Flooring Australia & New Zealand Magazine

FLOORING

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

august / september 2018

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Choices Flooring by Thomsons in Euroa and Seymour continue the family name into the third generation! p6

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Upfront

FLOORING

Welcome to the August/ September 2018 edition of Flooring magazine.

In this issue we interview the team at Ontera who discuss the WellBAC range of carpet tile backing systems and more.

There’s also an interview with Bruce MacLaren at QEP. We take a close look at QEP’s expansion and distribution plans as well as the launch of new products.

Our Icon is John Millard from the aptly-named Icon Carpets out of Perth, Western Australia. John delves into his work-life and we take a wander down memory lane and explore the success of Icon Carpets and its evergrowing presence Australiawide.

We always welcome your feedback….

All the best,

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

august/ september 2018 vol 36 no 4 News 04 Innovative Industry Training Pilot Seeks Government Funding Boost 10 New e-learning Resources for Apprentices Overseas News 18 Beaulieu International Group Acquires Beaulieu Canada and Beaulieu Australia Interview 24 Ontera 36 QEP Icons 31 John Millard Regular Reports 46 Airstep Retailer of the Month 62 Software Front Cover 01 Choices Flooring www.choicesflooring.com.au

Ronnie Gramazio Editor

www.flooringmagazine.com.au www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Flooring Aug/Sep 2018 | 3

News

Innovative Industry Training Pilot Seeks Government Funding Boost

training consultant, Margo Couldrey from Lista Consulting, the feasibility study was successfully completed and the Alliance now has an opportunity to apply for a larger WTIF grant to carry out a pilot training program at Holmesglen Institute.

“Trade training is an industry wide priority and the Alliance members are keen to work with all industry stakeholders to increase the numbers of installers in training,” Mr. Flierman said.

In other industry news, the Australian Resilient Flooring Association (ARFA) has successfully revived the Resilient Flooring Standards Committee PL015 to review and update standards relating to resilient flooring installations in Australia and New Zealand. A Project Manager has been appointed and a committee is currently being formed to undertake the review. ARFA is seeking the widest possible input into this important standard to ensure it reflects the interests of all stakeholders.

AFS Brings Ardex to QLD

The Australian Flooring Industry Alliance (AFIA) continues its campaign to strengthen the standards and infrastructure that will attract and retain quality installers to the industry. The body, comprising representatives from five industry sectors, has secured a ‘seed funding’ grant from the Victorian Department of Education’s Workforce Training Innovation Fund (WTIF) to investigate the feasibility of a new preapprenticeship program that will sustain a pipeline of qualified installers within the industry.

Working in collaboration with Holmesglen Institute, the Alliance members developed a plan for a pilot that would enable students to transition from a specially designed 16-week pre-industry program to a 12-month Cadetship under training contract as a precursor to a Certificate 111 Apprenticeship.

4 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

Spokesperson of the AFIA, Randy Flierman said the pilot formalises work that is ongoing on a number of fronts to find new, innovative pathways for young people to enter and stay in the profession.

“The pathway engages employers in a number of key roles including design and administration of capstone tests to lift employer confidence in training outcomes. The program includes a number of components previously not experienced by employers or our training provider, Holmesglen. This offers both parties an opportunity to trial and evaluate new approaches,” Mr. Flierman said.

“Due to the combined efforts of AFIA members, working closely with Franklin O’Carroll, of Holmesglen Institute and with great support from our vocational

Australian Flooring Supplies (AFS) are delighted to announce that they will now be supplying Ardex products into Queensland. Due to recent acquisitions, Ardex will now be available via AFS’s newly acquired branches in Yatala, Virginia, Slacks Creek, Molendinar, Warana and Garbutt.

This expansion continues the long standing, ever-growing partnership between AFS and Ardex. For more than 60 years, ARDEX has been a quality leader for the flooring and tiling industries, the brand of choice for installers and distributors.

Vermeister New Australian Distributor Vermeister, leaders in wood floor solutions, is pleased to announce that their new Australian distributors is SquareWood Pty Ltd, based out of Melbourne, Australia.

Contact SquareWood to find out more.

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Choices Flooring by Thomsons in Euroa and Seymour Continue the Family Name into the Third Generation The Thomson name in North East Victoria goes hand in hand with Floor Coverings and Furniture stores and has now officially been passed onto the third Generation after Jacqui Thomson purchased Choices Flooring by Thomsons in Euroa and Seymour on the 1st July 2018 from her parents.

6 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

Cyril and Lena Thomson acquired their first store in 1959, being Thomson’s Home Furnishers in Euroa. Cyril was a part of a group of independent furniture retailers who suggested in forming an association to maximise their businesses - as a result Newfurn Floor Coverings was formed, and Thomson’s Floor Coverings was opened, branching out from the furniture store into its very own store in Euroa in the mid 1960’s.

Cyril & Lena had 7 children, John, Xavier, Paul, Anthony, Mary, Christopher and Mark – it was a family affair in the stores, with all siblings except Mary having careers in either the Flooring and/ or Furniture industry. Tony Thomson left school at the age of 15 in 1969 and went straight to work with his parents and older brothers in the stores. In the early 1970’s the family decided it would be a great option to add another store to their empire and opened the Furniture and Flooring store in Seymour.

After Cyril and Lena passed on, all of the boys went their own ways – John

opened a furniture store in Shepparton - Xavier and brother Tony went into partnership together and bought the Thomson’s Floor Coverings part of the family business – Paul moved to Ararat and opened a furniture store, and later years opened Paul Thomson Carpet Choice (now known as Choices Flooring Ararat which is owned by Rod and Jody Mills who are both originally from Euroa – Pauls wife and Rod are brother and sister) – Christopher still currently owns Thomsons Home Furnishers in Euroa and is assisted on a daily basis by his three children – Mark is a ‘retired’ flooring installer but called upon when things are desperate.

The Carpet Choice buying group was formed in 1993, and Xavier and Tony both agreed that continuing the association with Newfurn was a no brainer, and decided to rebrand their stores to Thomson’s Carpet Choice, which involved moving into a new premise at 8 Station St, Seymour.

Xavier managed the Euroa store and although living in Euroa, Tony managed the Seymour store until this year!

On 31st December 2001 Xavier decided it was time to retire and Tony and his wife Christine bought Xavier out and continued to offer the region with quality products at competitive prices.

Tony & Christine continued to work full time in both stores after Xavier retired – Tony in Seymour and Christine in Euroa.

After doing some travelling and adventuring, in 2009 Tony & Christine’s eldest daughter Jacqui joined the team and provided a huge amount of help to her parents in both stores, quickly picking up the knack to help Tony with the measures, cutting of carpet / vinyl, unloading trucks but also able to help out with the administration side of the business as well.

2011 saw the introduction / rebranding of Choices Flooring, which now saw the store as Choices Flooring by Thomson’s.

Jacqui left the business in 2015 for 18 months but re-joined her parents in early 2017 with the desire to purchase the stores off her parents – “the 18 months away from the business really made me want it more, and made me realise that it’s what I actually wanted to do – I’d bought a house in Euroa a few years in prior and didn’t want to go anywhere and wanted to follow on the family tradition so spoke to Mum and Dad about my plans and we started getting things in place,” says Jacqui.

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At Choices Flooring we know that good interior decorating starts from the floor up and that is why our Inspiration Station has been an integral part of our store evolution program.

The Inspiration Station help our customers to make informed decision instore. Some features include;

Customers’ ability to view any flooring sample in-store to a ‘real life’ room setting, in a larger area on screen

The ‘Your Floor’ program allows customers to upload their rooms onto the Inspiration Station (via a website upload) to provide customers with the opportunity to view various flooring options they are considering

Ability to compare flooring types in the same room.

Rugs can be viewed on a variety of hard flooring tones and textures.

For a strictly confidential discussion about the future direction of your business, please contact: New Zealand - John Nicholls

Australia - Tim Drew

Group Manager - Retail Development NZ

Group Manager - Retail Development AUS

Mobile: +64 27 322 8679

Mobile: +61 425 751 756

Email: jnicholls@choicesflooring.co.nz

Email: tdrew@choicesflooring.com.au

choicesflooring.com

Wall, and décor colours can be easily changed to create the perfect room

Window Furnishings can be viewed in 2 sizes, complimented by the motorisation function for those that have it and can be designed with pelmets and trims.

Jacqui officially purchased the business off Tony & Christine Thomson on the 1st July 2018, officially ending a close to 50-year career in the flooring industry for Tony.

Tony & Christine will still work ‘casually’ in the business for Jacqui when they are needed – Tony doing some measures and Christine assisting with some Administration, but they both look forward to a well-earned break.

Jacqui is thrilled to be continuing the family business. “I had such a great opportunity in buying an established business that had been around for over 50 years, but to purchase both stores and continue our family name into the third generation, well that’s pretty special and not something you see every day. Especially being a female buying into such a male dominated industry, I’m kind of proud of that, and I hope that I do the entire Thomson family proud!

I wish Mum and Dad all the very best in their ‘Semi Retirement’ as I know how hard they have worked for so many years! They deserve a rest!!” says Jacqui.

8 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

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Justin Julius (far right) with two apprentices, demonstrating an installation procedure for the new ‘Adhesive fixed carpet’ unit in the Flooring Technology resource.

New e-learning Resources for Apprentices For the last few years, apprentice flooring installers around Australia have been utilising the Flooring Technology website in their studies. This site has been progressively building up training resources for the Certificate III in Flooring Technology trade qualification since 2012.

During that time a wide range of learning units have been developed, covering topics relating to resilient products, timber floor coatings, subfloor preparations, site safety, job costing and administrative functions. But up until now, there has only been a cursory coverage of carpet installations and other skills required by professional installers.

These additional units are now being addressed, thanks to the combined efforts of the National Flooring Trainers Network (NFTN) and the Carpet Institute of Australia Limited (CIAL). The structure of the site is also undergoing a full revamp and it has recently been moved to a new hosting service and domain name at: www.flooringtech.org.

Background to the project

The Flooring Technology project began in 2012 when the federal government’s Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) Program funded a resource development project proposed and managed by Workspace Training. All training providers around Australia that delivered the Certificate III in Flooring Technology made contributions to the project, and the final product was

10 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

released under a ‘creative commons’ licence that gave free access to all web users.

Workspace Training received a second grant from the WELL Program the following year and developed another set of units for the project. When the project was completed the website was handed over to the skills council responsible for the qualification, Manufacturing Skills Australia (MSA).

In 2014 the project won the award for ‘Excellence in a learning resource’ at the Australian Institute of Training and Development Awards. By this time, it had also developed a worldwide following, and was being utilised by training providers and other interested parties in the US, UK and throughout Europe. Web traffic statistics showed that the site was receiving several million hits every year.

Unfortunately, the federal government abolished the WELL Program that year and no other funding programs were created to replace it. Soon afterwards, the government abolished all skills councils, and the MSA was required to transfer management of the website over to another government agency.

When it became clear that there were no further avenues available for continuing the project with federal government funding, the TAFE teachers delivering the flooring qualification liaised with Workspace Training to formulate a plan to press on with the development work. A subscription scheme was devised to allow training providers to

pay into a funding pool, based on the numbers of students enrolled with each institution.

Workspace Training formed an entity called Industry Network Training and Assessment Resources (INTAR) to manage the subscription scheme and host the new site. INTAR also relaunched the original site in order to maintain the free access to all users, given the fact that the government-controlled version was no longer being actively maintained.

New training resources

Under the new funding agreement organised with the NFTN and CIAL, a range of learning units will be developed

by INTAR over the next year, designed to support the corresponding competencies from the flooring qualification.

The main focus will be on units relating to carpet installation, but there will also be several units covering other floor laying skills. The specific target audience for the project has always been apprentices with poor literacy and numeracy skills.

The content material is provided in both downloadable print-based learner guides and an on-line interactive web format. The web version has a voice-over narration of the text and makes extensive use of graphics, photos and video clips.

This user-friendly presentation style also makes the materials more accessible for all users, including apprentices with higher-level literacy skills, experienced installers, sales people, administrative staff and the general public.

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The development process includes extensive consultation with industry experts and floor covering manufacturers, as well as trialling with apprentices enrolled at TAFE institutes around the country. All TAFE teachers who deliver the flooring qualification are involved in the trialling, review and continuous improvement of materials, collectively representing every state in Australia.

The TAFE institutes are experiencing a resurgence in enrolment numbers, and now account for about 80% of all apprentices undertaking the Flooring Technology trade qualification. This is very heartening news for the industry, considering apprenticeship numbers in various other trades have been steadily declining for several years, with no immediate end in sight.

Readers who would like to view the online materials, or learn more about the development process, can go to the INTAR website and following the links.

Author: David McElvenny. David is the CEO of Workspace Training, and project manager of the Flooring Technology e-learning project.

A Meeting of Olympic Legends Australian Olympic basketball legend, Phil Smyth made a welcome visit to the Gerflor showroom to share some of his memorable moments in a sport that netted him a string of records. Phil competed at the 1980, 1984, 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics and is a six time NBL All Star. He had the honor of captaining the Australian team more times than any other player.

Today Phil continues to work with basketball and a range of other sports coaching in sport specific and broader life skills. He has intimate knowledge of the Connor maple court systems that also boast Olympic credentials and dominate the American basketball scene. Gerflor is now marketing the full Connor range to the Australian market.

“The significance of flooring to me in basketball was the ability to play on the best floors in the world to minimise injuries and give me longevity in the game. The Connor floors were certainly the best floors I ever played on,” Phil, AKA The General, said.

