Flooring April-May 2018

FLOORING

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

Print post approved 100018531

april / may 2018

Over 370 delegates rocked the ride! p6

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Upfront

FLOORING

Welcome to the April/May edition of Flooring magazine. In this special issue we take a look back at one of the world’s largest flooring shows, DOMOTEX asia/Chinafloor. Flooring magazine was in Shanghai, China in late March and we give you a roundup of that event in our special report.

We also have two special features in this issue. Firstly, we take a look at Eco and Environmentally-friendly floors and then we change pace and bring you a Software feature. Both areas are huge at the moment in the world of floors, and we know you’ll get a lot out of these two categories which are comprehensively covered in the magazine.

In our Icons series we look at Halcyon Lake’s Noel Kiely. Noel is the undisputed king of Berber carpets and he undoubtedly changed the way we look at floorcoverings in Australia.

The piece on Noel is fascinating and the photos which accompany his interview are a nostalgic look back at his working life through the decades.

We know you will enjoy reading about Noel and his strong influence on the industry. He is definitely worthy of iconic status!

Before I forget, Flooring magazine is now on Facebook, so take the time to check us out and come and say "Hi".

There is also a Q&A with Sally Pottharst, co-founder of exquisite rug company, Armadillo & Co, which is Australian owned and recently expanded into the US market. Sally talks about how she got started in the business, the ethos behind the brand and future plans.

In this issue we also speak to Kara Norris from Carpet Court and she discusses the new Style Visualiser tool. Look out for this in our Software feature.

We welcome your feedback.

Ronnie Gramazio Editor

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND april / may 2018

vol 36 no 2 News 6

Choices Flooring's Magic Carpet Ride 2018

14 Gerflor Guests Strike Gold on Gold Coast Events 18 Domotex Asia/Chinafloor Post-Show Review Icons 45 Noel Kiely Regular Reports 52 Airstep Retailer of the Month 70 Carpets & Rugs 72 Product Update 80 Prep, Install & Care Front Cover 01 Choices Flooring www.choicesflooring.com.au

READ ON THE GO: Scan code to view the latest FREE digital versions of the magazine on our website. Simply click on the front cover once you have scanned the code.

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Flooring April/May 2018 | 3

News

Australia’s Only Commercial Vinyl Flooring Manufacturer Sends First Shipment to the United States Australia’s only manufacturer of commercial vinyl flooring is today sending its first ever shipment of finished flooring to the United States.

The shipment is the first of many that the south east Melbourne-based manufacturer has secured to the United States.

Armstrong Flooring Australia manufactures at Braeside, in south east Melbourne, employs more than 100 people and its products are exported to Europe, Asia, South America and now, for the first time, the United States.

Armstrong Flooring Australia collaborated with its U.S.-based parent company, Armstrong Flooring Inc., to supply this product as the best option to fulfill a need in the U.S. commercial sheet market.

South East Melbourne is one of Australia’s premier manufacturing regions, with more than 90,000 people employed in the sector.

Flooring from the Braeside factory is used in hospitals, aged care facilities, schools, universities, offices and government buildings in Australia and across the globe.

4 | Flooring April/May 2018

Armstrong Flooring’s General Manager, Australia/New Zealand, Richard Ye said: “The first shipment of flooring to the U.S. is a significant milestone for Armstrong Flooring Australia. It shows that Australian skills, colour-design expertise, quality and value are world class.”

Mr Ye said Armstrong Flooring Australia would continue to explore opportunities in the US and other flooring markets.

“We hope that by growing export markets that we can provide more jobs for Victorians,” Mr Ye said.

Australian Made Campaign Chief Executive, Ian Harrison, says Australia has some of the highest manufacturing standards in the world, which underpins the high demand for Australian-made products globally.

“The Australian Made logo has been helping exporters market their products as genuinely Australian for more than 30 years and is a registered certification trade mark in a number of countries, including the USA, which is one of Australia’s most significant trading partners,” Mr Harrison said.

“We are thrilled to see another great Australian manufacturer expand overseas and leverage the market capital of being ‘genuine Aussie’. The Australian Made Campaign congratulates Armstrong Flooring on its first shipment to the USA and wishes the company success in this new venture.”

The US flooring market was worth $US21.174 billion in 2016, Floor Covering News reported, with the market continuing to trend upwards during a gradual recovery from the Global Financial Crisis.

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News

Choices Flooring’s Magic Carpet Ride 2018 - the best yet!

A paradise for the senses, the beautiful Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa in Sabah, Borneo played host to the recent Choices Flooring’s Magic Carpet Ride (MCR) 2018.

With a key focus on entertainment, Choices Flooring’s MCR 2018 was held over seven days (7-14 April) and provided over 370 Choices Flooring members and alliance partners with once in a lifetime experiences, such as the amazing beach pirate themed opening dinner at ShangriLa Rasa Ria Resort & Spa and the Carnival Rock Concert experience.

“Wow what an experience the MCR 2018 was, myself and the family had an absolute blast as every last detail was accounted for. Thankyou Choices Flooring for putting on an amazing event—Wooohoo bring on 2020” said Matt Casaceli, Director Proline Floors.

In addition to the network events, attendees were given the opportunity to further immerse themselves into the Malaysian culture.

Whether exploring the Mari Mari Cultural Village, seeking adventure on the river rafting tour or discovering the Orangutan Sanctuary in Sandakan, hundreds of MCR 2018 attendees took a step back in time and immersed themselves in some of Borneo’s most historic sites on these optional tours run by Choices Flooring’s local travel partner, EXO Travel.

“Another fantastic Magic Carpet Ride, it is a credit to the central office team from Choices Flooring to continue to find great venues around the world and create experiences that will last a life time.” said Andrew Spence, National Sales Manager Dunlop Flooring.

An ongoing tradition at the MCR, the Airstep Golf Day, was held at one of Malaysia’s most prestigious golf courses. The beautifully sculptured

Dalit Bay Golf and Country Club was designed by golfing architect Ted Parslow. The tournament participants appreciated the beautiful weather and enjoyed a little friendly competition with fellow members and alliance partners.

The winning team included; Craig Gower (Choices Flooring - Cairns QLD), Bradley Reynolds (Embelton Flooring), Scott Foster - Polyflor Australia) and Tony Wright - (Choices Flooring - Blacktown NSW).

“This was a great opportunity to meet fellow members and our alliance partners. This is what the Magic Carpet Ride is all about, many lifelong friendships have been made through this event” said Geoff Smith, Choices Flooring by Smiths.

6 | Flooring April/May 2018

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and third place went to Lincoln Smith (Choices Flooring by Fletchers - Geelong).

“The event itself was amazing and perfectly executed. The range of activities provided was first class. We met some terrific people and a great opportunity to network and understand how special the Choices Flooring family really is” said Nick Puccio, State Sales Manager Total Window Concepts.

There’s no question that the signature event this year was the Carnival experience, which provided delegates the opportunity to experience the fun of a carnival in Borneo with nine game booths and a jumping castle. However, the key highlight was the performance of iconic Australian bands Kids in the Kitchen, Uncanny X-Men, Chantoozies and Boom Crash Opera. The rock concert was a wellkept secret, which amazed the attending delegates and guests.

“My expectations were that Choices Flooring couldn’t out do Vietnam’s MCR but they exceeded my expectations. The Pirate theme night, GEM Awards, 80’s music night, golf day were outstanding.

It was great to catch up with interstate customers which I only see on MCR event.

I see this trip as a great opportunity to network with customers and alliance partners on a more personal base which certainly helps build closer relationships both personally and commercially” said Peter White, Victorian Sales Manager Airstep Australia Pty Ltd. The Dunlop Flooring Poker Tournament saw 48 players hit the tables and battle it out for their chance to win cash and prizes. The first place title went to Gerry Fatouras (Godfrey Hirst Australia). Lee Baker (Dunlop Flooring) took second place

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“A big thank you for arranging yet another successful Magic Carpet Ride event! We could not fault the trip and heard nothing but positive feedback from other members and the alliance partners” said Gemma Binning, Choices Flooring Alderley.

Unfortunately all good things have to come to an end. To close the MCR 2018, attendees gathered at the Tanjung Garden to enjoy casual drinks and canapes while exchanging stories and reminiscing on all the highlights that made this one of the best to date.

The MCR 2018 catered for all, fostering lifelong memories and friendships that all make being part of the Choices Flooring family so special.

Flooring April/May 2018 | 7

Choices Flooring’s General Excellence in Marketing and Sales (GEMS) Awards showcases outstanding service and sales performances.

This year’s award ceremony was held at the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa in beautiful Borneo, Malaysia.

Dollar Growth in Total Sales Metro Members VIC: Choices Flooring by Fletchers (Geelong) TAS: Choices Flooring Kingston QLD: Choices Flooring by Mallets (Ipswich) WA: Choices Flooring Rockingham SA/NT: Choices Flooring Keswick

National Winner Choices Flooring by Fletchers (Geelong) VIC

NSW/ACT: Choices Flooring Castle Hill

Country Members VIC: Choices Flooring Bendigo

National Winner

QLD: Choices Flooring Mackay

Choices Flooring Bendigo

WA: Choices Flooring by Dallimores (Northam) SA/NT: Choices Flooring Mount Barker

VIC

NSW/ACT: Choices Flooring by Brights (Bathurst)

Percentage Growth in Total Sales Metro Members VIC: Choices Flooring Sunbury TAS: Choices Flooring Kingston QLD: Choices Flooring by Mallets (Ipswich) WA: Choices Flooring Joondalup SA/NT: Choices Flooring by Fred Cetta and Sons (Campbelltown)

National Winner Choices Flooring Sunbury VIC

NSW/ACT: Choices Flooring Silverwater

Country Members VIC: Choices Flooring Bendigo

National Winner

QLD: Choices Flooring Mackay

Choices Flooring Mount Barker

WA: Choices Flooring by Dallimores (Northam) SA/NT: Choices Flooring Mount Barker NSW/ACT: Choices Flooring Southern Highlands (Mittagong)

SA/NT

Store Person of the Year State Winners VIC: MATTHEW BOOTH of Choices Flooring by Aggenbachs (Wangaratta) TAS: CLINTON MARSHALL of Choices Flooring Burnie QLD: JAMES SMITH of Choices Flooring Helensvale WA: JENNY ELLIX of Choices Flooring Rockingham SA/NT: DAVID JOHNSON & ANNE KOLER of Choices Flooring Mount Barker

National Winner HILARY EADE of Choices Flooring Batemans Bay NSW/ACT

NSW/ACT: HILARY EADE of Choices Flooring Batemans Bay

Jack Swinton Award State Winners VIC: Choices Flooring by Aggenbachs (Wangaratta)

National Winner

TAS: Choices Flooring by Advance (Hobart)

Choices Flooring Southern Highlands (Mittagong)

QLD: Choices Flooring Fortitude Valley WA: Choices Flooring Albany Interiors (Albany) SA/NT: Choices Flooring Keswick

NSW/ACT

NSW/ACT: Choices Flooring Southern Highlands (Mittagong)

Alliance Partner Awards Carpet: Himalaya Carpets Timber, Bamboo & Laminate: Proline Floors Resilient Flooring: Karndean Design Flooring Underlay & Accessories: Airstep Australia

Vale Paul Amos During this years GEMS Awards, the Choices Flooring family honoured the life of Paul Amos. Paul, a former CEO and Board Member of the Newfurn group, passed away on 11 March, 2018. Hall of Fame inductee, Jack Swinton, shared fond memories of his time working with Paul and his outstanding achievements with the group which spanned over 20 years.

Paul Amos

choicesflooring.com

News

Choices Flooring Teaming up with Style SourceBook Choices Flooring has recently teamed up with Style SourceBook, a product sourcing and mood board online platform to assist stylists, interior decorators and renovators to achieve their ultimate home interior looks.

As the exclusive flooring partner, Choices Flooring showcase their carpet, bamboo, luxury vinyl and laminate flooring swatches in a variety of mood boards posted on the Style SourceBook site and extensively through Instagram. This platform is a fabulous way for customers to build visions of their new home or renovation from the floor up as well as collating a shopping list for all their home furnishings. Choices Flooring is proud to be a part of Style Sourcebook, the 2017 Winner of the Best Start up Website and will continue to provide the latest in flooring designs and trends to this designer platform.

Choices Flooring’s NEW Online Floors for Living Catalogue Launched

10 | Flooring April/May 2018

Choices Flooring launched their first ever online only catalogue in April. The Autumn Floors for Living online catalogue appeared as a flip book on desktop and responsive catalogue on mobile for both Australia and New Zealand markets. Featured on both websites and SaleFinder in Australia and New Zealand, the catalogue proved to be a success with its easy functionality and incredible savings.

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C O L L E C T I O N

Red Earth 6 SPECIES ACROSS T I M B E R , L A M I N AT E , HYBRID & LUXURY VINYL PLANK

C O N TAC T U S T O DAY F O R SAMPLING OPPORTUNITIES

W W W.GODFRE YHIRST.COM Pictured: Red Ear th ‘Napier’ Hybrid in Iron Bark

National:

David Lar ter

0412 227 844

VIC/ TAS:

Scott Fuller

0488 096 936

NSW:

Kim Evans

0428 837 654

QLD:

John LeMasurier

0409 757 207

SA:

Matt Tansell

0400 078 780

WA:

Jon Dunkley

0418 780 043

News

Carpet Care Floorcoverings Supports Conference in June

Carpet Care Floorcoverings is supporting the Australian Restoration Conference at the twin waters resort in Maroochydore 6-8th of June.

As they believe in thinking outside the box, they are looking forward to attending the conference, enjoying the beach, and networking with Restoration professionals from all over the country.

This event will have speakers from the USA and also many clients will be attending from the Restoration Industry so they feel that this will be a good opportunity to pick up some new clients too.

Business in not all about Google and Show rooms, they believe in mixing with potential clients to help grow their business. Visit www.riaevents.com.au

Floor Distributors Appoints Rick Clarke Floor Distributors is proud to announce the appointment of Rick Clarke as N.S.W. Sales Manager. Rick (second from the left) joined the team at Floor Distributors early this year and will add years of experience to the team.

To mark Rick’s inauguration, Floor Distributors held a mini conference with internal product training. We all had the opportunity to catch up with old friends from Scott’s parents old company.

Rick’s sound product knowledge and excellent customer relationships will

12 | Flooring April/May 2018

greatly complement our experienced and dynamic team. Rick looks forward to servicing his territory in the coming months.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

News

Densi Crete Assists in Fast Tracking the Completion of the Commonwealth Games Aquatic Centre Peter Kelly Flooring (PKF) won the tender for preparing and installing a range of commercial floor coverings to a variety of floors in the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre, the venue that hosted the water sports for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The concrete was initially moisture tested by Clint Martin of Sleek Floors which resulted in readings exceeding the Australian Standards for impervious floor coverings. An immediate solution was required to keep the project on track.

Densi Crete was the obvious choice of moisture barrier to allow the prompt installation of approximately 2500 square meters of floor coverings, enabling the project to be delivered on time as scheduled.

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Watpac, the civil engineering company who redeveloped the Aquatic Centre were impressed with the solution Densi Crete provided as it saved them money in delays and the 15 year warranty gave them piece of mind that there would be no future delamination of any floor coverings due to a high moisture content.

DuraCore’s Director, Andrew McLeay, states “Densi Crete is fast becoming the industry’s number 1 choice of moisture barrier for flooring installers due to its ease of use, prompt return to service and realistic pricing.”

The products are distributed widely across Australia with more distribution opportunities available. Further information on DuraCore’s products and stockists can be found at www.duracore.com.au

Byron Geddes, Volleyball Australia; Chris Low, Victor Anfiloff and Paul Tofful.

News

Gerflor Guests Strike Gold on Gold Coast Architects and designers from four states seized the opportunity to join Gerflor representatives for a private lunch before taking their A class seats at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Managing Director, Chris Low and National Sport Manager, Paul Tofful hosted the program made possible through Gerflor’s ongoing partnership with Volleyball Australia.

Some of the Queensland architectural and sporting fraternity and Gerflor representatives Chris Low, Jeff Gordon, Jess Owen, Keith Johnson, Lia Kim, Ross Jordin, Helen Saye, David Brian, Dustin Johnston and Eugene Chai.

The Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games (here and below).

“It was a fantastic opportunity to be part of such a momentous occasion for the Gold Coast and Australia. The theatre, sound and live performances were fabulous and it was really exciting to witness the parade of elite athletes pouring into the arena at the start of a program they have trained so hard for.

“Our guests got to meet the Technical Director of Beach Volleyball for Australia, Victor Anfiloff just hours before he walked into the stadium with the rest of the Australian athletes. It was great to hear first hand from someone so passionate about his sport and who coaches and has played Volleyball at an elite level both indoors and beach,” Mr Low said.

“We can speak with confidence as the manufacturer of Taraflex about the safety and performance characteristics of our sports floor. But the message is much more potent when it is delivered by an elite athlete who has experienced it first hand and can confirm how critical it is to have the right surface to allow him to train at the level he needs to achieve his best,” he added.

