INDUSTRIAL FLOORING

Dynamic growth for global floor market

The high performance flooring system market size is estimated to reach USD 15.29 billion in 2028. This is being driven by increasing use of heavy-duty flooring materials in various industrial and commercial facilities is a key factor driving global market revenue growth.

According to the latest report by Reports and Data, the global High Performance Flooring System Market size is expected to reach US$15.29 billion in 2028 and register a revenue CAGR of 5.7 percent over the forecast period. Rapid urbanization and increasing construction activities globally are driving market revenue growth.

A high-performance flooring system is used in indoor flooring due to its high strength and durability. It is mainly used in commercial buildings and luxury residences. Extensive implementation of heavy-duty flooring materials in various end-use applications is driving the growth of the high-performance flooring system market. Additionally, rapidly growing commercial and residential construction and expansion of various end-use industries across the globe are driving market revenue growth.

Meanwhile, increasing interest in sports and fitness, the emergence of gyms and sports centres is creating a high demand for robust and longlasting floors with aesthetic appeal. The need for recreation centres for engagement, wellness, and community requirements for both staff and users are contributing to the revenue growth of the market.

The global chemicals and materials have a wide range of application areas such as crop protection, animal nutrition, dietary supplements, preservatives, flame retardants, surface ingredients, active pharmaceutical

Your workmates’ safety is too important to risk using inferior *#%$@*

Only genuine Australian-made Vigil Antislip products guarantee the highest quality, strongest and longest-lasting antislip protection for steps, ladders, walkways and ramps. Excellent value, no *#%$@* sales@vigilantislip.com 08 9434 4773

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CLASS ONE WARRANTY10 YEAR

Epoxy with its high performance may be the optimum choice for all industrial flooring needs.

ingredients, and matting agents among others. Population explosion along with rapid economic growth is expected to propel market growth. Moreover, the growing urbanisation, rapid industrialization, and high investment in infrastructure development create market demand over the forecast period.

In September 2021, Diversify expanded its high-performance flooring portfolio with the addition of Epoxy Systems International. Epoxy Systems International has technical expertise and experience to match Diverzify’s safety, quality, and performance values.

Epoxy flooring provides high-quality professional-grade characteristics such as high resistance from water and heat. Epoxy is one of the most extensively used flooring incorporated in automotive industries and garages for its superior resistance against gasoline, oil, transmission fluid, bleach, cleaners, and others. Also, its high longevity, anti-fatigue properties, and hassle-free installation with flawless, elegant shine make it ideal for commercial, as well as residential use.

The North American market accounted for a steady revenue share in 2020, attributed to the expansion of the wood flooring industry in the US and increasing demand for highperformance hardwood flooring in residential and commercial buildings. In addition, the presence of retailers such as Home Depot and Lowes and leading manufacturers such as Mannington Mills, Inc. is anticipated to propel market revenue growth.

The concrete segment accounted for a steady revenue share in 2020. Concrete materials are costeffective, extremely tough, and highly durable and are used in most high-performance industrial subfloor systems. These floors are suitable for application in a wide variety of factories with high precision in desired design and appearance.

The industrial segment accounted for a significant revenue share in 2020 as high-performance flooring is incorporated for heavy-duty operations in industrial premises such as workshops, packaging areas, welding areas, manufacturing facilities, loading docks, warehouses, and foundry shops. IU

Why Antislip says “cheapest isn’t always best”

For over 30 years Vigil Antislip has been at the forefront of safety in the workplace, preventing accidents and injuries with a range of antislip products.

Previously slips and falls were not generally recognised as being a major problem in industry or commerce.

However, as more statistics became available, the company has been able to inform the market about these risks and which it believes has encouraged customers to view its products as an investment in their people.

The Vigil Antislip brand is 100 percent Australian owned and operated. According to national sales manager Stewart Hands, the brand is now internationally recognised as the benchmark antislip range for quality, durability and effectiveness for every industry everywhere.

Inferior quality, inferior product

Hands told Industry Update that, with a multitude of cheap copies flowing into world markets, many manufacturers of antislip products try to compete by lowering quality to match price, using thinner steel, fibreglass and softer aggregate with a shorter effective life.

“Vigil Antislip is committed to manufacturing the highest quality safety products from the foundation up, using the highest quality raw materials. We value our integrity and do not compromise on quality, to ensure our customers get the best antislip on the market that is fit for purpose. Class One products are fully backed by a comprehensive 10 Year Warranty,” he said.

According to Hands, price has a role to play, however when making a decision about the safety of your colleagues, cheapest is not always the best. Cost of ownership needs to be considered and the associated downtime with using an inferior product that fails.