In 1988 Phil was awarded Member of the Order of Australia for services to 12 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

Olympic basketball legend Phil Smyth (centre) with MD Gerflor Australasia, Chris Low (left) and National Sport Manager, Paul Tofful (right).

basketball. He is a member of the Hall of Fame of Australian Basketball, NBL, Sport Australia, SA Sport and ACT Sport.

“Gerflor has a long proud Olympic history with both its Taraflex and Connor products so it was great to welcome Phil to our showroom where he met a

lot of our team who play basketball or have children who are involved in the sport. It’s not every day you get to try on an Olympic blazer or handle a diamond encrusted gold ring specially made for an Olympic champion,” Gerflor’s National Sport Manager, Paul Tofful said.

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With over 140 members & counting,

we’ve got Australasia covered.

For a strictly confidential discussion about the future direction of your business, please contact: New Zealand - John Nicholls

Australia - Tim Drew

Group Manager - Retail Development NZ

Group Manager - Retail Development AUS

Mobile: +64 27 322 8679

Mobile: +61 425 751 756

Email: jnicholls@choicesflooring.co.nz

Email: tdrew@choicesflooring.com.au

choicesflooring.com

Quick-Step Academy Launches Foundation Course The Quick-Step Academy will be conducting a series of comprehensive 1.5-day introductory training courses for flooring installers - the ideal stepping stone training program towards the Master Installers’ Course.

The course introduces the various aspects of flooring installations via interactive discussions, brief presentations and of course a lot of practical demonstrations.

Some of the areas covered are flooring preparation, installation tips & tricks and finishing techniques. It teaches new installers the most efficient practices for flooring preparation & installation.

About the course • • • • • •

1.5 day deep dive introduction to flooring installation.

Dedicated to engineered wood and laminate flooring No prior experience required, no formal assessment Stepping stone to the Master Installers’ Course Participants receive a certificate upon completion Instructed by the Academy’s Training Manager, Nathan Davis

14 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

Why is the course so valuable?

The Foundation Course will enable the installer to be fast tracked. Instead of the two years minimum experience required to do the Quick-Step Master Installer Course, you can become a Master Installer with just six months experience.

According to National Training Manager, Nathan Davis, the Quick-Step Foundation Course is an excellent opportunity to further develop your limited installation skills. “As a fully qualified Master Installer Trainer with more than 13 years’ experience, I am committed to providing the installers with the best training, so in turn they will provide customers with the highest standard of workmanship.”

The Foundation Course will cover the foundational principles of successfully installing laminate and timber flooring. New installers can get the right training early on so that they don’t learn bad practices, enabling them to start their new career path with a solid practical foundation.

How to book

The course is offered monthly as of the beginning from June 2018 at the Quick-Step Academy, Adelaide, SA. There are limited spaces available.

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Beautiful, durable and affordable. Kronotex combines the ingenuity of German engineering with the beauty of timber to deliver stunning, hard-wearing laminates that mirror the splendour of solid wood floors.

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AFS Celebrates ROBERTS 80th Anniversary with More than $14k Worth of Giveaways To celebrate the 80th anniversary of ROBERTS, Australian Flooring Supplies (AFS) is offering installers the chance to win one of four Tradesman Top Trailers worth a whopping $3,500 each.

The nation-wide promotion is available through all 20 AFS branches throughout Victoria, New South Wales, the Australian Capitol Territory and Queensland. It is also available via ROBERTS distributors in South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.

ROBERTS, the premier flooring tools and adhesives brand, was established in a garage in the United States in 1938.

From humble beginnings the brand name has become synonymous with quality and reliability, with ROBERTS products now sold in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Ugo Tettamanti, national sales and product manager at AFS, said: “Having been around for this long is a testament of the ROBERTS brand strength, product innovation and expertise in flooring installation tools and accessories.”

ROBERTS achievements include the invention of the Gripper Rod/Tack Strip and the introduction of Smooth Edge Carpet Gripper, both of which revolutionised carpet laying.

To celebrate the milestone ROBERTS has released a commemorative Pro Gel Knee Kicker and a special edition of its loved Toolbox, featuring a storage tray that doubles as a seaming weight.

Both limited edition products are available to purchase at AFS now. However, stock is limited with only 1,938 units manufactured and distributed worldwide. Entrants into the ROBERTS 80th Anniversary Promotion also have the chance to win one of four of both the Toolbox and Pro Gel Knee Kicker.

Craig Hildebrand, general manager of AFS, said: “In the markets AFS operate, we are extremely fortunate to have exclusive distribution of the comprehensive range of Roberts flooring installation products.”

AFS, owned by QEP Australia, distributes ROBERTS products through its network of 20 branches.

New Perth Office and Warehouse Opens Preference Floors are pleased to announce that they have recently opened a Perth Warehouse and Office to service the company’s growing Western Australia customer base.

An extensive range of stock will be available for prompt supply. The office and warehouse are conveniently located at 30 King Street, Bayswater and will be managed by Mr Jae Lee. 16 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

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noun | par - a - gon : a model of excellence or perfection

SOF T & WA RM QUIET UNDERFOOT STA IN RESISTANT NATURA L LOO K & FEEL

LUXURY VINYL FLOORING

HIGH LY DURABLE WATER RESISTANT

P: 1300 737 155 | E: salesaust@qep.com www.hanwood-aust.com.au

Overseas News

Beaulieu International Group Acquires Beaulieu Canada and Beaulieu Australia • B.I.G. acquires two leading flooring companies in Canada and Australia • Creates new opportunities for customers, future product development and employees • Expansion in two important markets confirms B.I.G.’s international growth strategy

Waregem, Belgium – July 4, 2018 – Beaulieu International Group (B.I.G.) announces the acquisition of two privately-owned companies, Beaulieu Canada and Beaulieu Australia, which will be integrated into its Flooring Solutions business unit. The transactions closed end of June.

Beaulieu Canada and Beaulieu Australia are flooring manufacturers with well-established positions in their respective home markets. They have a combined turnover of more than €150 million.

The acquisitions represent important steps in B.I.G.’s ongoing international growth strategy resulting in a more than €2 billion Group of which €1 billion is in the flooring business.

Both Beaulieu Canada and Beaulieu Australia will benefit from the size and 18 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

scale of an international player with global resources in order to further strengthen their ambitions and growth plans.

The individual company names, product ranges and brands will continue to be used by the acquired companies.

With the addition of the two companies, B.I.G. will have more than 5,000 employees worldwide.

Beaulieu Canada has a carpet manufacturing plant in Quebec, from which it supplies a broad range of carpet, laminate, engineered wood, cushion vinyl / sheet vinyl, and vinyl planks to Canadian retailers and distributors. It recently began supporting the US market through its Peerless brand. The acquisition adds a second manufacturing plant to Beaulieu Flooring Solutions’ operations in the North American market, next to its new Beauflor cushion vinyl / sheet vinyl plant in Cartersville, Georgia. Beaulieu Canada’s purchasing office based in China will also become part of B.I.G..

Beaulieu Australia is a successful carpet manufacturer based near Brisbane. It opened a new state-of-theart manufacturing plant in 2017. The current Chief Executive Officer, Bob Vos, retires upon closing but will stay on as a non-executive Member of the Board.

Chief Operating Officer Allan Russell will take over the CEO position.

James Neuling, Vice President of Beaulieu Flooring Solutions, comments: “We are very enthusiastic about these acquisitions. Our complementary product portfolios and ‘customer first’ ethos create great opportunities in these two important markets. B.I.G.’s strong financial position will enable us to provide the investment needed to grow the businesses, while allowing distributors and retailers access to an even broader product range.”

Benoit Leclair, Chief Executive Officer of Beaulieu Canada, adds: “The management and employees of Beaulieu Canada are delighted to be joining the Beaulieu International Group for this next phase in our growth. We are looking forward to combining our local market expertise with B.I.G.’s strong financial position, global reach and product lines, to enhance the support we offer to customers in the future.”

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WATER RESI STANT

P: 1300 737 155 | E: salesaust@qep.com www.hanwood-aust.com.au

Overseas News

EqoBalance® from Beaulieu Yarns Wins Green Product Award 2018 • First biomass-balance polyamide yarns for carpets • Carpet manufacturers can contribute to a sustainable future through less use of fossil resources and reduced greenhouse gas emissions • Suitable for carpet tiles, carpet planks and broadloom carpets for contract, automotive and residential segments

Wielsbeke, Belgium – July 18, 2018 – Beaulieu Yarns, the global supplier of high-quality synthetic polyamide and polypropylene yarns, is the proud recipient of the Green Product Award 2018 Material category for its EqoBalance® family of “biomass-balance” yarns.

EqoBalance, the first biomass-balance polyamide yarns for carpets, was chosen from a field of 400 submissions from 25 countries. Around 100 nominees were presented to an international jury which evaluated these entries for their expertise in design, innovation and sustainability. A

20 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

total of 24 winners were selected across 12 categories. A public voting for the Audience Award will take place from 17 July to 17 August.

EqoBalance PA6 yarns follow the biomass balance approach, which ensures that at the very start of the supply chain, natural renewable raw materials replace fossil resources in the production of polymers processed into yarns. The sustainable yarns conform to the TÜV SÜD certification standard CMS 71 "Certification of the use of renewable resources", which confirms the saving in fossil resources. The potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as a result of the replacement of fossil use is calculated in a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). EqoBalance yarns allow a reduction of up to 75% of CO2eq/kg compared to Beaulieu Yarns’ fossil-based products.

Emmanuel Colchen, Global Sales Director, Beaulieu Yarns, comments: “We are delighted to receive this Green Product Award for the Eqobalance® family. These PA6 yarns offer a dropin alternative solution for carpet manufacturers, delivering the same quality and performance as the fossil-

based equivalents, and enabling them to contribute to a sustainable future through less use of fossil resources and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.”

Beaulieu Yarns offers a wide variety of PA6 yarns for use in carpet tiles, carpet planks and broadloom carpets for commercial offices, hospitality & leisure, education & healthcare premises, automotive, as well as residential.

The Green Product Award is an annual international competition for innovative, sustainable products & services in the categories architecture, work, energy, electronics, fashion, research, freestyle, children, communication, consumer goods, mobility, furniture and home accessories. The award is aimed at established companies and start-ups.

The goal of the award is to create a collection of green solutions for consumers and buyers to replace existing products with better (green) products. Since 2013, the competition has received submissions from over 40 countries. Since then, the exhibits have been presented to more than 600,000 visitors at international trade fairs and design festivals.

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KENECT 5G NEW ADVANCED HYBRID FLOORING

Quieter, greater flexibility and easy to install!!

The manufacturing method used to produce the Kenect 5G is a two step process. Firstly the core is extruded using Limestone Calcium bonded with PVC. The secondary process is called Automated Hot Press, this binds it all together with two LVT layers. The first of these LVT layers is inserted just above the core, called the comfort layer, the second is the stability layer just underneath the core.

The comfort layer combined with the IXPE acoustic backing significantly reduces noise transfer. This makes the planks quieter and more comfortable to stand and walk upon. These two LVT layers give the Kenect 5G more flexibility. Combine that with the advanced 5G locking system and you have a product that is quick and easy to install.

CARPETCOURT.COM.AU 1300 CARPET Hybrid | Kenect 5G | Coastal Blackbutt

FCIA News Experienced installer and Trainer/Assessor for TFIA Business Services, Andrew Cartledge at the FCIA’s residential program at Edithvale Golf Club.

FCIA to Subsidise Training Qualifications for Installers Qualified Trainers Needed for Training Apprentices in Certificate III in Flooring Technology!

As the FCIA moves towards our target of more than 500 apprentices in the next 12 months, there will be a growing need for qualified flooring trainers and assessors to work with our partner RTOS to deliver the Certificate III in Flooring Technology.

To deliver accredited training to apprentices, trainers and assessors must have relevant flooring industry experience and possess a formal qualification in Training and Assessment (TAE40116). It can take approximately 9 months to obtain this qualification. By enrolling now installers will be fully qualified as the FCIA apprenticeship program hits its peak in mid-2019.

50% refund of training fees for FCIA Associate Members

By enrolling in the TAE40116 and registering with the FCIA, installers will automatically become Associate Members of the FCIA. The FCIA is the only flooring industry association which offers membership to installers and this entitles installers access to FCIA publications, workplace relations advice, promotion to FCIA Members, access to our Trade Card program and participation in FCIA industry advisory panels. Upon presentation of the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment, the FCIA will refund 50% of the course costs.

To be eligible for the Training refund installers must: • Be sole traders or Pty Ltd companies with an ABN; • Have appropriate insurances; • Demonstrated extensive skills and experience in carpet, resilient or timber flooring; • Be prepared to negotiate a contract with a Registered Training Organisation to train and assess Flooring apprentices.

22 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

If you are an experienced installer or know of installers who are interested in getting off the tools and teaching the next generation of installers, get in touch! This is an outstanding opportunity to help the FCIA future proof the industry. Positions will become available in most states and territories across Australia.

Interested? Send an email Attn: FCIA National Training Manager, info@fcia.org.au The FCIA are now on Instagram! Make sure you head over and follow us at @ floorcoveringinstituteofau. We’d love to feature you and your work, so please tag us or use #FCIAFloors Happy Flooring! Don’t forget to also follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with what’s happening at the FCIA.

Fee Free Training in NSW! NSW Budget introduces Fee-Free training for Certificate III in Flooring Technology!

