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AmericasMart seeks nominations for retailer awards
Show organizers of the Atlanta International Area Rug Market are seeking nominations from AmericasMart exhibitors for this year's Retailer of the Year Awards. The awards, which aim to honor the most innovative area rug retailers, are set for 5:30 p.m. July 14 at the Georgia Aquarium. The semiannual market will run July 13-16. |
Coverings 2008: Attendance down slightly; board decides to postpone L.A. event
Show organizers said that attendance for
Coverings 2008, held April 29 to May 2 in Orlando, Fla., fell slightly from
37,000 to 35,000 showgoers compared to last year’s event in Chicago. However,
Coverings management added that attendance was up 3.8 percent over the last
outing in Orlando, in 2006. Organizers said the increase in Orlando attendance
points to the “hardiness” of the tile and stone segment in the area. |
Korczak, Davis among 40 experts set to speak at Hardwood Flooring Summit
Flooring industry consulting firm The Claims Advisor said it
plans to host an educational conference on hardwood flooring featuring more
than 40 industry experts in August. Along with speaker sessions, the planned
Hardwood Flooring Summit will also include breakout classes, expert panels and
debates. The event is set for Aug. 14-17 in Atlanta. |
Fire at Beaulieu Dalton plant: “Could have been disastrous”
About 300 employees at a
Beaulieu of America plant in Dalton, Ga., were evacuated Tuesday afternoon
after a fire broke out in a ventilation system near the roof, company officials
and local press reports confirmed. The May 13 fire at a Memofil Plant on Fifth
Ave. in Dalton was brought under control by the Dalton Fire Department, which
remained on the scene through late afternoon. |
WFCA aims to spread green flooring awareness during media tour
The World Floor Covering Association recently wrapped
up a two-city media tour with stops in New York City and Des Moines. The WFCA
asked more than thirty Surfaces 2008 exhibitors to showcase their newest products
in the tour, including green flooring derived from corn and leather tiles made
using recycled car seats. |
Husqvarna buys floor saw maker Meco
Husqvarna, an Olathe-Kans.-based maker of
diamond tools and cutting equipment for the construction and stone industries,
has purchased Meco -- Masterpiece Engineering Co. The Prescott, Ariz.-based
company is a leading producer of floor saws for cutting concrete and asphalt.
According to Husqvarna, Meco posts annual sales of about $9 million, with most
revenue in the U.S. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. |
LIFCA to host annual ‘Tool Time’ event May 28
The Long Island Floor Covering Association is gearing up
for “LIFCA Tool Time 2008.” The free annual event offers “an evening of
demonstrations about the latest in tools for the floor covering industry” and
also features Q&A sessions with industry experts from leading manufacturers.
The Tool Time show is set for 5-9 p.m. May 28.
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Vegas review: INSTALL asks industry experts for help on curriculum
Industry experts from major mills and
manufacturers are set to review the INSTALL curriculum May 19-20 in Las Vegas. To
ensure the training modules for carpet, resilient and standard skills are up to
date, members of INSTALL are asking experts from partnering mills and
manufacturers to offer their input and advice. The modules are developed by the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters’ International Training Fund (CITF). |
Questech lauded for green efforts in Vermont
Tile maker Questech Corp., based in Rutland,
Vt., was recently recognized with the Vermont Governor’s Award for
Environmental Excellence and Pollution Prevention. One of three companies
singled out for the honor, Questech received the award for reducing emissions
at its plant through “a unique combination of chemistry, process and
engineering.” |
 | With Thornton set to retire, Peters takes reigns of Mohawk Flooring
Frank
Peters, an industry veteran with experience at companies including Armstrong,
Shaw and most recently Mohawk, has been named president of the Mohawk Flooring
Division. He will be responsible for residential and commercial sales,
marketing, manufacturing and distribution for Mohawk’s complete line of carpets,
rugs and hard surface flooring. He succeeds Monte Thornton, who recently announced
his retirement after 15 years as a Mohawk executive. |
 | CTDA members 'enthusiastic' about upcoming China trade mission
The Ceramic Tile Distributors Association said it has received "enthusiastic responses from CTDA members" for the 2008 CTDA China Ceramic Tile Trade Mission set for June 18-29. The group has already confirmed 33 participants for the event, which will include visits to factories, showrooms at some of China's top ceramic-producing areas and is set to feature networking and forums with some of China's top ceramic tile experts. |
 | Vitromex unveils new tile, new showroom
Vitromex has launched V+, a line of granite tile designed to aid the visually impaired. The tile is offered in two surfaces, round and lined, that feature markings to alert the blind to an upcoming traffic crossing or a change in street level. |
WFCA invites floor covering firms to participate in new study
The World Floor Covering Association is inviting floor covering firms to be part of its 2008 Financial Management Report. All retailers with business in the following flooring categories: retail oriented firms; retail/main street commercial; contract/commercial firms; installers; cleaners; and inspectors can participate by providing their financial numbers for 2007.
