FloorCoveringNews

Deerfield Beach, Fla. – MAPEI continuously works to achieve social, environmental and economic sustainability. The company has recently directed its efforts toward environmental sustainability with the introduction of ecological refill packaging for its adhesives used in floor covering installations. During 2012 MAPEI will begin producing Ultrabond ECO 20, Ultrabond ECO 185, Ultrabond ECO 711 and Ultrabond ECO 810 in 1-gallon [3,79-L] plastic pouches, which will be packaged four per standard RSC corrugated box.  

Deerfield Beach, Fla. – As part of its celebration of Mapei Group’s 75 years in business, MAPEI Americas is rewarding its loyal customers with a sweepstakes worth a total of $75,000 in cash and prizes. During 2012, contractors in the tile, stone and floor-covering installation sectors and in the concrete restoration sector will have a chance to enter the “$75K Giveaway” sweepstakes each time they purchase select MAPEI products. Entry forms and rules are available online at http://www.mapei.com/adv/us/75k_Giveaway/. “We’ll keep everyone updated on the promotion via our Facebook and Twitter presence, in addition to regular communications through our sales force,” said operational marketing manager Steven Day.

After 5 years developing an all-encompassing multi-attribute sustainability standard for tile and tile installation materials, the very first certified sustainable products are being announced.

Cumulatively, eight major manufacturers of tile and installation materials have hundreds of products that are already certified or will be certified by the start of Coverings on April 17, with yet even more of their products still in the evaluation process and expected to earn certification this year. At least six additional manufacturers have started the certification process for hundreds more products that are expected to be certified within the year.

Cleveland — The Marble Institute of America has just released a comprehensive, new iPad app that gives design and construction professionals quick, easy access to detailed information about natural stones quarried in North America.

The Stones of North America app is available for free download at the iTunes Store. The app has been produced by MIA with generous support from MAPEI, the world leader in the production of adhesives and other products for the installation of stone and other floor and wall coverings.

The app features marble, granite, and other stones from more than 70 quarries in North America. MIA’s goal in creating the app was to give architects, builders, designers, homeowners, and others shopping for natural stone an easy way to view and select stone on the popular iPad. The app is being promoted to architects and design professionals through a robust advertising campaign.

Deerfield Beach, Fla.—Placing new, modern tile over existing tile has just become much easier with the introduction of MAPEI’s innovative ECO Prim Grip, a ready-to-use bond-promoting primer that prepares an existing tile or stone surface to receive a new installation without the time, labor or dust of scarification. This synthetic-resin-based primer enhances the performance of mortars and their adhesion to existing ceramics and other difficult substrates, and it can be applied with a roller in only one coat. A surface coated with ECO Prim Grip is ready for new tile installation within 15-60 minutes. Low odor and VOC compliance make the product safe for use in occupied interior environments.

FT. LAUDERDALE, FLA.—There was a noticeable difference at the Flooring Contractor’s Association’s (FCICA) mid-year convention held here recently. The organization has gone back to what it was when it began in 1982: the commercial floor covering industry’s technical installation association.

Back in the day, flooring adhesives were, well, were adhesives for flooring. The offerings in this segment were just as broad as the floorings available; basically, glue for carpet and the rest, with not much emphasis on the rest.

Nowadays, in the modern age of specialization—not unlike how in baseball relief pitchers have evolved into closers, seventh- and eighth-inning men, left-handed relief specialists (who usually face only one batter), and middle relief/spot starters—adhesives are produced specifically for each flooring segment on the market.

DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.—In response to installer requests, Mapei has introduced Mapelastic CI, a premixed liquid-rubber crack-isolation membrane for installation under ceramic tile or stone. This quick-drying product can be used in interior and exterior environments on residential or commercial projects.

Deerfield Beach, Fla.—Mapei has introduced two new products that help property owners maintain and update the grout joints in their tile.

Grout Maximizer is a premium latex-based additive for mixing with the company’s Keracolor S Portland-cement-based grout to increase resistance to water and oil-based stains. When added to the grout at the time of installation, Grout Maximizer is easier to apply than epoxy grouts but still provides reduced absorption of water, dirt and spills.

Brands are considered an interface between the company that makes the product and the end user. People can more easily identify a range of offerings if they have recognized labels, which, in turn, boosts sales for retailers, experts say. In addition, branded products can command premiums since they are considered a step above commodities in the consumer’s eyes.

“It’s not your grandmother’s linoleum” is a line that has become quite prevalent in recent years as the offerings in resilient flooring have evolved into fashion-forward, state-of-the-art, high-performance products. It can also be applied to ceramic tile, as technology continues to play a major role in advancing the segment, as well as tile adhesives.

Life’s most pressing arguments often pit extremes against one another in a black-and-white format to determine a victor: republican vs. democrat, sunlight vs. moonlight, land vs. sea, right vs. wrong.

Of special importance to the floor covering professional, the adhesive argument, urethane vs. non-urethane, should not be overlooked. Urethane adhesives have been around for decades, and installers are comfortable with the long-standing properties: ease of use, high-strength, fast curing speed, and absence of water and solvents.

Dallas—In late March, Daltile held its annual national sales meeting in Indian Wells, Calif. The company’s sales regions competed in a variety of fun team building events resulting in a donation of $21,000 to seven noteworthy charities.