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www.flooringmagazine.com.au

CARPET

TILES

&

PLANKS

transitions

Perfect for commercial fitouts, Transitions carpet planks are produced using Australia’s only Designer Jet machine for maximum design flexibility and fast delivery from local stock. Featuring a soft-velvet feel, the cut pile carpet finish achieves a Commercial Extra Heavy Duty rating. Designed to mix and match or use individually within a project, the transition collection features 11 colours, common across the three ranges.

Contact your Godfrey Hirst account manager to order sampling and discuss your next Commercial project.

PH AU: 1300 444 778 (GHIRST) PH NZ: 0800 500 210

COLLECTION

W W W. G O D F R E Y H I R S T. C O M

News

New Floorworld Store in Tweed South, NSW Owner, Rowen Hastings and his team, have over 20 years combined flooring experience in the floor covering industry, specialising in selling and installing an extensive range of floor coverings: carpet, carpet tiles, vinyl plank, vinyl sheet, laminate and timber flooring.

The team at Northern Rivers Floorworld can provide floor coverings for both commercial and domestic installations.

Floorworld’s strong preferred supplier base which includes products from Australia’s biggest brands in floor coverings provides a strong, consistent core range of products that suits the residential and commercial markets.

Rowen has introduced Floorworld’s unique shop fitout which provides customers in the Gold Coast and Northern Rivers areas with a relaxed shopping experience when browsing or selecting their new floor coverings.

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www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Events

Domotex asia/CHINAFLOOR 2018 20th Anniversary Post-Show Review Shanghai – DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR’s 20th Anniversary show concluded March 22nd, 2018, achieving new milestones in international visitor and exhibitor numbers and increased participation with VIP programs and onsite events, according to organisers.

Flooring magazine was at the Show.

18 | Flooring April/May 2018

Domotex’s Jeff Seems and Flooring magazine’s Sandie Velkovska

Despite the very cold temperatures and rain, Domotex in Shanghai this year proved to be a hit. Flooring magazine’s Sandie Velkovska and I were both in attendance and we both met-up and visited with many colleagues and local businesses from the flooring world. It was certainly a worthwhile trip!

Spanning a multitude of venues at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, we had our work cut-out for us and we spent the entire time impressed with the lay-out of the exhibitors and mingled with guests at dinners and after parties.

Billed as the largest flooring event of its kind in the region, Domotex asia/ CHINAFLOOR did not fail to impress, and according to the show’s organisers, the show exceeded anticipated registration numbers, making it the largest turnout in the show’s twenty-year history.

20

Events

“The greatness of this exhibition was visible this year in regards to participation”, said Susanne Klaproth, Director of DOMOTEX Worldwide. “It’s a good feeling to see our brand earning more international attention and respect.

Especially in Asia, we foresee enormous potential for the platform, as construction and flooring projects will continue to increase in the region”.

Wood flooring experts from Australia, New Zealand and other international nations were welcomed to China for an official business ceremony. The goal – it was stated- was to increase business collaboration between international buyers and wood flooring suppliers from the region.

Sandie and I also had the pleasure of visiting the Luxury Brands Carpet Show.

We loved the variety of rugs and carpets beautifully exhibited in their own area, and when I spoke to people in the space, we were not alone when we thought this was an absolute stand-out of this years’ show! Especially as the pavilion grew in space to feature more of the industry’s high-end luxury rug designers from around the globe. Walking around in awe, the pavilion was set-up as a gallery-style viewing area that naturally led visitors like us to each company’s carpet “art”.

In China, as the taste for extravagant interior design and flooring decoration intensifies, Luxury Brands at DOMOTEX, it is believed, will continue to increase in popularity, buyer potential and excitement for the display’s hand-made rug designs.

20 | Flooring April/May 2018 VIP After Party in Shanghai

Mr Piet Dossche, CEO at US Floors

Flooring magazine’s Advertising Sales Manager, Sandie Velkovska

“Luxury Brands came out with a bang for its second year in Shanghai”, exclaimed Erika Kurtz, COO of New Moon Rugs. “We had a fabulous group of the world’s premier rug brands working to increase the exposure of hand-made rugs in this up-and-coming market. This year also brought new and exciting buyers and it looks like the luxury handmade rug industry is beginning to gain momentum throughout mainland China”.

The 2018 InnovAction Flooring Campaign launched 400 products and materials from the Carpet, Resilient, and Wood sectors. Onsite, InnovAction exhibitors were found within three specialty display areas, all of which designed by globally renowned architect, Kostas Chatzigiannis.

Finally, the growing demand for stylish interiors, the Cadex interior design and architecture conferences quickly identified this market swell and rode its wave up to a 50% increase in participation from last year, according to organisers. Over 8,000 visitors attended the 4 conference sessions and 20 design salons which touched on topics such as creative workspaces.

DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR will next year run from March 26th to 28th, 2019. We hope to see you there. In the meantime, enjoy our photo snapshots from this year’s event which was literally bursting at the seams with innovation, creativity, business and spectacle!

Flooring April/May 2018 | 21 Armstrong Flooring's Michael Keam and Richard Ye

FCIA News

FCIA Apprentice Residential Program a Huge Success

The FCIA conducted its inaugural residential workshop at the Clubhouse of the Chelsea Public Golf Club from the 9th-13th April. Supported by RTO trainers, flooring manufacturers and industry representatives, A team of 17 apprentices completely refurbished the flooring of the Clubhouse in less than 3 days. the following dignitaries attended the formal handover of the renovated clubhouse to the City of Kingston and the Australasian Golf Club: • Mr Tim Richardson MP – Victorian Member for Mordialloc • Councillors Geoff Gledhill and Tamsin Bearsley - City of Kingston • Mr Craig Garbellini – President of the Australasian Golf Club • Mr John Martin – Secretary of the Australasian Golf Club • Mr Michael Keam – Director, FCIA Board • Mr Greg Zeegers - representing the Deputy Chair, FCIA Board • Garry Thomas and Robert Cole – FCIA

22 | Flooring April/May 2018

• Signature Floors • Interface • Flooring Xtra • Floorex • Newfurn Floorcoverings • TFIA Business Services • MEGT Apprenticeship Services

Overall I had one of the best weeks of my life, I met great people and this has given me a lot of intrinsic motivation to move forward.- CHRIS

CEO and National Training Manager The event could not have occurred without the FCIA’s Members and Industry Partners who donated floor coverings, equipment, accessories, and technical expertise: • Armstrong Flooring • Mapei • MJS Floorcoverings

They did an outstanding job overall -BAILEY

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W E N

CWM1201 Riverstone Oak

W

NE

CWM1243 Truffle Oak

• Modular ‘drop down’ plank technology for easy installation

CWM1227 Alpine Bleached Ash

• Extra thickness for superior comfort • Fibreglass reinforcement for greater stability

CWM1242 Sandy Ridge Elm

• Heavy wear layer providing excellent durability CWM1292 Mountain Ash

W NE

• PUR surface treatment for easy maintenance

CWM2752 Coonawarra Oak

• Contains no harmful fillers nor plasticisers • Phthalate Free

CWM1333 Highland Spotted Gum

CWM1232 Mystery Oak

FCIA News

Testimonial from the City of Kingston

From my point of view they covered all important aspects of flooring installation. I gained a lot of knowledge from this workshop - LEROY

“I was delighted to be involved in the FCIA handover event at the Chelsea Public Golf Club. It sets a great example when an entire industry, from manufacturers and retailers to installers and apprentices come together in the pursuit of excellence.

This is a great model that, with the same commitment of the FCIA Board, could be applied across a variety of industries.” Cr GEOFF GLEDHILL, Central Ward, City of Kingston

them to pursue completing their apprenticeship and finally be awarded the certificate of completion from their RTO TFIA Business Services.” DENISE MORRIS, Administration Manager, TFIA Business Services

Testimonial from TFIA Business Services RTO Mr Tim Richardson MP, Member for Mordialloc in the Victorian Government, presented FCIA Apprenticeship Trade Cards to individual apprentices and thanked the FCIA for “inviting us to this fantastic event. I was very impressed at the work and advocacy of the FCIA and the opportunities afforded to these young Apprentices.”

“The FCIA team and their alliance partners did an amazing job at organising the whole program. The outcome of the project at the Chelsea Golf Course was awesome, and we are sure the young apprentices are taking back with them very valuable skills and knowledge that they have gained from participating in this residential. We believe this workshop will encourage

Now I have a wider knowledge about floor preparation & moisture Testing, I won’t have to ask as many questions when I am on a job site - BEN

Flooring Apprenticeships Officially Return to Western Australia On 5th April 2018, the Hon. Suzanne Ellery MLC, WA Minister for Education and Training, officially launched the return

24 | Flooring April/May 2018

of “Craft Trades” to Western Australia. At a function held at Northern Metropolitan TAFE and sponsored by the WA Food, Fibre and Textiles, Industry Training Council, Minister Ellery acknowledged the role of NM TAFE, the FCIA and other Industry organsisations in assisting the government in re-introducing the Certificate III in Flooring Technology at the local level.

Pictured at left: • Garry Thomas CEO FCIA, • The Hon Suzanne Ellery MLC • Ms Kay Gerard CEO FFTITC The FCIA has partnered with NM TAFE and Parkerville Children and Youth Care Inc to commence apprenticeship enrolments immeidately with a view to conducting our first Perth residential workshop early in the second semester of 2018.

Pictured at right: • Garry Thomas CEO FCIA • Ms Michelle Hoad CEO NM TAFE WA Employers seeking to enrol apprentices

in the Certificate III in Flooring technology can submit an expression of interest via the FCIA website – www.fcia.org.au

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

HELP THE FCIA SHAPE THE FUTURE OF THE FLOORING INDUSTRY Become a member and get access to workplace advice, innovative training and have the opportunity to get involved in the technical panels.

For more information on membership, please visit fcia.org.au or call us on 03 9832 0663.

Overseas News

Beaulieu Yarns Introduces EqoBalance®, the First Biomass-Balance Polyamide Yarns for Carpets • Market first: PA6 yarns produced using biomass-based raw materials, resulting in less use of fossil resources and reduced greenhouse gas emissions • EqoBalance® variations available for full range of PA6 yarns • Launch at Domotex 2018 at Beaulieu Yarns Stand B56 in Hall 11 Beaulieu Yarns, the global supplier of high-quality synthetic polyamide and polypropylene yarns, now offers sustainable versions of all its polyamide (PA6) yarns for carpets for residential and commercial use, including automotive. The EqoBalance® family of “biomass-balance” yarns was launched at Domotex 2018, held on January 12-15 in Hannover, Germany.

A first for the carpet industry, new EqoBalance PA6 yarns follow the biomass balance approach, which ensures that at the very start of the supply chain,

26 | Flooring April/May 2018

natural renewable raw materials can partially or even completely replace fossil resources in the production of polymers processed into yarns. By choosing these yarns, carpet tufters can contribute to a sustainable future through less use of fossil resources and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

The sustainable yarns from Beaulieu Yarns are conform 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 hereby allow a reduction of up to 75% of CO2eq/kg compared to our fossil based yarns.

EqoBalance yarns do not compromise on either quality or performance, as their formulation remains identical to their fossil-based equivalents. Since they are a drop-in alternative solution, tufters need to

make no alterations to their manufacturing processes or final products. 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, and residential.

Karena Cancilleri, Vice President of Engineered Products, Beaulieu International Group, comments: “Carpet tufters are requesting more environmentally-compatible yarns to support their overall commitment to greater sustainability and more efficient resource use. We see biomass balance as the fastest path forward and, through EqoBalance, are excited to pioneer this milestone for the contract market as part of our long-term strategy to give customers a fundamental new choice to step into sustainable products and contribute to a better world.”

Biomass balance in practice The principle of biomass balance in production of yarns is comparable to that of green electricity. The basic idea involves using renewable resources such as biogas or bio-naphtha, together with fossil resources, in production of the polyamide.

The share of biobased resources is then arithmetically assigned to certain products using a method certified by the TÜV SÜD technical control board. Product characteristics are absolutely identical to those of the fossil-based equivalent.

Beaulieu Yarns is an independent entity within the Belgian family-owned business Beaulieu International Group and part of its Engineered Products Business Unit. It is a leading manufacturer of polyamide (PA) and polypropylene (PP) yarns for contract, automotive, residential and technical applications. Its products are supplied in the form of bulk continuous filament (BCF) and ennobled yarn (twist, heatset and frisé). Beaulieu Yarns distinguishes itself with an entrepreneurial yet simultaneously warm-hearted partnership approach, inspired by an open, SME culture, to create a wide range of high-quality yarns and related services that are often developed in close collaboration with customers and always with due respect to man and nature.

Beaulieu Yarns has two production sites in Europe – one in Belgium, one in France – and one production site in China.

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YOUR DIRECT LINK TO THE COMMERCIAL MARKETPLACE

ACCESS MORE: • Architects • Specifiers • Interior Designers Reserve your advertising pages now for the 2018 edition of Finishes & Surfaces Magazine.

CONTACT • Sandie Velkovska +61 3 9890 0815 sandie@elitepublishing.com.au

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Overseas News

New Keynote Theme for Domotex 2019 Announced The redesigned DOMOTEX – with its easy-to-navigate site and hall layouts plus the eye-catching “Framing Trends” showcase – has been warmly embraced by the market and is now entering its second season. The new lead theme has been announced, and registrations for DOMOTEX 2019 are already pouring in, with more than half of the available space already booked.

As such, DOMOTEX is living up to its reputation as the place to be for floor covering professionals from around the globe. As a networking hub, DOMOTEX is ideal for meeting up with one’s international clientele while at the same time generating scores of promising new leads. The show’s clusters display categories in an optimal way so attendees can quickly find everything of interest to them. The event’s lead theme puts the spotlight on innovation and a sweeping trend affecting the entire industry.

are accelerating this development, and new cultural patterns and habits are manifesting themselves in new approaches to how things are designed.

The theme of “connectedness" also has strong symbolic and emotional aspects. With their numerous design options, floors play an important role here: They provide the very foundation for the rooms in which we live and work. We are in constant contact with floors and flooring, and are consciously or subliminally always aware of what is beneath our feet. Floors are integral design elements. They inspire us, give us orientation and set the stage for human interaction.

Lead them in 2019 is CREATE’N’CONNECT: New Designs for a Connected World

DOMOTEX 2019 to enable exhibitors and visitors to connect more effectively than ever

The lead theme of the upcoming DOMOTEX 2019 – “CREATE'N'CONNECT” – refers to today’s connectivity megatrend. Connectivity is affecting every aspect of how we live, work and interact. Technology and digital change

Once again in 2019, exhibitors and creative designers are invited to participate in the special “Framing Trends” showcase at DOMOTEX where they can show off their innovative products and designs in style.

Registrations are now being taken.

Companies from the flooring industry are invited to stage extraordinary product presentations as part of “Flooring Spaces”, where the connectivity lead theme will receive major emphasis. For example, flooring no longer needs to be limited to a single material or texture, but instead can make use of flowing transitions or distinct contrasts, thus allowing the same surface to support different purposes and environments.

There are no limits to creativity. By highlighting technological connectivity, new cultural patterns or emotional aspects, companies can leverage their creative flooring designs and the chosen lead theme to make a highimpact, lasting impression on their target audiences. As at this year's event, exhibitors can take their product as the starting point and stage it in an overall space, or else team up with designers and interior decorates to freely interpret the lead theme and make an even more unique statement within the Framing Trends display.

Exhibitors and visitors delighted with the new-look DOMOTEX

Exhibitors and visitors have very enthusiastically embraced the innovations launched at DOMOTEX 2018. Maurizio Battiolissi, owner of the Galleria Battilossi in Turin, sees the changes as a big step forward because they “enhance the interaction between exhibitors and visitors and help them share their experiences”. Fritz Langauer, owner of the Oritop company in the Austrian town of Brunn am Gebirge, rates the new DOMOTEX concept as “even better” than before. Everything is more clearly structured, he says, and “since we also have customers 30

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Overseas News from China and the United States, the fair’s highly international flair helps us.” Gerhard ter Hürne, Managing Director of ter Hürne from Südlohn, Germany, attests to visitors’ “keen interest” and “strong willingness to be exposed to new ideas” and derive a great deal of enjoyment from them. At the same time, ter Hürne's company was able to “generate strong impetus for foreign sales” like nowhere else.

Even on the very first day of the show, many exhibitors were impressed with significantly more visitor traffic – a phenomenon also attributable to the show now starting on a Friday rather than a Saturday.