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Georgia officials: Mohawk shutting plant in June
Mohawk Industries has informed state officials
in Georgia of plans to close a filament carpet yarn plant that
employs 366 people in Dahlonega, Ga. in June, affecting 366 workers. The Georgia Dept. of
labor announced the closing on its web site and noted that it will provide
transitional services to laid-off workers. Mohawk officials were unavailable
for comment at press time. |
RPM acquires UK-based Flowcrete
The Flowcrete
Group, a Manchester, England-based maker of commercial flooring, has been
acquired by RPM, a U.S.-based holding company whose products
include Rust-Oleum, Day-Glo, Stonhard and DAP. Plans call for Flowcrete to
operate as a “stand-alone business” under its current management team. In addition
to its namesake Flowcrete line, it will continue to market the brands Flowfresh,
Isocrete, Deckshield and Mondeco, which are predominately used in manufacturing
plants and other heavy traffic environments. Terms of the deal where not disclosed.
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Laminate truce:Balterio settles dispute with Unilin
Belgium-based
laminate maker Balterio said it has finalized a worldwide licensing deal with
Unilin that will enable Spanolux/Balterio to “freely sell their products
throughout the world.” In making the announcement, Balterio noted that the
agreement settles a patent dispute and terminates pending litigation in the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
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Lauzon partners with N.J.-based Patriot Flooring
Moving
to increase its presence in the Northeast, hardwood supplier Lauzon said it has added Patriot Flooring Supply to its distribution network. Patriot’s 95,000-sq.ft
facility in Pompton Plains, N.J. will be used to service the New York metro area including Long Island, Connecticut and the northern half of New Jersey. |
Pergo sets price hike: “We have no choice”
Citing the increased cost of
fuel and raw material needed to make laminate flooring, the maker of Pergo and
Uniboard said it will increase prices on those two lines by 5 percent beginning
May 15. > |
Mannington to offer installation classes beginning April 20
Salem, N.J.-based Mannington
Mills has announced its 2008 slate of classes for its Installation Training
Center. The center is set to offer classes on resilient, laminate and hardwood
products, with training focusing on some of the company’s latest lines. |
‘Making one of the strongest distributors in the Midwest’: Gilford Flooring purchases Bruce Wholesale
In an aim to broaden its distribution efforts in
the Midwest, Gilford Flooring of Jeffersonville, Ind., has purchased Bruce
Wholesale Flooring, based in Lexington, Ky. Specifically, the company has
“combined the human, product and logistical resources of these two
long-established distribution families” in an effort to “make one of the
strongest distributors in the Midwest,” according to Dennis C. Cook, president
of Gilford Flooring. |
Shaw to unveil new store concept at upcoming meeting
The upcoming “Synergy” meeting for Shaw Design Center
dealers will also serve as the launching pad for a new store concept. Developed
by the firm Ley Design Group, the new concept encompasses “stylish, successful,
upscale retail environments.” The meeting, which will also include networking
and “business-building” activities, is set for April 14-17 at the Ginn Hammock
Beach Resort in Palm Coast, Fla. |
WFCA adds online access for training programs
The World Floor
Covering Association’s industry certification program is now available online. While
overall training and coursework will still be overseen by participating manufacturers,
industry members to review applications, final examination certification stages
and re-certification documents through the link www.wfca.org/pro/examlist.aspx. |
High Point to launch ‘Amazed’ exhibit at spring market
The
spring High Point Market, set for April 7-13 in High Point, N.C., will include
a new area called “Amazed.” Plans call for the exhibit to feature “an
innovative display of thought-provoking ideas designed to inspire designers,
retailers and manufacturers.” Specifically, the area will include an array of concept
rooms on the Top Floor of the Suites at Market Square that aim to offer
insights into the buying habits of home furnishing consumers. |
Welcome to the Surfaces New Product Extravaganza
Announcing the Surfaces
New Product Extravaganza. Brought to you by FlooringInsider.com,
the Extravaganza gives you a look at some of the latest, most
innovative
products that were unveiled during Surfaces 2008. Each listing includes
a brief
description of some of the newest products and, as a service to our
readers, full contact information so you can easily call or e-mail the
companies.
The products
that appear here will also be printed in a special section in the April issues of
National Floor
Trends, Floor Covering Installer and
TILE
Magazine.
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| FULL STORY > |
 | Demaree becomes Carpet One president; Hackel to run web startup for CCA
Evan Hackel is relinquishing his day-to-day responsibilities
as president of Carpet One Floor & Home to oversee a new web-based venture
set for launch by Carpet One’s parent, CCA Global Partners. Assuming the top
position at Carpet One will be Eric Demaree, a 32-year veteran of flooring who
joined CCA three years ago after 11 years at Home Depot. |
Beaulieu to host ‘Bliss’ show despite storm
Taking a page from the postal worker’s handbook,
executives at Beaulieu of America said they plan to host their “The Bliss
Experience” event March 20-21 at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta only
a week after a tornado touched down in the area. Some streets are still closed as
cleanup continued into Monday, the company noted. |
UK flooring industry gears up for $12m carpet campaign
Looking
to “provide a boost to the carpet market,” a consortium of leading UK and
European carpet makers are working with large UK retail group Carpetright and
distribution group Headlam to create “an extensive, generic promotional
campaign for broadloom carpet.” The campaign, set to run for two years
beginning in September, will cost about $12 million U.S., according to the
group. |
Faus gives OK for use of technologies in China
Faus Group has licensed the use of several of
its patented laminate flooring technologies to manufacturers in China.