The NSW Budget has announced that from 1st July 2018, Apprenticeship fees for all NSW Apprenticeships will be FREE! This effectively means a $2,000 approx saving for all Apprentices commencing the (MSF30813) Certificate III in Flooring Technology in NSW. There has never been a better time for you to recruit and enrol an Apprentice.

Fee-free apprenticeships are only available to NSW Apprentices or school-based apprentices who have commenced their training after 1 July 2018.

To learn more about fee-free training in NSW, head to nsw. gov.au or if you are interested in enrolling an Apprentice, you should complete the online ‘Expression of Interest’ on fcia.org. au.

Please contact the FCIA office on (03) 9832 0663 or info@ fcia.org.au if you have any questions or need more information.

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A SINGLE VOICE FOR THE ENTIRE AUSTRALIAN FLOORING COMMUNITY Advocacy Stakeholder Engagement Best Practice Industry Panels Innovation e-Learning National Image One Industry Quality Trade Cards Training ‘Cutting Edge’ Apprenticeships

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Interview Flooring magazine looks at Ontera’s WellBAC range of carpet tile backing systems – what it delivers; the functionality and comfort components; the features and benefits and what this breakthrough product means to us and our busy lifestyles.

Ontera has re-imagined and re-defined the backing systems of their carpet tiles. Please explain a little about the WellBAC™ range of carpet tile backing systems?

WellBAC™ is the name of the Ontera family of carpet tile backings - all sustainably engineered for comfort, performance and ease of installation. With both hard back and cushion back options, Ontera carpet tiles with WellBAC™ backing solutions provide uncompromised performance for all project needs. As the tagline says, the WellBAC™ backing system provides the 3 best backsides in the carpet tile business.

Developed in conjunction with Milliken’s unique scientific expertise at a global level, WellBAC™ is all about pioneering new performance advancements to the flooring industry. While design and colour provide essential aesthetics, the long term in-situ performance of the carpet tile and its ability to be “fit for purpose” for each project are equally important. A great example is what is happening within our school classrooms.

Many schools have now embraced the now open plan classroom design – which has a major impact on acoustic levels and ultimately impacts the ability of both teachers and students to progress within the learning environment. Ontera WellBAC™ cushion tiles have up to 50% improved acoustics delivering a quieter, more productive space – which is why many schools are now demanding Ontera WellBAC™ cushion backed tiles for their classrooms.

24 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

What does the WellBAC™ range deliver?

The introduction of the WellBAC™ backing is a significant performance and environmental progression within the carpet tile industry. The WellBAC™ backing was designed to enhance the wellbeing of building occupants and deliver ease of installation for the professional flooring contractor.

In terms of occupant welling, the key benefits relate to improved acoustics, enhanced underfoot comfort and improved Indoor Air Quality. Studies have shown Ontera’s cushion backed carpet tiles have up to 50% improved acoustics and up to 24% greater underfoot comfort. So, whether it is office workers using their sit to stand desks, aged and health care workers, teachers or the myriad of other people who are on their feet all day the improved ergonomics from greater underfoot comfort is a significant benefit – reducing muscle stress and fatigue – effectively delivering better health & wellbeing.

Ontera says: Check out the acoustic performance by listening to the video comparing acoustic levels of WellBAC™ v’s competitor tiles. http://products.ontera. com.au/wellbac-backing-solutions With regards ease of installation for the professional flooring contractor, WellBAC’s key deliverables are industry leading moisture management – which allows the ability to utilize Ontera’s unique Site Related Solutions program - and the nonreactive felt backing.

Ontera WellBAC™ Cushion Backed modular carpet products have been designed to manage moisture simply and effectively.

We let natural processes happen naturally. With our WellBAC™ cushion backed tiles, water vapour has a way to escape. It travels freely through the open-cell cushion structure until evaporating naturally through seams at the edges of each carpet tile.

The WellBAC™ tiles have a non-reactive felt layer which is chemically inert and won’t react to adhesive residue, reducing time and costs required for floor preparation.

Ontera’s Site Related Solutions offering is all about the unique combination of Ontera’s non-reactive standard adhesive and our WellBAC™ open cell cushion carpet tile.

The use of Ontera’s WellBAC™ cushion-backed carpet, together with our Non-Reactive Standard adhesive: • Prevents the possibility of concrete slab moisture-related issues from occurring • Ensures moisture mitigation is built directly into every Ontera WellBAC™ cushion backed carpet tile — it is an inherent property of the cushion backing itself.

• Allows installation of carpet to begin as quickly as 90 days after a new pour is complete.

No moisture testing is required. There are no RH or pH limits. Both carpet and adhesive are fully warranted under virtually every circumstance.

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Introducing

WellBAC

™

The three best backsides ... in the carpet tile business

Industry leading moisture management with non-reactive backings – to enhance the installation process.

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The WellBAC™ range delivers:

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Ontera has re-imagined and re-defined the backing systems of carpet tiles.

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Up to 24% greater underfoot comfort for enhanced ergonomics while standing.

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Up to 50% improved acoustics for quieter, more productive spaces.

Australia Toll Free: 1800 668372 New Zealand Toll Free: 0800 668372 onteracustomerservice@milliken.com

ontera.com.au

Interview

It’s all about saving time and money, being fully confident in the install and having the Ontera warranty as peace of mind.

deliver the premium level of underfoot comfort, acoustics and moisture mitigation.

Ontera has always been at the forefront of environmentally-friendly products. Please expand on the Landfill Diversion Program.

What are the features and benefits?

Ontera has a product stewardship commitment to environmental leadership ensuring all processes around our product manufacture, product use and end of life are sustainable and not harmful to our health and wellbeing.

Ontera Product Stewardship is an ongoing and evolving commitment and our recent certifications include: • Declare Label 3rd Party Verified Red List Free Certification • Cradle to Cradle Product Certification • Landfill Diversion • Founding Member of the Well Building Lab, A Well Building Standard initiative Ontera has forged partnerships with local industry to provide an Australian based Landfill Diversion process for all reclaimed Ontera WellBAC™ tiles – effectively meaning all reclaimed WellBAC™ tiles will be used in another way other than being simply disposed to landfill. This is a really important step forward for both Ontera and the carpet industry, and we aim to continue our environmental leadership.

Please explain the comfort and function components of the WellBAC™ range.

WellBAC™ Comfort and WellBAC™ Function are the names of the backing options within the Ontera WellBAC™ family.

WellBAC™ Function is a hard-backed product - suitable as an entry level or base build tile.

WellBAC™ Comfort is our cushion offering – and we have Comfort and Comfort Plus as options.

While both Function and Comfort cushion tiles have the non-reactive felt layer, the WellBAC™ Comfort cushion tiles 26 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

As we spend most of our lives indoors, health, productivity, happiness, and well-being are all important to us. How will this WellBAC™ range address these lifestyle concerns?

The WellBAC™ range is sustainably engineered for comfort, performance and ease of installation. This is all very relevant to Health and Wellbeing both for building occupants and the flooring contractor and building maintenance staff.

The International Well Building Standard is all about the promotion of health and wellness through the built environment. Flooring can play a key role in improving indoor air quality, can encourage movement, enhance underfoot comfort and standing ergonomics, improve acoustics leading to quieter spaces and increased productivity, and plays a key role in enhancing the look and overall feel of the built environment.

Being a performance-based standard, Ontera WellBAC™ carpet tiles are perfectly credentialed to support the flooring requirements detailed within the WELL Building Standard.

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Clears the Air. At Tarkett, we strive to contribute to people’s health and wellbeing by improving indoor air quality.

DESSO AirMaster captures harmful fine dust from the air more effectively than any other flooring solution, and can help play a fundamental role in contributing to the health and wellbeing in today’s work and living spaces.

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Top NZ Flooring Apprentices Celebrated at Awards New Zealand’s best flooring industry apprentices were recognised at the annual Flooring Apprentice of the Year Awards in Auckland on Thursday 19 July.

The event, held by the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation in conjunction with the National Flooring Association, is the largest annual get together of the flooring industry in New Zealand. It honours excellence and dedication towards training.

Clockwise from top: Rex McGill, MC for the evening with Clintyn Thompson, Stage 1 Award Winner; Guest Speaker, Marcus Akuhata-Brown; Lisa Lawrence with BCITO Training Advisor, Dean Turner.

28 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

Supreme Award winner, Connor Whitley-Sua, is already stepping up to help new apprentices enter the industry. WhitleySua completed his training through Hills Commercial Floors Ltd in Auckland and quickly moved into a supervisory role with the company. He has now started up a contract installation business, (contracting to Hills Flooring) and is training an apprentice himself.

“The awards are a fantastic opportunity for our top performing trainees to be celebrated by their peers,” says BCITO Chief Executive Warwick Quinn. “All the winners are fantastic role models who are already proving themselves in the industry.”

Career options are bright for those working in New Zealand’s flooring industry. The sector currently employs more than 7,000 people but needs an additional 3,000 new workers by 2022.

Quinn believes anything is possible with a career in the trades and is encouraging people to trade up. “Trades careers are financially lucrative and offer rewarding pathways. Berl research proves that because apprentices earn while they learn they can

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CONGRATULATIONS!

New Zealand’s 2018 Flooring Apprentices of the Year

Connor Whitley-Sua, Hills Commercial Floors Ltd, Auckland - Supreme & Stage 3 Awards.

Clintyn Thompson, SW & T Williams, Putaruru - Stage 1 Award.

Kenneth Aitken, Skip-2-it Carpets & Curtains, Ashburton - Stage 2 Award.

Robert Marshall, Flawless Floor Finishes Ltd, Whangaparaoa - Villars Trophy Award.

Lisa Lawrence, Basically Floors Ltd, Auckland - Flooring Planning & Design Award.

TRAINING BUILDS SUCCESS

Take on an apprentice.

Contact BCITO today on 0800 422 486.

buy their own home sooner and are better off for their entire working life when compared to a university graduate.”

The event was only made possible by the generosity of its sponsors: Carpet Court, Carr Group, Dunlop Flooring, Forte Flooring, Gilt Edge Industries, Handley Industries, Karndean International NZ, Look Floors, Robert Malcolm Ltd, Sleepyhead Manufacturing, Techspan Group.

The Flooring Apprentice of the Year Award winners were selected based on the achievement and skills they displayed at their respective block courses. The 2018 top achieving flooring apprentices are:

Award

Recipient

Supreme Apprentice of the Year and Stage 3 – Flooring Apprentice of the Year

Connor Whitley-Sua, Hills Commercial Floors Ltd, Auckland

Stage 1 – Flooring Apprentice of the Year

Clintyn Thompson, SW & T Williams, Putaruru

Stage 2 – Flooring Apprentice of the Year

Kenneth Aitken, Skip-2-it Carpets & Curtains Ltd, Ashburton

Stage 3 – Flooring Apprentice of the Year

Connor Whitley-Sua, Hills Commercial Floors Ltd, Auckland

Villars Trophy - awarded to the apprentice with the best attitude, enthusiasm, personal presentation and ability to work well with others

Robert Marshall, Flawless Floor Finishes Ltd, Whangaparaoa.

Flooring Planning and Design Trainee of the Year

Lisa Lawrence, Basically Floors Ltd, Auckland

BCITO is the largest provider of construction trade apprenticeships in New Zealand. It is appointed by the Government to develop and implement industry qualifications for the building and construction sector. BCITO provide a range of apprenticeships across fifteen trades within the building and construction industry.

30 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

Clockwise from top: Robert Marshall receiving the Villars Award, with George Villars & Rex McGill; Supreme Award Winner Coonnor Whitley-Sua, Hills Commercial Floors Ltd; Kenneth Aitken, Stage 2 Award winner was presented with a vinyl welding kit from Techspan; Clintyn Thompson with work supporters & family.

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Icons

John Millard Welcome to ICONS. As you are this issue’s ICON, in some detail what do you feel have been the career highlights for you looking back?

Welcome to this issue's Icon.

John Millard from the aptly-named Icon Carpets out of Perth, Western Australia delves into his career in the flooring business.

We take a look back at John's early days in the industry and look at his life early-on and into the present-day and profile Icon Carpets: a powerhouse company that has covered floors from Perth to Melbourne and beyond... www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Whoah! Big question. My immediate reaction is that the outstanding highlight is the fabulous people I have met and the lasting relationships that have evolved.

In practical terms I guess the dominating highlight which influenced the rest of my career was the 3 years I spent in the UK working for Crossley Carpets. I was fortunate, as a 23 year old Aussie, to be offered the opportunity to develop the Crossley commercial business throughout the country. Luckily for me, this coincided with the government deciding, due to lack of hotel accommodation, to provide subsidies to hotel developers to build new properties. This policy was so successful that hotels started popping up everywhere and carpet salesmen with production capacity were in great demand! Specifiers would beg you to come and see them!

Crossley Carpets were the leading weavers of carpet at the time and the tufted market was a fledgling business, though our associated company, Kosset, were making ground in this area.

Crossley were a truly vertical operation with spinning, dyeing, Wilton weaving, Axminster weaving, Karaloc and ribbed bonded products. It had an outstanding team of designers, both in the Head Office in Halifax and London. A wonderful place to learn the industry from hugely experienced sales and production people.

Tell us about your long association with Icon Carpets in WA, and how long have you been in the flooring business?

I established Icon Carpets in 2004, so a relative recent era of my career.

I started in the flooring business in 1964.

Having part completed an Applied Chemistry Diploma, I started working in a Colour Film Processing Laboratory (remember colour film?). I hated it, and left after a year to go surfing.