Visitors, too, were full of praise for the 2018 show, with architect Jürgen Mayer H finding “many things of special interest to architects” at Framing Trends. He reported discovering not only valuable inside information on new materials, but also learning about “the influence of digitization on materials and production techniques”. Working for SOM Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in London, technical designer Mohamed Sheriff said he was inspired not just by the range of manufacturers’ products, but also by the university studies on future trends presented at Framing Trends. Mathias Eichhorn of the Dagli Atelier d'Architecture in Luxembourg saw a “great opportunity for scouting new trends and learning about new textiles” which he said appealed “not just to the intellect, but also to the senses”. Karen Kühl, interior designer at ECE Projektmanagement, was surprised at “the positive and profound enhancement of the fair,” which offered architects and interior designers “many good reasons to attend.” She reported seeing Framing Trends as a “solid and central platform” for putting manufacturers, developers and planners in close touch with one another. Architect Julia Erdmann from Hamburg discovered “seldom-seen products” employing cork or sporting interesting surfaces made of recycled materials. She said the event’s excellent overview of new products was made even richer by manufacturers from abroad who were otherwise “less strongly represented in Germany”.

DOMOTEX 2019 will be held from 11 to 14 January (Friday through Monday) in Hannover, Germany, with approx.

1,400 exhibitors from over 60 nations expected to participate.

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David Jolly Announces Retirement J+J Flooring President David Jolly recently announced his retirement from the company, effective March 31. James Lesslie, current Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Engineered Floors, has been appointed President of Engineered Floors’ Commercial Division which includes J+J Flooring, EF Contract and EF Hospitality.

Jolly’s 27-year tenure with the company and his retirement mark the end of an era spanning three generations.

David’s grandfather, Rollins Jolly, along with Tom Jones, founded the company in 1957. David’s father, Jim Jolly, served 40 years with the company before retiring in 2006 as Chairman and CEO. David has served as President since 2006.

“It’s been an honor and privilege to work alongside all the talented and highly dedicated people that make J+J what it is today,” said Jolly. “I hope I’ll be seen as a good steward of the company who worked diligently to keep J+J’s founding culture intact – to treat people with respect, to invest in the future, to keep the focus on our customers, and to always give back to the community.

Today, the company is stronger than ever.

It is extremely well positioned to write a new chapter for its future.”

“David Jolly has provided strong leadership to the organization for 27 years,” said Lesslie. “He has consistently demonstrated the values of J+J: integrity, quality and customer focus. We appreciate all the years of service and wish him well in his retirement.”

Jolly joined J+J in 1991 as a Marketing Services Coordinator. He later served as Director of Marketing for Invision Carpet Systems in 1995, then as Vice President, Marketing & Contract Services. Following roles as Vice President, Marketing & Products, and Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, he was named President and COO in 2006. In 2010 he became President and CEO. Under Jolly’s leadership, the company experienced sustained growth and achieved several industry-first accomplishments. In 2005, Jolly worked to get the company back into the modular carpet business, successfully growing alongside the demand for soft surface tile products. Jolly also paved the way for the introduction of Kinetex, an advanced textile composite flooring that, according to Jolly, “exhibits the innovative product history that has been a legacy trademark of J+J.” In 2014, J+J was independently certified as the first floor covering manufacturer in the U.S. to achieve Zero Waste to Landfill status. In 2016, Jolly helped successfully lead the merger with Engineered Floors.

Today, the company is a leading diversified manufacturer of commercial specified flooring offering carpet, luxury vinyl tile and Kinetex flooring solutions.

In 2017, the company celebrated its 60-year anniversary by celebrating its associates and its dedication to developing quality products and environment stewardship.

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New Area Sales Manager with Küberit for the MEA Regions and France Hamid Challot joins the export team of profile manufacturer Küberit as the new Area Sales Manager. The business graduate will assume the activities for the entire African continent, for the Middle East as well as France, thus taking over subtasks from Grégory Labouré who left the company at the end of 2017. By reason of the change in structure, the market leader for profiles and profile systems will add yet another sales manager to its export team in the following months. Given his former activities as a Key Account Manager for the above-mentioned region and his excellent language skills in English, French and Arabic, Hamid Challot has good contacts and is very well familiar with the market requirements in these countries.

As a globally successful manufacturer of floor profiles and stair nosings, the name Küberit has been standing for quality and progress for 155 years. Customer satisfaction, perfection, innovation and the preservation of our tradition are essential elements of our corporate philosophy.

Constant investment in the latest technologies and certifications is a guarantee for the continuously high quality of the products and services. Küberit is one of the first profile manufacturers that has been certified pursuant to DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 since September of 2016.

Hamid Challot, Küberit

Eco

A1 Rubber & Bridgestone Australia – Working Together for Sustainable Tyre Waste Solutions It is common knowledge that old tyres are a difficult waste product to deal with; they do not ever degrade or decompose and burning tyre rubber is highly toxic and extremely costly to burn safely. It is undeniable that the common methods for dealing with tyre waste – landfill and burning – are both detrimental to the environment.

That tyre rubber is so difficult to dispose of in an environmentally beneficial manner is what makes A1 Rubber proud to be the largest upcycler of tyre rubber in Australia, a process of turning waste tyre material into new products of better quality and higher environmental value. By upcycling waste tyre rubber, A1 Rubber manufactures a wide range of high quality rubber flooring including gym and commercial flooring, playground surfacing, acoustic and sports underlays, and industrial and animal matting. Like A1 Rubber, Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand are proudly committed to the environment and improving sustainability.

Bridgestone and A1 Rubber have a 25 year history of working together, as A1 Rubber have been collecting waste tyre rubber Australia and New Zealandwide from Bandag, a subsidiary of Bridgestone, to upcycle into new rubber flooring products. Due to this existing longstanding relationship, Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand reached out to A1 Rubber to supply the commercial and industrial rubber flooring in the rollout of their commercial and retail store refurbishments.

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“We are dedicated to ensuring all end of life Bridgestone product is responsibly handled and recycled, and our longstanding relationship with A1 Rubber highlights this,” said Bridgestone Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Andrew Moffatt.

“This commitment to sustainability extends into the planning of new stores as well, with A1 Rubber recycled rubber flooring the choice for showrooms and office areas of new additions and upgrades to our extensive Bridgestone Select retail network and our Bridgestone commercial stores.”

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a high gloss coating for maximum wow By choosing A1 Rubber’s upcycled factor. Meanwhile in the commercial products, Bridgestone has stood by truck and tyre fitting bays, the Duralast their environmental commitment, industrial matting provides a super coming full circle and using flooring heavy duty floor that absorbs heavy composed of their very own waste impact, absorbs impact noise and rubber. True to this commitment, provides the highest level of grip for a Bridgestone chooses Jazz commercial safe working environment. rubber flooring for their retail stores in A1 Rubber highly values their the highest recycled rubber composition relationship with Bridgestone and their available, 90%, and chose Duralast ongoing support and commitment to industrial matting for their commercial striving for environmental sustainability, facilities – a 100% recycled rubber and looks forward to many more years in product. The Jazz commercial flooring Armstrong Flooringh 2016 Ad-B+_X 13/09/2016 pm future, Page 1 working together to solve the delivers aIHEA highly durable surface with 3:50 the ongoing problem of waste tyre rubber. natural acoustic benefits, finished with

Enviromentally responsible Australian Made Flooring Manufacturing at Braeside since 1969 Armstrong Flooring Pty Ltd is Australia’s only remaining manufacturer of commercial vinyl flooring and leads through exceptional customer service, technical support and responsible environmental practices.

Our Australian made best practice PVC products (Accolade Plus, Accolade Safe, Australis, Infinity and Wallflex) meet the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) best practice PVC guidelines, offering a range of durable, low maintenance floor and wall solutions where environmentally preferable materials are required.

Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital, featuring Custom Accolade Plus

For more information: Freecall 1800 632 624 or visit www.armstrongflooring.com.au

Eco

REMP Rubber Airport Case Study Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport is the principal airport serving Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province, China.

It was opened on 28 August 1997, the 21st international airport in China There are domestic and regional flights from the airport to most major cities in the People's Republic of China, international cargo and passengers flights.

In 2013, China's State Council approved the expansion of Zhengzhou's airport; the construction of a new terminal and runway began in earnest.

The new terminal consists of 470,000m2 of terminal building, an additional 77 aircraft parking stands and six de-icing stations. A second runway will run parallel to the north of the current runway. By 2030, the project calls for a total of five runways capable of handling 70 million passengers annually REMP rubber floorcoverings are also extremely resilient!

REMP rubber floorcoverings are permanently resilient, providing a high degree of walking might fly to in the world passengers are likely to find some familiarity beneath their feet and standing comfort throughout the service life.

REMP Studway Dotfloor S is particularly pleasant to walk on due to the 3.5 mm thickness which offers an increased amount of resilient compound to provide a warm and ergonomic pathway through the airport. Studway Dotfloor S has a excellent slip resistance, and coupled with the comfort properties of the rubber, allows a sure footing for passengers in the departure lounges and terminal areas.

Thanks to the nature of the floorcoverings, they are easily cleaned and maintained, with excellent life cycle savings. REMP floorcoverings are mainly composed of high-grade

34 | Flooring April/May 2018

industrial and natural rubber qualities, minerals from natural sources as well as environmentally compatible colour pigments and do not contain PVC, plasticizers (phthalates) or halogens (e.g. chlorine).

REMP floor coverings have been installed in dozens of airports worldwide, including London’s Heathrow, Gatwick, Shanghai Pudong, Zagreb, Astana and many more.

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® sphera A NEW ERA IN HOMOGENEOUS VINYL The new Sphera collection is setting new standards in homogeneous vinyl due to its contemporary design palette, technology and performance. Forbo’s purpose built European manufacturing plant uses the latest available technology to create stunning visuals. Phthalate free with high LRV’s across an expansive, playful and fresh colour collection. Sphera achieves the highest class wear and chemical resistance and is a safe and hygienic floor. Visit www.forbo-flooring.com.au/sphera

creating better environments

Eco Tarkett as a world leader in flooring and sports surface solutions has variety range of products to improve the IEQ in indoor environment with focusing on:

1. Visual comfort

Tarkett products are made in variety of classic to modern and stone to wood design to satisfy all different tastes.

Also Light Reflection Value (LRV) of all Tarkett products are available to adjust the luminosity of the room. By specifying a product that reflects more lights in the area, there is less light needed which means more cost effective lightings.

2. Thermal comfort

Almost all Tarkett products are suitable for under floor heating systems and they also have reasonable thermal R-value as a flooring material.

3. Acoustic comfort

Tarkett vinyl floorings have up to 19dB acoustic rating and Desso SoundMaster carpet tile achieves an improvement in sound absorption performance up to +0.15 (ααw), equivalent to up to +100% improvement in comparison to standard carpet designs (αw value between 0.15 and 0.20).

4. Air quality

Indoor Environment Quality is VITAL

96% of Tarkett floorings have low levels emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) which is 10 to 100 times lower than the strictest standards. For example iQ Optima (Homogeneous vinyl flooring) has 0.01 mg/m²/hour which is 50 times less than GreenStar Design and As-Built rating tool requirement. 38

The importance of Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) is not avoidable as we spend significant amount of our time (almost 90%) inside enclosed buildings.

Wherever we work, live or study we need to have appropriate levels of lighting, thermal comfort, air quality and acoustics experiences.

These days it is vital to design our buildings and pick the products in a way to achieve as high as possible IEQ and create a better place for ourselves and our family. Poor IEQ costs our society a fortune due to the absenteeism of sick people in their work places.

We are living in the second highest country in the world that suffer from Asthma and 40% suffer from some form of allergy, so we should be committed to have healthy products in our buildings to reduce the risks of it.

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Eco

Tarkett has invented a technology to capture fine dusts in the rooms. Desso AirMaster carpet tile is 8 times more effective in capturing and retaining fine dust than smooth flooring solutions and 4 times more effective than standard carpet solutions.

Tarkett is committed to ‘Doing Good.

Together’. Doing Good means connecting our sustainability efforts with what our customers value and our world needs: healthy living spaces and wellness, responsible stewardship of resources of our planet and climate change.

iRubber in Profile Australian owned company iRubber Pty Ltd, based in Melbourne, Victoria, specialise in importing and distributing some of the best rubber floorings on the market from the United States and Europe.

Adding to the already impressive products from Burke, Roppe, American Biltrite and Staticworx sourced from the United States, the decision has been made to add to the Dalsouple France range of materials with high quality REMP rubber from Italy.

REMP is more for the budget minded projects for larger installations where colour is not of high importance, although that being said has a good range of about 18 colours in the REMP Planway (smooth) range of tile and roll form rubber.

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Murray Gardner, the CEO of iRubber and Dalsouple has specifically identified the product “SUBER” from REMP as a particularly great performing resilient flooring incorporating the strengths that combining rubber and cork into one product has.

Surprisingly it has been proven to have an R10 rating, making it suitable for wet areas.

It has also an extensive range of 28 colours, 2.5mm thick and available in 500mm x 500mm or 1m x 1m tile.

GreenTagged in late 2017, hot ticks all the right boxes for sustainability…. and at about 100/m2 it will fit most budgets too!

Visit www.irubber.com.au for further information.

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Eco

C02 Neutral Healthy Marmoleum Flooring A world first! Marmoleum flooring by Forbo is now produced C02 neutral and will not contribute to climate change during production. The natural raw materials, most of which, are harvested as annual crops take up more CO2 during their growing phase than the impact or output of carbon from transport and the manufacturing process.

Flax plants provide the linseed oil, jute is used for the carrier on which linoleum is calendared and wood flour obtained from the bi-product of certified forests all absorb C02. Additionally, recent improvements in production technology and energy use have contributed to an improved life cycle assessment (LCA).

The cradle to gate analysis is certified by a new 3rd party environmental EPD. Forbo are proud to of achieved carbon neutrality on Marmoleum and this is just one way to help contribute to towards creating healthy buildings and reducing the impact on climate change.

Many products today claim sustainable status; however, it is important to remember when discussing environmentally friendly, to separate true sustainable products from those with just sustainable attributes! When you dig down into raw materials, where they come from, processing required and end of life, Marmoleum is a stand out performer. In fact, a new video

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Forbo have just released, demonstrates the basic steps and ingredients of Marmoleum production all within the home kitchen. Forbo also now recycle Cocoa husks in their Cocoa collection or what has been dubbed chocolate flooring.

No other resilient flooring product can do that!

More and more environmentally conscious consumers and corporates are requesting information about the

products they purchase and whether they are healthy and of low environmental impact. As an example, companies like Google now have strict guidelines to purchasing. Social accountability is another emerging trend and SA8000 is an auditable certification standard which is based on the principles of international human rights, regarding child labour, forced labour, safety and remuneration.

The SA8000 standard leverages the power of business and consumer to purchase products made from workplaces that enrich, not denigrate, the livelihoods of people. The standard is far reaching and covers the whole product’s supply chain. All Forbo products sold in Australia, with the exception of Colorex, are manufactured in SA8000 certified facilities.

The latest Marmoleum collections are designed for both modern commercial and residential applications and the new modular tile and planks make installation easy and similar to LVT installation.

Marmoleum is also asthma and allergy approved for interior spaces. Cleaning and maintenance also part of the story is important and no different to Forbo’s LVT or vinyl collections.

To find out more, see the Marmoleum made in the kitchen video or be updated on the new collections, visit forboflooring.com.au or contact your local representative.

Flooring April/May 2018 | 39

Laminate

Signature Floors Introduces AquaPlank Signature Floors raises laminates to new performance heights with next generation AquaPlank®. Brand new AquaPlank® introduces truly water-resistant flooring designed to suit the great Australian lifestyle. From poolside to bathrooms, AquaPlanks® by Signature is the ultimate stress-free and water-resistant floor that is designed for any room of the house - so everyone can enjoy their home in stylish ease.

AquaPlanks® features Atroguard® Water-Resist Technology with a 2 Pass Power-Seal™ applied to all edges of the plank, so the planks are fully sealed against any water permeation – meaning standing water can be left for up to 24 hours without needing immediate attention. This therefore makes AquaPlanks® the ideal solution for bathrooms, laundries, kitchens and family rooms. Furthermore, the AquaPlanks® heavy commercial grade surface protection also offers a superior level of stain, scratch, indent and even burn resistance. The advanced manufacturing of AquaPlanks® SureCore™ offers 60% greater stability ensuring the floor maintains its integrity and won’t lift, warp or shrink under the toughest conditions.

The AquaPlanks® Tight Lock installation method is fast, easy and can even be installed over most subfloors, including underfloor heating.

Using LuxeLay™ underlay, the new floor

40 | Flooring April/May 2018

will be much quieter, warmer and more cushioned too – a luxurious addition to any household.

Featuring three collections in the range, from light to dark shades and soft timber grains to smooth finishes, there is an option to suit a full spectrum of interior styles; from modern Scandinavian to a classic Country home. With extra large pattern repeat the floor will perfectly mimic the look of timber – with none

of the drawbacks. The broad range of AquaPlanks® designs gives renovators the freedom to create a cohesive style that will flow seamlessly from outdoors to indoors and from one room to the next.

AquaPlanks® by Signature Floors is available in a variety of plank sizes and features a lifetime warranty for any residential installation, guaranteeing exceptional performance for years to come.

