect is the innovative core made of 80% natural components, which in combination with polymers give the floor flexibility and 100% waterproof. The developed technology allows for complete recycling, making our floor fully ecological. Thanks to the click assembly system, the panels do not require adhesives and are extremely easy to install. SPC vinyl floors had their premiere at the Domotex 2023 fair in Hannover. We presented collections inspired by the beauty of nature with varied colors and clearly reproduced wood structure. We invite you to visit our website: www.korner.eu and Facebook: /korner.producent.

+ 48 (0) 68 478 44 29 - w.lewandowska@poli-eco.pl - www.korner.eu

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ Floor Forum International 128 49

BJELIN HARDENED WOOD WINS BEST OVERALL PRODUCT AWARD AT TISE 2023

Bjelin Hardened Wood won an Award for the Commercial range 33 at The International Surface Event (TISE) 2023. Featuring the innovative technologies 5G® Dry™ and Woodura® from Välinge Innovation, the sustainable Hardened Wood Commercial series was awarded Best Overall Product.

“Quality is key for Bjelin Hardened Wood, using a high standard of wooden floor products combined with advanced technologies,” said Zach Adams, General Manager of Välinge North America. “It is therefore an honour that we have been recognised with this prestigious award.”

The ‘Best of Awards’ is held annually at the well-known and widely recognised TISE in Las Vegas, with the industry and attendees voting on the best products. Read more on www.floor-forum.com/en/news

CFL SIGNS LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR I4F’S FLEXIBLE CLICK-TO-LOCK WALL INSTALLATION SYSTEM

CFL chooses i4F wall system for its ‘Vertical Solutions’ range

- Patented i4F wall system suitable for all materials

- Flexible click system for wall panels works with screws, nails or glue

- Eliminates screw obstructions

BOOTH 3047, SURFACES, LAS VEGAS, USA – i4F®, a group of companies providing patents and technologies to the flooring industry, today announced that CFL Flooring has signed a new license agreement for i4F’s patented click-to-lock wall installation system. This new license agreement enables CFL to expand its successful range of bathroom as well as other wall tiles and panels. The patented innovation was developed by i4F and belongs to the group’s Wall & Ceiling Technologies cluster.

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

DINACHOC

Dinachoc is the top specialist in acoustics. Here you choose efficiency and quality and at the same time you help to protect the environment. Their acoustic solution is universal and is adapted specially to most floor coverings. It protects you from noise, whilst you take care of your loved ones. Dinachoc S801 is an underlay which stems from the circular economy and makes a useful raw material of used tyres. With an A+ assessment, it is one of the healthiest solutions in the field of volatile emissions. The underlay is unchanging and will not shrink or fall apart. This is a comfortable and powerful long-term solution with a 50-year guarantee, and all this for professional insulation up to 22dB! For the completion of your fitting, you use Dinachoc C901, a hybrid and monocomponent adhesive which is odourless and contains no solvents, isocyanate, or formaldehyde. Moreover, it has an A+ classification, and this means that the floor covering has a long lifespan and offers 3dB sound insulation. Increase the peace and quiet and freedom of life in your house.

Dinachoc - 170 rue de la Roquette, 75011 Paris - 07 83 02 03 14 - contact@dinachoc.comwww.dinachoc.fr

BONA

Roughening up old tiles, grinding covering floors, and removing old carpet and adhesive residue are highly labour-intensive jobs. Bona makes a priority of professional comfort. Its assortment includes a single-disc machine, the Bona Flexi Sand 1.9, which can be fitted with a drive disc specially for such intensive labour, the Bona Concrete Disc. Diverse types of grinding segments can be fixed magnetically to this basic drive disc, depending on the required result.

These include:

PCD Maxi Segments: These are for removing thick adhesive residue, silane, adhesive, carpet foam, paint, and epoxy.

PCD Split Segments: These are for removing polyurethane, thin adhesive residue, jute, and paint. Diamond Segments: These are for removing sinter layers and epoxy or processing concrete surfaces or anhydrite.

Floor Forum International 128 50 ∂ Product
news

Take advantage of our promotion and become part of the large reader family of the magazine Floor Forum International:

49 euros* per year for 7 issues Subscribe

Our magazine, that is distributed all over the world, targets professionals from the floor coverings sector and the wooden façade claddings. Floor Forum International, that from its start focussed on parquet floors both indoor and outdoor, every year aims at informing its readers about the newest trends and novelties. In it, among other things, you read all about trends and innovations for parquet floors, and this in all kind of wood species, vinyl, LVT, PVC, wooden façade claddings, glues, varnishes, subfloors, deckings,…

For more than 17 years already, Floor Forum International is appreciated by all the major players in the sector, who help determine the contents of the magazine thanks to their novelties that are accompanied by the necessary explanation. In every edition, the magazine singles out one particular country. In doing this, the readers not only discover the sociopolitical history of that country, but at the same time are also informed about the economic potential for what wood is concerned.

Are you an installer of parquet floors or a timber trader, an importer, a distributor, a wholesaler, a carpenter with employees, an agent, an interior architect, an interior designer, a decorator, a manager of a shop specializing in decoration, an entrepreneur in the world of construction or a manufacturer…? If this is the case, our magazine is an exceptionally good source of reference for you.

If you want to take a subscription, all you need to do is send an email to info@media-pact.com. You can also surf to the header ‘Subscribe’ on the website of Floor Forum International : www.floor-forum.com.

* 79 euros per year for dispatching outside Europe

family of
novelties
coverings and wood façades, deckings, finishing products,… Become part of the large family of the sector of the wooden floor coverings, vinyl and PVC and the wooden façade claddings, thanks to the most popular magazine in the sector
and become part of our right away Special: Top Italian export Advertorial i4F Patents & Technologies (B) Special Isocyanate-free Special Adjustable floor support systems for terrace When speed’s important, go with the fastest Theydon’tneedanyinsertsorspecialtools,featureextremely Speaktoyourexistingmanufacturers, contactus ndi4F Bona (SE) Advertorial Küberit (D) VIDEO NEZ DE MARCHE 845 Ressemblance de décor ou contraste sur les nez de marche avec des revêtements identiques ou différents Convient pour la publicité ou des indications TRAPNEUSPROFIEL 845 Eenvoudig installeren Inschuifmogelijkheid voor vloerbedekking Decor matching of contrast op trapneuzen door dezelfde verschillende vloerbedekkingen Mogelijkheid voor reclame of aanwijzingen When speed’s important, go with the fastest Powered by 3L TripleLock 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 nd i4F licensees already producing flooring powered by competitors and reap the benefits – fast. Office of delivery 9099 Ghent X, P911092, BC 31359 Responsible Publisher: Filip De Ridder Special: Top German companies focused on export Advertorial: Lägler (D) Special colour hard wax oil Special Producers of filling machines and the fillers Special Be aware of the when sanding Special Subfloors INTERNATIONAL trade journal for import, export, distribution and laying of parquet, laminate, cork flooring and related products Discover a world of renovation possibilities, discover the world of Bona. We believe in offering the widest range of lacquers design options. wood floors rather than ripping out and replacing. A WORLD OF RENOVATION POSSIBILITIES Bona Primers and Lacquers
professionals to stay informed about the trends and
in the sector of floor
in Europe. Take a subscription right away and enjoy our promotional price of 49 euros*.

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.