Flooring Oct-Nov 2016

october/november 2016

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For information visit: www.armstrongflooring.com.au

Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital Brisbane, featuring Australian Made custom vinyl flooring

incorporating

FLOORS

oct/nov 2016 | vol 34 no 05 www.flooringmagazine.com.au

Industry News

Special Features

Regular Reports

FrontCover

08 Ardex celebrates 50 years

24 Airstep Retailer of the Month: Choices Flooring Nunawading and Frankston

16 Focus On: Flooring Industry Unites

01 Choices Flooring

26 Stainmaster Carpet Celebrates 30 years

36 Product Update

12 Laticrete receives community award 14 Domotex Turkey

28 Cavalier Bremworth and Aquafil announce NZ deal

4 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

20 Software

58 Exhibition Calendar

Australia’s

number one

Floor Coverings Retailer...

is coming to

New Zealand

For a strictly confidential discussion about the future direction of your business, please contact: John Nicholls Group Manager - Retail Development Mobile: +64 27 322 8679 Email: jnicholls@choicesflooring.co.nz

choicesflooring.com.au

Upfront Jennifer Curtis, group managing editor at Elite Publishing Co, publisher of Flooring Magazine is leaving the company for greener pastures – literally. She is retiring and moving to France.

Jennifer has seen many changes in the industry over the past 21 years she has spent editing Elite’s entire suite of magazines that also includes Tile Today, Discovering Stone, Supplier Woodworking, Finishes & Surfaces and FB Magazine.

She cites a higher level of professionalism across all sectors of the industry as

one of the main drivers of change. This has helped savvy businesses cope well with the current challenges facing the industry that involves increased competition and competitive pricing across a range of floorcovering options.

Not surprisingly, Jennifer is looking forward to an idyllic retirement in France where she will be living in a small, regional town. We wish her all the best and thank her for her hard work and extensive contribution to each magazine.

Stepping into Jennifer’s shoes at Flooring Magazine

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 NATIONAL SALES MANAGER Ashley Cooper Email: ashley.cooper@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 – Annette Epifanidis Mobile: 0416 087 412 Email: annette@ubercreative.com.au www.ubercreative.com.au

is Ronnie Gramazio who has over 20 years of media experience, most recently in New York.

Ronnie brings a wealth of knowledge to the position. Since graduating with a journalism degree, Ronnie has worked in radio, on newspapers and magazines and in book publishing both in Australia and overseas.

He began his career in radio and then moved into trade magazines and newspapers before moving into book publishing where he has worked as an editor and publisher for many

years. Since 2006, Ronnie moved to the United States where he continued to work in publishing.

He recently moved to Melbourne to take-up the role of Editor at Flooring magazine.

Vicky Cammiade, Director & Publisher Elite Publishing Co Pty Ltd

PRE-PRESS Prominent Digital PRINTED BY Prominent Group Pty Ltd ELITE PUBLISHING CO PTY LTD PUBLISHERS OF: Supplier Woodworking Magazine, Tile Today Magazine, Discovering Stone Magazine, FB Magazine, Flooring Magazine, Finishes & Surfaces Magazine Member of the International Woodworking and Furniture Supplier Magazine Association

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.

"Your Industry – Your Magazine"

www.flooringmagazine.com.au 6 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

Ronnie Gramazio – Editor

Ashley Cooper – National Sales Manager

Philip Ashley – Technology Editor

News Verble appointed new business development director at DriTac DriTac Flooring Products LLC has appointed Wade Verble to the position of new Business Development Director.

Verble is responsible for expanding sales with the development of new business opportunities through a variety of evolving channels that include new product categories, industry segments and overall business strategies designed to focus on company growth. His targeted business objectives will emphasise market needs and span the domestic and international marketplaces.

Verble previously served as Southeast Regional Sales Manager before being promoted to National Sales Manager and then leaving the company to explore other interests more than

Ardex celebrates 50 years a decade ago. He has over 25 years’ experience in the flooring industry with a strong background in manufacturing and distribution platforms.

Verble comes back to DriTac with a vast range of flooring installation experience, which he initially established during his first tenure with the company. His experience in the industry includes other prominent adhesive manufacturers and major flooring producers.

This year, Ardex Australia is celebrating 50 years of innovation in Australia.

When the business first started in 1966 as Australian Building Adhesives, it was committed to the development of the first tile adhesives for the Australian market. From the beginning, ABA was developing products for tiling systems, introducing new methods for the trade and was rewarded with a following of loyal customers.

Fifty years on, the business’s commitment to innovate has only strengthened as part of the Ardex Group and the business maintains a position of market leadership across multiple product categories.

Earlier this year, Ardex

Australia was invited to submit an application to be considered as one of the 50 most innovative companies in Australia.

Recently, a team from Ardex Australia attended the Australian Financial Review 50 Most Innovative Awards night where they were joined by 600 entrants of the 1000 that were contenders for the awards.

Ardex Australia was named as the 28th Most Innovative Company in Australia, sitting one place above Qantas Airways.

This award provides the business with recognition that, 50 years on, innovation is still very much alive in its business, people and culture.

Knowledge is key to success Laticrete is getting behind TAFE training as Craig Hunter, Laticrete NSW Technical Sales Rep, and Fred Gray, Laticrete Technical Service Manager, were recently invited back to Sydney Randwick TAFE to provide training, share their knowledge on Laticrete materials and to discuss tiling standards.

8 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

Craig and Fred spent some time in the classroom with the first year students explaining the classifications of adhesives. The students then had the opportunity to get their hands dirty with mixing up 345 Platinum.

With the aid of some perspex tiles, students got to see the benefits of back buttering tiles.

^ Melbourne Museum - Altro XpressLay

ALTRO XPRESSLAY AN ABA100 WINNER FOR PRODUCT INNOVATION The Australian Business Awards are contended every year by prestigious companies, products and services. This is an outstanding result for Altro and their Altro XpressLay product range.

Altro have designed and developed Altro XpressLay, an adhesive-free safety floor that’s designed to be installed, removed quickly, reused and recycled when necessary.

The revolutionary underside emboss means that Altro XpressLay can be used on fresh concrete subfloors up to 92% internal relative humidity. There is no need to wait for new concrete to reach 85% IRH. In some instances, Altro XpressLay can be installed on floors that are between 7 - 10 days old. In addition to eliminating the wait time associated with traditional concrete curing times, Altro XpressLay is unaffected by under floor heating. Heating may be kept on the entire time since there is no adhesive to worry about.

Unlike traditional, glue-down flooring, which typically requires the adhesive to cure overnight, Altro XpressLay can be walked on and welded the same day it is installed.

Adriano Zumbo - Altro XpressLay

Designed to be slip resistant, easy to install and sustainable, Altro XpressLay was developed to provide a safety floor solution in temporary buildings or accommodations. Because the product has been designed to be reusable, and doesn’t require adhesive, it can be relatively easy to utilise in situations where permanent safety flooring isn’t appropriate. Additionally, Altro XpressLay is made up of recycled materials and is itself recyclable, which was a focus for Altro from the design stage.

The design and development of Altro XpressLay has earned Altro a Product Innovation Award in the Australian Business Awards 2016.

To find out more go to: www.asf.com.au/Altro-XpressLay

News Ivy Muse Botanical Emporium opens in Armadale This Melbourne-based botanical wares studio designs beautiful, functional plant stands and botanical wares and has just launched an incredible new design space in Melbourne's leafy Armadale.

The Ivy Muse Botanical Emporium, designed by founders Alana Langan and Jacqui Vidal, houses the entire Ivy Muse collection of

Ardex makes life easier Ardex Australia has been spotted all over the country celebrating its 50 years in Australia and introducing many new products and programs.

New products including floor levellers to suit preferred price and performance requirements, solvent free

plants and plant stands. The store fit-out boasts four metre high ceilings, a stunning gold and white feature display wall, hand-blown lighting and Godfrey Hirst Villa timber flooring.

The Emporium will also host a creative installation program by inviting artists who produce original ‘botanical inspired’ works to exhibit in the space over six weeks.

contact adhesive, pump hire for floor-levelling installations, the RDX Rewards program for freebies and the LevelMaster Program, a commitment to contractors and layers for two-way communication within the industry were on display.

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Flowcrete Australia’s Flowfresh Sealer was recently nominated as a finalist in the Food Safe Equipment and Materials category of the 2016 Food and Beverage Industry Awards.

The nomination identified Flowfresh Sealer as one of the seven products that have most successfully responded to consumer demands for innovations that will help enhance food safety over the past year.

“Being in the running for a Food and Beverage Industry Award is a testament to our commitment to creating solutions tailored to this sector’s complex and everevolving requirements,” Flowcrete Australia’s Managing Director, Sean Tinsley said.

“Flowfresh Sealer is the next stage in the development of food grade flooring, as the full gloss, antimicrobial finish of this polyurethane system is ideal for meeting the practical and aesthetic flooring standards that food and beverage producers need to comply with.”

Flowcrete Australia’s unique flooring solutions means that food environments no longer need to have purely functional uninspiring floors – as this colourful coating provides a bright and glossy floor as well as the durability, ease of cleaning, slip resistance and bacterial properties required for safe and sanitary food processing.

A day at the races to celebrate the launch of Style

Flooring & Interiors

Since its inception in 1981 the WoolSet brand has served the group well, however as consumer lifestyles continue to evolve, so too must the brand.

As such the WoolSet group (owned by parent company Newfurn) are now embarking on an exciting new chapter within the group’s history, as they transition from WoolSet to Style Flooring & Interiors.

“The transition to Style Flooring & Interiors will allow us to emotionally connect with our consumers, as well as provide a solid platform for future growth,” Newfurn’s GM – Marketing, Jason Verstak.

Held trackside on Mornington Race Day (Thursday 22nd September), the group’s National Members Meeting incorporated the official launch of the Style Flooring & Interiors brand to over 60 members and alliance partners. Following the meeting formalities attendees celebrated the launch and soaked up the racing atmosphere, which was enriched by four race sponsorships: Style Flooring & Interiors Stakes, The Manhattan Collection Handicap (sponsored by Dunlop Flooring), The Oasis Collection Handicap (sponsored by Tuftmaster Carpets) and The International Wool Collection Handicap (sponsored

by Cavalier Bremworth).

The group are very excited about the journey ahead, which in the next few months will see them work very closely with both members and alliance partners to launch Style Flooring & Interiors to the public in January 2017.