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SEBO

Tone up with Planking Realising that Ontera, suppliers of modular carpet tiles, is frequently used in healthcare facilities, SEBO ensured its upright vacuum cleaner range was suitably designed for the correct cleaning and maintenance of their modular carpet tile range including the new Colour Compositions plank tiles.

“Our upright vacuums are specifically designed for use in hospitals and nursing homes, which is why we wanted to provide a solution for clients with Ontera flooring,” explained Peter Akers, Commercial Floorcare Manager, SEBO Australia.

Ontera’s Colour Compositions plank tile collection, recently won best flooring product at Mix Interiors magazine, Mixology awards in London.

Made in Australia, Colour Composition planks feature a beautifully striated design with a selection of 16 colour groupings of 3, which transition from tonal, tonal with colour to saturated colour. This enables transition between areas within a floor layout design – all on cushion backing.

Why is Ontera’s cushion-backed product so great?

• It lasts 40% to 50% longer than almost any hardback product.

• Its Non-reactive chemistry expedites the installation process, saving time and money.

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• It handles moisture management better than any other type of backing.

• Comfort and acoustic performance provide real health and wellness benefits. And over the years? The benefits just keep adding up.

Ontera products are engineered to cope with the most demanding environments, however without a regular maintenance program in place the carpets appearance will begin to suffer thus shortening the overall lifespan of the carpet.

Vacuum the plank!

An effective vacuum cleaning program is essential to the success of any maintenance plan, states Kevin Harkin – Marketing Manager for Ontera. Vacuuming removes abrasive dirt particles preventing them from causing any permanent damage. Ontera recommends SEBO upright vacuum cleaners with a power vacuum motor and rotating brush action that provides the correct vacuuming system for Ontera carpets. Machines with dual independent motors for both suction and brushing, such as the SEBO Comfort Series and SEBO Dart 2, are the most effective.

The brush action will loosen dirt for the vacuum to suction directly from the carpet fibres.

Kevin suggests:

• Vacuum slowly and thoroughly passing three to five times over an area.

• Empty vacuum bags regularly.

• Replace filters regularly.

Ontera recommend the carpet cleaning and maintenance services provided by Millicare - their vacuum of choice? The SEBO 470 Comfort Vacuum Cleaner.

First impressions last

Flooring appearance is vital for first impressions in a healthcare setting, according SEBO, who says there is nothing worse than walking into a hospital foyer and seeing that the carpet is worn, dirty and covered in debris.

“This is usually due to using the wrong cleaning equipment,” said Akers.

“Regular vacuuming is recommended by most carpet manufacturers as the best way to care for carpets correctly, yet the majority of consumers purchase the wrong kind of vacuum for the correct maintenance of their flooring product.”

Recommend SEBO vacuum cleaners to your customers for the correct care and maintenance of their flooring investment, your Flooring Manufacturer does! Better yet, save your customers time and money from purchasing the wrong vacuum cleaner, supply a SEBO Comfort Series or Dart 2 vacuum cleaner with your Ontera modular carpet tile package. www.sebo.com.au Flooring April/May 2018 | 41

ll Pu ut O

y Hand m u u c a V Guide

Every carpet deserves a SEBO Residential Flooring Twist -

Carpet

Upright - SEBO X4 Automatic (9570AU) SEBO Felix Premium (9809AU)

Barrel - SEBO K3 Premium (9682AU) SEBO K1 Pet (9668AU)

Loop -

Upright - SEBO Felix Premium*+ (9809AU) Barrel - SEBO K3 Premium*+ (9682AU) SEBO K3 Vulcano (9684AU)

Plush / Heavy weight -

Upright - SEBO X4 Automatic (9570AU)

Carpet Dry Cleaner

- SEBO Duo Applicator / DuoP Powder WOOLSAFE (9402AU)

Hard Floor

- All of the vacuums above are hard floor capable.

Polisher - SEBO Ultra High Speed Floor Polisher (9434AU) c/w SEBO K3 Premium or Felix Vacuum Cleaner SEBO Australia Pty Limited

Ph: 1300 697 326 www.sebo.com.au

+ Optional delicate brush roller available * Can switch off brush roller for straight suction only

Note: This is a general guide only. Correct floor head/setting must be used. If in doubt please consult SEBO Customer Service or your flooring supplier.

Commercial Flooring Broadloom Carpet Modular Carpet Tiles Flocked Flooring

Upright - SEBO G2 Professional (9592AU) SEBO X4 / XP1 Automatic (9570AU) SEBO X5 / XP2 Automatic (9580AU) SEBO XP3 Automatic (9549AU) SEBO 370 Comfort (90701AU) SEBO 470 Comfort (90741AU) SEBO Dart 2 Series (9857AU) SEBO ET Power Brushes

Barrel - SEBO D8 Professional (90651AU) Dry Cleaner - SEBO Duo Applicator / DuoP Powder WOOLSAFE (9402AU)

Hard Floors

Barrel - SEBO D7 Professional Polisher - SEBO Ultra High Speed Floor Polisher (9434AU) c/w SEBO Dart 2 Upright Vacuum

Flooring Manufacturer Recommended

SEBO K3 Premium Barrel CHOICE Recommended Product 8 years in a row: 2011 - 2018

ck ui ide Q u G

SEBO

The Heavyweight Champ “The champ is here, the champ is here… the heavyweight champ is here”. SEBO’s X4 Automatic Upright vacuum cleaner takes on carpet heavyweights, styles and sizes with exceptional ease.

Since 1978, Quest Carpet Manufacturers have been specialist manufacturers of high quality carpets with a focus on service to the industry and to their customers which is why they recommend the SEBO X4 Automatic Upright for the care and maintenance of their heavyweight Slipstream 75oz soft solution dyed nylon carpet.

Frequent vacuuming is a carpets best friend, Bridget Sunderland, Customer Service for Quest Carpets states. The most important step is proper vacuuming.

Regular and thorough vacuuming at least once a week and more often in heavy traffic areas will remove soil and dirt particles before they become embedded into the pile of the carpet. Remember you cannot over vacuum and it should begin the day the carpet is installed.

The SEBO X4 is efficient in maintaining not just our heavyweight soft SDN but our plush pile Premier Soft range too.

SEBO X4’s vacuuming success when others fail

Proving to be a very popular style, soft solution dyed carpets (SDN) are very 44 | Flooring April/May 2018

affordable and amazingly resilient but not all vacuums can handle heavyweight plush pile carpets. Kristine Collins, Product Manager for SEBO Australia explains “SEBO X4’s good vacuum design and correct carpet cleaning knowledge is behind the technology capable of maintaining heavyweight plush pile carpets in accordance with a carpet manufacturer’s recommendations and at the same time achieving optimum Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)”.

SEBO – Made in Germany is the market leader in commercial upright vacuum cleaners and their domestic range benefits from this expertise.

SEBO X4 Automatic Upright – Gold Standard.

SEBO premium vacuum cleaners are the gold standard in debris removal and can remove up to 92% of soil from carpets. Recommended world-wide by carpet manufacturers for the care and maintenance of soft floor furnishings, SEBO is the vacuum of choice for both commercial and domestic premises.

Retailers provide your customers with the complete carpet package including a SEBO X4 vacuum cleaner for their heavyweight or plush pile carpet and be rewarded today – Happy Customer for life!

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Icons

Noel Kiely In this issue we take a look back at one of the industry’s true Icons – Noel Kiely. He is without a doubt a maverick and a true individual of the flooring business who through the decades turned the flooring industry on its head and has left an indelible mark. This pictorial history is a testament to his hard work and determination. In his own words, Noel talks about his working life...

My work life began in the way many of my generation did by selecting a trade. I started as an apprentice Coppersmith at A E Atherton in Latrobe St Melbourne. I won the Beasley Award for "Apprentice of the Year" but Coppersmithing wasn't my scene.

I started a buy & sell business (via Bourke Appliances) to work colleagues, friends & family &. built up such a good business that Bourkes employed me.

That's when I was drawn to the carpet / flooring industry and about four years later decided to start my own business Doncaster Furnishers in East Doncaster.

I opened for business on the day our currency changed from pounds to dollars which is now 52 years ago.

My main interest was carpets even though we had a wonderful furniture business selling top quality locally made and imported furniture. The Scandinavian look was the look at that time.

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Instore berber display.

Flooring April/May 2018 | 45

Icons

In 1972 I went to the UK where I found a sample of Berber Rusticana in the famous Conran shop Heals in Tottenham Court Rd a wonderful designer shop.

I had seen a sample of a similar type of natural wool carpet at The Australian Wool Corporation in Melbourne so was very excited to find the Rusticana sample at Heals. I immediately contacted the manufacturer in Lancashire, became the Australian Agent & so began the company we called Berber Carpets International the forerunner to Halcyon Lake.

48

Astronaut Neil Armstro

ng with Noel Kiely.

46 | Flooring April/May 2018

Morocco

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Icons The Berber carpet became so successful that we began to wholesale to other quality retailers.

Our collection grew year by year and we traveled to the trade fairs in Europe and the UK twice a year to keep up with the best available products for our clientele which was mainly architects, designers and high quality retailers.

Once we had our suppliers in place we decided to take a collection of rugs & carpets to photograph on location in Morocco for promotion and advertising.

We engaged photographer Jo Daniel who also had experienced working in Morocco.

We traveled from Fez to quite a way into the Sahara desert back up to Maracech & Agadir. Of course there were a few hairy moments in those early days before the tourist industry became more prevalent.

The result was the most wonderful and creative collection of photographs and images that were used for years.

50

Morocco

From left: Joe Daniels, Neil Johnston and Noel Kiely.

48 | Flooring April/May 2018

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Icons

50 | Flooring April/May 2018

Pictured here and opposite: Halcyon Lake

Icons

As with any successful business enterprise it requires hard work, commitment, knowledge of product, selecting the right product, presentation, marketing & advertising and enthusiasm.

David Kiely is now managing director and running Halcyon Lake and doing a wonderful job in this changing world.

David grew up in the business so has an instinctive and knowledgeable understanding of the carpet & rug industry.

“I have always strongly believed In marketing and presentation and this was necessary to keep our company at the forefront of carpets and rugs.�

We did manufacture for some time but that was not such a good idea.

We had a wholesale showroom in Carlton and in late 80's the lovely Victorian Building designed by Charles Webb the architect of the Windsor Hotel became available. It had started life as a clothing factory. We took that building and engaged the interior designer & shop fitter Tas Phelan who did a brilliant job of converting the space to the best wholesale showroom of world class showing our wonderful collection of carpets and rugs from many countries.

Then the recession of the early 1990's - a difficult time for many businesses.

We were grateful for our loyal clients who used and continued to specify our products.

I have always strongly believed In marketing and presentation and this was necessary to keep our company at the forefront of carpets and rugs.

I also took inspiration from a Danish retailer Mr Jorn Jensen of Copenhagen who at one stage was the largest retailer of carpets and rugs in Europe. We remain good friends to this day.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Flooring April/May 2018 | 51

Retailer of the month

More than a floor Choices Flooring – Eastwood, South Australia

S

uzy Keszler operates Choices Flooring Eastwood, just ten minutes from the Adelaide CBD. It’s a prime location with a mix of old and new houses, commercial and business opportunities. To say Suzy and her team have made the most of their two-odd years at Glen Osmond Road would be an understatement; in fact, Suzy has explored opportunities others have never dreamt of and then some. As a recognised Interior Designer, Suzy goes above and beyond what customers would normally expect from a flooring store, providing an experience that few others are able to offer.

Suzy has been in the flooring industry since 2009 and has been at their present location for a little over two years. She admits “When we first started we were trying to sell products our clients weren’t interested in. We’ve changed that around; we’ve built a store to represent what’s intrend in the area and also to complement the older; more historical houses.” Suzy’s sales team is small, in fact daughter Nicole assists with management and sales with only one other sale’s professional. Despite this; fifteen installers Suzy insists are ‘Craftsmen’ are kept busy throughout the year, many of them professionals in one flooring type or another.

Previously located on Unley Road, Choices Flooring Eastwood provides their customers with much more than a floor.

Suzy says “I inspire people to select flooring that they normally wouldn’t look

52 | Flooring April/May 2018

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at. We build a story for the customer, the big picture of what their space will look like.” Whether it’s a kitchen; living rooms; bedrooms or commercial space, Suzy uses her Interior Design and colour consulting skills and experience to give her customers much more than they expected. “We look at the benchtops; furniture; tiles; paint colours and textures so the customer gets the space they are looking for,” she says.

Suzy goes so far as to provide additional services such as painting and carpentry services through her extensive network of contacts.

Suzy starts out at 6:30am at the warehouse where she manages the stock and sets up her installers. Opening the shop at nine; Susy spends the day selling and consulting; quoting; on-site measuring and somewhere in there, doing the bookwork. Closing the shop at five, another two hours see Suzy completing her calculations and quotes.

They’re long days but Suzy says “I’m loving it, this is where I thrive.” The store is open Saturdays and by appointment, Sunday’s as well. It’s difficult to see

where Suzy has a private life but she says “I love travelling; photography; 4X4 driving and fishing” so there’s time in there somewhere.

Flooring is typically a male-dominated industry but Suzy has made it her own.

She’s highly respected and lectures at TAFE SA where students regularly attend her store for experience on practical interior design. Her wide range of hands-on skills allows her to give Choices Eastwood’s customers not only a floor, but a well-designed living space. Everything blends in; there’s no mismatch and there’s no extra charge for her professional service, that’s why her customers keep coming back. “If I have a business philosophy it has to be service, service, and service” she says.

Suzy has a mixture of older houses and new builds to cater for. With new builds Suzy is able to work from scratch with her customers and builders to create the living style customers are looking for. It’s the big picture with the product’s pros and cons fully explained and the customer’s individual design style delivered from the ground up. To

achieve her customer’s dream Suzy isn’t likely to offer low-end product; “We aim to supply the best product and optimise each job to suit the client. Our standards are very high and all our clients are very important to us” she says. Choices Eastwood also do commercial properties; schools, medical centres and offices but as “All our customers are as important as the next” she struggles to come up with a project that’s more special than the rest. Good on her.

Suzy is a strong communicator with other Choices stores in the area and will often assist with other installs and expertise. “We’re stronger as one,” she says about the relationship. Keeping up with new materials; products and processes, Suzy says “It’s my job to know everything about the industry.”

Working so closely with other stores, her installers and with a hands-on approach to sales, measuring and quoting; Suzy Keszler is not only unique in the trade, but an inspiration to others that hard work and a commitment to go ‘above and beyond’ are truly the hallmarks of success.

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Software

Q & A with Carpet Court's Kara Norris This month, we interview Kara Norris, CMO, Carpet Court, to discuss the Style Visualiser Tool and so much more…

Please tell our readers – in some detail – about Carpet Court’s new Style Visualiser tool on its new-look website. How does it work, who can use it and how it came about?

Flooring is one of the biggest purchases a would-be renovator will make. It’s also a decision that can have a very long lead time, and the time taken from deciding to change your floor and actually buying it can be months apart. During this time, our customers will usually do their research and seek inspiration online before they walk into a store.

This is the moment we really focused our attention on when conceptualising the Style Visualiser tool, so that we can be part of their renovation and style journey from the beginning. Often buying flooring online can be difficult because

Kara Norris

54 | Flooring April/May 2018

it’s hard to imagine how it will look in your home, and swatches certainly don’t do the products justice! We wanted to bring this to life for our customers during this phase to help them with their research, inspire their design decisions and to make it as easier to connect with their local store; all of which the Style Visualiser does.

The tool itself was developed with the help of a development agency. They had already developed pilot visualiser software which we then worked closely to customise based on the wants and needs of our customers. Anyone can use the Style Visualiser tool by simply

visiting Carpet Court’s website, or for an enhanced experience, using virtual reality goggle mode on mobile devices.

Essentially, the Style Visualiser tool works by allowing site visitors to trial different flooring options in a styled, virtual space, offering customers a more immersive way to view their chosen products. Users have the ability to compare carpet, vinyl, laminate, timber and hybrid flooring options by seeing how each would look like installed in a room, enabling them to make more informed decisions when it comes to selecting the product best suited to their project’s needs.

“Essentially, the Style Visualiser tool works by allowing site visitors to trial different flooring options in a styled, virtual space, offering customers a more immersive way to view their chosen products. Users have the ability to compare carpet, vinyl, laminate, timber and hybrid flooring options by seeing how each would look like installed in a room... ”

Carpet Court are flooring leaders throughout Australia, without a doubt, and the company has many high-profile celebrity ambassadors, tell us a bit about Carpet Court please…..How it all began and what makes Carpet Court such a market leader.

It all started in 1973 when various groups of likeminded retailers got together and formed co-ops around Australia. These successful co-ops eventually united under one national Brand which is now known as Carpet Court Australia.

Carpet Court has a growing network of 200 stores in every state and territory.

All stores are proudly Australian, as well as locally owned and operated. In fact, in many cases the people that own the store actually work in the store. This means that our people work hard to give you exactly what you want at the best possible price.