When my money ran out, I applied for a job as a Cadet Sales Trainee with Marley Reliance Industries – a leading

importer of vinyl tiles and sheet flooring at the time with a strong commercial focus.

About 12 months on, Marley decided to pull out of the commercial market themselves and leave it to the contractor base.

As a result, I joined J & FL Bramwell in their business at Chapel Street Prahran.

It subsequently moved to Glenferrie Road Malvern and was the leading company at the time in the floorcovering business. I learnt a lot from Jack & Frank and they were most supportive and influential in my business thinking.

My fascination for motor sport in general and Formula 1 in particular, triggered the move to London in 1969.

Hence the Crossley experience.

Come 1972, I returned to Australia and re-joined the Bramwell organisation.

Several years on, after a failed attempt at my own business and some time with Frank Ricco Carpets, I returned to the Bramwell group, which had now been purchased by Electrolux. Along with other acquisitions, this became the Electrolux Carpet Group around the middle 80’s. We moved to South Yarra and focussed on the commercial market with a high degree of success including the original installation of the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne and early marketing of the new generation of carpet tiles.

This time was a particularly fruitful era for the industry and there were strong associations and relationships developed, some through necessity in combating union pressure, others in response to outstanding marketing programs from the likes of DuPont and Feltex Modular.

In the late 80’s Electrolux decided to focus on their electrical appliance business and withdraw from the carpet market. The carpet management group were offered the business and the result was Carrington Carpets.

Unfortunately, the financial difficulties of the early 90’s led to a string of bad debts from collapsed builders and my part of Carrington went down the gurgler.

It was not a pleasant situation.

In 1994, a fortuitous lunch with an old mate, Emmett Barrett, saw me on my way to Perth. A whole new era of my life began – new city, new wife, a great new organisation to work with. That all became a starting point for a new existence which ended with the closure of Flooring Aug/Sep 2018 | 31

Icons

With Barry Coveney doing a quality check on Crown Melbourne Palladium Ballroom 2005

Barretts Carpets a few years later. Further opportunities arose with a consulting role followed by the WA agency for a leading Australian woven carpet manufacturer.

During that period I was approached by a Chinese factory to represent them in Australia. I declined the offer due to my commitment to the local mill. However, that situation changed when I had a disagreement with the mill over their marketing plans for WA and I established Icon Carpets with a view to importing custom made products from my new Chinese friends.

The rest, as they say is history.

What’s the history of Icon Carpets and tell our readers about your long association in the business?

Icon Carpets evolved from a desire to maintain my relationships with the commercial hospitality market and capitalise on the experience I had gained producing custom made products, particularly in appropriate qualities and special designs. The ability of Axminster weavers to do outstanding design work had been dramatically enhanced with the advent of new techniques. This enabled

“In 1994, a fortuitous lunch with an old mate, Emmett Barrett, saw me on my way to Perth. A whole new era of my life began – new city, new wife, a great new organisation to work with.”

32 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

Icon Carpets to offer the market a level of sophistication not available locally, at prices that were competitive. Along with other importers doing similar work, this led to the demise of the local weaving industry as we knew it. Sad, but a reality of living in a “global village”

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Icons

“Icon Carpets evolved from a desire to maintain my relationships with the commercial hospitality market and capitalise on the experience I had gained producing custom made products, particularly in appropriate qualities and special designs. ” How easy or difficult was it back then to get started in the industry? Surely, it must have been less competitive and cutthroat compared to today?

I have been through phases when the industry has been ultra-competitive,

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and times when it was much less so.

My recollections of the “good old days” being less “cut throat” still apply in some market segments, where service and quality transcend pricing considerations to a large degree. In my opinion, one of the lost opportunities in the current market is the price focussed carpet tile market, where some suppliers only reaction to competition is price, resulting in lack of opportunity to present quality products that attract premiums. It seems to me there is a race to the bottom!

Please discuss two or three issues important to the flooring industry in Australia today.

In talking to my contractor colleagues it seems the difficulty in getting qualified, reliable installers is the paramount issue.

Equally, I am informed that the standard of sales representation has declined – it seems that an attitude of “get the order” overcomes the concept of providing qualified service and information which, I believe, results in greater sales success on an ongoing basis. It seems only the “elders” in our industry subscribe to this philosophy.

The third, and probably most important issue from a sales perspective, is the decline in product training provided by suppliers/manufacturers to their own staff and retailer/contractor staff. When I was learning, the range of training programs was extensive and attendance was not only encouraged, but compulsory.

John, as our Icon for this edition, are there any aspects you particularly miss most about the business today compared to say, 20 years’ ago?

Not really – looking back over a longer period, I have embraced and enjoyed the evolution of technology and design.

I congratulate those that have driven those ideas and concepts, both here and overseas. Our ability to provide high quality products and respond to cutting edge design requirements is better now than it ever was. I like to think I was part of this process.

Below: “Dads Army” at the Australian Gaming Expo Sydney 2014 – JM, John Nelson, Stephen Simper, Geoff Heron.

Flooring Aug/Sep 2018 | 33

Icons

Catching up with an old mate at Domotex 2011 – Donald Haigh from Crossley.

Do you have any tips and industry suggestions for those starting out?

competitors, but contractor mates from the 80’s

more as a series of individuals simply striving for the best to serve their customers?

From a sales and marketing perspective – know your product. Product knowledge is king!

• Listen to your clients!

• Provide expert, qualified advice!

• Set goals and do not take the easy option. This can be tough at times but hindsight will confirm this attitude.

“We actually walk away from projects where we believe the specified product is not correct.

Interestingly, this is quite an effective marketing tool with some specifiers – quite often they accept our recommendations! ”

There are some obvious examples of united efforts – the growth of the retail chains is evidence of that.

At a commercial contractor level, I see some outstanding examples individual companies servicing their market very effectively.

Any lowlights you care to mention?

Apart from the recessions, financial meltdowns etc., that we have all suffered over the years, probably the price driven reduction in quality is something we, as an industry, can be least proud of.

Has there been a mentor whom you looked up to – either from overseas or Australia?

Many! Jack & Frank Bramwell who constantly, by their example, encouraged me to achieve excellence.

My Sales Directors at Crossley Carpets who provided the opportunity for me to understand the woven carpet industry Warren Liddle, Noel Kiely and Frank Ricco – I considered this trio to be the pre-eminent marketers of their time Barry Coveney, Len Donegar, Chris Hoyle, Tony Skinner, Emmett Barrett –

34 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

Lastly, John, what are you mostly looking forward to in the years’ ahead?

More years!

How do you feel Icon Carpets stands out from your competitors?

Our philosophy is simple – provide the best service and quality.

We actually walk away from projects where we believe the specified product is not correct. Interestingly, this is quite an effective marketing tool with some specifiers – quite often they accept our recommendations!

Do you see the flooring industry as a united force in Australia or

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Trusted out the back, admired out the front.

Interview

QEP/AFS head office in Dandenong South, VIC.

Flooring magazine speaks to Bruce MacLaren, Managing Director at QEP, and discusses recent acquisitions, new distribution news and the company’s everexpanding range of new products and more….

Welcome to Flooring magazine and tell our readers a bit about QEP; your role within the company and a general overview of the organisation?

QEP is a large USA based Company involved in flooring & flooring accessories around the globe. The QEP brand of tools is renowned within the ceramic tiling market & we are the proud owners of the Roberts brand of carpet & vinyl flooring accessories. We also manufacture & distribute flooring around the world including well-known brands such as Amtico & Pro Tile in Australia.

QEP has existed in Australia & New Zealand for over 20 years now & has grown both organically & through acquisitions through that period. Over that period we have acquired a number of distribution business to create Australian Flooring Supplies (AFS) operating throughout the Eastern Seaboard with 22 Trade Centre locations.

I understand that there have been some recent acquisitions? Can you expand on these in some detail please?

Our most recent acquisition is that of PR Floors, a long standing distributor of flooring & accessories throughout Queensland & our Roberts distributor partner for over 20 36 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

years. The Perrett family is very well known in the flooring industry & after 41 years resolved that in moving on they wanted to find a buyer who would best respect the background & values they have created & we are very pleased that was QEP. Since completing this acquisition in April, the operation has been branded as AFS to enable us to provide consistent branding & messaging & the transition has been relatively seamless given our existing AFS team & their expertise.

Any new distribution news happening now or in the pipeline?

Our next exciting chapter starts in September when AFS launches into the market Kronotex, one of the world’s leading European laminate ranges. The range is extensive & has been refined with the manufacturer (Swiss Krono) over the last 6 months in preparation to meet the demands of the Australian market, including 10 ranges covering 7.0mm through to 12.0mm in thickness, water resistant capabilities & a variety of sizes & structures.

It is a truly comprehensive offer, of the highest quality standard & something which we already know will be well received by the Australian market.

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QEP is rapidly expanding. Please comment on the growth of the company.

Whilst QEP is a publicly listed business in the USA, the founding family maintain the majority shareholding & are closely involved in the business daily. As such the strategic aim has been to grow consistently throughout the 40 years of its existence & this is one of the clear objectives provided to me by the Board.

As a result we continue to seek opportunities that will provide value to our shareholders both through new product & also acquisition.

I have been at QEP for nearly 14 years & truly appreciate the entrepreneurial spirit encouraged & this is something we aim to bring to our customers here in Australia & New Zealand through new opportunities. Locally we now employ 130 staff, operate in all States through 25 warehouse locations & intend to continue this solid growth path in the years ahead.

There are always new products being launched at QEP, and from my understanding, there are a few more product launches in the works. Fill our readers in on some exciting product news please In addition to the Kronotex laminate launch we have recently introduced 6 new carpet tile ranges in our ProTile offering as this market continues to grow. We have an offer that is focussed on holding significant stock levels to service high volume & immediate trade needs whilst meeting all the latest trends including plank & hexagonal shaped tiles.

From left: Bruce Maclaren (Managing Director), Ugo Tettamanti (National Sales Manager) and Craig Hildebrand (General Manager).

Alongside that, our LVT offer is also about to increase with the launch of our new expanded Hanwood ranges in “Urban Collective” - a collection of 2.5mm concrete look tiles and earthy timber look planks, lending itself to modern urban interior spaces. Additionally, the “Paragon” collection consists of a hardwearing 4.5mm luxury vinyl plank with sophisticated ultra-realistic embossed finishes. We are incredibly excited to be delivering fresh contemporary products to the market and growing our Hanwood brand in the process.

The AFS team at a recent sales conference

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Flooring Aug/Sep 2018 | 37

Safety

Big River Group Chosen for State Government Redevelopments Big River Group has been chosen as the preferred Anti-Slip plywood supplier for several school redevelopments in the state commissioned by the NSW Department of Education.

An inner-city primary school is the latest of these projects to have been completed, and included the construction of a threestorey demountable classroom.

“The temporary structure will remain in place as part of a broader redevelopment set to complete in 2022, so ongoing safety standards was a key parameter in this design,” explained Karlie Collis, Associate at Northrop Consulting Engineers and main administrator for this project.

“Kids love to run around having fun, meaning safety precautions against scraped knees or worse is always a top priority,“ she said.

“More than 1,500sqm of Big River Group’s Anti-Slip plywood was used for key pedestrian surfaces in this project alone, including all steps, landings, ramps and corridors,” said Jim Bindon, Managing Director of Big River Industries.

“As such, these areas now have the maximum rating of P5 (V) classification in the slip resistance testing in wet conditions and D1 in dry conditions.”

38 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

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It is also an ideal solution for construction sites and medical environments, in both permanent and temporary applications where safety is paramount.

Manufactured locally at Big River Group’s manufacturing site in Grafton, NSW, Anti-Slip plywood has a high strength F17 structural plywood certification to Australian Standard AS2269.

The product is available in range of sizes and thicknesses, as well as in custom-made size panels. It is available in three standard colours: safety yellow, black and grey.

Based on volume, customised colours can also be specially created to compliment any décor and ensure that safety enhancements are seamlessly integrated into any unique interior environment. Anti-slip plywood can also be scarf jointed if larger sheets are required.

Other key design considerations were the need to complete the entire school on site in five months, including extensive ground works.

“Big River Group Anti-Slip plywood is the most suitable product on the market, meeting the National Construction Code anti-slip requirements while being quick to install. Had we selected any other, we would have needed to apply a secondary non-slip treatment, which would have added time to the program we didn’t have,” Ms Collis said.

The timber features a textured paint finish with crushed glass for maximum wear and slip resistance. The reverse side of the panel has a phenolic film for moisture protection in damp, wet and external areas.

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Safety

Enhancing Access, Improving Safety – Visually Impaired and the City Environment Modern cities are vibrant and bustling places, and they can present many challenges for the visually impaired and differently abled. It is the main goal of any urban planner to design user-friendly cities which are easily navigable, safe and enable people to go about their business with confidence. Australian Standards sets forth a range of guidelines to enhance access to public spaces, but the reality is that these are not always adequately adhered to. In this article, we will be discussing the ways in which access to public spaces can be enhanced for the differently abled, with particular regard to the visually impaired. We will also be taking a look at what Australian Standards has to say about safety.