Hands states “Our products and company are honest with a great deal of integrity. Our customers are smart enough to take workplace safety seriously, so good luck if you want cheap – you’ll get what you paid for”.

Vigil Antislip manufactures stair nosings, metal deck panels and ladder rung covers and in a wide range of standard and custom sizes, grades and colours, with shipments being dispatched daily to customers in Australia and across the world. IU

Quality antislip products are an investment in people.

Vigil Antislip (08) 9434 4773 www.vigilantislip.com

You can’t rely on everything. But you can always rely on Conquest.

Despite our best planning, things can go wrong in the workplace, such as spills or equipment breakdown. But when they do go wrong, it’s great to know you can always rely on Conquest. Because the last thing you need is downtime disrupting your productivity.

Reliable floor cleaning equipment. Reliable people. Reliable service.

For an industrial floor cleaning solution you can rely on, scan the QR code or call 1800 826 789

Keeping businesses operational from the ground up

Australian owned and operated, Conquest has over 40 years’ local experience in providing reliable floor cleaning solutions tailored to individual business requirements. The company sources quality equipment, uses flexible purchasing options and delivers what it describes as a ‘peace of mind’ servicing program.

Reliable Equipment Partnering with international suppliers from Europe and the USA, Conquest offers floor cleaning machines to suit every commercial and industrial flooring application – whether the goal is to remove dust, debris, tyre marks, stains or spills.

Conquest’s backs its recommendations with a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee delivered via its Conquest 360 promises including: • A 60-day money back guarantee on new purchases • Fully flexible, no-risk rentals • 4-years parts and labour warranty • Access to their unprecedented

Zero Downtime Program Reliable service We all know that despite our best planning, things can go wrong in the workplace, be it spills or emergency equipment breakdowns, it's Conquest’s mission to keep your business operational and avoid downtime impacting productivity and profitability.

Conquest’s Fully Maintained Rentals and selected service plans includes their industry-leading Zero Downtime Program (ZDP).

ZDP ensures same day response to urgent repairs called in prior to 12pm weekdays. If, for any reason the equipment cannot be repaired the same day, you’re offered a loan machine which they deliver to your site the next working day. Conquest ZDP customers can also be assured that their 4-year parts and labour extended warranty is protected. They will also be provided with ongoing operator training to minimise the risk of damage from misuse or error.

In addition to this, Conquest has invested in increasing its spare parts inventory across all their major facilities in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide for fast delivery. IU

Conquest’s offers an industry-leading Zero Downtime Program (ZDP)

Conquest 1800 826 789 conquestequipment.com.au

How robotic cleaning machines deliver a winning edge

Robotic floor scrubbers are increasingly in demand. Already widely used in American retail chains such as

Walmart, there is growing interest in

Australia for the autonomous solutions in shopping centres, commercial offices and industrial sites.

“We’re experiencing a lot of interest from the retail space, especially,” Tennant national head of strategic accounts Dave Miller said. “Robotics had a foray into the

Australian market about four years ago, but the machines weren’t where they needed to be. Now Tennant has come into the market a little later but with machines that can do the job.”

Miller says that the company is experiencing a ‘Goldilocks’ moment – it has products that are just right at the right time and at the right price.

Tennant has deployed more than 5000 autonomous units globally across three platforms: the T380AMR (a compact robotic floor-cleaning machine for narrow aisles and spaces), the T7AMR (for mid-size spaces) and the new

T16AMR (a world first for larger industrial sites).

Leading the way Integrated property services provider Glad Group is deploying Tennantbranded robotics in the Australian retail market. It recently introduced two new T7AMRs at high-profile Sydney shopping centres Westpoint and Castle Towers as part of its commitment to exceed customers’ expectations in delivering cleaning services.

General manager operations at Glad Group Neranje Dunuwille, said the T7AMRs are reliable, flexible and have been well-received by operators. “I’ve had really good feedback from our team members,” he says. “They’re happy with the robotic machines and what they do. They also like the fact that they can be used as a manual machine. If there’s an emergency, our team members can jump on the machine and operate it themselves.”

Glad Group has a 30-year relationship with Tennant, with the robotic floor scrubbers being part of an investment of more than $1million in new Tennant equipment in the past 12 months. Dunuwille said being able to draw on that strong relationship is comforting – he knows that Tennant can deliver on its promises.

A machine for all tasks With the T380AMR, the T7AMR and the T16AMR covering the gamut from smaller commercial to larger industrial sized sites, they provide solutions for a range of enterprise clients. The T380AMR is known for its maneuverability in narrower aisles and perfect for smaller spaces; the T7AMR works well in sites such as retail shopping centres, grocery stores and airports, while the new T16AMR is the industry’s first industrial robotic floor scrubber made for large Spaces.