As Australia's largest retail floor covering specialist, Carpet Court has long had a reputation for expertise and advice

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

56

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The DC 3000 is a versatile dust collector compatible with Husqvarna’s compact grinding machines PG 450 and PG 400.

The DC 3000 is a versatile dust collector compatible with Husqvarna’s compact grinding machines PG 450 and PG 400.

husqvarnacp.com Copyright © 2016 Husqvarna AB (publ.) All rights reserved. Husqvarna is a registered trademark of Husqvarna AB (publ.)

VISIT YOUR NEAREST INTAFLOORS DEPOT TO SEE THE FULL RANGE OF VISIT YOUR INTAFLOORS DEPOT TO THE FULL RANGE OF VISIT YOURNEAREST NEAREST INTAFLOORS DEPOT TOSEE SEE THE FULL RANGE OF At Husqvarna, we always focus on the user HUSQVARNA GRINDERS, DUST COLLECTORS AND ACCESSORIES At Husqvarna, weAND always focus on the user when when developing developing our our products. products.

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Allnex Industries Ltd Adelaide: 08 8346 9833 Gibbon Group&| Central Trade Depot North Brisbane Qld: Intafloors Trade Depot Allnex Industries Ltd Sydney: 02 8678 5479 Free Phone: 0508-882-288 Email: office@deseal.com.au North Brisbane & Central Qld: Sydney: 02 8678 5479 Free Phone: 0508-882-288 07 3881 1777 North Brisbane & Central Qld: NEW DEPOT Botany: 02 8038 1111 Email: cs.constructionnz@allnex.com Sydney: 02 8678 5479 PG 400 PG 280 Free Phone: 0508-882-288 PG 450 07 3881 1777 NEW DEPOT Botany: 02 8038 1111 Email: cs.constructionnz@allnex.com PGEmail: 400 PG 280 PG 450 sales@gibbongroup.com.au 07 3881 1777 VIC NEW DEPOT Botany: 02 8038 1111 Email: cs.constructionnz@allnex.com Email: sales@gibbongroup.com.au VIC Email: sales@gibbongroup.com.au FIS Distributors VIC Email: sales@intafloorstrade.com.au FIS Distributors McDonalds Flooring FIS Distributors (HO) Keysborough: 03 9768 7248 McDonalds Flooring (HO) Keysborough: 03 9768 7248 TAS Accessories McDonalds Flooring (HO) Keysborough: 03 9768 7248 TAS Accessories TAS Total Flooring Accessories Knoxfield:03 035521 97646670 2400 Geelong: South Brisbane & Gold Coast: Total Flooring Geelong: 03 5521 6670 South Brisbane & Gold Coast: Total Flooring North Hobart: 03 6234 9855 Geelong:03 039416 55217878 6670 South Preston: 07 5564Brisbane 9999 & Gold Coast: North Hobart: 03 6234 9855 Preston: 03 9416 7878 07 5564 9999 North Hobart: 03 6234 9855 Preston: 03 9416 7878 07 5564 9999 Copyright © 2017 Husqvarna AB (publ.) All rights reserved. is a registered trademark of Husqvarna AB (publ.)

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husqvarnacp.com/au husqvarnacp.com/au

The DC 3000 is a versatile dust collector compatible with Husqvarna’s compact grinding machines PG 450 and PG 400.

Software based on superior product knowledge.

Our specialised staff know how to help you find your floor by asking all the right questions. What suits your lifestyle? How much foot traffic is there? Which styles and colours would complement your décor? How much care will the flooring need?

With the new VR Tool, you have tapped into many consumers’ digital habits. How was this conducted and what were your customers reaching out for? What were they specifically looking for when it came to choosing a floor covering?

A lot of research went into our VR Style Visualiser tool on a number of levels.

Whilst there are a number of visualisers available across various industries, we found them to be limited in what they offer and how customers can interact with them.

56 | Flooring April/May 2018

Flooring is a major purchase and one that has a very long lead time before the actual transaction takes place. Therefore, it becomes imperative for a business to help make the decision-making process for customers as easy as possible. A tool such as the Style Visualiser helps to achieve this by showcasing the most relevant products for customers to “try before they buy”, something that is not easily achieved in the flooring space. Being able to visualise a new floor goes a long way to promote customer confidence in a business.

How will The Style Visualiser Tool help customers to make informed - often very important decisions - which can dictate the style of their home?

The new Style Visualiser tool allows online customers to trial different flooring options in a styled, virtual space transporting them to their new-look space in the click of a few buttons. By

experiencing their individual flooring options in a virtual room, it gives customers more clarity and context around their flooring decision and provides an added layer of confidence when it comes to making their purchase.

We all know that home renovation can be expensive. Will the Style Visualiser assist the consumer and loyal Carpet Court customer to cut costs when it comes to flooring options?

To further inspire customers with their renovation decisions, and in addition to the Style Visualiser tool, we’ve also created the Start your Style Journey function on the Carpet Court website which guides customers through five simple questions. Based on what they’ve selected, customers will immediately be recommended a list of products that match their selection, and to make the decision easier.

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This function can be applied across all rooms in the home including stairs to help assist the customers in finding what flooring would fit their style and need. By doing this, our customers can simply and easily request quotes for their preferred flooring selections and receive a response within 24 hours. It’s a great way for them to compare prices and ensure they’re selecting a product that within their budget in the first instance – which is really important.

Lastly, Kara, tell us a bit about your role there at the company, and are there any exciting new developments that you can share with our readers here at the magazine?

In the last 18 months, we’ve launched a brand-new website with sophisticated capability, opened a number of new stores across the country, launched new, industry-first products, increased our social presence and engagement and most importantly, continued to put our customers first.

We have some very exciting plans in the pipeline that we look forward to revealing in the coming months. Watch this space!

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Software

Carpet Court’s VR Tool Taps into Consumers’ Digital Habits Sourcing home inspiration is becoming an increasingly digital process, with almost half of Australians now using social media to search for furniture and homewares and online sales of homewares and appliances surging 24.9% over the last year. To lead the way with its digital capabilities with the nation’s preferred ways to search, Carpet Court has introduced a new virtual reality tool – the Style Visualiser – to its new-look website.

Allowing site visitors to trial different flooring options in a styled, virtual space, the Style Visualiser offers customers a more immersive way for consumers to view their chosen products.

Users have the ability to compare carpet, vinyl, laminate, timber, bamboo

58 | Flooring April/May 2018

and hybrid options, enabling them to make more informed decisions when it comes to selecting the product best suited to their project’s needs, says Kara Norris, Chief Marketing Officer for Carpet Court.

“Flooring is one of the major expenses associated with a home renovation,” she says. “Our unique Style Visualiser tool allows consumers to navigate the options out there with much greater clarity and creates an added layer of confidence when it comes to making their purchase.”

The Style Visualiser can be accessed from the Carpet Court website via a standard computer link or in virtual reality goggle mode on mobile devices.

BookIT from MJS in Focus Over the years in conjunction with its suppliers, MJS have delivered countless new products and services that have enhanced our industry, moving us forward with better solutions for flooring products to the end user as well as installation skills for our flooring technicians.

Now celebrating over 50 years in business, MJS is launching its most exciting product yet. A product that will revolutionise the way the industry books and manages its installation process. It will do what the cutting machines did for workrooms, and what the forklift did for warehousing.

Welcome to BookIT. A live time project management and scheduling app that allows for instant bookings, without the need to phone or answer those time-consuming calls, similar to Air BnB (who rings a hotel anymore?!). You can think of BookIT as the perfect personal assistant, seamlessly carrying the retail company, the tradesman and the customer through the whole transaction with ease.

BooKIT ensures a seamless process from customer sampling, through to the live installation calendar. BookIT also keeps your end customer informed via text message of their upcoming appointments, ensuring there are no more wasted trips for measurers or installers. It also gives you the ability to find Flooring Technicians outside of your normal geographical area of work. BookIT allows the Tradesmen to install more metres per day and ensures their work calendars remain full week in and week out. Tradesman can also invoice now with 2 clicks of a button through the BookIT app.

BookIT is delivering productivity to our working environments on every level at less than the cost of a cup of coffee a day! Let BookIT’s modern approach and design help increase efficiency within your workplace. And if you like what you see, you are going to love where we are going, as it’s only the start of our journey.

To check out BookIT and start enjoying its many benefits, visit the BookIT website at www.bookitaus.com.au or via the MJS website, and welcome to whole new flooring experience — ‘It’s about time!’

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

How Easy is it to Learn to Use Quantifying Software?

Most flooring retailers recognise the potential benefits of electronic quantifying (EQ). Many trial EQ, but fail to implement; the conclusion is the software is either flawed or difficult to learn.

Let me address whether EQ as a concept is fundamentally flawed. It isn’t. If you are using one of the major EQ solutions available in the market, you will know EQ is easier, quicker and more accurate than traditional quantifying methods. We might debate which solution in the market is the best, but the concept is sound and proven.

So, the conclusion can only be that learning how to use EQ must be difficult otherwise, everyone would be using it, right?

Again, this is not the case, the solutions on the market vary in ease of use, and in functionality, but none are difficult to learn.

If you are considering EQ for your business, let me outline, in descending order, the most difficult training propositions. At the outset, I would stress age and computer experience have little to do with how easily users learn to use Measure by RFMS.

Existing Staff with Quantifying Experience

If you are going to see resistance to change, this is where you will most likely find it. Experienced quantifiers have a skill of which they are justly proud; not everyone can do it, let alone do it well. Why would they want to learn how to do it differently? They are busy people; learning slows them down and affects their productivity; learning to use an EQ solution can seem like an unwelcome interruption, despite the benefits.

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New Staff with Quantifying Experience

New staff come into their role expecting to learn. If they understand EQ is an aspect of their new job, they understand the need to learn it. Often clients will comment on how quickly new employees learned how to use Measure compared to existing staff.

Staff with No Quantifying Experience

A client told me he used to worry about losing experienced salespeople. On implementing Measure and Measure Mobile, he tells me he no longer worries; he can take someone with no flooring experience and have them as productive salespeople in 2-3 weeks. Someone with no quantifying experience has nothing to unlearn; there are no hard-wired habits to change.

Whoever you have to train, there are two constants we see in successful Measure implementations; first, everyone understands implementing EQ is a strategic management decision they are expected to support. Secondly, users take advantage of our free training and support; when they strike what appears to be a problem, they quickly get help to address it; they don’t let a perceived problem stop them.

If you would like to have a look at Measure by RFMS, I can be contacted at the email below.

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.

Flooring April/May 2018 | 59

Software

The Place of IT in Flooring Retail Take a moment to think about four IT elements in your business today; email; internet; laser measurers; calculators.

Most flooring retailers could not imagine doing business without them.

Of course, we could because there was a time when they didn’t exist.

Initially, these innovations would have been viewed with mistrust. Fortunately, within any industry, there are the early adopters, always on the look-out for an edge on their competitors; they make the early commitment, and when they are seen to benefit, others follow.

Business management systems and electronic quantifying (EQ) for the flooring industry are far from new, but we are still in the early adopter stage. It is only a minority of flooring businesses that have a fully integrated business management system, and while EQ is more widely used, users still represent only a minority of total flooring businesses.

If you are thinking about introducing one, or both, it is likely for one of three broad reasons: 1. You want to be more efficient 2. You want to be more profitable 3. You want to grow

How does IT make a flooring business more efficient?

First, let me describe what I see when I visit flooring businesses.

I usually see a collection of systems in use. All salespeople have their way of quantifying; a triplicate document

pad for quotes; ring binders for Price Lists; a Purchase Order book to order product; an Excel spreadsheet to track stock; a whiteboard to manage the layers calendar, and a financial package, maybe MYOB or Xero for financial reporting.

Most stores are a variation on this multisolution package.

In themselves, there is nothing wrong with any of these. Where the problems arise is the number of the systems, and the fact they are not connected.

Information must be entered multiple times; missed steps lead to delays and cost. Also, there is no feasible way of analysing the data passing through these systems and getting a timely picture of sales and financial performance is almost impossible.

On the other hand, a fully integrated business management system, such as RFMS, is one overarching system with modules covering all the systems mentioned above, and more. RFMS replaces those individual silos with one single silo of data. The business is more efficient as a result.

How can IT make a flooring business more profitable?

If you invest in your business, you expect a return on the investment. In some cases, you expect an investment to help you maintain profitability. In the case of software, you should expect to increase profitability. One of the measures of success post-implementation should

be increased profitability. Increased efficiencies will add to your bottom line, but is often hard to quantify. With RFMS you will be able to measure improved stock management, improved installation productivity, increased sales and GP, and how much you have generated from internal rebates.

How can IT help a business to grow?

Most flooring businesses operate at full capacity of their current systems; even a small sustained growth would overtax existing these systems leading to increased errors and stress. Put another way; existing systems limit the growth of most flooring businesses. An example can be seen at the sales level; even the most compelling marketing will be limited in success by the number of quotes salespeople can process.

A business management system such as RFMS, integrated with Measure, the RFMS EQ solution, removes obstacles to growth, creates time, and provides analysis; all of which contribute to and support a growth plan.

There are different IT solutions in the market. If they are going to meet your goals of growth, increased efficiency and improved profitability, there are some key elements you might look for as a starting point: • Full integration (with the ability to include quantifying) • Flooring specific • Large numbers of existing users • Staff with extensive experience in flooring As you start your search, look for vendors who demonstrate they understand the needs of a flooring business; have them show you how to take a job from measuring and quantifying, through to an installed sale.

There is a place for business management and quantifying software in your flooring business, but it’s a bigger subject than can be addressed in less than 800 words. My email address follows below and I will be happy to talk with you about your needs.

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.

60 | Flooring April/May 2018

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

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

Mobile Sales Measuring Reporting Projects Sales

The Flooring Software leader for more than 30 years Clients in Australia and NZ since 1999 Over 8,000 ooring businesses already using RFMS worldwide Cloud hosted options available Flexible and ready for Retail, Commercial and Distributor Fully integrated solution, including tablets and laser measure

Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012

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Software

7 Things to Consider when Choosing POS Software 1. Features

Every business will require different features from one another. If you own a retail store, for example, you’re going to need different features than those who own a café. Some POS (Point of Sale) systems are very specific to different types of industries while others are broad enough to suit a wide range of business structures, according to Merchant Maverick. Determine which features are most important to you since POS systems specialise in different areas e.g. iPad compatible, allows for kitting, vouchers, promotions, tracking batches, taxes etc. Try looking for users with a similar business model to yours and see what works for them.

2. Set-up cost and hardware compatibility

Setting up a POS solution can be a pricey process as you need to consider both the cost of the software, along with the hardware required. Hardware requirements for one POS terminal can include a computer / tablet, POS receipt printer, cash drawer, barcode scanner and credit card terminal. Along with this, you cannot buy just any POS hardware as the majority of time POS software is only compatible with selected models, so make sure you read documentation before buying hardware. The final thing to consider is the cost of the POS software, whether it is cloud or physical software. Things to investigate are if the price changes based on the number of terminals, number of users and/or if there is a licence fee both one off or reoccurring.

3. Inventory tracking

Tracking inventory is an essential part of having a POS system, especially when you have multiple branches or a warehouse. If you intend to scale up your business, it’s important to choose the right inventory tools from the start.

Needing to know if you have stock in the store, whether any other branches have stock or if there is any incoming stock are common questions that need to be answered on a daily basis within a retail environment. Considerations should not be limited to the above; you should also consider if a system can allow for the creation of purchase orders from suppliers as well as the transfer of

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stock between branches. These are all important requirements when trying to manage stock and a lot of entry-level POS systems only offer basic inventory features, so it pays to research into a POS system which also has a strong inventory aspect to it. Having a system that does both, eliminates the need to use multiple systems and potential restrictions when you rely on integration between two separate systems.

sales data can be technically a lot more difficult as appose to a cloud solution.

Some of the restrictions of a lot of cloudbased POS solutions, means reliance on an internet connect and if the internet goes down, so does the POS. There are however some cloud POS that do allow you to continue to trade if internet is lost for a period of time, so it pays to check this when considering a cloud-solution as a form of redundancy.

4. Usability

7. Integration with third party software

Usability of a POS system is incredibly important in a retail environment, due to the number of staff as well as staff turnover. This means the lower barrier to entry the better, as this reduces both initial training and the likelihood for staff to make any errors. The system should be easy to use for you and your employees. On a day to day basis, retail staff will process the likes of sales, quotes, returns, laybys and part payments therefore it is necessary that the solution is intuitive enough so they can understand how to do each process without having to refer back to a user manual, or increasing their chances of mistakes being made which can potentially affect the integrity of sales data.

5. Reporting

In a retail environment, strong reporting is essential, as this means getting the right information to make the right decisions.

Tracking sales by rep, branch, product and even customer means you can use this information to generate more sales.

Having the ability to drill down data to get very specific information, means having a greater understanding and awareness of your business and it is important that the POS solution you consider has this flexibility.

6. Cloud software VS physical software

Software is fast moving into the cloud due the flexibility and increased transparency with being able to access cloud software anywhere with an internet connection. If you are looking into an online system as being your primary POS, ensure that your connection is reliable.