For a strictly confidential discussion about the future direction of your business, please contact: Andrew Verstak - GM - Style Flooring & Interiors - 0499 828 000

News Family business matters In acknowledgement and support of the contribution that family businesses make to the Australian way of life, the 1,300 strong Kennards Hire team took time out recently to celebrate National Family Business Day, an initiative of Family Business Australia (FBA).

Grandson to Kennards Hire founder, Walter Kennard, Cam Kennard, is passionate about the intrinsic values that his family’s business upholds, “There is an unparalleled sense of loyalty and openness that comes with owning and operating a family business.”

“We believe that our employees are our family.

They are what ensures that we have a living culture at every level of our operations” said Cam, who is the group’s Property Manager. Cam also encouraged everyone to think about supporting family owned businesses in their everyday shopping and purchasing activities.

In operation for almost 70 years, Kennards Hire is a third generation family business.

Proud members of FBA, the business is an FBA Hall of Fame inductee and took home the FBA 2014 Distinguished Family Business of the Year Award.

Laticrete receives community award Neil Warden, Laticrete Australia National Sales Manager, and Craig Hunter, Laticrete NSW Technical Sales Rep, attended the Amber Tiles 2016 Performance Awards evening in Sydney recently.

Laticrete was presented with the Community Award.

The Community Award is awarded to the supplier who supported the Amber charity and community initiatives the most throughout the year. Neil and Craig received the award from Amber Tiles General Manager, Phil Crawford.

Neil Warden, Phil Crawford and Craig Hunter

12 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

Premium Floors showcased at Melbourne Indesign Premium Floors was an exhibitor recently during the two-day Melbourne Indesign exhibition, a free boutique design experience aimed at interior designers, architects, developers, manufacturers, specifiers, retail buyers and students.

The Premiums Floor exhibit in Collingwood boasted a myriad of textures, finishes and hues in timbers, laminates, cork and vinyl flooring choices.

Premium Floors was eager to showcase its flooring fluidity with its ability to design and customise a floor to suit any project.

According to Premium Floors’ National Marketing Manager, Charlotte Demasieres, the two-day event was a true celebration of high quality exhibitors coming together showcasing their products, services and innovations to like-minded lovers of smart and beautiful interiors.

“Premium Floors was a perfect fit with Melbourne Indesign as it was a great platform for us to present the latest and greatest with flooring, trends and technology. There was an immediate appreciation of what we had to offer and there was a great respect amongst colleagues in this industry,” Charlotte said.

Carpet Court, Matt and Kim to the rescue Carpet Court recently joined forces with Australia’s renovating angels, Matt and Kim, for the sixth episode of Matt and Kim to the Rescue, which saw the transformation of the home of the Flavelle family.

The Flavelle family story is one of incredible resilience.

Pete and Simone are a creative couple. Pete an artist, who’s skills extend from oil on canvas to sculpting, and Simone, an ex WAPPA student and actress.

This dynamic couple are also the parents of Angus and Hugo. Angus was born with high spectrum autism and is in constant need of care.

Hugo was born with cerebral

palsy and is wheelchair bound.

The challenging nature of bringing up not one, but two kids with serious, ongoing medical conditions saw many things give way in the Flavelle house. Pete’s art career came to a standstill, the house began to dilapidate as rising hospital bills took precedence. But the Flavelle’s never complained. They never faltered.

To make the transformation of the Flavelle family home possible, Carpet Court provided Matt and Kim with brand new flooring and a team of installers to bring the home transformation to life!

OverseasNews

Carpet set to dominate The carpet sector has historically been a large segment of DOMOTEX asia/ CHINAFLOOR and, at the upcoming 19th edition, running from March 21 to 23, 2017, it will again dominate the event. Five dedicated halls totaling over 60,000m2 will play host to everything from hand-made carpets, wallto-wall carpets, carpet tiles, woven and machine-tufted carpets, mats, carpet raw materials and the latest carpet technology.

The carpet sector follows the general trend of the show this year with an increasing demand for participation from brands outside of China. For the first time, a national pavilion hosting carpet manufacturers from

the United Kingdom is planned by the Overseas Fair Division of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce on behalf of UK Trade and Investment Department. The United Kingdom pavilion will join other national pavilions from Belgium, Germany, The Netherlands and the USA, traditionally hosted in the hall dedicated to the international machine made carpet manufacturers.

Mr. Geert Vanden Bossche, Marketing Director of Belgium’s Balta Group, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of textile floorcoverings, which exports 95% of its products globally, spoke with the show organiser about the importance of China and Asian markets and their

potential, especially in the commercial market.

“It is part of our strategy to develop new markets. We have recently opened a new sales office in Singapore for our commercial carpet tiles to develop the AsiaPacific region. Countries like Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines are also becoming more important,” said Vanden Bossche. He also explained why Balta’s participation at DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR is an important part of its strategy to develop the Asia-Pacific market. “It is important for us to attend every year. In a short period of time we can meet with our existing and new potential customers. The show attracts trade visitors

not only from China but from the whole Far-East region.”

Visitors will have the opportunity to outsource the most up-to-date designs from the hand-made carpet world in the hall dedicated to handmade carpet manufacturers.

This hall will also host the Carpet InnovAction area with displays of the latest products and innovations from the carpet industry.

The latest types of carpet raw materials, carpet machineries, carpet cleaning and maintenance products will be brought to the audience by brands such as Aquafil, Bonar, Freudenberg, Groz-Beckert, Kolon, Owens Corning, Truetzshler, Universal Fibres, Van de Wiele among others in the Carpet Technology hall.

global machine-made-carpet sector.”

In 2017, Turkish Airlines, an official Domotex Turkey partner, is again offering

special deals on travel to the show for exhibitors and visitors with discounts of up to 20% on international flights to Gaziantep.

Domotex Turkey Domotex Turkey 2017 will be held from 22 to 25 May in Gaziantep, Turkey.

The show, in its fourth season next year, is Turkey’s leading international carpet and flooring exhibition.

Manufacturers from around the world leverage its reach to build and strengthen relationships with trading partners from Turkey and the Middle East and open up new markets for their products.

Located in Turkey’s Southeastern Anatolia region, Gaziantep is one of the of the world’s leading centers of machine-made carpet production, making it the perfect location for the fair. The show enjoys solid support from local manufacturers – so much so, in fact, that the organisers anticipate a strong exhibitor turnout for the 2017 season.

“A large percentage of our exhibitors are based in and around Gaziantep, so we’re looking forward to a large and richly diverse product offering

14 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

at the upcoming show,” commented show organiser Alexander Kühnel. “Domotex Turkey will once again highlight Turkey’s strong position in the

Innovations and trends As the leading trade fair for the international floorcoverings industry, Domotex in Hannover, Germany showcases innovations and trends that set the tone for the coming season. Some 1,350 exhibitors from more than 60 nations are expected in Hannover for the event.

From 14 to 17 January 2017, Domotex is focusing more strongly than ever on the latest floorcoverings trends, honing in on what consumers can expect in 2017 with its Young Designer Trends Table.

This new Domotex format features presentations by upand-coming young designers from Germany, France, Great

Britain, the Netherlands and Turkey, who will unveil the latest big trends.

The Young Designer Trends Table is a new feature of Innovations@DOMOTEX – a successful showcase of innovations being staged for the fourth season in 2017. A special highlight will consist of areas in halls 6, 9 and 17, featuring staged presentations of a prizewinning selection of exhibitor innovations. These special displays will be a focal point of the trade fair and a key attraction for visitors, who can get a quick overview of the most noteworthy floorcoverings innovations and trends, with products they can see, touch and get first-hand

information on.

The internationally known designer Alfredo Häberli will be a special guest at Domotex, where he will share his extensive expertise and provide added inspiration to his audience. The Swiss design icon is known for his diverse array of designs and high-class labels. His versatility ranges from designing furniture, lamps and living accessories to conceiving the interiors of stores, restaurants and hotels.

Visitors can gain additional information by taking part in the guided tours offered on themes covered in the “Dialogues”. The tours will take place directly after the

panel discussions, which run from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

They are especially geared to architects, interior designers and designers in attendance to research new approaches to the use of floorcoverings. I With a trade audience from retailing and wholesaling, architecture, interior design, skilled trades and the furniture and home furnishings sector, the Domotex product offerings range from textile and resilient floorcoverings for residential and commercial property to machine- and handmade carpets, parquet, laminate flooring and floorcoverings for outdoors as well as installation and application technology.

Armstrong Flooring provides integrated solutions for commercial environments From shop fit out, to hotels and restaurants, Armstrong Flooring’s ranges of safety flooring and luxury vinyl plank & tiles (LVT) provide integrated solutions at every level.

From commercial kitchens to public amenities, Armstrong Flooring’s SAFEGUARD™ slip resistant sheet vinyl ranges deliver multiple levels of slip resistance in various colours and visuals to meet the needs of even the most demanding environments.

NATURAL CREATIONS™ LVT with vibrant unique designs, true hardwood colours and textures is available in a variety of traditional and exotic looks as well as with our exclusive I-Set™ installation system.

The I-Set™ Installation System combines the beauty of NATURAL CREATIONS™ with an all-in-one flooring solution, so installations can be completed in about half the time of traditional methods.

With no wait time and instant return to the space, the I-Set™ Installation System can restore revenue producing spaces to operational status immediately.

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

Flooring Oct/Nov 2016 15

FocusOn

Flooring industry unites When the Newfurn Training Academy was launched back in 2015, it was only the first step in what its instigators hoped would become a national training scheme for the floorcoverings industry. That hope has now become a reality with the creation of the national Floor Coverings Industry Association, whose first priority will be to address the problem of training and the lack of apprentices in the industry.

Jennifer Curtis reports: In late September this year, a meeting took place in the head office of Newfurn Floor Coverings Ltd at which the major retail players in the industry agreed to become part of this new industry association. Attendees included the CEOs of host Newfurn (Choices Flooring and Woolset), Carpet Court, Harvey Norman Flooring, Flooring Extra, Floorworld, Australian Floor Style and Andersens (with an apology from CEO of Carpet One, who was unable to attend the meeting). They all agreed that this was a necessary step for the industry and something that had been needed for a very long time.