Specifically, Faus has licensed its Embossed in Register and Joint Guard/bevel
edge technologies to PowerDekor and Elegant Living. PowerDekor is a leading producer
of laminate flooring in China. Additionally, Elegant Living is the leading
manufacturer of solid and engineered hardwood in the country. The company also
makes laminate flooring. |
 | Architectural Digest show wrap-up: For high end in New York, it’s business as usual
New York -- Catering to the high end of the
market and working in and around New York City has helped shield flooring
manufacturers, designer and retailers from the recent slowdown in housing
construction and remodeling that has had a negative impact on much of the
industry, representatives of the more than two dozen flooring and floor
covering companies at the Seventh Annual Architectural Digest
Home Design Show here last month said. |
Nilfisk-Advance buys HydraMaster: ‘Offer the best of both companies’
Professional floor cleaning equipment maker
Nilfisk-Advance has purchased HydraMaster, a Mukilteo, Wash.-based manufacturer
of truckmount extractors, rotary floor care systems, cleaning accessories and
carpet and fabric care chemicals. Plans call for HydraMaster to keep its name
and continue operations from its Washington plant. However, HydraMaster and its
CleanMaster brand will now be managed by Doug Hauff, general manager of Nilfisk-Advance’s
U.S. Products brand. Former HydraMaster CEO Steve Brandt and chairman Mike Palmer
will stay on as advisors. |
‘Ideally suited to meet our country’s needs’: National Gypsum to open plant with Mexican partner
National Gypsum Co., based in Charlotte, N.C.,
announced it has entered a joint venture with Panel Rey S.A. to produce
PermaBase and PermaBase Flex cement board in Mexico. Panel Rey, based in
Monterrey, Mexico, has sold PermaBase to over 300 distributors throughout
Mexico and Latin America under an agreement with National Gypsum for the past
seven years. The new joint venture company will be called PermaBase de
Americas, and target Mexico as well as Central and South America. |
Thompson’s upcoming classes to include moisture-related topics
Installation expert and NFT columnist Ray Thompson, Jr., will
host a series of classes on hard surface installation and moisture-related
issues in March and April. The hands-on sessions, which will be held at the
Floor Covering Institute in Easton, Wash., will include a basic five-day
resilient installation school, five-day commercial and advanced schools; as
well as classes aimed at floor preparation and wood flooring installation. The
slate will also include daylong seminars covering moisture in concrete and
moisture testing classes. |
Spurred by ‘great growth,’ Ark Floors to move to larger facility
Ark Floors, a hardwood flooring maker based in
Irwindale, Calif., is moving. Plans call for Ark, the U.S. arm of Chinese wood
manufacturer A & W [Shanghai] Woods Co., to relocate to a newly constructed
70,000 sq. ft. facility in El Monte, Calif., in mid-March. The new facility,
which will allow the company to warehouse inventory and ship products at four
times its current capacity, will place the company about 8 miles southwest of
their current site. |
Patriot to host open house at its N.J. location Feb. 26
Armstrong announced that Patriot Flooring Supply, a New
England-based distributor of hardwood and laminate flooring, will cut the
ribbon on a new ProShop at the distributor’s Pompton Plains, N.J. warehouse Feb. 26. Set for 3 to 7 p.m., the event will also serve as an open house for
the distributor, which recently expanded its operations into Pompton Plains in
the wake of Hoboken Floors shutting down. |
Polyurethane tech conference seeks presentations for ’09 event
Organizers of UTECH Europe 2009, a major
international conference aimed at the polyurethanes sector, have issued a final
call for papers for the March 31-April 2, 2009 event. Specifically, organizers
are seeking “presentations detailing the latest advances in the production,
processing and application of polyurethanes and PU-based products.” Deadline is
March 20, 2008. |
‘The tire kickers stayed home’: Surfaces ’08 attendance drops 10 percent, but exhibitors say quality of visits up
With the continued softening in the housing
market, exhibitors at Surfaces 2008 said they expected attendance at the annual
trade show to be down. And they were not wrong. Attendance at the Las Vegas
event fell about 10 percent this year, with a little more than 34,500 show
goers on hand compared to last year’s more than 38,000 visitors. Additional,
the number of exhibitors dropped slightly, from more than 1,000 to 982. While
attendance was down, there was wide agreement that the show remained an
important industry showcase. |
NAHB unveils new rating system for ‘green’ building
The
National Association of Home Builders has thrown their hat into the “green”
ring. The trade group launched the NAHB National Green Building Program during
the recent International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla. An “education,
verification and certification program” for green building, the program
includes an online scoring tool to help measure green guidelines at www.nahbgreen.org. |
Tarkett to raise prices on commercial products
Tarkett is the latest company to announce price
increases for resilient flooring. The company said it will raise prices by 4 to
7 percent on all commercial resilient tile beginning April 7. |
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