Safety Concerns – Common Experiences of the Visually Impaired

Each city has its own character and unique design language, and this can span from compact and organised through to expansive and informal. The main issues encountered by the visually impaired have to do with lack of appropriate signage/ wayfinding assistance, as well as poor implementation of tactile 40 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

ground surface indicators (TGSIs), handrails and stair nosings at places such as entranceways and stairways. These areas need to be designed in a safe manner, as they can pose serious trip and fall risks for all pedestrians. The best way to achieve optimal safety is by ensuring that products meet sufficient luminance contrast and are installed in compliance with all technical requirements, such as the specification for TGSIs to be installed at a minimum 300mm setback. Braille and pictorial signs should also be used wherever possible, such as in front of public toilets, glass doors, shop entrances etc as this will help to supplement vision-based direction.

The visually impaired rely heavily on their sense of hearing, particularly in environments which they frequent regularly.

Auditory cues such as noises and voices help them find their way around, but in busy CBD areas this can become an issue.

Buskers, bands and pop-up events are a regular occurrence, and the unexpected noise in an otherwise relatively quiet environment can throw them off considerably, resulting in disorientation and potential injury.

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The visually impaired also frequently remark that announcements at train and bus stations can be quite inconsistent, and in some cases barely audible amongst the noise of fellow commuters. This can result in them missing their train/bus, along with eventual loss of confidence and independence. Suggestions by the blind community have been made to develop smartphone apps which would alert them to the arrival of a bus/train, or at the very least to improve the consistency and audibility of announcements.

A Changing Landscape – Unexpected Safety Risks for the Visually Impaired

Cities are constantly developing, and increased levels of construction around pedestrian areas can significantly impact the safety and confidence of the visually impaired as well as other pedestrians. Whilst these construction works are necessary to create new infrastructure, safety of pedestrians is often neglected.

The most common method for sectioning off construction works is the use of plastic cones. Whilst these are bright orange in colour, they are considered an inadequate solution for most applications due to their small size and the fact they can easily be moved, creating unclear boundaries which are not easily identifiable by the visually impaired. Works involving holes or construction workers occupying the space should instead make use of Telstra type barricades, concrete barricades, plastic barricades and wire mesh or panel fencing. Keep in mind that the visually impaired rely heavily on their guide dogs and the use of their cane, so the chosen barrier should be easily identifiable to ensure optimal safety.

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Performance with endless creativity

Tarkett’s Heterogeneous vinyl collection of floor and wall solutions are renowned for offering the largest range of colours and designs on the market. With endless combinations from our latest Excellence and ProtectWALL ranges you can create attractive and inspiring spaces.

The two ranges seamlessly combine to create bespoke ambiences from floor to wall in all segments including education, healthcare, aged care and hospitality.

Total design freedom

Distinct spaces from floors to walls

Tarkett’s latest Heterogenous collections allow you to multiply your creative possibilities when designing spaces that generate energy and well‑being, while ensuring resistance and durability.

In hospitals, aged care, schools, shops and storage areas, ProtectWALL is a heavy duty covering for walls and doors in corridors, patient rooms and other areas, and meets fire standards to ensure the safety of building occupants.

Providing a multitude of choices that meet current design trends, our Excellence collection features a high matte finish which softens light reflected off flooring for additional occupant comfort and a more realistic look.

ProtectWALL is designed to deliver ten years of protection from scratches, impacts and staining agents. Cleaning and maintenance are effortless and economical as ProtectWALL vastly reduces germ infiltration by limiting the number of joints necessary – possible sites where germs can reside.

Engineered for durable resistance Our Excellence flooring collection delivers durable resistance to indentation and tearing and is designed to withstand daily wear in all areas. Requiring minimal maintenance our floors are designed to retain their freshly installed appearance for longer.

ProtectWall also delivers a rapid return on investment when compared to stiff plates and paint, with up to 50% savings, that continues to grow over a ten‑year period and beyond.

The new Excellence range tested 29% improved rollability on both compact & acoustic profiles – delivering a more durable rolling capacity where less force is required to push trolleys and medical beds.*

Freshly installed appearance for longer Requiring minimal maintenance our floors are proven to resist stains in numerous environments. Floors can be cleaned using a little water and neutral detergents, making it easier to maintain cleanliness and appearance between buffings without the need for harsh chemicals.

Our products are also proven to lower the overall life cycle costs, significantly reducing the cost of maintenance and cleaning.

* Based on internal testing

Tarkett Tapiflex Excellence 80 is an ideal acoustic solution that delivers an Impact Sound Reduction of 19dB when tested according to ISO 717‑2.

To find out more visit www.tarkospec.com.au

Safety

Everyone needs access to essential services such as banks, shopping centres, hotels and public transport hubs. These environments can be particularly challenging at times for the visually impaired due to the constant flow of traffic, changes to entry points and refurbishments. Orientation and Mobility service providers such as Guide Dogs can assign mobility instructors to assist them in familiarization and safe navigation, but there is much more that could be done. Many visually impaired people value their independence and would like to be able to navigate their surroundings unassisted, and this is where technology can help.

Technologies and Design Practices to Enhance Safety and Improve Navigation

One of the biggest issues for the visually impaired is the ability to know where they are headed and where escalators, lifts etc might be located. New technologies such as mobile portable devices or electronic travel aids (ETAs) are now being developed to assist the visually impaired, along with inbuilt electronic systems which can be used in conjunction with a handheld receiver. Transmitter beacons can be installed at key locations of the built environment, and the visually impaired can point their receiver at each beacon to receive auditory information relayed via infrared or radio transmissions. The information given include: accurate description of the location, key information such as opening/closing times, and the function of services within the area.

Technology is still developing, but it is hoped that in future the use of Global Positioning Systems combined with Bluetooth sensors and voice instructions will become more accurate and 44 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

widespread, as this will provide the community with detailed location information (distances, important landmarks etc.) that would significantly enhance the accuracy of individual location tasks. If we wish to see widespread adoption of these technologies, it would also be necessary to implement a new standard for worldwide compatibility of transmitters and handheld devices in all buildings/venues.

As a leading supplier of safety products within Australia and New Zealand, Classic Architectural Group believes that further consideration should also be given towards Tactile Indicators (TGSIs). When used in conjunction with good design principles, TGSIs will provide adequate warning of impending obstacles or hazards to improve safety for the visually impaired. Rather than simply placing TGSIs on flat surfaces, studies have shown that the use of continuous ‘lead lines’ can help in guiding the visually impaired towards their destination.

By ensuring that paving is even, kerbs are clearly defined, cross-walks are perpendicular to the kerb and appropriate tonal contrasts are used, designers can create a coherent pathway of natural leading elements. TGSIs can then be installed to further enhance safety, and this would improve both orientation and safety for the visually impaired.

Other tools to enhance awareness and navigation include: • Infrared audible signage • Talking lifts • Smartphone applications for wayfinding • Virtual reality glasses that can recognise faces and generate a 3D view of the surrounding environment/obstacles (currently in development).

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What Do the Standards Say About Safety?

In accordance with AS1428.1 and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA), fair and equitable access to the built environment must be provided to the differently abled. It is unlawful to discriminate against any person because of their disability, so it is imperative that cities are equipped with appropriate safety devices and technologies to assist this group.

Standards cover every area of public life. The Building Code of Australia Part D3 contains the minimum requirements for disabled access in new and renovated buildings, as well as the Transport Standards for accessible public transport. The standards aim to provide builders and planners with a clear understanding of dignified, cost-effective and achievable solutions that will improve access and safety for the differently abled community, enabling them to participate to their full potential in the economic, social, cultural and political life of Australia as equal citizens.

Unfortunately, the standards are not always adhered to , and the blind community continue to experience issues on a regular basis. A lack of national consistency is a major issue, as each state or building contractor in Australia can interpret standards in a different manner. In many cases, installers take a “near enough is good enough� approach. New regulations along with the introduction of a universal design language for cities and transport infrastructure could go some way in solving this dilemma.

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The blind and vision impaired were invited to respond to the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport Review 2012, and many commented that the experience of trying to catch public transport or negotiate their way in busy areas was a stressful one due to a range of factors, including inadequate and poor implementation of standards. Naturally this is concerning, because it puts their safety at risk and limits opportunities for employment, access to services and social engagement.

Closing Statement – The Future of Safety

The visually impaired face numerous challenges within the city environment. As assistance technologies continue to gain traction and improve, we should also take care to ensure that safety products are installed in accordance with regulations and best practice. The visually impaired rely heavily on their hearing in addition to predictability and adequate supply of information for successful independent navigation. The current standards often fall short, and there is a need for ongoing dialogue with the visually impaired community as well as the introduction of universal design in both public spaces and assistance technologies around the world. When good design principles and the power of technology are combined with safety products such as TGSIs and stair nosings, confidence and safety for the visually impaired in city areas would be greatly enhanced. For more information on current standards, their application and safety products, contact Classic.

Flooring Aug/Sep 2018 | 45

Retailer of the month

Always on the Ball Choices Flooring, Narre Warren, Victoria Philip Ashley reports

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M

arcus Winterton and his sister Danielle operate Choices Flooring in Melbourne’s South East suburb of Narre Warren. The area is popular amongst new home buyers and is regarded as the fastest growing residential corridor in the country.

The region boasts surrounding rural areas; major retail centres; education infrastructure and large industrial zones and provides good access to the city and bay areas of Melbourne. There are even plans for a commercial airport that would eventually handle domestic

and international flights. It’s a very good place to have a retail business, especially one supplying the building trades. But for a broken ankle, things may have been very different.

You see, one week out of school at the age of eighteen, Marcus was drafted to the Melbourne Demons AFL football club.

At the time Marcus had no clear idea of what he wanted from life and says “I just thought I’d try a few things; play footy for ten years.” At the time the AFL was transitioning from a semi-professional sport to professional and Marcus was training six or seven times a week, often at five thirty in the morning. With some hours available in the middle of the day he would make some extra money measuring for his father’s flooring store in nearby Dandenong. He and Danielle had both helped out at the store since their early teens.

There were many great players in that team. Players like Alastair Clarkson (Hawthorn’s current coach); Jim Stynes; Gary Lyon; Shane Woewodin (Brownlow Medallist) and Jeff Farmer, the first indigenous player to kick 400 goals. As a rookie recruit Marcus played in the reserves. Coach Neil Balme held Marcus in high regard but when he broke an ankle, fate marched in to turn his life around. When Neale Daniher stepped in as coach in 1998 he needed quick results and Marcus was de-listed.

“Football is a fickle thing” says Marcus, “You can be there ten years or five minutes. You never know if it’s going to be long-term.”

After his injury Marcus decided to stay in the ‘flooring game.’ The Dandenong store had previously been a Solomon’s

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Marcus pictured front row right.

outlet but was now Choices and both Danielle and Marcus had been involved since their early teens in one way or another. They had been through the recession so they knew how to make it through difficult times. Danielle took a leading admin role and Marcus worked in the warehouse for two years before becoming involved in sales. Marcus says “I always got on well with people and sales seemed to come naturally to me.”

He spent ten years in this role then in 2008 he and Danielle spent some time managing a Frankston store they had a relationship with.

In 2011 Danielle and Marcus started the store in Narre Warren. Previously a tile outlet; the facility is a good size and well-located. There are other flooring stores in the area, in fact within three kilometres there are six other retailers. Competing with the big chain stores such as Bunnings, Danielle and Marcus have made their business a one-stop-shop for flooring. Danielle says “Our catchment area is a very broad demographic with existing homes and new estates, we cater for a wide

range of customers.” Being a rapidly developing area, a good proportion of their business is new house builds and they work with several large builders.

Of Choices Narre Warren Danielle says “We are a bit old-school. The most important thing for us is to do things right and build a good name for ourselves. We believe we’re a young business and we want to be around for a long time. To achieve this we offer a service that sets us apart.”

Marcus adds “We want to maintain a good brand with repeat business and referrals. Flooring is a big outlay for our customers so we go a long way to make sure they feel good about their investment.” Helping Danielle and Marcus to achieve these goals are Douglas and Terry in sales; Carmelina and Kailey in admin and Martin who does their measuring.

Unusual for a flooring business is their clever off-site warehousing and distribution solution. Fifteen minutes away from the store, the third-party warehouse holds a significant stock of product that is cut and set aside for the

installers through emails. This smart logistics solution is part of their aim to grow the business and they have a loose target of 10% a year. Marcus said “Initially we grew too fast; it was exciting but you can lose a bit of control over your finished product. We need to keep the tightness of the business administration.” Of the industry itself, Danielle is concerned of the shortage of installers and the age of those still in the trade. Marcus says this is a worrying trend.

Outside of the store both Danielle and Marcus enjoy time with their children.

It’s no surprise that sport plays a major part in their evenings and weekends.

Marcus even coaches and supports the Hawthorn Football Club in the AFL through past associations with greats John Platten and Jason Dunstall. As owner-operators of Choices Narre Warren they promote a good work ethic; they seek out clever solutions and look after their customers. The City of Casey offers a great lifestyle for young Australians and as a young business, Choices Narre Warren fit right in.

…AIRSTEP UNDERLAY …“THAT’S CONFIDENCE” www.airstep.com.au • Bonded Foam Underlays • High quality Natural Rubber Underlays • SBR Double Bond Commercial Underlays • Floating Floor Underlays • Recycled Textile Underlays THE COMPLETE UNDERLAY COMPANY Manufactured and distributed by AIRSTEP AUSTRALIA LTD, PO Box 166 Dandenong Sth Vic 3175 Ph: VIC/TAS 1800 803 545 NSW 1800 802 926 WA/SA/NT/QLD 1800 806 375 Fax all states (03) 9706 8553 In New Zealand distributed by

Jacobsen Creative Surfaces Auckland (09) 574 0640 Wellington (04) 4954 300 Christchurch (03) 3664 153

Godfrey Hirst built a custom hybrid structure and exposed it to a variety of extreme conditions, from icy snow to flowing rivers and arid lands. Follow the journey at www.godfreyhirst.com

The Next Generation in High Performance Flooring from Godfrey Hirst Godfrey Hirst continues to be at the forefront of innovative hybrid flooring ranges, with the introduction of the new Apollo and Artemis ranges.