16 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

“We explained what we had achieved so far with the formation of the Newfurn Training Academy, which is already heavily supported by manufacturers, suppliers, distributors etc, and they all agreed that this approach was necessary for the whole industry,” explained Andrew Lewis, CEO, Newfurn.

“The lack of apprentices in the flooring industry is at an all-time low and we urgently need to address this problem, which is why we created our training academy in the first place. It took us a long while and a great deal of trial and error to get it started but since we launched it in March this year we now have 60

apprentices on our books, with new ones joining all the time. We also have a 100% retention rate. We always said that once it was up and running we would open it to the whole market. We are now at that point,” he added.

“We have the funding, now we need to grow collectively to ensure the future of our industry.”

The new Floor Coverings Industry Association (FCIA) will involve all parts in the industry – from manufacturers, suppliers and distributors to retailers, contractors, installers and so on as well as all flooring types – carpet, timber, laminate, vinyl, tiles and more.

“Collectively we need to do

this,” said Jason Verstak, Newfurn GM - Marketing.

“Up to now we have had too many disparate groups and the Government won’t listen to your problems unless you have a national voice.”

This is a sentiment most of the CEOs agreed to. Allan Dingwall, General Manager, Harvey Norman Flooring stated: “It is long past due that flooring retailers come together to address their shared concerns. The Floor Coverings Industry Association will be a wonderful platform to put aside our business rivalries and allow us to acknowledge and collectively act to remedy these shared issues.”

“We have created a program that we know works and which has the support of the industry. It is designed to engage the attention of young people and be something they can relate to and work with,” he added.

The training modules include videos and text, which the students work through. As they complete each section, this is assessed before they access the next one. Once they complete and pass a training stream (eg carpet laying, vinyl etc), they are then awarded a tradecard, which proves their competence in that aspect of flooring.

Brian Cooper GAICD, CEO, Andersens stated: “This new training program is all accessed online and

is specifically tailored to the floorcoverings industry.

Apprentices learn and are assessed on the job as they work through the modules on their phone or tablet.”

Trainees can now work towards accreditation in one stream or, if they choose to continue, they can work their way up through the different levels to become competent in several or all types of floorcoverings. They can then show this tradecard to clients to prove they have met the high standard of performance required by the association.

Some of the best trainers in the industry will do the assessing with the team lead

by Bill Tree, who has six other assessors working with him as well as alliance partners from all parts of the industry.

“I was truly ‘floored’ by the cooperative spirit shown by the retailers and I look forward to working with the new industry body to co-create new initiatives, services and educational programs with which to serve the Australian community”.

James Hayward, CEO, Carpet Court also added: “I was truly ‘floored’ by the cooperative spirit shown by the retailers and I look forward to working with the new industry body to co-create new initiatives, services and educational programs with which to serve the Australian community”.

As Newfurn coordinated the initial concept, they have since handed over responsibilities to Gary Thomas, MD of Acuto, to run the association so that it is independent and unbiased.

“The Newfurn Training Academy will now be handed over to the FCIA, who will run the training for the whole industry,” explained Andrew Lewis.

Flooring Oct/Nov 2016 17

18

FocusOn 17 The objectives of the FCIA will be to: • Provide a national peak body to advance the interests of the Flooring Industry; • Market, promote and represent the Australian Flooring Industry, its products and services through providing a unified voice to government, the public and key stakeholders; • Continuously improve Australian flooring industry products and services by developing and implementing national benchmarks and quality standards; • Establish an industrywide training academy to contribute to the educational and skills advancement of current and potential workers in the flooring industry.

• Address national skills shortages, increase the take-up rate of apprenticeships, and provide nationally recognised skills sets to current and future flooring installers across multiple streams.

• Support members by providing specialist advice in a range of services appropriate to the enhancement and development of the Flooring Industry.

The establishment of the FCIA will also create sector specific advisory panels. The panels will inform and drive the growth of the industry through the FCIA. The role of the panels will include: • Benchmarking industry best practice; • Consultation mechanisms to engage members across the industry; • Input to government policy at state and commonwealth levels; • Identification of emerging job roles and skills needs; • Identification and endorsement of industry standards;

18 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

• Input to Nationally Recognised Training courses; • Industry validation of accredited training and assessment Resources Excited about the prospect, Bob Crotty General Manager, Floorworld stated: “The industry in Australia has been at the crossroads for many years and I strongly believe that the only way to address these challenges is in developing an infrastructure that is inclusive of all stakeholders, retailers, and suppliers of all flooring categories, manufactures and installers at a national level.”

This initiative is now starting to gain major momentum.

With the suppliers and now retailers supporting this, the industry can forge forward as a collective instead of individual associations.

Flooring Magazine also asked some of the other parties involved in the formation of the new Floor Coverings Industry Association to further their views: “The industry in Australia has been at the crossroads for many years and I strongly believe that the only way to address these challenges is in developing an infrastructure that is inclusive of all stakeholders, retailers, suppliers of all flooring categories, manufactures and installers at a national level.

“An association that can be recognised by government and by consumers as a strong industry group that provides its members with the products and services will increase standards within the industry and creditability outside the industry: a

bipartisan association that can provide members with the best practice in in all facets of business and, most importantly, provide a processes in how they can be delivered.”

Bob Crotty, General Manager, Floorworld “I have been in this industry for around 38 years as an installer, sales person, store owner and in my current position as CEO. The industry has both changed a lot and changed a little. Our customers’ needs and habits have changed dramatically but our industry, to some extent, has struggled to keep up with the changing landscape and technology.

“The commencement of a national peak body for the floorcovering industry that represents the full range of product categories – suppliers, manufacturers, installers, store owners and contractors, will offer a unified voice to our customers, the government and the industry to ensure its perpetual growth. It would also be a wonderful legacy that I would be proud to be able to say that I played a small part in.

Brian Cooper, GAICD, CEO, Andersens “In my short tenure with Carpet Court Australia I have met with many locally owned and operated Carpet Court members, who are passionate about exceeding their customers’ expectations in every way possible. I have met with many suppliers and amazing Australian manufacturers, who truly set a world benchmark for

the products they create. And recently I met with nearly all the flooring industry retail CEOs to discuss the past, present and future of the industry. At this groundbreaking meeting we unanimously decided to form the Floor Coverings Industry Association to further professionalise our wonderful industry ensuring even greater service to the marketplace as a whole.”

James Hayward, CEO, Carpet Court “In recent years the flooring retailer has transitioned from a nondescript, almost boring, business to an exciting, innovative and fashion based industry. The limited product choices of yesterday are now long forgotten as the customer is gifted with the prospect of colour, design and texture across an evergrowing group of product categories. Unfortunately, we have not been able to secure the required numbers of proficient installers to meet the needs of this wider flooring choice. The initiative of an industry trade school incorporating a controlled apprenticeship program and the real prospect of an acknowledged trade licensing program is one of many great initiatives that will lift the confidence and professionalism of the industry. There will be no losers but, critically, as we address our own shortcomings, the biggest winner will be the consumer and if they win, ultimately we all win.”

Allan Dingwall, General Manager, Harvey Norman Flooring.

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Software

Sales process for success What is internal rebate?

By Chris Ogden, Managing Director, RFMS Australia As I talk with retailers across Australia and New Zealand, I hear the market is buoyant.

Most report the biggest issue they face is not the lack of sales, but the lack of good installers. This will particularly be the case as we head into the end of year mayhem.

If you are selling as much as you can install right now (even if you aren't), how can you improve your business?

Interestingly, other feedback I am getting is margins are not improving.

What are your margins looking like? Let’s talk about how we might improve these through rebates.

If you are a member of a group, you will be familiar with the concept of rebates; rebates negotiated by the group are calculated and paid periodically; this additional margin goes straight to your bottom line. Rebate is the margin your salespeople might have given away if, instead, the group had simply negotiated a lower net price.

Those of you receiving rebates know how important they are to your business.

Can we maximise our rebate income? Let’s briefly look at two ways of doing just that.

Focus on rebateable product. You know which products carry the best rebates; they should occupy a prominent place in

your showroom, and your salespeople should be aware these are the first products they show. You should regularly analyse your sales to ensure your salespeople are selling what you want them to sell.

I recall some years ago a survey was undertaken to see who the biggest influencers are in a flooring purchase. On the top of the list of influencers was the salesperson. The downside of this is that, without direction, salespeople will sell what they like, or what they might be able to afford, or what the company rep has encouraged them to sell. Ideally, you should be able to run a report showing the products your salespeople are selling along with the margins achieved.

This information will help you nudge the salesperson back into selling what you want them to sell.

Build in your own internal rebate. Internal rebate works the same as a supplier rebate. Before your salespeople see any cost prices, you build in a rebate. What this means is your salespeople will see a carpet that costs $100.00 as costing $101.00. That 1% is captured as your internal rebate. If a flooring business with a revenue of $3.5m creates an

“If you are selling as much as you can install right now (even if you aren’t), how can you improve your business? ” 20 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

“You should regularly analyse your sales to ensure your salespeople are selling what you want them to sell. ”

internal rebate of just 1%, approximately $25,000.00 will flow to the bottom line.

In setting internal rebates, we recommend you start low, and gradually increase it. You want to hit the sweet spot where your internal rebate is maximised while not affecting sales or GP achieved by your salespeople.

If you carry stock, you should be building an additional internal rebate into the stock you carry.

Depending on the price advantage you achieve buying stock, you should have an internal rebate of $5 to $10 per metre. This goes some way to covering the costs associated with stock; samples, the inevitable shortends and other carrying costs.

Of course running reports to see what your salespeople are selling, and setting up an internal rebate, requires work. For those of you who have been reading my articles, you will not be surprised to learn that if you have a fully integrated business management system, running reports and adding an internal rebate are things you can do in minutes (literally). In fact, if you were to invest in such a system,

the internal rebate alone would very likely pay for it in a matter of months.

If you would like to see how RFMS can help you make your business more efficient and more profitable, let me have an hour of your time to give you an overview of the system.

Chris Ogden is a consultant and Managing 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.

“If a $3.5m business creates an internal rebate of 1%, approximately $25,000.00 will flow to the bottom line. ”

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

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salesau@rfms.com

Software

Obstacles to implementing electronic quantifying

By Chris Ogden, Managing Director, RFMS Australia There is no doubt, getting an experienced flooring salesperson or quantifier to move from the traditional quantifying methods to an electronic solution can be difficult. Over the years you might have downloaded a trial of quantifying software or even made a purchase only to find it goes unused.