With physical software you are restricted to it only being available on a specific terminal, which also means getting

When choosing a POS solution, there is more to consider than just the features of the POS software itself. You should also consider future proofing the technology in your business to make things easier and more efficient for you. An example would be if the POS solution is integrated with your accounting software, which will eliminate double data entry and reduce margin for error. Something else to think about is if your POS is integrated with your eCommerce website, or what eCommerce solutions it does integrate with if you are planning to open an online website. The main benefits for this, is so orders can be centrally managed along with accurately maintaining stock figures in real-time.

Article courtesy of : www.cin7.com

Software

Make More Sales by Managing Our Mavericks If you have Netflix, I recommend The Mavericks. It looks at mavericks across several sports; football, boxing, snooker, motorsport, and darts. Not only great viewing but it has application to managing a business. So, if you do watch the series, you can justify the binge watch to your significant other explaining you are “working on the business”.

A maverick is defined as an unorthodox or independent-minded person. Very likely, as an entrepreneurial business owner, you have an element of maverick about you.

To further clarify the meaning for the purposes of this article, a maverick is highly individualistic, tends not to follow the rules but is very good at what they do. An individualistic person that simply doesn’t follow rules is just a bad employee.

If you have a maverick working for you, they will likely be in sales. The maverick salesperson achieves great sales figures month after month but leaves debris

in their wake. They can be a source of irritation to the office, the installers, and fellow salespeople. They can be problematic employees, as well as being a linchpin in our annual sales numbers.

The first decision to make is whether there is a place in your flooring business for a maverick. It will depend on your own temperament, and the amount of damage they do in the process of making their sales numbers.

Let’s assume you don’t want to sacrifice sales and discuss two aspects of managing your maverick salesperson.

First off, they need a light touch, but even highly paid maverick sporting personalities must observe some rules.

You need to agree with them your minimum requirements and then build around them people and processes to minimise the debris.

Secondly, you need the ability to analyse sales performance.

Is the maverick salesperson cherry picking their jobs? And if so, how many

jobs are going unsold? What GP are they achieving at the quoting stage, and how does this compare to actual GP on completion of the job? How much is the maverick salesperson impacting on the performance of the other salespeople?

How many complaints are we getting from installers and customers? What is the cost of mopping up?

Accessing data quickly and easily is important to analysing the performance of all salespeople, but especially your mavericks. RFMS is a fully integrated business management system for flooring businesses, and I would be happy to demonstrate it for you. I can be contacted at the email below.

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.

3 MEASUREMOBILE the best mobile estimating software in the industry FREE DOWNLOAD AT:

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Australia: 1800 229 427 New Zealand: 0800 643 012 www.measuremobile3.com www.flooringmagazine.com.au

salesau@rfms.com Flooring April/May 2018 | 63

Interview

Q&A With Armadillo & Co's Sally Pottharst We take you into the exquisite world of Armadillo & Co rugs and chat to co-founder Sally Pottharst. Sally talks about starting the company with her friend Jodie Fried, and discusses the Armadillo & Co ethos as well as the company’s recent expansion into the US market….

Eco-friendly floors and sustainability are buzz words which apply to floors more and more these days. However, at Armadillo & Co, your rugs have been widely sought after and friendly to the environment and ethically made for many years, please tell us a bit about the company, and how it all started? Who are the founders and where are the rugs available?

Sally Pottharst: I started Armadillo & Co with my business partner, Jodie Fried, almost ten years ago. From the time we met, we just hit it off. She has a great eye for design that came from working in film and theatre, while I had a foot in the industry already, having founded Terrace Floors + Furnishings with my husband. Together, Jodie and I saw a gap in the Australian market for beautiful yet timeless, durable yet well made rugs.

These days, Armadillo & Co is stocked around the country and worldwide. We also have an online store [armadillo-co. com] that ships internationally and have just opened our flagship retail store in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles.

Where are the rugs made and what makes them such a hit with the design and eco-loving public?

Sally: Our rugs are handmade in India, using traditional techniques – literally every step of the process is done by hand! I think our customers recognise the value of the human touch in our product because it speaks of authenticity. Every single weave and knot

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Sally Pottharst

is done with intention and a special level of care that you won’t find in massproduced goods, resulting in variations in colour, shading and texture. What that means for the end user is that each rug is completely unique, like a work of art or an heirloom.

Are the rugs custom made or are their showrooms throughout Australia and the world? What are some of your biggest sellers, and why?

Sally: They come in a variety of

colourways and standard sizes, but we do also offer custom sizing so that people can tailor a design to their exact specifications.

The Sherpa Weave is one of our biggest sellers – it’s rich in texture, perfectly understated and suitable for high traffic areas making it ideal for family homes. My personal favourite, however, is the 100% wool Agra rug.

With its rich, abrash dyed colour and deep cut pile, it t’s a true celebration of artistry and luxury.

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Interview

64 How long would an average rug take to complete and please expand on the ethical/sustainable ethos behind Armadillo & Co? Sally: It really depends on the design.

Our artisans might spend 2-3 weeks on the smaller and simpler rugs, while our larger, more luxurious rugs feature 100 intricate knots per square inch and can take up to 3-4 months to produce.

Consumers these days care a lot more about where things come from – whether it’s the food they eat or the décor they put in their homes. Sustainability is an important part of the Armadillo & Co

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culture. We strive for our processes and products to leave as little impact on the earth as possible so we only use natural or recycled fibres, and our rugs travel by bicycle and sea as much as possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Who would you say are your typical clients?

Sally: It’s hard to pin down a typical client! We definitely have a customer base that simply appreciates our product for their clean, classic Australian aesthetic and exquisite quality, while other customers are drawn to our brand story and ethos.

Are your rugs for both commercial and residential interiors or purely residential?

Sally: They’re designed for both residential and commercial use. We want to create products that are functional and versatile, so the same rug could fit seamlessly in someone’s living room, a retail store, or a hotel suite.

Are there any business role models whom you have based your company on? Is Armadillo & Co unique on the Australasian rug landscape? What sets it apart?

Sally: Jodie and I have always admired the footwear brand Toms. Their founder, Blake Myscoskie, really paved the way in terms of building a business that creates beautiful products while setting a benchmark for social responsibility.

We’ve used that same philosophy as the cornerstone of our business – we are fully committed to Fair Trade practices, providing our weavers with fair wages and safe working conditions, and are longstanding members of Care & Fair, a worldwide initiative against illegal child labour in the Carpet Belt region.

Through our non-profit, the Armadillo & Co Foundation, we sponsor a local primary school attended by many of our artisans’ children, subsidising everything from the teacher salaries, textbooks and uniforms to solar panels, a medical clinic and eye checks. Jodie and I recently visited India and were thrilled to launch a scholarship program for the highest performing girls to complete their secondary education.

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Lastly, can you tell us about any new up-coming products showcasing the wonderful world of Armadillo & Co rugs? What are your bestsellers? Any further expansion plans throughout Australia and/or overseas?

Sally: We are launching a new collection later this year, so stay tuned! Jodie and I are also excited to nurture the new LA showroom over the few months as it’s the first chance we’ve had to offer customers a full brand experience and really interact with them on a personal level.

TYROLIT The True Experts in the Floor Grinding Industry

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Safety

Tactiles – A Crucial Aid for the Vision Impaired Tactile ground surface indicators (also known as TGSI’s or Tactiles) are one of Classics’ most commonly requested products, and for good reason. Tactiles are an essential aid used by the vision impaired, helping them to safely navigate their surroundings unassisted.

Challenges Faced by the Vision Impaired

The built environment can be complex and challenging for the general population, but even more so for the vision impaired. The vision impaired are heavily reliant on environmental cues for orientation, and it is the combination of these cues that enables them to

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safely navigate the environment in a dignified manner on a day to day basis.

Unfortunately, not all environments make effective use of Tactiles, and this can present some challenges and issues, including: - Exposure to trip and fall hazards - Disorientation - Diminished mobility due to loss of confidence - Social exclusion

How Australian Standards Addresses These Issues

Australian Standards have developed a set of initiatives and guidelines, with the aim of improving access to the built environment for the vision impaired and reducing the likelihood of these challenges occurring. Australian Standards are split into the normative (covering requirements of DDA + federal legislative guidelines) and informative (General/helpful information and solutions regarding installation of Tactiles) sections,

and it is imperative that builders and designers have a comprehensive understanding of them both.

Tactiles alone will not make an unsafe environment safe. Therefore, Australian Standards emphasise the need for good design and planning for public spaces, with Tactiles playing an important secondary role in providing vital warnings and directional information to the vision impaired. AS/NZS 1428.4 requires that all new building works as well as renovated public/private works install Tactiles. This is further supported by the Building Code of Australia (BCA) Section D Clause 3.8, as well as the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

Application of Tactiles – Types, Examples and Applicable Standards

Tactiles have been in use for more than 30 years and are easily recognised in high traffic areas of the built environment as slightly raised dots/truncated-cones

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or directional bars sitting above the ground in an organised fashion. They are required to be installed across the full width of the path of travel, enabling them to be felt underfoot or with the tip of a cane. The surface must be slip resistant, they must meet a minimum luminance contrast standard of 30%, and the top must sit no more than 4-5mm above the base surface.

All potentially hazardous situations such as rail platforms, stairs, ramps, kerb ramps, pedestrian walkways and vehicle carriageways are required to use Tactiles. When installed in accordance with the guidelines, the vision impaired are afforded the ability to safely and independently navigate the built environment with confidence.

Some of the Common Application Scenarios

Stairways, ramps, escalators and moving walks are built with the intention of improving efficiency and traffic flows, but

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they can be particularly challenging for the vision impaired. AS 1428.4 requires that warning indicators be set back from the top of the stairs/escalators/ramps/ moving walks by 300 +/-10 mm, and they should be installed at both the top and bottom (see pic A). This picture demonstrates the required application of Tactiles across the full width of the path of travel, and in picture B the Tactiles have been placed at the top of the landing as well as the bottom of the stair/ ramp. When installed in accordance with AS guidelines, Tactiles provide the vision impaired with adequate warning of an impending hazard by letting them know that they have about 300mm between themselves and the hazard.

Another scenario is where warning Tactile indicators are required to be installed at a depth of 600-800mm on a right-angle stairway. This is because the stairway landing is 3000mm or more from the nearest nosing edge.

You would also increase the depth of warning Tactiles to 600-800mm when approaching a ramp front-on. In most cases, tactile indicators are installed at this depth. The depth is only reduced to 300 to 400mm when an obstruction is located within less than 3000mm of an enclosed landing.

In situations that place pedestrians and vehicles at the same grade, Tactiles need to be installed as shown in pictures C & D. It is important that the visually impaired are able to determine the extent of the pedestrian area, as opposed to the carriageway. The Tactiles need to be installed along the entire length of the carriageway, at a depth of 600 to 800mm. Again, they must be set back 300 +/-10mm. You might notice this sort of application in areas such as airports or traffic crossings. When the visually impaired detect the Tactiles underfoot, they understand that they are standing around 300mm away from moving vehicles and other hazards.

It is also important to provide adequate warning of any hazards within a circulation space, or adjacent to a continuous accessible path of travel.

This might include areas such as the underside of a staircase or escalator, which commonly have hazards with less than 2000mm height clearance yet no clearly defined accessible path of travel.

Contact with overhead hazards can be prevented either by enclosing the area or providing handrails with kerbs or kerb rails. However, if a suitable barrier is not installed, Tactiles must be installed as shown in Picture E. This ensures the vision impaired are informed of the hazard well before they reach it, allowing them to turn around and avoid injury.

The scenarios mentioned above are only some of the possible applications of Tactile Indicators. Classic works closely with architects, builders, contractors and regulators to ensure compliant application of Tactiles in public spaces making them safe for the visually impaired.

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Carpets & Rugs

Optus Stadium

New Optus Stadium Sports Godfrey Hirst Carpets Leading Australian carpet manufacturer Godfrey Hirst has collaborated with global contractor Multiplex, architects Hassell Studio and Cox Architecture and carpet contractor Masterfloors, to provide a wide array of custom and standard carpets for Western Australia’s world-class, multipurpose 60,000 seat Optus Stadium.

Thousands of square metres of high quality carpet combines with 14,000 tonnes of structural steel and 51,000 cubic metres of concrete in the gargantuan construction that opened on 21 January 2018.

Located east of the Perth Central Business District on the Burswood Peninsula and boasting views of the picturesque Swan River and Perth city, the Stadium will host a variety of sporting and entertainment events including Australian Football League, International and Big Bash League cricket, soccer, rugby league, rugby union and concerts.

Australia’s leading carpet manufacturer Godfrey Hirst provided custom woven and Australian made Designer Jet® carpet solutions for function rooms, bars, luxury media spaces, locker rooms, suites, corridor spaces, back of house media and administration areas.

The design brief sought to reflect the local community’s close connection to the Swan River and Coastline, and elements of each are presented across carpet and soft furnishings, timber finishes, paint colours and trims. From a performance perspective, the project required high quality, hard wearing and visually arresting floorcoverings to immerse and inspire millions of fans at memorable events for years to come.

The stadium carpet showcases a number of striking carpet designs, perhaps none greater than the main function room, inspired by the Abrolhos Islands off the west coast of Australia.

The Abrolhos is a chain of 122 islands

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and associated coral reefs in the Indian Ocean and its brightly coloured organic features were captured masterfully in the finished woven carpet design (pictured).

From the serene to the unexpected, the public lounge and bar features a daring Godfrey Hirst Designer Jet® carpet sharply paired with mint green and white furniture (pictured).

Hassell Studio and Cox Architecture worked closely with the dedicated Godfrey Hirst team within a limitless design framework and it definitely shows in the finished result.

Adhering to the project budget was key. Design concepts evolved throughout and were enhanced and optimised while maintaining a fixed bottom line.

Godfrey Hirst’s large range of flooring products allowed the budget to be adhered to while maximising the product specification in high impact areas such as the main function room, locker rooms and lounges and recovered those costs with cost effective, hard wearing carpet tiles in corridors, media and administration areas.

About Godfrey Hirst With 150 years manufacturing experience in Australia, Godfrey Hirst is renowned as a global flooring expert. For bespoke design, vivid colour, limitless pattern and photorealism capability, and hard wearing performance, Designer Jet® is Godfrey Hirst’s world class technology to produce Australian Made custom carpets that are limited only by your imagination.

Optus Stadium

West Coast Eagles Locker Room

Coaches club and suites

Project: Optus Stadium, Perth WA Developer: Multiplex Design: Hassell Studio and Cox Architecture Carpet contractor: Masterfloors Photography: Evolve Design Studio Products: https://www.godfreyhirst.com/au/ commercial/case-studies/optus-stadium-perth-wa Areas: • Premium Corridors and entrances to coaches clubs and suites: Designer Jet® 250 x 1000mm skinny planks • Coaches club and suites: Custom club and suites: Custom SDN cut & loop broadloom carpet in a chevron design • Main function room: Custom Woven Axminster based on The Houtman Abrolhos (a chain of 122 islands, and associated coral reefs, in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia) • Media Space: Custom Designer Jet® 2m wide sheet • Public lounge and bar area: Custom Designer Jet® 2m wide sheet • Function Room: Custom Designer Jet® 2m wide sheet • Pre-function room area: Custom Designer Jet® 250 x 1000mm skinny planks • Chairmans Club: Premium custom Woven Axminster • Good Wood À la carte restaurant: Custom Woven Axminster • Fremantle Dockers Locker room: Designer Jet® Retro carpet tile in custom colour and Designer Jet® logo • West Coast Eagles Locker Room: Custom Designer Jet® 500 x 500mm carpet tiles in brand colours • Offices and back of house spaces: Cosmos 18 500 x 500mm carpet tiles

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Carpets & Rugs

Signature Floors’ LuxCloud Collection Launched LuxCloud™ is Signature Floors softest and richest premium SDN carpet collection, with a 7-star rating. Produced in Belgium using the latest European manufacturing advancements, LuxCloud™ is the benchmark for dense, extremely soft but hard-wearing carpet. New SDN technology delivers the finest, colourfast pigments and durable polymers to give you the most outstanding carpet performance. Signature Floors latest innovation matches the performance of SDN with the look and feel of superb

luxury and quality – for a collection that is arguably the softest carpet to ever exist, yet still durable and long lasting.

Offering two luxurious collections within the range; Florian and Aurelia, with sumptuous 75oz and 55oz weights.

Solution Dyed Nylon also offers UV fade resistance against Australia’s harsh sunlight. Technological advancements in LuxCloud’s engineering meets all the requirements of a modern busy home which is why LuxCloud™ has a 20 year residential guarantee.

For unwinding or creating a sense of indulgence, having carpet underfoot is ideal. With a total of fifteen colourways in each range, there is a style option for every interior. A feeling of space can be created with a light shade, such as Arelia’s heavenly glow or lunar breeze.