Key vendor partners including, Noble Company, Color Fast Caulk, James Hardie, Mapei, Laticrete International, Custom Building Products and Protecto Wrap agreed to donate $3,000 dollars on behalf of each of the seven competing teams to Daltile’s charities.

LAS VEGAS—If Surfaces 2011 serves as a bellwether of the flooring industry for the coming year, then the industry has plenty to look forward to in the months ahead. Most exhibitors had nothing but good things to say about the show, the move to Mandalay Bay and the quality of traffic. Retailers also took a liking to the new venue as well as the layout.

Advancements in technology keep raising the bar for products in the flooring industry. Ceramic tile manufacturers can now create the look and texture of real slate floors (and others) with porcelain, while the finished product in the laminate category sometimes fools the most experienced industry veteran into thinking he or she is walking on the real thing. The same holds true for the glue that holds the flooring industry products together.

DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.—Mapei has named Real Bourdage as strategic marketing director. He replaces Jeff Leone, who left the company to pursue other opportunities.

Bourdage is charged with helping Mapei Americas achieve its sales and marketing goals, noted Luigi Di Geso, president and CEO of the
business unit. Bourdage comes to Mapei with more than 30 years of experience in the field. He has held senior management positions with H.B. Fuller in Canada, including president of its TEC Specialty Products division, as well as Aqua Mix and Custom Building Products.

DELTA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA— Mapei recently completed construction on an additional 44,000 square feet of warehouse, shipping and office space at its manufacturing facility here, bringing the total footprint to 78,779 square feet. A new quality control laboratory is also included in the additional space.

ORLANDO, FLA.—The tile and stone industry got a rare glimpse of “the man behind the cubes” when the National Tile Contractors Association (NTCA) honored Dr. Giorgio Squinzi of Mapei with the Joe A. Tarver Cornerstone Award for Lifetime Achievement earlier this year. Mapei is well known for the colorful “cubes” present on all of its packaging which represent the chemicals that bring innovative advances to flooring installation and concrete restoration systems.

A video shown during the award ceremonies traced Squinzi’s involvement in shaping the global face of the tile and stone industry. It highlighted events from the time of his birth into a family that owned a small flooring and coating business in Milan, Italy, to the role he plays today as the owner and CEO of a major global manufacturer of tile and stone installation systems.

If an improper installation results in an unhappy customer, a callback for the retailer and a black eye for the industry, then it only stands to reason that all involved do whatever they can to get the job done right the first time. And any professional installer will attest that part of the equation involves the adhesive used.

When it comes to adhesives, three key issues must be considered: Is it the right glue for the job? How much glue should be applied for the given appliction? and Which conditions are most beneficial for success?

These questions must be answered to ensure a successful installation. With that said, industry experts weighed in with some tips that contribute to a hassle-free job.

Deerfield Beach, Fla.—Mapei announced five new colors have been added to its grout palette. Requested earth-tone named Chocolate, Cocoa, Light Almond, Bahama Beige and Frost expand its offerings from deep brown to bright white.

“We continue to refine our color palette to be the most dynamic supplier in the industry, being attentive to the needs of architects and designers,” said Ben Thomas, Mapei’s business manager for tile and stone installation systems. “Whether installers are using sanded or unsanded grouts from the cementitious Keracolor line; rapid-setting, efflorescence-free Ultracolor Plus grout; 100% solids epoxy Opticolor grout with a sanded look, or commercial-grade Kerapoxy epoxy grout, they can choose from 36 colors, including the five newest shades.”

CHARLESTON, S.C.—Christopher Capobianco of Christopher Collaborative, Patchogue, N.Y., was re-elected chairman of the FCICA, the flooring contractors association, during the organization’s recent convention here.

In addition to Capobianco, FCICA’s 2010-11 executive board includes Gerry Swift of Potomac Floor Covering in Chantilly, Va., vice chairman; Michael Roberts of Bonitz Flooring Group in Knoxville, Tenn., secretary/treasurer, and Ralph Frye of Mats Inc. of Stoughton, Mass., vice chairman of associates. Kimberly Oderkirk will continue as executive vice president of the association.

DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.—Mapei has signed an agreement to participate in the Global ReLeaf program with American Forests, the nation’s oldest citizen-based environmental organization.

“Environmental care is a fundamental part of the company’s philosophy, of our corporate commitment and industrial responsibility,” said Luigi Di Geso, president and CEO of Mapei Americas. “For this reason, Mapei works continuously on the development of products in aqueous dispersion formats and those which are solvent-free.”

DALTON—While others downsize or worse, Mapei continues expanding. The company has recently acquired an additional 80,500 square-foot building on 5.2 acres of property located here. The new facility is located within a mile of the company’s APAC adhesives production plant, which Mapei purchased in April of last year (FCNews, April 20/27).
“The availability of raw materials makes the location ideal for our purposes; we’ll begin retrofitting the plant to produce Mapei powdered products right away,” said Ray Knecht, Mapei unit manager, Dalton operations. “In the meantime, we’ll start using the plant space immediately as a regional distribution center for products from our tile and stone installation systems and concrete restoration systems. We’ll give our customers in the Southeast improved service while saving in shipping times.”