Those who resist the change will tell you one of a number of things (or all of them): “the software is hard to learn”; “I can do it quicker than a computer”; “I’m just too busy.”

Whether these are true or not is beside the point; this is what they believe.

“If you can see the potential benefits of using electronic quantifying software in your business, how do you overcome the obstacles?”

If you can see the potential benefits of using electronic quantifying software in your business but struggle to get it established, how do you overcome the obstacles?

1. Understand the benefits it will bring your business. This will give you the conviction to push through any resistance.

2. Remind yourself you are not a guinea pig; electronic

quantifying has been around for many years, and flooring businesses are using it.

In fact, you will likely have local competitors using it and enjoying a competitive advantage as a result.

3. Avoid starting it with your older and experienced people. Ideally, look for someone who doesn’t have years of flooring experience

and is a little younger. (I must be careful not impugn the older members of our industry; there are many senior people in our industry using quantifying software).

4. Download a free trial of Measure by going to measureflooring.com and clicking on Try it Free.

We will take it from there. We will work with your nominated staff member over the 30 days to get them to a level of competency that will make you confident to subscribe and enjoy the ongoing benefits of having all of your staff using Measure. This offer comes with no cost and no obligation.

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

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22 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

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Retailer of the month

Smooth sailing

in Nunawading and Frankston

Choices Flooring Nunawading and Frankston, Victoria

By Philip Ashley

D

arren Goss and Paul Priestley know a little bit about the flooring industry. With around 60 years’ experience between them they should.

This experience holds them in good stead in what could be the most competitive location in Australia. Darren and Paul run Choices Flooring Frankston and also a retail outlet in Nunawading (Victoria) in what’s known as “The Golden Mile” and they started the business in the full knowledge and belief that with their experience and backing of the Choices Group, the venture would succeed.

After only three and a half years they’ve already exceeded their own five-year targets.

24 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

The Golden Mile is located on Whitehorse Road and within a milelong strip there are hundreds of stores servicing the home owner with everything from flooring to furniture.

Close to the Nunawading store there’s both a Carpet Court and a Carpet Call store and “these are some of the best in Australia” mused Darren. Then there’s one of the best Harvey Norman stores and two other flooring outlets to contend with. These outlets had dominated the area for 15 years but over a bottle of red on a sunny day early in 2013, Darren and Paul weighed up the odds and decided it was a good deal.

They already had the Frankston store but were not yet trading when the time came to set up a Choices Flooring outlet in The Golden Mile. A bedding store became available and Darren and Paul jumped at the chance to open both stores on 1 July 2013.

Paul said: “Choices showed a lot of trust and faith in us and we believe we’ve repaid this. It’s not a shopping centre with lots of car parking but it still works.

In fact, we drag in a lot of customers through the Choices Flooring marketing.”

Darren started out as a flooring apprentice and followed that up with some retail experience before moving into manufacturing. For over 20 years

he worked with Feltex and was National Sales Manager of Westwools Carpets and Signature Floor Coverings; companies of which he speaks highly. Paul started out landscaping but soon found his way into flooring where Darren describes him as “the best flooring salesperson I have ever seen”. High praise but with two prestigious sales awards from the Choices Flooring group under their belt in just over three years, Darren’s opinion is not up for negotiation.

Darren and Paul’s commitment to their business is evident when you talk to them “It’s a hard business to leave; you get to know everyone,” Paul said.

Darren believes the flooring industry is old-school with few new technologies or ideas. “However, with the synergies of Choices Flooring and the way they think from the general manager down, everything is new and different. Darren has called on every flooring group in Australia and, in his opinion, Choices Flooring stands out by far.

“Our people are very important to us,” said Darren. “We have four in each store and they work very hard for us. We employ more women than most because we know that women more often than not make the purchase. We regard training very highly too and whenever a rep comes it invariably turns into a training session. We’re really pleased that Choices has taken on the apprentice scheme as there aren’t many TAFE colleges doing flooring training anymore.” And as for losing people Darren said “It’s like the well-known saying; “What if we train them well and they leave? But

what if we don’t train them and they stay?”

Happily, Darren tells us that they’ve never lost an employee he didn’t want to lose.

“Our work is planned, considered domestic with a shot of commercial. We do some aged care facilities, Universities and schools. We try and attract business that’s right for us and we try and sell the right mix of products. We plan properly so there’s a lot of smooth sailing; we give value for money and provide product that’s fit for purpose. If the buyer wants a low price, there are other shops that can do this; you have to learn to say no to bad business,” Darren and Paul said.

Close friends for over twenty years, joint Directors Darren and Paul both

follow Melbourne Victory and attend as many games as they can. They pinch an afternoon occasionally to play nine holes and Darren does a bit of fly fishing, recently searching for Trevally and Trigger fish; Bone fish and Queen and King Fish in Kiribati. At the moment though, most of their energies go into the two stores.

Darren said “From zero in just three and a half years we’ve created two big flooring shops, today we are quite healthy.

We’re not in it for the money, we want to build something; to make a difference and maybe one day our families can get involved and we can relax. If their short past is anything to go by; they are well on their way.”

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Flooring Oct/Nov 2016 25

Carpet&Rugs

Stainmaster Carpet celebrating 30 years As the Stainmaster carpet brand gets ready to celebrate 30 years since its launch way back in 1987, Stainmaster brand owner, Invista has returned the brand back to Australian television screens with a clever retrospective on

the brand’s history and ability to ‘go the distance’ using the iconic late contemporary artist, Pro Hart, and his grandson, Harry Hart.

Through a combination of 30 and 60-second commercials, that have

recently screened in all capital cities and most regional markets on both free-to-air and pay television – as well as You Tube – viewers have learned what goes into making a true masterpiece. The ability to be memorable, inspirational and to withstand the test of time are all important. The ability to withstand critics – such as that from Pro’s

exasperated cleaning lady with her famous line: “Oh Mr Hart, what a mess!” – is also key.

The campaign which commenced in October was supported with the launch of a completely new website: stainmaster.com.au, as well as an extensive social media campaign combined with retailer communications and point-of-sale materials.

Carpet tiles reinvent iconic landmark Andrew Loader Design has been praised for reinventing Aurora Place in Sydney with the help of custom carpet tiles from Godfrey Hirst.

High above the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge this Macquarie Street marvel was architecturally designed by Renzo Piano.

The brief was to create a considered interior design for a creative and agile environment. It included 250 metres of 3D design cladding, Australia's largest switch glass installation, and a concierge lounge for client meetings.

Godfrey Hirst custom created charcoal and light coloured carpet planks measuring 500mm wide by one metre in length.

Placed alternatively, the pattern creates classic bold stripes that give the space unique structure and drama.

The colours were custom

26 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

matched to the upholstery for Andrew Loader Design creating rich cohesion.

The classic contrasting colour combination has a timeless and sophisticated

appeal. In collaborative zones, black is featured in furnishings and white in the workstations. The use of glass and light reflective surfaces ensure the dynamic

views are visible from every seat. But in each space the eye is undoubtedly, playfully drawn to the floor that grounds and gravitates the entire space.

A masterpiece in carpet for generations AUS 1800 335 624 | NZ 0800 468 420 stainmaster.com.au | stainmaster.co.nz find us at

© 2016 INVISTA. All rights reserved. STAINMASTER and the STAINMASTER family of marks and logos are trademarks of INVISTA. R0247

Carpet&Rugs

Feltex carpet takes centre stage Affectionately known as the origami box and sharp-edged clouds, the Adelaide Festival Centre is the cultural heart of the city. Designed by architect John Morphett and completed in 1973, it was Australia's first multi-purpose arts centre.

Forty years later it maintains its status as a national arts icon and a great

source of pride for South Australian residents. As part of the ongoing $610 million transformation, the Festival Centre's recent refurbishment included new carpet throughout the entire venue.

The brief was to keep the design in line with the building's heritage. The original bold patterns, a

hallmark of the decade, were recreated with a custom Feltex woven Axminster carpet. Dramatic, large-scale, geometric shapes turn the floor into an exciting and defining design factor.

Luxurious and playful, the design and deep red and purple palette, complements the retro style leather sofas,

pop art prints and silver modular sculptures. The velvet, soft texture of this quality wool carpet softens the interior against the strong lines in the ceiling and sandstone brick walls.

This stunning transformation paves the way for the future redevelopment of the entire precinct.

Cavalier Bremworth and Aquafil announce NZ deal Cavalier Bremworth has announced an exclusive Australasian deal with Italian sustainability pioneers, Aquafil, that will see New Zealand carpet being made from fishing nets and other recycled nylon waste.

Aquafil is the creator of the world’s first fully sustainable nylon 6 fibre, Econyl. The company invested 25 million Euros and four years in the technology and now even assists in the recovery of fishing nets from the oceans to input into the process.

Speaking from Cavalier Bremworth’s market re-launch event at Shed 10 in Auckland, 28 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

Aquafil General Manager, Fabrizio Calenti said Econyl was, at first, a challenging concept for the company but the vision is now paying off for them and the planet.

“We are now on the other side of the world to mark an agreement with Cavalier Bremworth: this is very exciting. The sustainability of the Econyl product will contribute to the value proposition of Cavalier’s beautiful carpets.”

Econyl is now being used in collaborations with brands like Levi’s, La Perla, Speedo, Kelly Slater’s new Outerknown range and now Cavalier

Bremworth’s Siren carpet range.

Cavalier Corporation CEO, Paul Alston said the deal to use Aquafil’s Econyl fibre is a bit of a coup for the company and symptomatic of a broader re-invention of Cavalier Bremworth. There was also an underlying sustainable theme to the event with Cavalier launching a new wool product, Jive; its new Siren range using Econyl and another nylon product, Valour, which also partially utilises recycled yarn.

“Customers care about quality, they care about customer service and they care about the story behind

what they are buying. This is where we are taking Cavalier Bremworth: we are responding to what customers want and are very keen to drive positive change in the carpet category.

“Cavalier Bremworth is a New Zealand brand, our vision is for it to become an iconic New Zealand lifestyle brand,” he said.

Since 2015 Cavalier Bremworth’s parent, Cavalier Corporation, has undergone a program to reduce debt and transform the business. This included a consolidation of its manufacturing operations in early 2016.