In the past, Agyar says machinery breakdowns with non-Tennant products and an inability to access quick servicing caused inefficiencies for the group. That problem has now been addressed through the alliance with Tennant.

According to Miller, the robotic floor scrubbers have proven to be productive, consistent, measurable, reliable, precise and safe. He believes the key to the success of the Tennant machines is that great technology complements outstanding cleaning results. IU

Tennant believes that it has products that are just right at the right time and at the right price

Tennant Australia 1800 226 843 au.tennantco.com

The Apollo Group: adaptable, ambitious and crowned

Continued from page 1

CP: Gijsbert van den Pol started Apollo in 1847 as a small blacksmith shop in the middle of Holland. I think it was never his intention to grow this organisation to where we are today. There were no signs at that time he had the idea that we would become a family business.

The first three generations remained blacksmiths. However, in the fourth generation, there was a change toward agricultural machinery as industrial development was taking place around the world.

IU: Who was the most significant owner, who made the strongest contribution towards growing the business into what it is today?

CP: That’s very hard to answer because I would have to choose between my grandfather, my father or myself. All have made a contribution to the company.

My grandfather who was the fourth generation, had a nickname ‘the builder’. There were four brothers in that generation and they explored the world making the switch to agricultural machinery. They were also involved in building the dikes in Holland, when there was tremendous change.

Every owner has always done what is best for the company at the time.

IU: How did the evolution of the firm come to include, for example, vertical conveyors, logistics and baling?

CP: Baling and deep baling, along with the systems business are the main products that we sell all over the world and manufacture in Holland, Bangkok and the US.

My grandfather worked with rolling conveyors and turning tables in a project kind of business that my father continued. These businesses require different approaches in the market but also different customers. That’s why my father decided to bring them into different divisions. The baling and debaling were added to the group 15 years ago.

IU: What is baling and debaling?

CP: Imagine you have peat to be compressed. It is transported into a huge shaft where it is compressed to make it a stable mass product.

Then, we foil wrap it to transport it and keep it safe. This is a completely niche market.

We sell these baling machines all over the world and manufacture them only in Holland. It’s a huge machine and requires specialist knowledge. We have a team of service guys who fly to global locations to install them.

These are a completely different method compared to the way we sell the spiral conveyors and bucket elevators. We sell hundreds and hundreds of them throughout the year.

IU: What specific industries does Apollo service?

CP: Our main focus in Australia are bucket elevators and spiral conveyors. These can be used in any factory with an internal transportation system, whether it produces food, beverages, personal care, automotive or even operates within the glass industry.

If you eat M&Ms, drink a coke, a beer or wine, or use make-up all of that can be transported by our machines within a factory. Everything that goes to Australia, we produce in Thailand.

IU: Food manufacturing in Australia is increasing quite substantially. Are you experiencing a similar increase in the Netherlands?

CP: Warehousing and ecommerce are the biggest industries booming for us globally, which makes sense with the pandemic and everyone shopping online. Even groceries are bought online, a trend that started years ago in China.

IU: Can you tell me about your history with the company?

CP: I had an ambition, from a very young age, to take over the business from my father. To prepare myself, I did technical studies and more, and I was aware that being born in my family was a huge privilege. There was a very strict selection for me to take over the business. I had to prove myself, not only to my father but also to the advisors.

I have two sides: I have this side where I want to look after everyone. And a huge ambitious side that wants to grow the business by building up factories and taking over companies. My ambition is to grow the company to its fullest potential. We conquer the world step by step.

IU: How has the company changed under your leadership?

CP: There has been a tremendous change within our company culture. We talk about being in a joyful workplace and how we can create a culture that is open and transparent without ego. We want a workplace where we are there for our people whether they’re going through divorce, or having challenging times. We have personal coaches in the company and a massage therapist.

Apollo Group receives Royal Crown

The Apollo Group has been awarded the new title of ‘Royal Apollo’ Group.

This royal acknowledgement from His Majesty King Willem Alexander of Holland symbolises the respect, valuation, and trust of the King towards the company. An impeccable reputation and financial stability are mandatory to receive this honor.

To be eligible for such an honor, an organization must hold a highly prominent position within its field, be of national significance, and be in existence for at least a hundred years. The size of the company, its operational management, its workforce, and its revenue are all taken into consideration. The King of Holland himself is the only entity authorized to confer this designation.

The company said that this title fits like a crown on the core value which the Apollo Group has held high since the first-generation ‘van den Pol’: Continuity. It is what has made the Apollo Group as strong as it is today.

With sixth generation Claudia van den Pol heading of the company, the Apollo Group has grown rapidly in recent years into an international company in a niche market. With production sites in the Netherlands, Thailand, and the United States and sales offices and service centers in China and India, it aims to serve the vertical conveying needs of the entire world.

