FloorCoveringNews

To further strengthen their wide range of product designs, Johnsonite, the commercial arm of Tarkett and provider of high-performance flooring systems, is introducing a range of new and improved solutions for innovative and sustainable flooring with their Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT) and TexTile VCT collections. Ideal for high traffic areas, the new designs and expanded color options for this classic product increase design flexibility with a modern palette and competitive pricing.

Aims to ‘ignite’ business moving forward

Stone Mountain, Ga.—What’s in a name? Well, if you were to ask members of the ReSource Commercial Flooring Network (RCFN), their answer would probably be, “a lot.” That’s how it seemed as members responded with applause to the announcement at the group’s Network Exchange 2012 convention here that ReSource will now be known as the Fuse Commercial Flooring Alliance.

Resilient certification garners industry-wide support

Kansas City, Mo.—Flooring installation training is on track to break records in 2012, according to Jim Walker, CEO of the International Certified Flooring Installers Association (CFI).

Chagrin Falls, Ohio — To offer designers, installers and building owners greater flexibility, speed, sustainability and return on investment, Johnsonite, the commercial arm of the Tarkett company and provider of the world’s most integrated high-performance flooring system, introduced its new SlideLock Glueless Flooring System. This unique system installs easily and does not require adhesive, so tiles can be removed and used over and over again. SlideLock can be a temporary or permanent solution for many commercial applications and can be repurposed for other locations, returned to Johnsonite for reprocessing or even donated to a charitable organization at the end of use.

Chagrin Falls, Ohio– To offer designers, installers and building owners greater flexibility, speed, sustainability and return on investment, Johnsonite, the commercial arm of the Tarkett company, introduced its new SlideLock glueless flooring system. This unique system installs easily and does not require adhesive, so tiles can be removed and used over and over again. SlideLock can be a temporary or permanent solution for many commercial applications and can be repurposed for other locations, returned to Johnsonite for reprocessing or even donated to a charitable organization at the end of use.

CHAGRIN FALLS, OHIO—Johnsonite was recently involved in the 9^th season’s premiere of ABC’s Emmy award-winning show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” (EMHE). This episode featured the Marshalls, a military family based in Fayetteville, N.C., whose home, also known as the Steps-N-Stages Jubilee House, is used as a transitional space for homeless female veterans. To help renovation efforts, Johnsonite donated 10 containers—approximately 900 square feet—of its Color Essence Vinyl Enhanced Tiles (VET) from the company’s Azrock Collection.

CHAGRIN FALLS, OHIO—Johnsonite announced the expansion of its field team in the Northwestern U.S. with Shanna Ross as the newest member of the Solution Development Consultant team.

CHAGRIN FALLS, OHIO—Aimed at designers, the newly expanded Cortina Grande solid vinyl tile (SVT) from Johnsonite’s Azrock collection is now available with twice the number of color options.

CHAGRIN FALLS, OHIO—Diane Martel, vice president of environmental planning and strategy for Tarkett North America, will deliver a presentation on human factors in interior design at this year’s International Facility Management Association’s World Workplace Conference and Expo in Phoenix.

CHAGRIN FALLS, OHIO—Johnsonite, the commercial arm of Tarkett, was recently awarded two prestigious environmental certifications for the sustainable content and production of their Harmonium xf linoleum flooring: a certified United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) BioPreferred program Biobased Product Label, and a Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Silver tier certification. Currently the company’s linoleum consists of 80% biogenic materials and Harmonium xf Linoleum has the highest rapidly renewable content in the industry, according to company executives.

Since the economic downturn began the resilient category has been just that—resilient. Not only has the segment picked up market share it lost the previous decade, it has done so with technologically advanced products in an array of high end offerings.

Consumers may have become more cost conscious in recent years, but what they are most interested in is a product that provides great performance for the price. And manufacturers say this is a key ingredient as to why resilient has seen a surge in consumer acceptance.

As one of the strongest categories across the flooring industry, resilient producers are introducing a number of new collections and updates this fall. Focusing on a strong value proposition, stone and wood looks are the popular visuals, while easy installation features seem to be en vogue from a technical perspective.

Many companies are also introducing goods for the commercial side, or warranting performance with light commercial guarantees. With the residential market scraping along the bottom, suppliers are providing retailers with products that can yield the greatest profit at all points along the channel.

DALLAS—To help consolidate the company’s post-consumer vinyl composition tile (VCT) efforts in the region, Johnsonite, the commercial arm of Tarkett, has formed a partnership with Texas Carpet Recycling and Corporate Floors to serve as the central collection point for the mill’s ReStart Reclamation and Recycling program.

The philosopher Aristotle once said, “If one way be better than another, that you may be sure it is nature’s way.” A widespread embrace of sustainability initiatives brought the resilient flooring industry to a realization that nature’s way is the best, and the market was flooded with third-party certification programs proving so. Simplifying that process is the ANSI standard NSF 332, in its early stages of implementation.

CHICAGO—As the commercial market continues on the comeback trail, NeoCon 2011 served as the landscape for many flooring manufacturers to roll out new products, concepts and directions.

Mannington Commercial, for example, unveiled a litany of products, all collaborations with outside designers. One in particular was the Best of NeoCon Gold winner Vivendi Collection, a heterogeneous vinyl sheet developed in conjunction with world renowned design firm HOK and fabrics manufacturer Pallas Textiles.

CHICAGO—The commercial market is on the upswing, and NeoCon 2011 could not have been more reflective of that trend. Hotel room reservations were up 27% over the three-day NeoCon 2010 period, forcing many members of the A&D community to the outskirts of the city. Elevator wait times at the Merchandise Mart were longer than in recent years, and hallways on the floors housing the permanent showrooms were more challenging to negotiate—all signs of a healthy show.

ROSLYN, N.Y.—Following a two-year hiatus, Shaw Industries was voted the industry’s Best Overall Manufacturer in the 15th Award of Excellence competition. This was the third time in the award’s history that Shaw took top honors, which it last held in 2008. Shaw also repeated its performance from last year by taking home the Award of Excellence for Environmental Leadership, which was first awarded in 2010.

Roslyn, N.Y.—The 15^th annual Award of Excellence competition, sponsored by Floor Covering News and the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA), is a way for manufacturers’ customers—retailers, distributors, designers, installers, specifies, etc.—to honor the companies they feel consistently provide the best service, professionalism of sales force, management responsiveness, value, design, B2B, handling of claims and ease of doing business. In other words, those manufacturers help them do the best job running successful, profitable business operations, whether it be a retail operation, distributorship, design centers or installation workrooms.

ROSLYN, N.Y.—Mannington Mills has regained the mountaintop, as it was voted the industry’s Best Overall Manufacturer in the 14th Award of Excellence competition. This was the ninth time in the award’s history that Mannington took top honors, which it last held in 2006. Shaw Industries was the winner in the inaugural Award of Excellence for Environmental Leadership.

These awards, along with 12 other honors, were presented at a gala evening reception and dinner here. In addition, Sandy Mishkin, co-founder and president of CCA Global Partners, was among the invited guests as the recipient of the first Floor Covering News Lifetime Achievement Award, which was present- ed to him earlier this year at Carpet One’s 25th anniversary (FCNews, Jan. 25/Feb. 1).