Alternatively, the darker hue of ocean jewel, twilight gem and forest truffle provides the perfect base for an ambient atmosphere. Not only will LuxCloud™ introduce a new touch sensation for the home, the incredibly hard-wearing but soft SDN carpet will withstand any busy home environment – whilst providing the upmost comfort, softness, warmth and style.

Available in 4 meter which allows for less joins - nothing will beat LuxCloud™ for creating a luxurious looking and cocooning environment that will perform unlike any carpet experienced before.

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Flooring April/May 2018 | 71

Product Update Altro Release Competitive Flooring Products In response to market demands, Altro releases a new range of price competitive front of house flooring products.

Combined with their renowned back of house products, Altro now offers technically superior, highly durable and customisable wall and flooring products for a total project solution.

Altro have been at the forefront of innovation for almost 100 years.

Working closely with architects, engineers, designers, contractors and end customers from around the world, our insight and expertise has helped transform everyday spaces into environments that improve the wellbeing of everyone that uses them.

By maintaining the highest standards of safety and durability, Altro have become synonymous with quality.

Today, we continue to inspire our customers and answer their biggest challenges with the launch of a new range of front of house products that combine the best in contemporary style and functionality.

Portable Battery Powered Hoist Now Available in Australia Bomac Engineering is always on the lookout for innovative ways to help other Australian businesses increase productivity and efficiency. When the opportunity arose to become the exclusive distributor of the Duke portable hoist in Australia and New Zealand, they seized it.

“Imagine the possibilities with an electric hoist you can literally pack up and take with you,” said Bomac engineer Tate McFarlane. “With one hoist you can lift and move items in your storeroom, your showroom and onsite during installations.

This will save time as well as employees’ backs, which could be at risk from repetitive lifting.”

The hoist is intuitive to use, coming standard with a unique variable speed motor when lowering items down. Much like using an electric drill, the amount of

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Altro Operetta™

A robust floor perfect for medium to high traffic areas, Operetta coordinates with the Altro back of house range to create a seamless look throughout.

Altro Orchestra™

For areas where comfort and sound reduction are important, 2.85mm Altro Orchestra has been engineered to create the ideal environment to learn and live.

Altro Serenade™

Silence is golden. Whether softening the sounds of little feet or maximising pressure on the trigger dictates the speed of movement. This allows items to be set down slowly and gently.

Offered for sale exclusively by Bomac Engineering in Melbourne, the hoist is available in 250kg and 500kg capacity.

Bomac Engineering is based in Hallam, Victoria and manufactures Altrac cranes and height safety systems and can source crane accessories such as hoists, vacuum lifters and catenary systems. The small family company has been proudly producing Australian Made products for 35 years.

privacy at work or leisure, acoustic Altro Serenade is more than up to the task.

Finally, a total project solution for technically superior, highly durable and customisable wall and flooring products.

A Single Supplier for a Total Project Solution

In an ideal blend of form and function, the extensive Altro range now meets both the stringent quality and safety regulations for back of house applications and the high aesthetic and durability requirements of high traffic, front of house public areas.

Each hoist comes with the following accessories included: • Trigger switch set with 2m quickconnector control cord • LED loading display and overload warning buzzer • Trigger and reverse switch • Adaptor and battery charger • Two Li-ion batteries • Portable case for safe storage and transport.

Technical Specs of the Duke Battery Hoists

Hoist features include: • Small and efficient high speed brush motor • Die-cast housing with high level of dust and water protection • Japanese-made nickel-plated load chain • Friction clutch to avoid motor damage • High efficiency drive with 3-stage planetary speed gears and 2-stage speed reducing gears

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Pro Seal 896 – A Revolutionary Product Pro Seal 896 is a revolutionary water -based product that will change the way you think of sealing concrete!

Pro Seal 896 Stone & Concrete Sealer is the only sealer on the market that is designed to be applied to a wet surface. It is a cross linking 100% Water Based Acrylic Sealer that is designed to penetrate into the matrix of the concrete.

Distributor, Andrew McLeay says “Water Based Sealers are the way of the future and at Con-Treat we want to make a positive difference in our communities by offering products that are not harmful for the applicator or our environment, but also perform to our high quality standards”.

Benefits of using Pro Seal 896 include: • Exceptional oil resistance • Breathable sealer • Extremely easy to apply • Can be applied to a wet substrate • Environmentally friendly

• Reduction of efflorescence • Reduction of water borne dirt pickup.

• Reduction of chemical vapour corrosion.

• Reduction of frost damage.

• Reductions of mildew, moss, and lichen growth.

• Stable in high alkalinity substrates • Does NOT impart the "wet look" to treated surface Pro Seal 896 is ideally suited for large commercial car parks, factories, large warehouse floors and general purpose concrete and stone sealing.

It has been designed to perform to a 25-year standard as a matrix sealer and 3-5 years as a surface protective coating with minimal affordable maintenance for the customer while being more cost effective and better performing for the contractor. Designed for new and existing concrete and can be applied at time of concrete pour as a "same day" sealer.

Bostik Launches Axios This month, Bostik launches Axios – the next generation of hardwood timber flooring adhesives. Most hardwood adhesives today contain linear polymer chains that link to other molecules only at each end. AXIOS™ Tri-Linking™ Polymer Technology uses a revolutionary molecule that has three reactive branches similar to a tripod. This allows each molecule to bond in three locations instead of only two, making the adhesive bond stronger.

The increasing demand in the floor adhesives market in Australia is bolstered by a want for water-based adhesives that reduce the VOC emissions as well as the replacement of mechanical fastening systems with adhesives.

Axios is a direct response to this

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demand. Axios has the powerful ability to bond dissimilar materials, for example wood and plastic.

Bostik’s Axios launch is supported by a range of immersive how-to videos and helpful materials in-store that allow even beginner trades and DIY’s to lay flooring seamlessly and efficiently.

Product Update

The Keys to Success of Dust Control Onsite Dust control is a big issue. It’s a growing issue, and it’s not about to go away.

Indoors and outdoors, dust doesn’t get any better. The hazards are what you cannot see. Using one of the Dustcontrol systems designed, developed and manufactured in Sweden, gives opportunities for you to control dust through angle grinder dust shrouds, vacuums & extractors & air purifiers you can extract dust, fumes, chips, oil spillages and other harmful substrates, right from their source. The cleaner the working environment onsite the better the end result.

NO matter who you are, or what type of flooring work you get involved in.

There’s dust to deal with.

Grinding, cutting, polishing, and demolition all creates some sort of dust that is actually harmful to you, your workers, and the environment around you.

As always, DRY GRINDING is the recommended way to work effectively, not only because it’s easier to cleanup after the process but keeps your floors and working area cleaner at all times. By grinding or polishing dry (with a concrete dust extraction / vacuum attached) means that you will see less wear and tear on your diamonds as there is less friction being created around each diamond segment. All Preparation Equipment can help you determine your way to grind, the diamonds you use and the vacuum you decide to connect will be sufficient.

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It’s not always about getting new gear, sometimes it’s about making changes to your existing tools and attachments to get them working better. Angle Grinder dust shrouds are a simple addition to any hand held power tool to help control and condense concrete dust, saving you from having to deal with airborne dust particles on your site.

Dry grinding doesn’t leave behind mess and slurry that takes forever to clean-up and means you have to wait for your floors to dry prior to going onto the next stage.

During the construction, refurb, concrete floor prep or demolition stages, it’s essential to have an effective vacuum.

Especially if you’re grinding or working with concrete dust, your vacuum needs to be capable of controlling this dust on site. Sucking away excess dust during your project means you can see exactly what cut or finish your diamonds leave left on the on the floor.

If you are grinding wet, the cut tends to be more aggressive, meaning heavier markings that you can’t always see because there is wet slurry left in a slump over the floor, this has to be moved by wetting it down, and shovelling to dispose of or using a wet vacuum that is able for controlling it.

If the wet concrete grinding cut is too agrees vie, your making yourself another process across the floor in order to remove the heavy markings and scratching that were left by your concrete floor grinding machine.

Grind dry? Run your concrete floor grinders with a concrete vacuum or dust extraction system. All Preparation Equipment works with key suppliers globally to ensure top quality products and solutions for dust control are always available. Machines including the Dust Control DC Systems from Sweden cover a large part of the range including single phase, three phase vacuum systems, air cubes and air purifier systems along with dust collection and supa separator systems to run in line with your grinder and vacuum units.

Safety and Quality of Air are 2 of the main reasons for using powerful dust extraction systems.

Dust Control a Swedish based dust extraction and collection company has been in the game for many years, making, designing and testing new ways of controlling dust and purifying dusty air into clean to make worksites cleaner, safer and more efficient.

If your keen to know more about getting Power, Production and Suction from your vacuums, talk to one of the team at All Preparation Equipment who work closely with Dust Control to minimise impact on contractors health and the environment.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

TILE TODAY F U L LY E N D O R S E D B Y T H E A U S T R A L I A N T I L E C O U N C I L

Tile Today magazine is designed to promote new products and technologies to virtually every tile outlet, tile fixer and specifier in Australia.

CIRCULATED AUSTRALIA WIDE TO: • Tile importers and retailers • Leading architects, designers and builders • Tile fixers • Pool builders, landscapers and renovators

Proudly supported and endorsed by:

Published by Leading the Industry

www.tiletodaymagazine.com.au

Product Update FLOOREX DUSTMASTER DM Series Dust Extractors in the Spotlight Perhaps more than any piece of equipment that is used by contractors in the Concrete Floor Preparation field is the DUST EXTRACTOR! All too often what a contractor is sold is an “Industrial Vacuum Cleaner”. These may work well as a vacuum cleaner, but a Dust Extractor has two key attributes that make them especially suited to working with a lot of concrete dust. There are very few of these on the market!

• A true DUST EXTRACTOR can clean its own filter cartridge. DustMaster Extractors do this continuously, some even while operating! Some of these clean the filters by using a rotatory arm that flicks each pleat.

• It has a high quality Spun Polyester H13 filter cartridge that can handle immense volumes of troublesome dust yet allows the dust to be flicked and fall off into a dust bin.

Floorex had a call recently from a customer and he wanted to know whether he needed to replace the filter cartridge and how often.

The customer claimed that he had got somewhere between 1000-1600 hours out of the unit, which is extraordinary as the only thing in 2 ½ years that he’d

76 | Flooring April/May 2018

done was replace the nylon blades on the rotary arm which is normal after 400-600 hours.

He said: “I’ve had many vac’s over the years, and this is the first time I have had a vac that I don’t have to continually remove the filter to clean it, or push a lever to pulse clean it many times per hour, and then pull the filters out when they got bad several times per week. This just goes and goes.”

You will love the DUSTMASTER Series because it combines several features that set it apart for others.

• It has no electronics at all; so no electronics that can go wrong, and no expensive replacement cost!

• If you have ineffective Filter Cleaning you will have to remove the filter; and that is a sure way of reducing the life of any cartridge.

• Very high-quality vac motors complement the rugged body, tough wheels and castors, and simple construction.

With DustMaster Series from Floorex you can get DM-2660 Twin Motor with a 50 litre bin, or the DM-2680 that can be used either with LONGOPAC bag system, or single plastic bag system. The twin

motor units are ideal with Meteor 250, Satellite 480 and does cope quite well with Satellite 650 machines.

The Triple motor DM-2780 is used with LONGOPAC or single plastic bags and will do an excellently with Satellite 650, Satellite 766 Dual Head, and large scarifying machines, etc.

We will have our single motor DM1360 available shortly which is more compact and ideally suits Meteor 250 or hand grinding tools and similar.

FICA Floor Preparation Training Course at EDITHVALE Case Study:

On Thursday 12th April Floorex conducted a comprehensive Concrete Preparation Course for 19 apprentices from many parts of Victoria and Tasmania at Edithvale Vic. This course was to make these persons familiar with what makes a floor right for installing a floor covering.

In fact, we covered the ‘Big WHY’, why prepare concrete at all?

The group had an excellent opportunity to understand some theory as to preparation. Then they were able to spend time individually with the various machines we had on-site, to use them, and get a feel for what a machine should perform like.

It was important to train so they understand safety criteria that related to these machines, and what was needed to be done to maintain them.

Floorex had a Satellite 480 Generation 3 heavyweight grinder there and they were amazed just how incredibly flat this machine made the floor. In one outdoor section, outdoor carpet was to be bonded to the floor.

This section had a contour to the surface of the concrete. The Satellite ground that surface beautifully without leaving gouges and ridges. No other triple disc grinder can do that.

They used the Meteor 250 Generation 3 and were amazed at how the machine can get within 2mm of vertical surfaces and grind perfectly.

There was a section of the building that had some old rubber back carpet, and they used the Beaver 240 floor stripper to take the well bonded rubber backing, and the glue, off the floor leaving the surface with very little glue and an easy grind.

They were interested to see the GrinderTec 175 Hand Grinder that allows

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

New Swiss Developed New Mirka DEOS and Engineered Makes Light Work of Vinyl Flooring Welder Floor-Sanding Jobs Released Mirka has launched its new direct electrical

Introducting the HT1600D

The new Energy HT1600D ‘digital’ is compact, robust and affordable.

The HT1600 D hot-air hand tool is fitted with a powerful blower and features digital temperature control with setting via the LCD display.

Thanks to the built-in protection against overheating, the tool is ideal in a wide range of professional applications.

Features: • Digital temperature control from 40 – 620°C • Ceramic heating element • Robust brush motor • Ergonomic handle • Cool-down function (Automatic cool down before auto off) • Memory settings • Dust protection • Swiss Technology & Engineering • CE Conformity • Available in KIT FORM hand grinding right to edges with a proper flexible shroud that doesn’t leak dust when grinding.

Floorex also had tools to install selflevelling cement screeds such as spiked rollers, and gauge rakes. They loved the radiused gauge cams which maintain the same depth of screed no matter what angle the handle is held at. They had seen the old sled type unit which are very prone to getting the screed the wrong thickness and uneven.

The class were very enthusiastic and loved the time, and the experience of using the machines. For us, we enjoy the interaction and the questions that come from these training days.

It was interesting to see just how many of these recruits came from companies who have our machines in their ‘stable’. These included some who had the large ride-on floor scrapers, and larger Satellite grinders.

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HT1600D Plastic Welding Kit Kit includes: • 1 x Energy HT1600 D tool (with digital screen) • 1 x WE130.632 Standard Nozzle • 1 x WE146.740 Speed Welding Nozzle 4 mm dia • 1 x Carry case for easy storage Contact Techspan Australia for more details, Weldy authorised partner Aust/NZ www.weldy.com.au

orbital sander - the DEOS. The Mirka® DEOS packs many innovative features into a lightweight, compact and low-profile sander, providing easy manoeuvrability and delivering a precise and efficient sanding performance every time.

Just like the Mirka DEROS, it offers dust-free sanding when used in conjunction with Mirka’s Abranet net abrasives and dust extraction systems, making for a much cleaner, healthier work environment; not to mention a lot less hassle when it comes to tidying up afterwards.

Ideal for a variety of sanding applications including plaster sanding, paint removal and wood sanding, its lightweight and low profile make it perfect for vertical surfaces and hard to reach areas. This rectangular sander is also the perfect size and shape for sanding windows, doors, window sills, cornices, railings, stairs, built-ins, furniture and corners.

The Mirka DEOS is also equipped with a brushless motor, which means there is no need to change carbon brushes over; so it’s easier to maintain and its closed construction ensures that no dust gets inside the motor, further prolonging its life.

The 3mm orbit movement of the Mirka DEOS provides the optimal balance between low vibrations and high sanding performance whilst an ergonomic, two handed grip makes it easier to gain control when sanding hard to reach places. With its symmetrical design and more space for the ring finger and little finger, the user’s grip will be more relaxed and more controlled.

It also delivers constant speed under load so that there is no loss in efficiency under heavy pressure, and a two speed control system which is quickly and easily changed via an accessible lever for a flawless finish.

Further highlights of the Mirka DEOS include its soft start motor, which ensures surfaces are protected when the sander starts, and the carefully designed housing and pad, which minimises the bouncing sideways when sanding in corners of profiles. This also adds to its comfort of use and reach into corners.

For those that regularly have sanding projects on the go, it will be hard to look past the Mirka DEOS’s ease of use, ease of care, high quality results and healthier, dust-free working environment.

Flooring April/May 2018 | 77

Product Update

New AAC Product Launched in Australia: MaxiFloor Big River Group has expanded its AAC offering with MaxiFloor, a new Autoclaved Aerated Concrete flooring product that provides a superior flooring solution by utilising its strength and excellent airborne noise transmission properties resulting in a quiet floor without the squeakiness, bounce and flex that you find with particleboard flooring.

The launch follows MaxiWall, which was launched nationally in Australia in September 2017. Similarly to MaxiFloor, MaxiWall is a cost-effective, sustainable AAC product with excellent structural, soundproofing, and fire resistant properties.

“We are confident in the continued growth of AAC’s popularity in Australia and believe that MaxiFloor will join MaxiWall as a product of the future,” says Jim Bindon, Managing Director of Big River Industries.