Carpet&Rugs

Colourful carpet enlivens Perth’s Kelmscott library The renovation of the Kelmscott Library in Perth, Western Australia is an example of how clever carpet choice defines a space and reinforces the interior design and, in this colourful case study, a blend of contemporary and modern styling creates a stunning, bright and inspiring community space.

Circular ceiling cutouts are referenced in the carpet below whilst the furniture shape and colour complements the interior.

Timber room dividers help define zones. Feltex Education Tiles with grey, black and white lettering are used to define study and computer zones.

30 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

Rainbow Carpet Tiles from Godfrey Hirst are used to enliven reading spaces.

Large circles in green and blue for the general library and bright red and orange for the kid zones. Modern furniture such as egg chairs, occasional chairs and cubed poufs reference the carpet colour as do shelving cut outs and artistic book category banners.

Neutral carpet tiles in dark grey are used to ground the space along with white and beech timber chairs and table tops to complement black shelving. There’s no doubt that playful, contemporary design is being used more and more to invigorate community spaces.

Introducing Kerrie Brown Collection Designer Rugs recently unveiled an eye-catching collection of four intricately detailed hand-knotted rugs, displaying internationallyacclaimed set decorator Kerrie Brown’s dynamic, overlaid design technique for which she is so well known.

It became immediately apparent that this was the sort of collaborative project that was too good to miss, and working with Designer Rugs afforded Kerrie the enjoyable opportunity to explore another creative dimension, translating her digital collage design style into a sophisticated rug collection.

It was her bold approach to design that initially sparked Designer Rugs’ Managing Director, Yosi Tal’s desire to collaborate with Kerrie, having been drawn to the wild range of fabrics and

wallpapers showcased in her Woollahra store in Sydney’s inner east when driving past one day, back in early 2015.

This collection comprises four gritty, abstract, graphic designs that are layered with intense detail to work as statement pieces for both commercial and domestic settings. The rugs, made of Tibetan wool and bamboo are called Botanical Graffiti, Damask in Distress, Lost in Transmission and You Crack Me Up. Kerrie has the last word: “I have a camera’s eye rather than a textile designer’s eye: the camera loves layer upon layer of pattern and that is how I see the world now. I take traditional images and mess with them, giving them an unexpected twist”.

All designs can be custom shaped, sized and coloured to suit any interior.

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Carpet&Rugs

Hospitals look to hotels for design inspiration Gone are the days of pale green walls with a sterile design aesthetic. As a place of respite and healing, health care environments are looking to hotel interiors for inspiration.

With a focus on hospitality as well as health care, Victoria’s largest private hospital took a contemporary and creative approach in a $350 million dollar refurbishment.

Godfrey Hirst provided carpet for the recent redevelopment of the Epworth Hospital in Richmond, Victoria, including rooms, corridors, reception

and waiting areas in the Lee Wing. The custom design was produced using their exclusive Designer Jet technology to create the burgundy and white woven pattern on a charcoal base.

The design mimics the grey marble on corridor walls and reception areas, flanked by solid charcoal grey in the corridors to create clear thoroughfares. The rich burgundy tones complement the mahogany features while the dark charcoal contrasts against clean white walls.

Hospitals and health care are also enduring environments that need to balance community needs with functionality, safety and maintainability. Godfrey Hirst used 2m wide carpet with HealthBac, the high performance carpet backing with an impervious moisture barrier and bio-contaminant control.

lo g os c ate be Intr i s c an esign arket t ’s T an d d it h ch c u t w ce – s e a r sonic vi r e s ” r af t c r af t lo or c F lo or et t F k r . a e T b “ uTu on Yo

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Quick-Step sets the scene The hustle and bustle of a hair salon demands a floor that is beautiful, durable and stain resistant.

For owners Leah Fitzgerald and Kate Sciannimanica, the answer was simple – QuickStep Balance Click in Artisan Grey plank.

For the 55 m2 space, D'va Hair salon, in Gwynneville, Wollongong, the Balance Click vinyl flooring created another level of sophistication for the sleek black furniture and complemented the white brick wall beautifully. The contrasts of deep tones and textures in the Artisan Grey create a strong and welcoming foundation for the salon as each client walks in to be pampered.

34 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

The Quick-Step floor has also created a space which is super functional and can withstand the daily challenges a typical hair salon faces.

“I fully researched flooring products for our new salon.

I wanted a floor that was beautiful, durable, and would resist staining from full strength hair products including dyes and peroxides.

I conducted my own testing using these commercial hair products, and only one vinyl product shone through and that was the Quick-Step Balance Click,” Kate said.

“All other products I tested, stained readily, when exposed to hair dyes. I am thrilled with the look and feel, and most importantly the performance of our new Quick-Step floor".

Karndean’s new plank design spec Karndean Designflooring has added a new 1.5 metre plank design specification to its loose lay vinyl range as part of its LooseLay Longboard collection.

LooseLay Longboard features 12 contemporary wood designs, each inspired by authentic Australian, European and American woods including Australian spotted gum, blackbutt and Tasmanian oak.

Enhancing its established Karndean LooseLay range, LooseLay Longboard introduced a 1500mm x 250mm format with a 0.5mm wear layer and 4.5mm thickness.

Ideal for traditional and contemporary interiors, Karndean’s Australian inspired woods include two Tasmanian oaks, two blackbutts and two spotted gums.

Offering a sustainable alternative to real Tasmanian oak, Karndean’s Tasmanian Oak and Bleached Tasmanian Oak presents organic growth rings and subtle colour variation to create the most natural replication possible.

The Bleached Tasmanian Oak offers a modern whitewashed finish to create a striking variation on the original.

The two spotted gums – Mountain Spotted Gum and Lemon Spotted Gum – reflect

the natural characteristics of this rich Australian timber with its subtle spotted appearance and large amounts of sapwood.

A quintessential Australian hardwood that takes its name from the lower half of the tree’s trunk, North Coast Blackbutt and Embered Blackbutt retain all the natural characters of blackbutt wood with the oozing sap lines adding to the distinctive linear grain and bleeding into the timber for a rich colour tone ranging from pale brown to red ochre. The Embered Blackbutt carries the pink tones of the freshly cut tree, whereas the North Coast Blackbutt has a softer blend of colours.

Popular for its premium designs and quick-fit approach, Karndean LooseLay is an innovative format of luxury vinyl flooring boasting enhanced acoustic properties and excellent environmental credentials. Its popular friction grip backing and increased dimensional stability secures the floor firmly in place, and it can be installed over most hard and flat floors as long as they’re clean, dry and dustfree.

LooseLay Longboard by Karndean Designflooring offers a 15-year commercial warranty.

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Floating

Laminate floorings stay cool The Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF) has successfully concluded a research project during which the IHD (Institute for Wood Technology, Dresden) developed new, objective and differentiating procedures for testing abrasion resistance, impact resistance and polishing behaviour of laminate flooring with deeplystructured and matt surface textures that are new to the market.

What do a discotheque in Sweden, a production facility in Belgium and a company canteen in Germany all have in common? All three (plus a number of other highlytrafficked areas) were used as locations for practical field tests on the latest generation of laminate flooring. The enduring success of laminate is based on continuous innovation, and almost one billion square metres of this type of flooring are installed

each year in homes and public buildings around the world. Consumer tastes and preferences are everchanging and technical capability continues to evolve, so it is not surprising that the laminate floorings of 2016 demonstrate different characteristics from those of its predecessors 10 or 20 years ago, plus the fact that quality standards must also keep pace.

Over the past few years, innovative surfaces have continued to create new themes. A large proportion of wood surfaces reproduce the original wood grain as true to nature as possible.

This applies not only to the decorative printed layer but also to tactile textured surfaces. Some woods have well-defined pores. A deep in register embossing and simultaneous decorative print mark the ultimate in current laminate production.

Other types of wood finishes

are silky-smooth with a matt appearance and these satisfy the current trend for an elegant, close-to-nature style of living. Matt surfaces work perfectly in daily use and are enjoying increasing popularity on the market. The technical challenges have been overcome, but it has become apparent that the test procedures complying with the laminate flooring standard cannot cater for these new surfaces.

The quality of laminate flooring hinges around EN 13329, and the updated version EN 13329:2016, which was recently published, provides specifications, requirements and test procedures for laminate flooring for the EU, Iceland, Macedonia, Norway, Switzerland and Turkey.

Although standardised testing for abrasion resistance using sandpaper in line with the Taber abraser method produces

significantly lower results for the popular deep textures than for flat ones, this does not relate in any way to the positive experiences that these floors create in real-life applications. In comparison, selected matt textures trafficked heavily on a daily basis literally display “pathways” worn as a result of foot traffic. To date, the standard does not include a procedure for forecasting this polishing effect. In addition, the procedure laid down in the standard for investigating the impact resistance using a “small ball” repeatedly shows inconsistency of reproducibility due to the design of the testing device and this is something else that needs to be addressed.

The sum of these issues suggested the need to develop new test procedures or modify existing tests through a combination of laboratory research and an empirical approach.

38

When testing impact resistance, the test procedure used to date with the small ball uses a test device with an integral spring that strikes via an impact bolt. This piece of equipment regularly requires costly calibration and makes reproducing the results relatively difficult.

(Source: EN 438-2:2016)

36 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

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Floating

Using a Martindale abrasion tester, nine different types of laminate flooring with matt surfaces were subject to technical laboratory testing.

It became apparent that by using this device, changes in gloss level can be produced and evaluated much more easily and with more differentiation than with the device for testing sliding wear caused by furniture feet which complies with EN 423. (Photo: IHD) As part of the research project, an alternative solution for evaluating the impact resistance of laminate flooring, which works according to the principle of a falling mass, has been developed and put to the test. This new test device is simpler in mechanical terms and the balls themselves can be exchanged, so as to be able to react to wear processes on the contact surface. (Diagram: IHD) Item Component description 1. Weighted base 2. Drop tube 3. Support foot 4. Screw M5x12 5. Height adjustment ring 6. Screw M6x40 7. Drop bolt 150 g/ 100 g 8. Ball 9. Handle 10. Screw M10x40 11. Scale

38 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

36

Abrasion: practice wins over theory

According to EN 13329:2016, establishing the abrasion resistance of laminate flooring is one of the core criteria for determining quality.

Evaluation of abrasion resistance is achieved by friction on the visible surface of the test specimens with a defined grade of abrasive paper mounted on two weighted wheels.