Godfrey Hirst hybrid flooring can withstand the harshest of Australian climatic heat, cold and water, making it ideal for use right across the country.

Utilising the latest multi-layered hybrid flooring technology, our Trigon® core technology displays astonishing stability with minimal expansion and contraction.

Godfrey Hirst hybrid floors are waterproof (subject to proper installation and maintenance), and can be wet mopped and installed in wet areas for a seamless look throughout your customer’s home.

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Apollo is the perfect entry level hybrid floor, ideal for your customers looking all the great benefits of hybrid flooring on a budget.

Apollo at a glance: • Board size: 1220 x 180 x 5.8mm • Box: 10 Boards / 2.196m2 • 0.3 mm wear layer • Micro bevel edges • Embossed • Matte Finish • UV coated surface • Drop Lock installation system • 15 Year Residential Warranty (conditions apply – see www. godfreyhirst.com) Artemis is stunning, high quality hybrid floor available in a range of 14 stunning natural colours, including popular Black

Butt and Spotted Gum varieties.

Artemis at a glance: • Board size: 1513 x 223 x 5.5mm • Box: 7 Boards / 2.362m2 • 0.55mm wear layer • Micro bevel edges • Embossed • Matte Finish • UV coated surface • 23/34 rating – residential extra heavy duty • Lifetime Residential Warranty (conditions apply – see www. godfreyhirst.com) Talk to your local Godfrey Hirst Floors account manager for further information (or phone 1300 444 778), and stay tuned for even more to come in this category from Godfrey Hirst in 2018.

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With 12 alluring colours such as Forest, Arrow, Moon, and Hawk, the hunt for timeless, elegant flooring for every room in your sanctuary is finally over.

Artemis

Inspired by the natural elements, Godfrey Hirst brings the essence and depth of the wilderness into your home with the new Artemis collection. With 12 alluring colours such as Forest, Arrow, Moon, and Hawk, the hunt for timeless, elegant flooring for every room in your sanctuary is finally over.

Artemis’ Hybrid flooring intertwines the look and feel of natural timber with the best technical attributes of laminate and luxury vinyl planks. This latest range combines the best of both worlds into one perennial masterpiece. It’s innovative and durable, while revealing the organic qualities that hardwood floors are renowned for. The UV-coated surface is built to withstand anything that hits its planks - even a stampede of foot traffic.

Trigon® core technology, which is as sophisticated as it sounds, is the latest in Hybrid flooring technology. Careful construction results in an exceptionally stable floor that is capable of handling rapid temperature changes with minimal expansion and contraction. Hot summer days and cooler nights are no match for the goddess of the hunt, or your floorboards.

The Artemis range, in all its stainresistant colourways, displays astonishing durability and impact resistance. It thrives in all areas of your home - even wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries - to seamlessly connect every room. This waterproof flooring uses easy-to-install interlocking technology, so you can walk on it the same day it’s laid in your home.

Nature is timeless, just like the Godfrey Hirst lifetime residential warranty (conditions apply). The Artemis Hybrid flooring range is designed to be beautiful and created to last a lifetime.

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Flooring Aug/Sep 2018 | 49

Apollo

Our customers live in a very busy world, with many looking to upgrade to a low maintenance interior. Godfrey Hirst is delighted to announce the launch its stunning new Hybrid flooring product – Apollo – to create remarkable, lo maintenance and nature-inspired spaces.

Apollo is available in 6 impressive colour options–Python, Sunlight, Enlighten, Wreath, Oracle and Dolphin– making it effortless on your part to create uplifting and enlivening home experiences. Combining the beauty of timber with the rugged attributes of laminates and luxury vinyl planks, these floors are a match made in heaven. Not only do they offer unparalleled style, but they also require very little routine care.

Key to Apollo’s strength is Hybrid’s cutting-edge Trigon® core technology which ensures reliability, as the floors remain exceptionally stable under sudden and extreme temperature fluctuations.

This means you can always be carefree and stay protected from those troublesome lips and gaps, come rain or sunshine. Hybrid floors are also designed to be highly durable, making them the go-to choice for many retail owners who frequently experience high foot-traffic at their stores.

And it doesn’t end there. As a waterproof flooring solution, Hybrid’s Apollo is also ideal for use in all wet areas like the laundry room and bathroom spaces. Giving you the chance to enjoy a seamless and consistent flooring experience throughout your home. Plus, you’re also covered by a residential warranty of 15 years.

So, come along and give your floors a new lease of life. Quick-start your installation today; the easy locking system technology means you’ll be able to walk on your newly-installed floors on the very same day.

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The Virtuoso of Planks Gerflor Virtuo Classic 55 is a plank story retailers and their customers can turn to with confidence. Backed by the market leading quality of Gerflor’s manufacturing and proven superior locking system, Virtuo Classic 55 is also an unrivalled story when it comes to realistic designs.

The color palette is right on trend and extensive, and the 2.5 mm thick plank boasts a .55mm wear layer to withstand the daily grind in the busiest of residential settings.

Spring renovators will be looking to retailers to advise them on the best plank solutions for their individual situations.

The choices are endless so it’s not surprising that even the sales people are struggling to differentiate offers. Product Marketing Manager for Gerflor, Jutta Fronert, believes her focus on design and color differentiates the Gerflor story.

“It’s true there is a plethora of planks out there and it’s very confusing for the consumer but also the retailers.

The Virtuo Classic 55 range has been built around color and design. We have leveraged our technical manufacturing capabilities to deliver incredibly realistic finishes in colors that reflect contemporary interior trends.

“We have also recognised the increasing inner city density and move to high rise living. These homes need flooring solutions and that’s why we have engineered underlay systems that deliver on the acoustic front but also allow homemakers to have the very latest trends in flooring,” Jutta said.

Product Update Quick-Fix Tactiles Are Here to Stay Floorsafe Australia’s new and cost effective self-adhesive Quick-Fix individual tactiles have already proven to be a huge success. The new DIY self-adhesive tactiles released by Floorsafe in February this year are quick & simple to install and require no additional adhesive. With no mess and no need to close of access points, installation & replacement of missing tactiles can be carried out quickly and effectively.

Contractors have already discovered that using Quick-Fix tactiles eliminates drilling holes and takes away the fear of breaking or cracking tiles. 99% surface

52 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

adhesion is also assured which makes the applied tactile almost impossible to remove. Applied to concrete, asphalt, Vinyl and all types of hard floor tiles, tactiles can now be successfully installed by any handy trades person. To make installation even easier, Quick-Fix tactiles also comes with its own interlocking templates at no extra cost. Because of the increase demand for this new system Floorsafe Australia have increased the Quick-Fix range. Coloured PVC, 316 stainless steel, brass and stainless steel with carborundum infills are now all in stock & ready for dispatch.

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Real World Epoxies Launches Solventfree, One-pack Polyurethane

“Applicators love the extra working time and freedom to apply without fear of roller lines or pigtails. Most of all, they’re enjoying the difference high-build capability and no smell is making to their business.”

Despite those advantages, perhaps the most impressive feature is the

outstanding abrasion resistance of 9mg/1000 cycles (CS17 1kg).

“After 15 years of searching for a quality urethane that fits our solventless philosophy, we are thrilled to offer Ezypoly and the benefits a product like this can bring to our industry,” he added.

Real World Epoxies has officially launched Ezypoly - a solvent-free, one-pack, moisture-cured polyurethane floor coating.

Backed by an international partnership, the product has been developed to compete with solvent-borne technology on performance and cost, yet be much easier and friendlier to apply.

After an extended soft launch, Real World Epoxies is excited by the huge potential Ezypoly has shown.

“We feel this product can change the resin flooring industry for the better, and the market feedback so far certainly supports that view,” said Managing Director, Jack Josephsen.

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Flooring Aug/Sep 2018 | 53

Product Update

Why Use a Waterproof Membrane When There is a Better Solution?

Previously, vinyl flooring was not meeting the National Construction Code (NCC) waterproofing deemed to satisfy provisions, which meant that a waterproof membrane had to be installed on the floor and walls prior to any vinyl floor covering.

In a major breakthrough, Tarkett has achieved CodeMark™ certification as an alternative waterproof solution under the NCC on a range of vinyl floor and wall products. Tarkett is now able to offer a range of vinyl sheets as a waterproof membrane for using in wet areas.

• Reduced construction costs - no install of waterproof membrane is required.

• Faster completion times - No waterproofing means less trades and reduced time on site.

• Streamlined project schedules simplifying construction streamlines project schedules.

• A better environmental solution removing waterproof membranes with VOC emissions delivers a greener 54 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

product solution. Additionally, Tarkett has an extremely low VOC on all our vinyl products.

What is CodeMark™?

• Certification scheme managed by the ABCB • Provides legislated acceptance of products by building certifiers • Expedites approval process CodeMark™ is a building product certification scheme. The CodeMark™ scheme supports the use of new and innovative building products by providing a nationally and internationally accepted process for products to be assessed for compliance with the requirements of the building codes of Australia and New Zealand. The scheme provides confidence and certainty to regulatory authorities and the market through the issue of a Certificate of Conformity.

CodeMark™ Certification for a product means a guaranteed acceptance by the regulatory bodies

and is a clear demonstration that the product meets its mandatory compliance requirements.

Accredited certification bodies evaluate and certify products to ensure they meet the specified requirements of the Building Code.

Tarkett Products

There is a huge range of Homogeneous and Heterogeneous vinyl sheets that are CodeMark™ certified for waterproofing such as: • Granit range • Safetred range • Standard Plus • ProtectWall • Premium range • Aquarelle range • Wallgard range Almost all Tarkett products have GreenRate Level A and LCARate GOLD from Global GreenTagTM and also certified as a Best Environment Practice PVC product.

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DriTac Introduces New ‘Green’ Product DriTac Flooring Products, LLC has launched a new and improved, “green” concrete moisture control system that dramatically reduces the rate of harmful moisture vapor emissions up to 100% relative humidity (RH) and 25 lbs. down to levels accepted by most flooring manufacturers, prior to the installation of wood, resilient, carpet tile and all floating floors.

Manufactured in the USA, DriTac New & Improved MCS 7000 consists of a twocomponent epoxy (Component A (1-gal) and Component B (.79 gal)), which are mixed to form a coating that is applied to the surface of the concrete subfloor.

The system offers a superior perm rating and enhanced moisture warranty when

used with approved DriTac flooring adhesives for residential and commercial applications.

This easy-to-mix and apply formula allows for same-day installations with a 6-hour cure time. New & Improved MCS 7000 can be roller, squeegee or trowel applied with a coverage rate of 300-350 square feet/mixed unit. It is easy to clean when wet and colored green for easy identification. This user-friendly solution can also serve to isolate old cutback adhesive residue.

This premium-grade moisture control system has been certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus Program for Indoor Air Quality. It touts DriTac’s “green” certification, designated

for flooring installation solutions that contain zero VOC and zero solvents.

New & Improved MCS 7000 also helps contribute to LEED credits, will not promote the growth of mold and has low odor.

DriTac Flooring Products, LLC is celebrating over 60 years as one of the most experienced manufacturers of environmentally friendly flooring installation solutions in the market.

DriTac is committed to manufacturing sustainable products for the flooring industry with a comprehensive line of premium “green” zero VOC and zero solvent adhesives and installation products that help contribute points towards LEED certification.

Product Update

Duplex Introduces its Portable and Powerful Lithium Evolve Floor Scrubber Three-in-one Lithium Evolve is the Next Generation in Floor Cleaning Technology…

Duplex Cleaning Machines Pty Ltd is delighted to announce the introduction of its revolutionary 3-in-1 cleaning machine in Australia and New Zealand. Duplex Lithium offers a robust and reliable new solution for all kinds of floor cleaning problems. Lithium Evolve by Duplex is set to replace the old and cumbersome mop and bucket method. This state-of-theart cleaner allows the end user to easily clean, scrub and dry floors using a single unit without restrictions, as the machine does not need cords and is powered by rechargeable batteries.

Duplex is a global leader in designing, manufacturing and marketing high-quality cleaning products and equipment for industrial, commercial and domestic environments. The company maintains a large portfolio of more than thirty stocked machines including floor scrubbers, mechanical floor scrubbers, steam cleaners, vacuum cleaners and sweepers.

Duplex recently launched its versatile, triple-action Lithium Evolve that is agile,

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efficient and extremely easy to use.

“Our customers are looking for technology-based cleaning solutions that are safe, economical and reliable,” said Murray McDonald, the Director of Duplex Cleaning Machines. “Duplex Lithium Evolve is our latest addition to the company’s innovative product range. It is portable and easily manoeuvrable, and unlike traditional floor cleaners, there is no heavy lifting or laborious transportation of the unit. The Duplex Lithium Evolve is a unique cleaning machine that will save our customers space, time and money.”

Like so many other industries in Australia and New Zealand, the cleaning industry is experiencing a transition by which technology-based solutions are driving automation and rapidly replacing traditional cleaning methods involving mops and buckets. Lithium Evolve by Duplex Cleaning Machines requires no chemicals, bleach or detergent.

