September 2/9 2013; Volume 27/number 10
By FCNews Staff
MODULAR FACILITY: Shaw will build a new facility in Adairsville, Ga., to manufacture modular carpet tiles. The company is expected to make an $85 million investment in Georgia and create 500 new jobs. “Through the combination of product innovation, design and sustainability, we’ve grown to become the largest producer of carpet tile in North America,” said chairman and CEO Vance Bell. “We’ve expanded our existing Cartersville carpet tile facility to its maximum size, so the Adairsville plant will allow for continued long-term growth in this important product segment. We will also soon open a new carpet tile plant in China to service the Asian market.” Shaw plans to build and equip 600,000 to 700,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space; the plant will be built on 117.6 acres and construction will begin in 2014.
MOISTURE TEST: Surfaces and the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) are partnering to provide the industry with a new certification at next year’s show. The ICRI concrete slab moisture testing certification program will be offered for the first time, allowing attendees to become certified on Jan. 27 and 28. Tier 1 certification, the concrete slab moisture testing educational program and the accompanying ICRI concrete slab moisture testing written examination will focus on certifying those who are not regularly engaged in moisture testing but have an active interest in learning more about the tests. The full certification program, Tier 2, consists of the same three-hour educational session, written exam and a field testing performance exam.
REVISED MODEL: The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) has released a revised edition of its commercial model specification that contains information on carpet performance characteristics for a number of user audiences. In its new, streamlined format, the revised document is intended to be an easy-to-use tool that will assist architects, designers, building owners and others to select carpets with the right performance profiles for their project needs, CRI said. “The new version is more concise,” said Jeff Carrier, CRI director of regulatory systems. “Much of the redundancy has been eliminated.” A task group comprised of representatives from CRI member companies, who reported to CRI’s Product Performance and Standards Panel, was responsible for updating the model specifications.
CONDOS RISE: Construction of apartments and condominiums gained momentum in the second quarter of 2013, according to the latest Multifamily Production Index (MPI), released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The index rose nine points to 61, the highest reading since its 2003 inception. “Multifamily developer confidence is at an all-time high according to our results, and we expect to see that continue for the foreseeable future,” said Dean Henry, CEO, Legacy Partners Residential in Foster City, Calif., and chairman of NAHB’s multifamily leadership board. “Much of the consumer demand we’re seeing now is coming from young people who are finding jobs and establishing households as the economy continues to improve.”
SENTIMENT FALLS: Consumer sentiment fell in August from July’s six-year high, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan survey. The index declined to 82.1 in August from 85.1 in July, although it was higher than the mid-month reading of 80 and beat expectations for a final read of 80.5. “Most of the late August gain was due to favorable income expectations, with consumers expecting the largest income gains in nearly five years,” said survey director Richard Curtin.