The sample material is held horizontally in the testing device and rotated, and the abrading wheels rotate vertically over the sample.

The device naturally includes a counting mechanism for the number of rotations effected. If signs of abrasion appear, these run in a circular band covering a surface area of up to 30 cm².

The criterion for evaluation is the point at which visible wear on the decorative printed surface occurs. The test specimen is divided into four quadrants and the IP (Initial Point of abrasion is the point at which the visible wear is detected to the extent defined in the standard in a minimum

of three quadrants. The mean IP values of three test specimens measured in revolutions during the test process are defined in abrasion class ratings AC 1 to AC 6.

A comparison of laboratory and field tests conducted on “deep textures” indicated that when using the test procedure as defined in the standard, these structures achieved significantly lower abrasion classes than their “cousins” with smoother structures with an identical overlay, i.e. the transparent wear layer on the surface.

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On the other hand, the experience gained from the several million square metres of flooring already installed is that this does not apply in real life.

The aim of the first part of the project was, therefore, to suitably modify the test method in order to attain corresponding results in both field and laboratory conditions. This necessitated a systematic examination of the wear processes for deeptextured flooring in both locations.

The ad-hoc group from the EPLF Working Group, which was involved in the project, selected suitable

materials, discussed the results, conducted round robin tests to validate the test procedure, and designated areas of flooring fitted with people counting devices for the purpose of conducting field trials: a discotheque in Lund, Sweden, where the entrance area is passed through 70,000 times per year, plus the bar area at 60,000 times per year, and dance floor (probably the most interesting test surface of all). Other test sites included a company canteen with a count of 400,000 per year; a flight of stairs at the Egger premises; 40

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Floating 39 a narrow office corridor at Kaindl with 60,000 passing through annually; a walkway in a production hall at Unilin with 100,000; two narrow walkways at the Classen premises each with 250,000 and, lastly, a corridor at the IHD with a footfall of 40,000.

Admittedly, it was clearly not possible to determine the number of people using the dance floor, but the twisting pressure and sequence of multi-directional motions represented interesting usage characteristics and, in the final analysis, this was the only test surface where wear became visible. However, there were no differences in abrasion behaviour between the six deep textures and the smooth reference structure installed. The same situation was evident in the heavilytrafficked staff canteen.

To summarise, it was established that, depending on the structure, the twoyear field tests did not mirror the clear differences (depending on texture) in the results of abrasion tests carried out according to the current standard.

To explore the cause of the differences, microscopic examinations were conducted and profile

measurements carried out.

The latter method is used in material technology for measuring surface roughness either mechanically or by contactless technology and results can be verifiably displayed. These specific measurements showed that in the standard-compliant laboratory procedures, the initial wear points regularly start at the steep shoulders of the elevation, i.e. the places where the friction wheels exert the highest pressure. And it is likely that this pressure at point locations is significantly higher than the more areal loading from the soles of shoes. This indicated the need to get the laboratory results closer to those of the field trial by varying the test parameters (contact pressure, duration of use and abrasion hardness of the test wheels).

Several inter-laboratory tests and continuous comparisons between field and laboratory showed, however, that variations in evaluation parameters achieve the goal more readily (dividing up the specimen, size of area abraded). The test specimens are no longer divided into quadrants, but into octants (eight sections). Presently, the IP

(Initial abrasion Point) is defined as being the point at which the underlying layer clearly becomes exposed in six out of eight octants in different-sized areas (in five octants minimum 1 mm² and in the sixth exactly 1 mm²). The IHD in Dresden briefly describes a suitable modification to the standardised procedure in its works standard IHD W-479 “Determination of the Abrasion Resistance for laminate floor coverings”.

Impact resistance: relying on gravitational force Ascertaining the resistance of laminate flooring to impact stress is a way of identifying the elasticity of a flooring surface. According to EN 13329:2016, there are test procedures using a “small ball” and a “large ball”. The test procedure used to date using a small ball involves a testing device with an integral spring that strikes via an impact bolt.

But this piece of equipment shows design deficiencies for reproducibility and is repeatedly causing much discussion between laboratories.

Within the scope of the research project, an alternative solution for

evaluating the impact resistance of laminate flooring with deep surface textures was developed and put to the test: following the principle of a falling mass, tests were carried out with 14 types of laminate across all impact classes and product types (DPL, EPL, PDL and HPL). Using this new design of device, the best correlation between results for the impact classes to date were produced by using a ram weight of 150 g and a ball diameter of 10 mm. Accordingly, it was possible to derive a 4-class categorisation comparable with the current system.

In contrast with the procedure to date, the testing device is simpler in mechanical terms and the balls themselves can be exchanged, so as to be able to react to wear processes on the contact surface. The results of the process developed by the IHD in Dresden were successfully verified in the inter-laboratory tests involving members of the ad-hoc group. The IHD summarised the newlydeveloped procedure in its works standard IHD-W-425 “Determination of the small ball impact resistance of laminate floor coverings”.

42

The above table shows those results from the series of laboratory tests using the Martindale device with specific polishing materials and forces (the five columns on the left) which resulted in a very good correlation to the visual (three columns on the right) and technical measurement evaluations (three centre columns). (Table: IHD)

40 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

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VIC

McDonalds Flooring Accessories

Knoxfield: 03 9764 2400 Dandenong: 03 9702 7822 Geelong: 03 5521 6670 Preston: 03 9416 7878 Email: sales@fisdistributors.com.au

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Floating

Practical tests demonstrate: Deeply embossed textures do not wear out more quickly than smooth ones! (Photo: Swiss Krono Deutschland)

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“This project indicates clearly how quality and innovation work in tandem. For us, it’s not about riding on the crest of every wave of fashion that comes along – our customers can rest assured that they are getting products that are just as reliable as they are up-to-date, with an application potential that is not only transparent but also tried-and-tested.”

Group, commented on the results in the technical report on the joint research project between the EPLF and the IHD. “Some years ago, our association adopted the slogan ‘Quality and Innovation made in Europe’ and this project indicates clearly how quality and innovation work in tandem. For us, it’s not about riding on the crest of every wave of fashion that comes along – our customers can rest assured that they are getting products that are just as reliable as they are upto-date, with an application potential that is not only transparent but also triedand-tested.”

All works standards can be obtained from the IHD on request and will be forwarded by email free of charge (www.ihd-dresden. de).

measurement evaluations.

The optimal test parameters (no. of cycles 320, 6N loading, polishing material SB 7448+) were subsequently validated in an round robin test involving seven EPLF members. The IHD Dresden has transposed the research results into its works standard IHD-W-475 “Determination of the polishing resistance of laminate floor coverings”.

On this basis, a proposal is being put forward with a view to developing a classification system for the test results similar to micro-scratch resistance according to EN 16094 and the intention is also to incorporate into EN 16094 a third procedure, namely the test procedure on polishing behaviour that was developed during the project.

Eberhard Herrmann (Egger), Chairman of the EPLF’s Technical Working

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It was necessary to devise a new laboratory procedure for matt surfaces to forecast the polishing processes resulting from foot traffic, thus helping to avoid complaints in this area in practical use. In the field trial, nine laminate floor surfaces installed in a corridor at the IHD were visually assessed by test persons who assigned them to a five-level rating scale, starting from 0 = “no change” up to 5 = “major change”. In parallel with this, the surfaces were examined with a reflectometer to measure the change in gloss level.

In association with this work, the nine different laminate floors were subject to technical laboratory tests using a Martindale abrasion tester. It became apparent that by using this device, changes in gloss level can be produced and evaluated more easily and with clearer differentiation than with the device used for testing sliding wear caused by furniture feet (in accordance with EN 423).

The table shown (fig. elne1606_b4) gives the results from the series of tests using the Martindale device after varying numbers of cycles, which demonstrated a very good correlation between the visual and technical

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Eberhard Herrmann, Chairman of the EPLF’s Technical Working Group (Photo: EPLF)

Flooring Oct/Nov 2016 43

Floating

The Block’s Kyal and Kara choose Godfrey Hirst Godfrey Hirst collaborated with The Block favourites, Kyal and Kara, by providing the flooring throughout their recent Toowoon Bay renovation. From a red brick box in Queensland this dexterous duo created a beautiful home and studio apartment with a total of six bedrooms, four living rooms, three bathrooms, two laundries and a rumpus room.

In the main home, Kyal and Kara chose Regal Oak timber flooring in Doulton throughout the living, kitchen, dining and master bedroom spaces. The light timber tones contrast with the deep green cabinetry and keep the natural, light and relaxed vibe throughout the space.

For the Studio apartment, they went with Regal Oak timber in the darker Astor.

Almost the colour of driftwood adding to the casual coastal feel this couple do so well. “[This is] really beautifully designed engineered flooring.

The wide boards help create the illusion of more space in those open plan areas, they are super wide and seamless once laid. With one single action, the boards lock and snap together.

It’s a really nice product,” said seasoned renovator and carpenter, Kyal Demmrich.

“What I love most about these floors is the understated matte finish paired with the rustic markings and bevelled edges,” said Kara.

Carpet Court launches new oak flooring Carpet Court is building on its extensive range of timber flooring with the launch of its stunning new range, Bespoak.

The range is available exclusively at Carpet Court and comes in six sophisticated timber tones offering home owners the classic look and the natural beauty of real timber.

Thanks to a popular click floating install process, Bespoak is incredibly fast and easy to install, keeping installation time to a minimum.

“Although timber flooring is a long-time favourite with designers for its ability to add character and warmth to a space, it is often considered more complex to install and less affordable than other hard flooring options. Bespoak offers a low maintenance solution that doesn’t compromise on quality and that authentic, luxurious look we all

44 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

love,” said Carpet Court ambassador, Darren Palmer.

Those who favour a classic look will love the darker tones of Bespoak in Cashmere or Tweed, while anyone looking for a light and bright interior will find their perfect colour in a range of oak and greyinspired options including Argyle, Chiffon, Merino and Linen.

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Warehousing

Makinex updates dual pressure washer Makinex is always innovating its products by listening to the customer and their needs. To get ready for the spring clean, Makinex have made a few updates to the Dual Pressure Washer, so that it makes your cleaning job even faster and easier.

The Makinex Dual Pressure Washer comes in a 4000Psi and a 2500Psi version, which means you can clean anything from your front deck to an industrial tennis

court by using the adjustable pressure.