Consequently, users are safe from allergic reactions, strong chemical odours and the danger of spreading germs that is so commonly associated with the traditional cleaning method of mop and bucket.

Bidirectional operation of the unit and clever design allows the machine to reach the farthest corners and clean to

every edge. Lithium Evolve, being a totally versatile and cordless cleaner, works equally well on timber flooring, carpet, vinyl, concrete, rubber and ceramic. The in-built side wheels allow the user to wheel the cleaner like a trolley, while the offset brushes provide a fluid movement to change handle positions with ease.

“I can clean any floor,” said Ken Douglas from 1st Impressions Cleaning, “Give me any floor in the world and I can clean it for you with my Duplex machine.

The Duplex is the easiest floor cleaning machine I have ever used.”

Duplex Cleaning Machines have a rich history of advancing the nation’s cleaning industry by constantly pursuing new technologies. With Lithium Evolve, the company is excited to revolutionise routine floor cleaning activities for home users, commercial users and industrial users who are looking for advanced, efficient and healthier cleaning solutions.

About the Author: Murray McDonald is Director of Duplex Cleaning Machines and has over 25 years of experience in improving cleaning standards for the hospitality and accommodation industry throughout the chemical-free solutions.

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Ultrabond Eco MS 4 LVT Floor and Wall TECHNOLOGY TO CHANGE FLOOR & WALL LVT INSTALLATION AS WE KNOW IT. “NO ONE ELSE IN THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET HAS THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY AND WILL CHANGE INSTALLATIONS AS WE KNOW IT, THIS WILL REPLACE THE NEED FOR EPOXY ADHESIVE FOR ALL TYPES OF PVC AND RUBBER.”

Benefits include: • No mixing • Re-use after opening • All the benefits of epoxy in a 1k formula, so no waste • A key part of LVT installation in showers & wet areas • Green building certified • No epoxy allergies

LOCAL STOCKISTS FOR See your nearest Intafloors retailer about Mapei Ultrabond ECO MS and other adhesive products. View our entire range at intafloors.com.au QLD

Gibbon Group | Trade Supplies

SA

Intafloors Trade Depot

Sydney: 02 8678 5479 NEW DEPOT Botany: 02 8038 1111 sales@intafloorstrade.com.au

07 3881 1777 sales@gibbongroup.com.au

Adelaide: 08 8346 9833 office@deseal.com.au

McDonalds Flooring Accessories 07 5564 9999 daniel@mcdonaldsflooring.com.au

VIC

NSW

Seal and Sons

FIS Distributors (HO) Keysborough: 03 9768 7248 Knoxfield: 03 9764 2400 Geelong: 03 5521 6670 Preston: 03 9416 7878 sales@fisdistributors.com.au

WA

Kevmor Wholesale Trade Supplies Perth: 08 9277 7177 sales@kevmor.com.au

Product Update

Allurecrete in Focus Decorative concrete overlays are sometimes viewed as a lesser choice to polished or stained concrete flooring.

Historically, standard concrete overlay applications were effective, having been used to correct damaged, worn or newly uncovered concrete floors. However, concrete overlays have crossed over into the decorative concrete arena and have come a long way in the past 10 – 15 years. From a design standpoint, decorative concrete overlays offer the most variety in color and finish.

Whether giving existing concrete floors a total makeover or as an option to new concrete floors, decorative concrete overlays offer beauty, strength and unlimited design options. “Decorative Concrete� is a term that covers a wide variety of products and systems designed to provide a decorative finish over an existing substrate. The finish is unique, elegant, stylish and every square inch is crafted by hand.

Proper preparation of the floor surface is critical to ensure a concrete

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C

arpet manufacturer Heckmondwike FB, a leading manufacturer of heavy contract fibre bonded carpet and carpet tiles, recommends that SEBO vacuum cleaners are used to get the best performance and life expectancy from its carpets.

Abby Chandler, Marketing Manager at Heckmondwike FB, comments, “To maximise Supacord’s aesthetic appeal, performance and life expectancy,

it is important to vacuum every day with a twin-motored upright vacuum cleaner.

Made in Germany, SEBO vacuum cleaners are renowned for their reliability, durability and outstanding performance on soft floor furnishings.

SEBO professional machines are built to last using the best materials and construction methods.

Designed to give excellent cleaning results day after day.

A high performance filtration system, hygienic bag debris disposal and onboard accessories make SEBO vacuum cleaners operator easy and comfortable to use.

If left to build up, the particles of dirt are much hardRecommend SEBO - we'll have your er to remove which can damage the fibre structure customers vacuuming right!

H and decrease the life of the carpet.

HECKMONDWIKE We recommend SEBO commercial vacuum cleaners as they have the Daily vacuuming is recommended to keep your carpet looking great power and performance to clean • Daily vacuum cleaning with a twin motored upright vacuum carpets like Supacord effectively.” cleaner, such as a Sebo, preferably with an adjustable head, is recommended.

To discover more about the SEBO Commercial Floorcare Range and to receive your free, handy SEBO Commercial Vacuum Guide

Ph 1300 697 326 or visit

www.sebo.com.au

• Please note that Heckmondwike's fibre bonded carpets can be vacuumed immediately after installation.

• It is essential to remove all loose soil daily because if left to build up, the particles of dirt are much harder to remove and are more damaging to the fibre structure, thereby decreasing the life of the carpet.

• Attention should be given to areas where there is extra traffic and in entrances to buildings where extra vacuuming is necessary.

Product Update

overlay will take hold. A decorative concrete overlay can be very thin, 1mm or up to 2mm and is typically applied in two or more coats by a magic trowel, hand-trowel, brush, spray or notched squeegee in some cases.

At allurecrete we trowel our finishes and never use stencils, this makes for a more realistic, natural looking finish.

Explaining the process to our client is crucial, this type of flooring you really only get one shot at and there is no room for error. There is no structural work involved, however the substrate is carefully accessed for application.

60 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

At allurecrete we specialize in Two popular types of decorative overlays: Microtopping and Decorative Concrete.

• Decorative Concrete blends are polymer-modified, which increases their strength, adhesion, flex and durability.

• When combined with cement and sand, these toppings can attain strengths exceeding 9000 psi.

• The additional strength provided by the polymer allows the cement-based material to be applied thinly without becoming brittle and weak.

Our Microtopping finish, is the most popular type of overlay for our market and I believe there is good reason for the popularity.

“The multiple colors and textures you can get with allurecrete’ microtopping is not achievable with a regular concrete finish. Allurecrete’system give’s me as an installer a lot more options,” says Adam Nicholson, director and concrete artisan at allurecrete. “I can produce a large surface area without any grout lines, over tile, concrete or even timber” he says. The floor seal finishes achieved are GLOSS or SATIN • Microtoppings offer the most variation in color and finishes.

• The ability to manipulate the look of a microtopping creates a wide range of design options.

• Microtoppings are strong. Some microtopping systems can reach 3000 psi, while higher-end interior systems used in high-traffic situations can top 6000 psi and up to 9000 psi when applied over concrete surfaces.

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TRYING TO PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER? Layers Diary Financials Debtors Quotes Stock

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Software

Make More Sales By Adding Complementary Product Lines If there is one thing McDonalds should have taught us as retailers, it is that the best way to grow our average sale is by selling more items. The traditional flooring store sells only flooring, and until recent years, flooring types were limited to carpet and vinyl. We have seen the advent of laminate and wood planking, and this is a significant portion of most flooring businesses now. Unfortunately, the areas into which we now sell wood and laminate are the same into which we previously sold carpet or vinyl. Unless our margin is improved, we have enjoyed no benefit.

Two other product groups we see creeping into flooring businesses are ceramic tile and window treatments.

In most cases, ceramic tile can be an add-on sale, but if not, at least it is usually a higher margin product. Window treatments are a true add-on sale, they don’t cannibalise other flooring types, and they offer good margin opportunity. I am seeing these in flooring stores now, but few stores are generating good revenue out of them, despite the opportunity for good GP.

Unfortunately, the areas into which we now sell wood and laminate are the same into which we previously sold carpet or vinyl. Unless our margin is improved, we have enjoyed no benefit.

there, and there is no compelling reason for customers to go there.

Here’s a suggestion; if you have a secondary product offering, put it at the front of your store; customers know you sell carpet flooring and wood; let them know you sell ceramic tile and window treatments by making them walk through them on the way to the flooring products.

If you want these to become 20% of your revenue, give them 20% of your best retail space. Put them in the eye of your customer and your salesperson.

The biggest challenge you will face is determining how to create the space; if your store is like most, you have far more carpet and wood on display than you need. Get rid of samples of product that are not selling, give more space to those that are, and create space for other products that will grow your revenue.

So, to summarise: • Identify product lines to complement your traditional carpet, vinyl and wood products • Give these new product lines prominent retail display space • Create space by identifying and removing product not generating revenue It’s this last point that creates a problem. As flooring retailers, we tend to be hoarders; we are reluctant to take samples out of our showroom.

As a result, our shops are cluttered with product we never sell. I called on an RFMS client recently, and I ran the Product Performance Report on some samples hanging in the shop; it took three products before I found the first product that had had a sale in the last 12 months, and even that was only one job.

Successfully adding secondary product offerings in your business will grow your

business and make you more profitable.

Understanding how your product offering is performing is key to creating the necessary space and then monitoring sales performance of these new products is key. RFMS is the flooring specific business management system that can provide you with the necessary tools to help.

In most cases, I can predict where I will find ceramic tiles and window treatments in a store; usually in a corner at the back of the shop… staff don’t want to go there, and there is no compelling reason for customers to go there.

If you would like to see what RFMS might do for your business, all you need is an hour of time. I would be happy to hear from you.

Chris Ogden is a consultant and Director of RFMS Australasia a supplier of IT solutions specific to the flooring industry. Chris has an extensive background in all aspects of the flooring industry, and he can be contacted at cogden@rfms.com.

The reason, in many cases is the reluctance of the sales team to embrace new products. Often because we treat these new products in a way that indicates a lack of commitment. In most cases, you will find ceramic tiles and window treatments in a corner at the back of the shop. The displays are small and uncared for; staff don’t want to go 62 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

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Understanding the Value of Electronic Quantifying There is a small but growing number of flooring retailers who are enjoying the benefits of using electronic quantifying solutions (EQ). If you were to talk to them about the benefits, I expect the first thing they would mention is the amount of time they save in preparing quotes. The amount of saving they mention to me is 50-70%. They might next talk about the increased accuracy they are enjoying.

Both are significant benefits, but in themselves, they are not the compelling reasons for implementing EQ in a flooring business. The most compelling reason is to make more sales and increase margin.

EQ is not solely a tool to make life easier for our salespeople and installers; these are benefits, but the real goal of any investment we make in our business is to be more profitable. The benefits above can contribute to improved profitability.

How? As we generate quotes more quickly, the more quotes we should be able to process. More quotes going out quicker should lead to more sales. In addition we

create time for follow up activity, again contributing to more sales. Measure and Measure Mobile by RFMS will even open the door to completing quotes in the home at the time of the measure. The goal is to increase sales.

With improved accuracy, margin should improve. Where previously we allowed for waste or a fudge factor, we can reduce it, or even remove it, allowing us to increase our margin by a point or two, while remaining competitive.

We can use Measure or Measure Mobile to show clients where we have

planned the seams. Price becomes less of an issue for customers if they understand what we are planning but perhaps have no idea what our competitors might have planned. The goal is to increase margin.

Introducing EQ as a sales tool is an investment in your business. Used well, it will increase sales and improve margin.

Measure and Measure Mobile are the market leading EQ solutions for the flooring industry. If you would like to see them in action, email Chris Ogden cogden@rfms.com.

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Prep, Install & Care

Benjamin Franklin’s Famous Quote Applies Even to Flooring….

Have you ever had a floor coating fail, a call back to fix an epoxy floor job, remove a sealer that’s been applied or had to fix a floor that wasn’t prepared? Once you’ve seen this once you NEVER want to see it again.

"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail." — Benjamin Franklin It’s absolutely essential your floors are prepared correctly before laying a floor covering, applying a coating, and starting the concrete polishing process.

Some projects need more work than others, and it can include anything from lifting off an old floor covering, grinding glues or adhesive, removing high spots or imperfections from the concrete pour, preparing the concrete for polishing, crack chasing and joint sealing, or doing a moisture test. Each is just as important as the other, no matter how much (or little) work it needs.

Each type of machine gives a different type of CSP (Concrete Surface Profile). Here’s a short guide to explain what each type of profile machine will achieve.

What you want to achieve in floor preparation, - Remove any existing coating or laitance - Grind the floor level removing any high spots and imperfections - Ensure the surface is sound and in a good condition to lay, coat, or apply product onto. In some cases, you may need to harden the slab.

- Decontaminate the concrete surface by removing any oil, grease, fatty acids, or stains - Repair cracks, joints, level up hazards, or sloping in the floor By preparing your floors right, the steps to follow are easy, and you can walk away with the confidence that the job was done right the first time around.

Concrete Grinding is among the most popular forms of concrete floor preparation. It uses a rotating disc system to grind, level, smooth, clean, or texture the top surface of a concrete slab. Most concrete grinders run with a Knock-on Diamond shoe system, allowing you to vary and change the grit, bond, and matrix of the diamond according to the finish you want.