“With superior thermal insulation properties, MaxiFloor will keep your house warmer in winter and cooler in summer reducing overall energy costs and all at a significantly reduced cost compared to a traditional concrete slab floor.”

MaxiFloor is available in 75mm and 50mm thick panels providing an ideal base for almost any floor covering including timber, vinyl, carpet and tiles, and is suitable for both internal and external applications such as decks and balconies.

It is installed in a similar way to conventional particleboard by existing installers (carpenters), and is non-combustible so can also be used in many applications that require specific fire ratings.

Manufactured from cement, sand, lime and water, MaxiFloor is aerated by adding an expanding agent to the mix.

78 | Flooring April/May 2018

The result is a steel reinforced concrete panel filled with small, finely dispersed air bubbles, which is both strong and lightweight and resistant to termites and vermin.

MaxiFloor is also a pollutant free building material, sourced from world class production facilities using German technology and automated processes to ensure every MaxiFloor panel is of optimum quality and consistency.

By using reduced raw materials it helps reduce around 30 per cent of environmental waste compared to traditional concrete and 50 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.

It is fully compliant with current Australian Standards. It is wholly owned and exclusively distributed in Australia

by Big River Group, supported by the company’s 13 outlets.

Big River Group manufactures and distributes timber and steel formwork products, timber flooring, structural plywood and related timber products, and distributes a broad range of other building products, including MaxiWall, primarily to the commercial and residential, non-residential and infrastructure construction market segments.

Big River owns and manages 13 sales and distribution outlets including Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Townsville, Illawarra, Melbourne, Hume (ACT), Adelaide and Perth. The Company also owns and operates manufacturing facilities at Grafton and Wagga Wagga in NSW. Big River provides customers with the security of a full support network, and technical expertise at every stage of the product lifecycle. This is the guarantee of quality and service that Big River has based its 110 years of success on.

www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Vinyl

Timber-Look Texline Ticks All Boxes Fine Line Stair Nosing Profiles Added to Extensive Floorsafe Range Many new and existing readers will already be familiar with Floorsafe Australia as one of the leading manufacturers & suppliers of safety products for steps, stairways & walk areas.

After all they have been around for 27 years.

Excellence is a habit with us and not an act because every day the industry which we work in becomes more competitive.

We cannot help ourselves in introducing new products because this is what the industry is wanting. Better selection of products to choose from so we can solve those everyday problems. The company's new Fine Line stair nosings are attractive, all aluminium with standard countersunk holes for easy installation and comes with a heavy- duty fibreglass fixing tape to secure the insert over the fixings.

Since increasing the range of anti-slip safety products, significant sales growth has taken place making us one of the biggest suppliers in Australia for stair treads, tactile indicators & safety grip tapes. A large stock of products is maintained at all times which enables them to service the requirements of large orders which others cannot supply. The new warehouse facilities allow them to quickly cut stair nosings to customers required lengths, pack large orders into protected wood crates and organise the quickest turnaround time for dispatch.

To stand still means to go backwards and their customers both new and existing are constantly and justifiably expect only the best professional and friendly advice, quality, value, and most important to know they are getting the very best service so their order will be delivered on time.

For clients wishing to have their products installed Floorsafe can arrange to have one of their national team of applicators do the work for you.

Timber designs like Sherwood Clear (pictured) continue to find favour with homemakers and renovators opting for seamless sheet vinyl from the extensive Gerflor Texline ranges. The appeal of one continuous, gap free surface is not just aesthetic, but also practical and hygienic for family living.

Texline was the trail blazer of the loose lay phenomenon that swept the Australian market more than two decades ago.

Since that time Gerflor has expanded the popular Texline offer to include HQR and PRO qualities that are suitable for commercial situations. According to Product Marketing Manager, Jutta Fronert there are compelling reasons for retailers to carry the complete range.

“Many of our retailers find the HQR and PRO qualities are an incredibly valuable addition to their inventory. They answer the needs of a diverse range of projects from the local dental or doctors’ surgery to an aged care facility in need of a fast, seamless and hygienic contemporary flooring,” Jutta said.

SAVE ON TOOLS BEFORE END OF FINANCIAL YEAR

with ALL PREPARATION EQUIPMENT CALL US OR SHOP ONLINE AT www.flooringmagazine.com.au

• • • • • •

Concrete floor grinders Diamond Tooling Concrete Vacuums & shrouds Mixing equipment Floor Levellers Floor Stripping & lifting equipment

CALL 1800 422 992 www.ALLPREP.COM.AU

Flooring April/May 2018 | 79

Prep, Install & Care

Does Your Vacuum Suck? Here’s a Handy Guide to Correct Maintenace and Cleaning of the Filters.

Is your filter destroying your machine?

Learn how to check yours - it's easy!

You probably already know that clogged filters will put excessive load on your motor, but did you know that the most common cause of vacuum failure is dust slipping past the seals of your filter?

This diagram to the right shows how a typical "concrete dust" type vacuum processes the dust it sucks in. Notice how the air passes through the body of the motor.

Dirty, worn, or damaged seals create an alternative path for dust, which will become more favored once a filter is clogged with dust. Tapping or compressing filters can damage pleats, weakening filters and reduce pressure on the seals.

Not cleaning out the mating surface between the filter and the machine can cause pitted seals and allow gaps for dust to seep through. Of course, sometimes problems exist within the pleats of the filter itself, especially if the filter has been cleaned often. If filters are under high load and subject to a lot A damaged filter element of use,

replace them more often to ensure your vacuum does not fall victim to dust slipping through.

This filter has split between the pleats - the split was hidden until the filter was compressed. This lets dust straight into the motor, ruining it instantly.

Incorrectly assembling the machine, or incorrectly installing a filter can allow dust to escape through gaps. Bypassing filters in any way at all simply allows dust to travel directly into the motor, unfiltered.

Finally, never install a damaged filter.

Your basic’s guide to cleaning filters – the safe way.

1. Consult your machine owner’s manual Make sure you check the correct procedure to remove your filter as per your owner’s manual.

2. Clean seals and sealing surfaces THIS STEP IS VERY IMPORTANT! Clean the surfaces where the filter meets the vacuum (seals) thoroughly, making sure they are completely free from dust. Pay attention to seals and the filter seals.

3. Clean components/clips/brackets Clean the components/clips/brackets which hold the filter in place.

4. Inspect your filter Check over your filter for damaged or pitted seals, compressed pleats, frays, holes, or solid build-up. Replace the filter every 6-12 months with heavy use, or if you're not sure. It's always better to be safe rather than sorry.

5. Knock out residual particles/dust Gently tap the filter on the inside of a bin to dislodge any large particle. DO NOT TAP TOO HARD!.

6. Wash out filter Wash out the filter with running water under low pressure thoroughly until clean clear water flows through it. Leave to dry completely. DO NOT USE WET FILTERS or you get slurry build up on the cassette.

7. Re-Assemble Assemble in reverse order of removal, taking care not to let any dust fall into the filter socket or onto any of the surfaces that meet the filter seal. Do not compress the filter!

8. Handy Hint: Improve suction, filter life and motor life by adding a Separator, Dust bags or just a more efficient cleaning cycle. All Preparation Equipment works, services, repairs and carry’s parts for a number of different vacuum cleaners and supports a lot of flooring stores and layers with their spare parts to keep running costs to a minimum.

Famous Quote Applies to Applying Floor Coverings A part of laying a floor right is preparing it right. All Preparation Equipment has been working closely with contractors and trainees who have attended TAFE Courses or doing Traineeships in the flooring industry. It’s all about having the knowledge on preparing, levelling and removing floors right so you can lay the new floor coverings right.

The famous quote by Benjamin Franklin applies to flooring just as much as anything else, ‘By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.’ It’s absolutely essential in laying floor coverings that the substrate is prepared properly as with applying a coating or in the concrete polishing process.

80 | Flooring April/May 2018

If you’ve ever seen a floor that has had the coating fail, an epoxy coating starting to flake off or a sealer having been poorly applied, or moisture come up in a concrete floor to ruin carpets of vinyls– you never want to see it again.

Based on the Concrete Surface Profiles created by the International Concrete Repair Institute – All Preparation Equipment has put together a number of comprehensive guides for concrete floor preparation online. To read this guide head to www.allprep.com.au today.

You can also sign up for their emails which allows you to stay up to date with different industry events and training that is being hosted.

Different machines achieve different finishes or profiles on a concrete floor.

Concrete Floor Grinders are most commonly used, followed by Floor Stripping machines for removing old or existing coverings to Scarifiers, Shotblasters or Scabblers which leave a heavy profile or key on the concrete in preparation to reapply onto.

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FLOORING

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD ABN: 27 006 876 419 PO BOX 800, Templestowe Victoria, Australia 3106 Ph: + 61 3 9890 0815 Fax: + 61 3 9890 0087 Email: info@elitepublishing.com.au Website: www.elitepublishing.com.au PUBLISHER Vicky Cammiade Email: vicky.cammiade@elitepublishing.com.au EDITOR Ronnie Gramazio Email: ronnie.gramazio@elitepublishing.com.au TECHNOLOGY EDITOR Philip Ashley philipneilashley@yahoo.com.au

Are you Starving Your Tools?

Power is the one thing you simply can’t do without, and it needs to be portable, practical and powerful – when you need it. Having the ability to mount and run off the back or a ute / trailor or truck is often the way it works however with the new development of a portable system you can wheel your power to site, in the places you don’t have access to it and not have a larger system out on the footpath or outside building working for you.

All Preparation Equipment is working with the Makinex Power Generators range which has the most advanced in it’s kind for Petrol and Diesel Generators.

Boasting 15% more efficiency then other brands and a casing size as one of the smallest on the market they are the most compact, and portable generators around.

Makinex Generator Systems and Generator / Power boxes offer a single or three phase outlet ability and have a very high start capacity.

With concrete floor grinders it’s often not just a case of ‘’I’ll just use the lead I’ve got,’’ Grinders require power, just like we require air to breathe your tools need power to survive. When run off the wrong power supply there is a number of issues to deal with – tripping out – starved motors – burnt capacitors – plug tops – draining power from your motor. Being a specialist supplier to the flooring industry, All Preparation Equipment is capable of working with you to ensure your lead size is accurate for the sized grinder you run.

Largely in the flooring industry, contractors will run a 5’’ or 7’’ Angle Grinder, a Polivac sander / polisher machine or a Stand up Grinder for the

smaller projects. Each of these machines, (mostly) run off a standard power supply – 240V. It’s often the case on site where there is multiple trades using the one source of power. Sometimes in this case there is not enough power to draw from to power your concrete floor grinder, scarifier, shot blaster, floor stripper or dust extraction and concrete vacuum systems. These machines are either powered by electric, battery or propane and in some cases hydraulic motors are used. With propane machines there is no cords or electrical requirements other than the battery used for starting the machine. Propane machines obviously have other things that cause restraint on site like the fume or smell during use.

Electrical requirements for electric floor grinding/ scarifying / floor stripping machines typically use 230 volt or three phase 400 volt. Make sure your working area or facility you are going to be working in has the right electrical outlets and enough power to operate the equipment you are using. It’s important to consider your power on site to eliminate any issues or downtime on the job.

Generators can range from a small portable box to something that can be mounted on the back of your truck.

Depending on your requirements for single or three phase equipment to run on site will depend on the size generator you need.

When your machine is starved of power that’s when things go wrong. Capacitors fail, motors trip out, the machine won’t start and you’re stuck with good tools that can’t be used, so that’s exactly what we want to help prevent you from having.

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Sandie Velkovska Email: sandie@elitepublishing.com.au CIRCULATION MANAGER Georgia Gilmour Email: georgia.gilmour@elitepublishing.com.au PRODUCTION For artwork and production enquiries please email: production@elitepublishing.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGN Uber Creative Phone: (03) 8513 0208 Email: connect@ubercreative.com.au www.ubercreative.com.au PRE-PRESS Prominent Digital PRINTED BY Prominent Group Pty Ltd ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD (established 1985) All rights reserved – No part of this publication maybe reproduced, transmitted or copied in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without the express prior written consent of Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd. Viewpoints, opinions, claims, etc expressed in articles appearing in this publication are those of the authors. The Publishers accept no responsibility for the information supplied or for claims made by companies or their representatives regarding product performance, etc or for any errors, omissions, misplacement, alterations, or any subsequent changes, or for any consequences of reliance on this information or this publication.

ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD PUBLISHERS OF: Supplier Woodworking Magazine, Tile Today Magazine, Discovering Stone Magazine, FB Magazine, Flooring Magazine, Finishes & Surfaces Magazine

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Exhibitions

Correction

2018 Exhibitions

In the February/March 2018 issue of Flooring magazine, INTAFLOORS should have been listed in the Adhesives Guide (not Gibbon). www.intafloors.com.au

MAY 2018 8-11 Coverings 2018

Trade event for tiles, stone, all matters of flooring and related products

Atlanta, USA 20-23

ICFF 2018 International Contemporary Furniture Fair, includes interior design and flooring shows New York, USA

30 May-1 June

Interior Lifestyle Tokyo Interior Lifestyle Living International Furniture Fair including flooring, textiles and home design

Tokyo, Japan JUNE 2018 27-29 Heimtextile India

International Trade Fair for Home Furnishings and Textiles

New Delhi, India

18-19

19-22

DĂŠcor + Design Show 2018 Interior Design Event Showcasing interior products, Flooring textiles and Furnishings Melbourne, Australia

OCTOBER 2018 18-22 Interieur 2018

International Biennial for Creative Interior Design

Kortrijk, Belgium 26-29

JULY 2018 15-17 The Manchester Furniture Show 2018

Furniture and Interiors Show

Manchester, UK

HMFSE 2018 Home Furnishings, Manufacturing Solutions Expo Atlanta, USA

Ideal Home 2018 Exhibition of Furniture and Lifestyle, Autumn Edition Dublin, Ireland

Company Name

INTAFLOORS

Website

intafloors.com.au

Category

Product Name

FLOORS Wood/Hardwood

Mapei P990

Laminate

Mapei S955

Vinyl

Vinyl Sheet Mapei ECO 380 Mapei ECO V4SP Mapei Roll Coll (Wall Sheet) Mapei ECO MS 4 LVT Vinyl Plank Mapei VS 90+ Mapei ECO V4SP Intafloors Stix Roll It Intafloors Ultrastix Mapei ECO MS 4 LVT

NOVEMBER 2018 7-8 Architect@Work Germany 2018

Specially tailored contact days for architects, interior architects, designers and other consultants with a focus on innovation

Berlin, Germany.

Vinyl Tile Mapei ECO Fix Mapei ECO MS 4 LVT Intafloors Ultrastix

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

Carpets

Ad Index A1 Rubber Airstep Australia

37

Con-Treat 73

Intafloors 55

52-53

Dunlop Flooring Inside Front

Cover & Inside Back Cover

Kenbrock Flooring

23

Laser Measure Australia

19

Duracore 13

Mapei Australia

65

New Oz Timber Flooring

29

All Preparation Equipment

79

Andersens Flooring Back Cover Armstrong Flooring Australian Select Timbers Carpet Court

33 5 47

Choices Flooring Front Cover, 8-9 Classic Architectural Group 49

Floorcovering Institute of Australia

25

Floorex Products

57

Forbo Flooring

35

GMK Logistics Godfrey Hirst Australia

31 11, 15

Carpets Intafloors Ironstix Intafloors Goldstix Carpet Tile Intafloors Ultrastix Mapei ECO Tack Mapei ECO Fix

Ontera 17 RFMS Australasia

61, 63

Sebo Australia

42-43

Tyrolit Australia

67

Get your personal copy of Flooring magazine

Rubber

Mapei Mapei Mapei Mapei

ECO V4SP ECO V4SP Fibre G19 ECO MS 4 LVT

Just email info@elitepublishing. com.au and supply us with your full contact details.

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For customers who suffer from allergies and asthma related health problems...

Heartridge Luxury Vinyl Planks have the advantage of...

A trusted approval from the national asthma council australia We are the only Vinyl Flooring in Australia to be partnered with Sensitive Choice.

Low formaldehyde emission rating Heartridge Luxury Vinyl Planks have the lowest VOC emission rating of E0, exceeding Australian Standards.

Phthalate free materials The absence of harmful chemicals helps your customers breathe cleaner and fresher air.

easy to clean & maintain Dust, dirt & spills can be easily cleaned with a damp mop or cloth.

18 beautiful colours to choose from Available in our Australian Timber, Natural Oak & Smoked Oak ranges.

Learn more about the Sensitive Choice Partnership heartridge.com.au/sensitivechoice

Heartridge Floors is a proud partner of the Sensitive Choice Program.

CASH MACHINE Proven Business Model

Top Tier Training & Support

Prime Site Selection

Respected Brand

New mobile franchise opportunities now available from only $50k.

For a confidential discussion on how owning an Andersens franchise can put you a step ahead of the rest, call Liam Brown on 0448 946 373 or email lbrown@andersens.com.au

andersens.com.au