Due to the combined wand and rotary cleaner in one you can work anywhere and clean everything. It is ideal for cleaning large areas quickly and efficiently, such as warehouses and large outdoor areas like carparks, or bus stations.

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It is now easier to swap between the rotary cleaner and the pressure washer by switching a handle. The new hose reel allows easy access, making storing and winding quicker and simpler.

Makinex has added a quick connect hose and nozzle fitting, with an easy click on system. With the addition of three quick connect nozzle fittings for the hose, allowing you to clean several surfaces with different pressures easily.

Working in logistics and warehousing means you need to be organised, efficient and safe. Makinex prides itself on making inefficiencies extinct, and looking after staff whilst they are handling materials.

The Makinex Powered Hand Truck allows one person to lift up to 140kg, and has the potential to reduce shoulder, back and neck injuries by up to 34%. The Makinex Powered Hand Truck recently won the Safe Work Australia Good Design Award 2016.

“A focus on health and safety in design helps eliminate hazards and risks before they enter the workplace. Good design can radically transform the workplace in ways that benefit the business, workers, clients and others in the supply chain,” said Safe Work Australia Chief Executive Officer, Ms Michelle Baxter.

Working in the materials handling and warehousing

Industry can be heavy work, so having the right tools for the job is essential: having a quick and easy alternative to using a forklift or tailgate loader with no need for a licence means you can utilise your staff.

“The Powered Hand Truck has multiple attachments, with the hook coming as standard, forklift ideal for lifting pallets, strap frame ideal for lifting bins, gas bottles. A sling and net attachment and glass sucker can all easily be attached to the PHT. “Every employer wants to ensure they are getting the most out of their workforce, and by increasing staff efficiency from a three-person job down to a one-person job, reducing their risk of injury and not having to have a licence, allows any workplace needing to move materials to become safer and more efficient.”

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Preparation, Installation & Care

Do it right the first time It is not only internal demo companies, concreters and floor layers that need to grind. Epoxy applicator Jamie Kerr, from Epoxy Flooring Queensland, knows what it takes to achieve a beautiful, lasting floor. And his floor grinder of choice?

The DSM250 Schwamborn grinder from All Preparation Equipment.

When applying epoxy floor coatings to a concrete floor, it is essential that the concrete is prepared right. Grinding the floor with a concrete floor grinder is one of the best ways to ensure a good key on the floor for the coating to hold on to.

Whether we like it or not, concrete floors are prone to imperfections. Cracks, stains and chips show up over time and have a damaging addon effect to the epoxy floor coating when applied, leaving the new surface wide open to worsening damage and long-term problems. This is why it’s critical that floors are prepared correctly, before the coating is applied.

The ultimate goal of concrete floor preparation is to make sure the newlyapplied epoxy coating looks

fantastic and lasts for a lifetime, and choosing a quality floor grinder plays a major part in achieving this.

Concrete grinding with Schwamborn stand up floor grinders is fast, clean and effective providing a good,

consistent scratch pattern.

The Knock on Shoe system diamonds from a PCD (polycrystalline diamond) allows the removal of any old coating, membrane or glue on thesurface. Alternatively, the 16/20 grit, which allows

a fast, clean removal of any laitance or adhesive that may be left from an initial grind.

No two concrete slabs or subfloors are the same, and the Schwamborn range is wide enough to meet the demand for any floor.

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PICFloors

Preparation, Installation & Care

60 year old slab turns into historical masterpiece Fashion Spree is a new outlet shopping centre in Sydney. The shopping centre spans 14,000m2 and encompasses 50 retailers. Built in the 1950s, the building was initially developed as the Viscount Caravan manufacturing facility and thereafter

turned into the Liverpool Markets before becoming Fashion Spree. The 60 year old building has been revitalised as a part of the development process of this shopping centre and, whilst the design of the new centre was focussed on creating a modern, upmarket space, it

was imperative to maintain its historical significance.

A major component in honouring the history was to renew the original concrete slab, which was laid at the building’s inception over 60 years ago and remains as one of the buildings original features today. At

commencement of this project the concrete slab appeared weathered after decades of heavy industrial use. However, there remained a determination to give it a new lease on life and turn it into a striking design feature that was fit for purpose for the generations to come.

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Preparation, Installation & Care 50 Transitions Polishing and Grinding had the task of giving this slab a new outlook with the installation of Husqvarna Hiperfloor throughout the internal mall areas; Transitions Honed Concrete floors at the shopping centres entry and a 2mm epoxy polyurethane flooring system on the access ramps and bathroom corridors. In addition, Transitions completed varying polished concrete finishes in 35 of the retail tenancies.

The slab at Fashion Spree included a set of very specific objectives and requirements due to factors such as its age and condition as well as the intended future use of the floor, the specified aesthetic and design palette.

In terms of functionality, the floor needed to be durable and hardwearing due to the constant and concentrated foot traffic it would endure during its lifespan.

Furthermore, the chosen flooring product for Fashion

Spree had to be installed in a quick timeframe without hindering the construction program and in amongst other trades.

The client desired a floor that would both complement and enhance the industrial design palette. This included the need for a natural material to pair with the extensive use of brick throughout the centre as well as a highly reflective surface to increase levels of natural light and, as a result, minimise the need for artificial lighting.

The process

Prior to any construction taking place, Transitions began with a vast amount of floor preparation. This included the removal of 2 to 4mm from the surface of the slab across the entire 14,500m2. The aim was not only to remove all of the existing flooring materials present, primarily consisting of epoxy flooring from its

industrial use, but to ensure the entire slab was level and primed for the installation of the Husqvarna Hiperfloor.

Once the floor preparation works were complete and initial construction had commenced, all main internal walkways and common areas of the shopping centre were ground back to fully expose the 60 year old aggregate.

The aggregate consisted of a natural mix of blacks, whites and browns all of consistent sizes and shapes. Following this, the Husqvarna Hiperfloor system was then installed and finished to a high gloss finish, achieving gloss readings of between 60-70 consistently.

During this process, TPG also installed polished concrete floors totalling 4800m2 in many of the retail tenancies, 150m2 of Transitions Honed Concrete to the front of the shopping centre to create a more seamless finish in terms of flooring materials when

walking into the shopping centre and also 1000m2 of a 2mm epoxy polyurethane flooring system on the access ramps and bathroom passageways.

The result

The results were nothing short of spectacular. Due to the floor preparation works and the workmanship of the grinding contractor, Transitions, there were no original damages, cut outs, infills or wear and tear evident from the 60 year old concrete slab. In fact, the quality of the finished floor appeared on par with a purpose poured slab, placed with the intent of installing polished concrete. The end result far exceeds the original expectation of the clients.

Fashion Spree has now been nominated in the International Polished Concrete awards 2016 in the Retail category. Transitions Polishing and Grinding was awarded this prize in 2014.

Picking the right tool for the job The last 10 years have seen huge technological advancements in the process of floor preparation and levelling. Whilst historically scarifying and shot blasting machines were employed to effectively level a floor, they have now almost all been replaced by modern grinding methods and machinery.

Grinding has allowed the safe and effective removal of old floorcoverings to leave a clean surface. There is of course much that goes into the process; with different machinery, grinding discs, diamond blades and specific tooling available to best suit the substrate being worked on. And that’s where selection becomes significant.

When grinding concrete (or any other type of surface) the most important decision is

52 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

selecting the right tooling for the surface. Whilst picking the incorrect tool will not mean complete failure, you will lose productivity and increase your costs in replacing your tooling faster than needed.

There is an ideal bond to match every substrate. When working on an extremely hard surface, or burnished concrete, a super soft bond is required to deliver the best performance. Soft bonds allow the diamond tooling to remain more exposed, maximising cutting efficiency on harder substrates.

Conversely, when working on very soft surfaces or broom finished slabs, a super hard bond is recommended to achieve the best result.

Harder bonds are required on softer surfaces to limit the wear on the diamond tooling,

allowing higher efficiency from the tooling.

MJS is an official reseller of Tornado Diamond Tooling grinding products and machinery with staff expertly trained to provide advice and guidance on picking the right tool for the job.

Tornado Diamond Tooling supplies premium quality diamond blades, grinding discs, cup wheels, tooling and machinery to consumers throughout Australia, and has tested across Australia, Europe and USA. Utilising AkyD technology, Tornado products are fast cutting and long lasting. Customers can rely on Tornado Diamond Tooling to give consistently excellent results and first hand technical support.

"We made the change to Tornado Diamond Tooling

about 12 months ago. We found the quality of the finish and the cut to be fantastic and found the time saving overall about 20%. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Tornado Diamond Tooling," said Scott French of Sealtec.

“Whilst picking the incorrect tool will not mean complete failure, you will lose productivity and increase your costs in replacing your tooling faster than needed.�

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ProductUpdate

Spiked shoes Flexible Shoe-In spiked shoes recently stepped into Australia to make the life of the flooring applicator easier.

Being a premium spiked shoe they have no buckles, no straps and require no adjustment – you simply step your boot in and out of the shoe without making any changes.

Built with an ability to handle fast turnaround times and hard work these flexible spiked coating application shoes allow you to walk or run through your job effectively without walking on your product while it cures. These application shoes keep you stable during the application

process and allow you to walk anywhere on site you require.

They are useful on any application involving floor preparation or levelling including epoxy floor coatings, concrete screed floors or decorative overlays, waterproofing membranes, spray on coatings or adhesives and driveway coating or decorative flake flooring projects Using the patented Finger Lock system, the shoes will hold onto the laces of your boots to secure them in place while you work, yet at the same time keeping them easy to remove and change over.

Expansion joint cover solutions The Metal Expansion Joint Cover range from Classic Architectural Group offers a series of products to cover and protect the necessary construction joints in floors, enabling a safe path of travel for pedestrians.

The two part EJC systems are suitable for vinyl or tiled floor finishes and also for fitting onto pre-finished concrete. Covering gaps of up to 10mm, they are well

suited for retrofit applications and are commonly used in retail centres, schools and public buildings.

One of the highlights with these products is that Classic supplies them as pre-drilled, countersunk and complete with fixings. As their spokesperson commented: “We make your job easy for you by providing a seamless experience and a product that is ready to install”.

Laticrete’s ultimate adhesive Laticrete 345 Platinum is a multi-purpose cement-based adhesive for interior and exterior installation of tile and stone, reduced thickness

porcelain, quarry tile, pavers and thin brick.

