Article Number : 2048 |
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| Date | 6/11/2007 8:21:22 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=2048 |
| Abstract | By Louis Iannaco As the greening of America continues, commercial flooring has remained at the forefront of the movement... |
| Article | By Louis Iannaco As the greening of America continues, commercial flooring has remained at the forefront of the movement. Over the last several years, commercial space options for specifiers, architects and designers have maintained a pace of expansion matched only by the imaginations and technological advancements of their producers. From modular carpet tile to resilient vinyl to cork, the following is a look at some of flooring’s latest and most innovative green products to sprout up and present themselves to the contract arena. Shaw Contract Group The latest modular tile offering from the commercial division’s Workplace Design Studio, a collection titled Urban Reflections, pairs clean and crisp patterns with a linear oriented background to represent a unique perspective on metropolitan life. The three new tile patterns encompassing the Urban Reflections collection—Prisma, Mirror Image and Beam of Light—are actively inspired by the ways in which light weaves itself in and out of the city environment. Urban Reflections products feature EcoWorx sustainable tile backing, are constructed of 100% Eco Solution Q Solution dyed nylon, have a 19 ounce yarn faceweight, and come in eight colorways. The new patterns became available during the first quarter of 2007. Natural Cork The company’s EcoCORK line is an economically priced floating floor plank of uncompromised quality, noted Philippe Erramuzpe, Natural Cork’s COO. There are eight “beautiful colors and patterns” available, featuring a high-density fiberboard center core with the CLIC installation system. EcoCORK is harvested and manufactured according to the strict ecologically correct standards of all Natural Cork products, he commented. It’s safe for the natural world as well as the human indoor environment. “With all the expected benefits of cork flooring, EcoCORK is quiet, comfortable, warm and beautiful.” Milliken Carpet The mill has unveiled the Plan A collection, an extension of its exclusive Convergence technology. With Plan A, Milliken offers the A&D community six patterns for coordinated looks in virtually any commercial environment. ES (Engineered for Sustainability) cushion backing ensures underfoot comfort and extended appearance retention as well as 35% recycled content. As with all Milliken products, Plan A is entirely PVC-free. All Plan A carpets are 100% sustainable and can be renewed through Milliken’s Earth Square process, which reclaims carpet and renews it for another lifetime of use. Johnsonite Flooring The manufacturer has launched UnderLock, a clever locking system for its Triumph and Inertia multi-functional flooring lines. Triumph and Inertia bring enhanced durability, flexibility, safety and performance to the forefront in multi-functional facilities. Engineered to perform in demanding sports-related environments, these rubber tiles can withstand constant foot traffic, heaving rolling and static abuse. UnderLock is a new installation solution containing hidden locking tabs, to meet the need faced every day by a multitude of end-users looking for an easy-to-install and flexible-use flooring. “At Johnsonite many of our solutions are environmentally compatible and all offer human, life-safety and productivity benefits that can measurably improve return on investment,” said Rachel Tipton, communications specialist. “UnderLock is not only a reusable solution from one location to another, preventing product from entering into landfills, but is constructed with post-industrial recycled rubber in the back layer.” Beaulieu Commercial One hundred percent of the mill’s line contains a percentage of post-consumer recycled content in the backings, and its tile product, Bolyu Contract’s Nexterra, contains 85% post- consumer recycled content in the backing. “Depending on the fiber content of the products,” said Beaulieu’s Cathy Mansour, “if they are made of Zeftron Environ6ix nylon, they contain a minimum of 25% post industrial recycled content.” Durkan Commercial The Mohawk division is now moving into unchartered design territory with Mind/Body/Soul. This carpet collection, developed in collaboration with CleverSpin, offers design possibilities that are not only aesthetically appealing but also eco-friendly. All modular styles will feature Mohawk’s new PVC-free Encycle backing system. Mind/Body/Soul relies on computer art and digital images that have been translated, deconstructed, manipulated and massaged to create dimensional interest, layering, shading and depth with intriguing effects. The patterns are organic, influenced by body and urban surfaces such as tattoos and graffiti. Mannington Commercial The company recently introduced Infinity RE, a unique backing for modular carpet. Mannington has diverted two of the largest construction waste streams from landfills and incorporated them into new product. The Infinity RE carpet tile backing utilizes both post-consumer drywall and post-consumer carpet—something unique to the company and industry. The drywall is reclaimed from regional construction sites and processed so the gypsum it contains replaces some of the other raw materials in the product. “It’s another way Mannington demonstrates its commitment to becoming a net user of waste,” said Dave Kitts, vice president, environment. Net user of waste refers to Mannington’s commitment to bringing in and re-utilizing more waste than it sends to landfills. Forbo Flooring Marmoleum graphic, mineral and prisma are Forbo’s unique flooring designs in linoleum. They are unique because of their natural structure and wide range of colors and patterns. Unique because when you get close, “zoom in,” you can see the patterns for what they are—bold, yet refined and rich in texture, noted a company spokesman. Unique because when you “zoom out,” they blend together while retaining their distinctive feel. The latest from Forbo is Marmoleum Dutch Design, a range of Marmoleum floorings developed by 12 Dutch designers. The 12 were granted complete artistic freedom. Their inspiration was very personal: a favorite color, a shade with a great future or a color missing from the current ranges. The result is 12 unique colorings, 12 designs each telling their own story. Marmoleum Dutch Design is available in a thickness of 2.5mm with matching welding rods available for all designs. Marmoleum Dutch Design is protected with Forbo’s Topshield finish. Lonseal Beginning last year, Lonseal started to manufacture sustainable, high-performing resilient sheet vinyl products, through its GreenVinyl program. Green Vinyl is Lonseal’s comprehensive environmental positioning, encompassing developments in eco-friendly products and sustainable product attributes. Lonmetro UV is the latest offering in the Lonseal line of resilient flooring. The eight colors compose Lonmetro UV—Loading Zone, Taxi, Orange Trolley, Fire Hydrant, City Park, Metro Blue Line, Purple People Bridge, and Black Limo—all point to metropolitan living. Lonmetro UV is a heterogeneous resilient sheet vinyl composed of 20% recycled vinyl with a factory-applied 100-micron thick, clear, UV-cured urethane surface. This protective layer is formulated to provide maximum resistance to foot traffic and most chemicals common to commercial settings. |