Heavier diamonds, including the PCD diamonds (polycrystalline diamonds), run fast for heavy glue, paint, adhesive, or coating removal thicker than around 3mm. Removing product thinner is often done with a more aggressive diamond (16 – 20 grit). The higher the grit, the smoother the surface your grinder will leave. At around a 40/60 grit and higher (depending on the matrix of your diamond), the grinder will start eliminating swirl or texture marks.

Scabblers use compressed air to hammer piston-mounted pieces that vibrate in and out to remove product from a concrete surface. These units leave a rough textured surface and often remove up to 6mm of concrete in a single pass.

Scarifiers are designed to give a fast, high-speed removal using Tungsten or hardened steel flails to strike the surface. This can leave a clean, roughened, or textured surface. Also known as a planner, milling machine, or rotary cutter, these units have multiple uses for line removal, surface profiling, or concrete surface preparation. They give an effective finish when used on a number of surfaces such as asphalt, bitumen, and concrete. With the ability to change the cutters from star, tungsten cutters, or milling flails, the finish they leave varies from project to project.

64 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

Shot blasting is a single-step process that quickly removes, cleans, and textures a concrete surface in a single pass. It quickly removes laitance, paints, old coatings, dirt, and other surface products in or on concrete. This process prepares new concrete floors or steel decking for new coating application, and it improves the bonding strength of the product to the surface.

Shot Blasting is a dust-free method of abrasion where hundreds/ thousands of steel shot particles race out of the machine, propelled by the motor to remove the top layer before bouncing back into the shot blasting system to be used again. This steel shot profiles the surface.

Acid etching is one of the methods of concrete surface preparation not so readily used. This is primarily used for lighter duty applications since the weakly bonded laitance product is not completely removed in this process. Acid etching does not remove surface contaminants, which must be removed before the acid etching process itself. Diluted acid is applied to the concrete floor and reacts with the concrete surface. The resultant surface must be thoroughly high-pressure washed at 3000 PSI to etch the surface and remove the acid solution.

It then needs to be vacuumed and allowed to dry properly for 48 hours. This long process is necessary to ensure the acid is completely neutralised before applying the coating. It is not considered suitable to use on concrete that has any oil, grease, or curing agents.

DISCLAIMER: This information provided is for general use only and does not apply to any specific project. Care has been taken to ensure all information provided in this article is accurate. All Preparation Equipment cannot accept responsibility for action taken as a consequence of the information contained in this article.

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Prep, Install & Care

Control that Dust Onsite with a Dust Shroud Dust will be produced when you’re grinding, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing you can do to reduce its effects.

Choosing a quality dust shroud for your angle grinder is a great start. But what makes a good dust shroud, and how can you select the right one for your needs?

Choose the right dust shroud for the job

Not only does a lack of dust mean better health for both you and the environment, there’s a significant dollar cost attached to keeping dust under control.

Dust shrouds for angle grinders can provide longer life for your diamond grinding wheels in two ways: not only do they save hard abrasive wear, they also remove all harmful dust from around the grinder while you work.

Every All Preparation Equipment shroud features a standard size dust port, making them easy to connect to most brands of vacuums for simple dust extraction. And with dust shrouds in sizes ranging from 4” up to 9”, there’s one to fit any popular make of angle grinder.

Protect your investment with replaceable skirts

When you’re hard at work preparing surfaces for new applications, it’s easy to get so carried away with the job that you begin wearing away your valuable dust shroud itself!

A more economical alternative to constantly grinding away your dust

66 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

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shroud is to go for a model that uses a replaceable dustcover or what they often call a dust skirt. That way, a metal shroud that’s a little more expensive to buy initially can actually be the more cost-effective option. It’s an easy way to protect your investment.

Effective dust control

When grinding a lot of dust is created as the bond on the diamond grinding wheel wears away and allows the diamonds to resharpen, this dust needs to be collected effectively to ensure you get the maximum life out of the diamond.

Working with Dustcontrol – Sweden, All Preparation Equipment carries a comprehensive range of concrete dust control and extraction systems for controlling the dust from it’s source.

Running off a 4’’, 5’’, 7’’ or 9’’ Angle Grinder the DC2900 Dustcontrol Vacuum works a treat, and controls the bulk of dust meaning you can work dust free on your site.

The key is to have a shroud or dust cover that effectively encloses the complete height of the diamond grinding or cutting wheel to ensure no dust can spit out the sides or float out under the dust skirt cover.

Other units including the Schwamborn S26 Twin motor unit or the Dustcontrol Tromb DC400L Vacuum with longopac style vacuum bags means effective cleanup after your grinding or cutting task. Each of these units boast effective clean up with the continuous bag system and ensure your site stays as clean as possible while you work.

If your keen to find out how to make your site dustless, have a chat to one of the All Preparation Equipment team for advice on your site.

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Flooring Aug/Sep 2018 | 67

Prep, Install & Care

Diamonds Make Hospitals Sparkle Hygiene is obviously paramount in healthcare establishments, and so is efficiency. With the SEBO Dart UHS Polisher, the need for wet mopping is substantially reduced while vacuuming and polishing are combined without the need to seal areas off during cleaning.

The SEBO Dart UHS polisher uses the latest technology, HTC twister floor pads, incorporating micro-diamonds to polish the floor. This, in combination with the automatic height control of the machine, eliminates the need for the use of chemicals or liquids and creates a super smooth floor surface.

68 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

The absence of liquids has hygiene benefits as well as complying fully with health and safety issues. Water and fluids can compromise the hygiene of a floor by harbouring the growth of bacteria and other organisms which damp conditions encourage, and the constant use of disinfectants is a common cause of resistance microorganisms. All this is dramatically reduced through daily cleaning with the UHS polisher, extending the period between disinfectant schedules and this significantly aiding micro-organism resistance.

The European S-Class filtration system of the vacuum unit removes even the finest dust, making it healthier for those with allergies or asthma. The multi-layer sealable bags ensure safe and hygienic disposal of the dust which has been picked up.

The SEBO Dart UHS polisher can be used on virtually any floorcovering, from wood, PVC, stone and varnish-coated. As easy to use as an upright vacuum cleaner, the polisher comes with a green daily cleaning pad which is used for general maintenance of the floor. Two restoration pads are also available as a set to restore floors which are in poor condition – a red pad for the initial treatment, then a yellow pad prior to finishing off with the green. Additionally, the SEBO blue pad is available for daily maintenance where a chemical treatment is required.

Clean green with the SEBO Dart UHS Polisher.

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Prep, Install & Care

Look Floors NZ in the Spotlight Ardex Adhesive Road Shows 2018

Look Floors have been around the country in the last few months showing their customers the New Premium Ardex Adhesive range from Europe. They have had a great response and their customers can’t believe what this product can offer, this has been a long time coming and they will see the market changing for adhesives going forward with this new technology. After many years of working with hazardous products, we are all more aware of what this has been doing to our health!

The new adhesives have very low emissions and is easy to work with, compared to other adhesives. Look Floors can now offer you the complete Ardex system to prep your floors.

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70 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

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Prep, Install & Care

Look Floors New Plymouth

In February this year Look Floors moved their New Plymouth branch to a new location 142 Gill Street, New Plymouth and they now have a team of two for this growing area.

Come in and meet the Lundy team, Darin and Anna will assist you with all your flooring needs.

72 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

Look Floors Conference

Look Floors brought the team together in May for a Look Floors sales conference, including their branch-based team they have 27 sales staff supporting you across the country, that makes quite a conference and a few stories. They spent some time on who they are and what they stand for.

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Case Study 1

Con-Treat’s Technical Advice Delivers Right Equipment Decision for Queensland Regional Flooring

74 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

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Queensland based, specialised flooring company, Queensland Regional Flooring is a supplier of flooring products and installation services which includes; • Carpet; • Vinyl Planks; • Vinyl Sheet; • Laminate & Hybrid Floating Floors; • Ceramic Tiles; • Cork Tiles; • Epoxy Coatings; • Waterproofing; • Concrete Honing & Polishing; • Blinds; • Awnings; • Vision Wallcoverings & Maintenance Products, Queensland Regional Flooring assists their customers to select the right products for their Home, Office, Commercial or Industrial Situations.

Additionally, QRF provides detailed maintenance knowledge to ensure their customers receive the most from their investment.

Managing Director, Michael Dorrough, approached leading concrete technical advisors, Con-Treat for advice on purchasing an effective, well built & wellpriced dust extractor for use with their hand grinders & 450mm Planetary Floor Grinder.

The dust extractor had to keep up with the Queensland Regional Flooring project demands and was urgently required.

Con-Treat technical expert and Managing Director, Andrew McLeay, firstly looked to understand QRF’s brief… which was to recommend an effective, well built & well-priced dust extractor for use with their hand grinders & 450mm Planetary Floor Grinder.

Following the briefing, it became clear that the Shark H24 Vacuum/Dust Extractor was the most suitable for what Queensland Regional Flooring required.

SHARK DUST EXTRACTOR RANGE Certified H Class Hepa Filters Collection in Longopac The Shark H24 is a powerful industrial grade vacuum suitable for fine dust. It can handle building, grinding, plaster and concrete dust. The extractor is equipped with a fine filter (washable) and 2 x H13 filters which meets the asbestos requirements. Additionally, an hour counter and suction meter for filter control are supplied as standard.

Based on the technical advice offered

by Con-Treat, Queensland Regional Flooring purchased the Shark H24 Vacuum/Dust Extractor, not only to support the requirements of the hand grinders and planetary grinder but also to rectify the issues experienced with his previous 2 dust extractors.

Managing Director, Michael Dorrough said “Big thanks to the team at ConTreat. Not only was the customer service and professional advice very helpful, but the Shark H24’s performance has exceeded my expectations. The vacuum features exceptional suction and can keep up with my high work demand.”

For more technical information on the Shark H24 Vacuum/Dust Extractor visit https://www.contreat.com.au/shark-h24dust-extractor.html or contact us and speak to our friendly technical experts on 1300 044 625.

Efficient air pulse cleaning Complete with hose & accessories

*Available in H12, H24 & H36

“Big thanks to the team at Con-Treat. Not only was the customer service and professional advice very helpful, but the Shark H24’s performance has exceeded my expectations. The vacuum features exceptional suction and can keep up with my high work demand.” *Promotional price offer valid until 31.10.18 or until stock lasts.

Case Study 2

DuraCore Partners with Major Sydney Concrete Company to Tackle Oil Contamination Issue

Polished Concrete Australia is well known in the industry as a professional and reliable concrete flooring solutions service provider to both commercial and residential project clients.

With over 20 years of industry experience, the Polished Concrete Australia brand has become synonymous with exceptional project delivery solutions.

From grand-scale jobs to small residential jobs, Polished Concrete Australia always employs the same high standard of craftsmanship across their wide range of decorative concrete services which includes: • Concrete floor polishing

76 | Flooring Aug/Sep 2018

• Epoxy coating • Surface preparation • Tile/vinyl removal A recent challenging brief provided to Polished Concrete Australia was from Tesla Automotive Australia.

Tesla’s challenge was to prepare their new factory floor in Alexandra, but prior to doing this Polished Concrete Australia had to purge the oil contamination on the warehouse factory floor caused by the previous tenant.

Managing Director, Mark Henshaw approached leading concrete technical advisors, DuraCore for advice on strategy and product in terms of solving the challenge.

DuraCore’s’ Andrew McLeay advised to grind the entire surface area and follow with the application of Densi Crete and allow 24 hours to purge and rid contaminants and grind a final time.

Conduct a site inspection and repeat the process if necessary.

Densi Crete is 100% pure Colloidal Silica designed for the protection and polishing of concrete. It is used in both the domestic and commercial building sectors to cure, waterproof, harden and purge oil etc from new or existing concrete while being environmentally friendly with zero VOC. The results speak for themselves; Densi Crete aided in the purging of the

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“The Surface was free of oil leeching from within the concrete, we were very happy to speak to the experts, DuraCore for the technical advice we needed, we encourage the others to do the same” contaminated factory floor oil, enabling a clean surface to be addressed and prepared to showroom quality standard.

Managing Director, Mark Henshaw said “The Surface was free of oil leeching from within the concrete,

we were very happy to speak to the experts, DuraCore for the technical advice we needed, we encourage the others to do the same” Polished Concrete Australia provided Tesla with a 5-year working warranty.

Pour or spray onto new or exisitng concrete. Apply floor coverings in just 24hrs.

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Exhibitions

Ad Index

2018 Exhibitions

Airstep Australia

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Contemporary Interior Design Exhibition

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Interior Design Show

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Home & Tex 2018 International expo dedicated to floor coverings, interiors, furniture, dĂŠcor, lighting and household goods.

Istanbul, Turkey www.cnrhometex.com 27-29 Homeing 2018

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OCTOBER 2018 10-14 Ambienta 2018

International Decoration Trade Fair

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7, 13

DecorExpo 2018 International Furniture, Textiles and Homewares Expo

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DĂŠcor Hotel 2018 Trade Fair showcasing textiles, carpets, furniture and decoration for hotels.

Porto, Portugal www.exposalao.pt NOVEMBER 2018 1-4 MOA CASA

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*** For more information on the fairs or to confirm dates, please check the individual event websites.

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Con-Treat 75 Dunlop Flooring Inside Front Cover, Insert Duracore 77

Intafloors 57 GMK Logistics Godfrey Hirst Australia

41 9, 11

Ian Jones Insurance Brokers

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Kenbrock Flooring

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Laser Measure Australia

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Mapei Australia Ontera

Back Cover 25, Insert

QEP 15, 17, 19, 73, Inside Back Cover RFMS Australasia Sebo Australia Tarkett Australia

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