IU: Have you come across much sexism in the manufacturing industry and is it different in every country?

CP: We are in this very male dominated industry where the bigger you shout, the tougher you act, the more respect you get. That’s not who I am and not what I want to be as a leader, I think that’s very old fashioned.

Sexism is different in every country. And of course, I have a lot of experience. It’s also a personal journey. In the beginning I had the feeling I had to be one of the guys, to be tough and arrogant. And then I asked “who am I kidding”. I’m a warm personality and I want to take care of my people.

There have been people who think they can push me in a corner. Because I’m a young blonde woman, they think ‘she has no idea’. I laugh at it, I don’t take it seriously and I stand my ground.

Some cultures have a different idea about women. I might not agree about that as a woman but I’m not there to change all of that. I ask myself, “how do I get the business and to stay true to myself”, that’s the juggle.

IU: COVID has had a silver lining for the majority of manufacturers in Australia. Have you seen that elsewhere?

CP: In the US, business has been booming. In Europe, there was a moment at the start of 2020 when projects were put on hold as people had to get used to this new world. Now we are doing better than ever in Europe.

Last year, Asia and Bangkok were pretty good. During the beginning of this year, all of these smaller countries around there were hit harder because they are developing nations and they were in complete lockdown. Australia has been a great market for us and South Korea has also been really strong.

We have many countries doing really well, so overall we are still growing as a company. However, it is less assured and we need to be more flexible as an organisation to run and stop at the same time.

IU: What is your vision of the company’s future?

CP: Giving back is very important to me although it’s not something I want to brag about, I see it as a normal action you should take. I also want to launch something for the 175th anniversary that goes into sustainability and is good for the environment. I’d like to keep the company in my own hands, I own 100 percent of the shares, and to keep it in the family. We need to grow, to acquire and we’re always working on new product development. Our motto is ‘as far as we can grow’.

The Apollo Group www.apollobv.com vtsapac@apollobv.com

Strong year predicted for electronics innovation

Artificial intelligence is one of the most important trends in electronics manufacturing.

While 2021 was a strong year for the fast-paced world of electronics innovation, 2022 is shaping up to be even stronger. Circuits Central, a key operator within the US electronics manufacturing and prototyping industry for many years, has developed a list of electronics manufacturing trends which will drive this growth.

1. Advancements in materials in PCB assembly For decades, silicon has been a mainstay of the semiconductor industry, but there is a limit to how much you can etch, lithograph, and pattern a silicon material. Therefore, new materials and architectures are enabling integrated circuits to perform better.

Efficiencies and enhanced performance are being achieved by using silicon alternatives and other semiconductor materials or composites such as GaN, and SiC, graphene, and nanomaterials, Traditional inorganic electronics cannot compete with organic electronics. Due to their cost-effectiveness, flexibility, indissoluble nature, optical transparency, lightweight, and low power consumption, they are highly desirable. Organic electronics have also become more popular as manufacturers become aware of sustainable development and ecofriendly production.

The next trend in electronics manufacturing will likely be designing circuits with microbiological components and manufacturing devices out of biodegradable materials. Furthermore, electronics manufacturers can use fewer, safer, and more abundant raw materials by using organic materials to manufacture their products. Thus, it gives companies new opportunities, and as a result, they gain a competitive edge in the long run.

3. The use of artificial intelligence In every sector, AI-powered solutions are becoming more popular. One way AI drives growth in semiconductor manufacturing is by creating demand for smart, AI-enabled electronics components, and another is by improving design and manufacturing processes. Reshaping the product development cycle, improving product design processes, reducing defects, and delivering products faster on the market are all challenging tasks for traditional methods.

The application of artificial intelligence can overcome these challenges. Manufacturers can also reduce production line downtime by implementing predictive maintenance. As a result, artificial intelligence is one of the most important trends in electronics manufacturing.

4. IoT Electronics manufacturers are experiencing unprecedented growth due to the Internet of Things (IoT). The system reevaluates fabrication processes and manages procedures that are difficult to execute with conventional approaches. In addition to enabling machines to store and process data themselves, electronic manufacturing machines can also be connected to the internet.

Continual improvements in sensor fabrication are also necessary because sensors represent the key to enabling IoT applications. Moreover, for the transition to 5G-enabled devices, chips with efficient architectures and flawless performance must be developed at lower costs.

5. The embedded system Electronic devices are not complete without embedded systems, which play a key role in determining their speed, security, size, and power. There is high demand for embedded systems as we transition into an increasingly connected world. To improve performance, safety, and connectivity capabilities, numerous innovations are occurring in the design and manufacture of embedded systems. Furthermore, these systems play a key role in increasing machine control and monitoring in electronics manufacturing facilities.