345 Platinum provides long working time with high adhesion strength, flexibility and performance. Great for immersed installations. This high performance flexible cement based adhesive is non sag and high tack.

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to abrasions, chafing and scratches. It offers major flexibility and performance, achieving an unbeatable printing quality and high resolution curing inks UV CMYK at a speed of 55 m/ min.

The Jetmaster 630 line for cork counts with the special module for the primer

application and maximises its printing width to 630 mm, with a minimum separation between the panels.

This investment of digital printing makes a great qualitative leap, a major capacity of response to the demand of the market and a major improvement to productivity.

Lico updates printing lines The Swiss manufacturer of cork, linoleum, wood and mineral high-quality floors, Lico, has updated its printing lines with the Barberan technology – Single-Pass.

The printing line Jetmaster 630, specifically designed for cork floors, is in full performance in the company’s plant.

54 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

Lico, which previously used the multi-pass printing system, has boosted its production speed with this new printing line, which was recently implemented.

With this new line, Lico has applied the most effective treatment to obtain a Class AC5 product: maximum toughness and resistance

Business

Lufkin’s level best Lufkin has been a world measuring expert since 1869, designing tough, accurate tools for the market. Now, Lufkin has released a new laser range, catering to everyone from the home DIY’er to tradies on the job site.

The laser range uses high quality lasers with miniscule variations in accuracy, offering class-leading performance with components that are as tough as they are precise. It covers all bases from self-levelling to manual levelling rotary and cross line lasers, to laser distance measurers, line levels, laser square and optical levels (Dumpy’s).

Two of the lasers in this extensive new range are: • the Lufkin LLS2 Laser Square that projects two lasers at exactly a 90 degree angle on the wall or floor, making it perfect for use around the home or on smaller indoor jobs.

The LLS2 is equipped with a wall mount and two bubble vials for wall and floor levelling. A 7m range allows for effective use in tiling, flooring, picture hanging, wallpapering, painting and many other applications.

• the Lufkin LR600 dual beam auto levelling rotary laser and detector, which is the heavy hitting measuring tool with the capability to handle the biggest jobs. The LR600 projects rotary laser horizontal plane, as well as laser plumb beam. The gradient feature allows slope scanning at selected grade angles. It also incorporates an innovative electronic auto leveller. Lufkin’s big daddy of the Laser Range can help achieve accuracy on all manner of professional jobs.

A rainproof and dustproof casing make it suitable for all conditions, while a detector and a remote control enable long range operation.

Altro Xpresslay an ABA100 winner Altro Xpresslay has been recognised as an ABA100 winner for Product Innovation in The Australia Business Awards 2016.

Altro has designed and developed the Altro XpressLay, an adhesive-free safety floor that’s designed to be installed and removed quickly and reused and recycled when necessary.

The Looselay technology is a system with a studded emboss on the underside of the flooring, which aims to allow any subfloor moisture to escape. It’s been designed to lie flat, which means there’s no need for adhesive – making it possible to get same-day welding results that can be walked on straight away.

Because the XpressLay is a safety floor, Altro has recognised the need to ensure that the product meets a range of safety needs and requirements, whilst also saving customers time and money.

Designed to be slip resistant, easy to install and sustainable, the XpressLay was developed to provide a safety-floor solution in temporary buildings or accommodations. Because the product has been designed to be reusable, and doesn’t require adhesive, it can be relatively easy to utilise in situations where permanent safety flooring isn’t appropriate.

Additionally, the XpressLay is made up of recycled materials and is itself recyclable, which was a focus for Alto from the design stage.

Exploring opportunities

By Philip Ashley The number of Australian companies that run a homeware sideline is increasing. A carpet store in Wangaratta bought the shop next door and turned it into a homeware store. It’s a good source of income and in difficult times the extra business keeps them busy.

The theory is that if you have the customer in your office or showroom; why let them leave without the possibility of selling something else?

I caught up with Rodney Jacobs, CEO of Rovan Global at this year’s Hong Kong Houseware Fair and asked him why, as a previous bedding manufacturer, he attended a houseware fair. Rodney said: “These people aren’t tied down by conventions; you see some pretty interesting things at this fair. For a manufacturer there’s a wealth of new ideas. People want to do business with you, it opens up a whole new world of business opportunities; it’s very exciting”.

So, if you’ve sold your customer a carpet you already have their attention.

Your new business model would be to retain them

as a valued customer, offering services other manufacturers don’t. These services would be a range of products that you alone could supply and that were selected with your manufacturing base in mind.

Small appliances are becoming very popular, a trend driven by health conscious consumers and fuelled by reality TV cooking shows. Bench-top ovens are also becoming popular as people struggle with a busy lifestyle and less time.

A Sous Vide cooker retains all of the food flavours.

A smart frying pan sends notifications to your phone.

A Bluetooth speaker will play your music and let you answer the phone with voice-activated commands.

There are many good Asian trade shows but the Hong Kong Houseware Fair is one of the best for a wide range of products.

As Rodney said: “These people are not tied down by convention” and, as a manufacturer, neither should you.

The next Hong Kong Houseware Fair will be held 20 to 23 April 2017.

Flooring Oct/Nov 2016 55

Business

Equipment finance Interest rates and security – what does it all mean?

By Michael Ryan, Senior Business and Equipment Finance Broker at Finlease michael@finlease.com.au Don’t be fooled by advertising suggesting interest rates “from xx%”. Sure, it may be possible for some Fortune 500 company to acquire money at that price, and it is certainly looks like a shiny lure. However, you need to compare apples with apples.

When looking at finance alternatives ensure you are comparing the same amount financed, term, and residual values or balloon payment in dollar terms. Look at the monthly repayment and make sure it relates to the interest rate quoted.

Interest rates quoted “from xx%” usually relate to short term funding (with high residuals/balloons). The longer the financing term for equipment purchases, the higher the applicable interest rate.

The difference between a one-year term and a five-year term can be up to 1.5% depending on the economic climate.

Different finance products usually attract different risk weighted rates, calculated by financial institutions based upon such indices as: • security; • net worth of borrower; • profitability; • inherent equipment values; • net worth of guarantor; • understanding of industry to which they are lending; • statistical experience to that industry.

(Please note that this list is not exhaustive.)

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56 Flooring Oct/Nov 2016

Companies often complain that when banks arrange financing for capital equipment they fail to take into consideration the value of the equipment to be financed. Many of these companies remain with their banks despite the fact that a substantial percentage of the approvals are not competitive in cost, structure, or security required.

In today’s commercial environment, capital equipment finance facilities are best done on an unsecured basis (ie, the security for the loan simply being the machinery itself) with the guarantee of the company principals. In many cases, financing is done without company principals clearly understanding the “all monies” or “cross collateralisation” clauses within the loan documents. Simply put, “cross collateralisation” deeds mean that all debt is secured by all security held.

Double securing is fine if the company does not require its bricks and mortar

assets for other purposes. However, in the current economic climate, many companies expect significant growth in the next four years, and should save that bricks and mortar security for more appropriate requirements, such as: • increased overdraft facilities; • property funding; • other cash generating requirements.

Companies may be better off placing capital equipment finance requirements with another bank, finance company, or an independent broking firm, which does all necessary leg work to obtain competitive finance approval.

In 2016, financiers, banks and brokers who do not understand that finance is a service industry are very badly out of touch.

Borrowing money is just another cost to a business, and must be accessed as inexpensively and efficiently as possible, with a minimum number of constraints and controls.

finishes& SURFACES

THEpreview OFFICIAL & review of brand new products > Annual PUBLICATION FOR FINISHES > Innovative ideas, aspiring projects & SURFACES EXHIBITION > Distributed to leading specifiers, interior designers, retailers and newsagencies Australia wide

Published by

www.elitepublishing.com.au www.infotile.com/publications

For more information and advertising opporturnities please contact: Vicky Cammiade

Phone: +61 3 9890 0815 Email: vicky.cammiade@ elitepublishing.com.au

Flooring>Carpet>Tile>Stone>Veneers>Vinyl>Laminate>Paint>Glass>Timber>Concrete

Advertisers Index

Exhibitioncalendar

2017 Exhibitions

JANUARY 2017 10-13 Heimtextil Frankfurt 2017.

International trade fair for textiles

Frankfurt, Germany http://heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com/ frankfurt/en/aussteller/willkommen. html?nc 14-17

Domotex 2017 World trade fair for carpets and floorcoverings Hannover, Germany http://www.domotex.de/home 18-20

TISE 2017 The International Surface Event including SURFACES, StonExpo/Marmomacc Americas, TileExpo. Floorcovering, stone and tile industry event

Las Vegas, USA https://tisewest.com FEBRUARY 2017 20-24 Cevisama 2017

International fair for architectural ceramics, bathroom and kitchen equipment, natural stone, raw materials, frits, glazes, colours and machinery

Valencia, Spain http://cevisama.feriavalencia.com

MARCH 2017 16-19 Keramika

ASEAN’s dedicated ceramic tile event

Jakarta, Indonesia www.keramika.co.id

21-23

DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR The leading international flooring show in the Asia-Pacific

Shanghai, China www.domotexasiachinafloor.com MAY 2017 22-25 DOMOTEX 2017 TURKEY

Trade fair for carpets and floor coverings

Gaziantep, Turkey www.domotexturkey.com 22-25

Middle East Covering 2017 Exhibition dedicated to the flooring, wall covering & surfaces industry

Dubai, United Arab Emirates www.middleeastcovering.com

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

Andersens

7 Airstep Australia 24 & 25 Altro Apac 9 Ardex Australia 49 Armstrong Flooring 2, 15 & 35 Bostik Australia 47 Carpet Court 33 Choices Flooring Front Cover,

5, 11, 19 & 53 Classic Architectural Group 23 Con-Treat 10 Delhi Fair 29 Domotex Asia 13 DuraCore 43 Eco Flooring Systems 3 Gibbon Group 41 GMK Logistics 8 Laser Measure 31 Laticrete 37 & 51 Makinex 46 Mapei Australia 45 MJS Floorcoverings 51 Oxtek Australia 59 Preference Floors 39 QEP Pty Ltd 56 RFMS Australasia 21 & 22 Stainmaster Carpet 27 & Back Cover Tarkett

32 Tennant Company

48

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