Article Number : 846 |
|
Article Detail |
|
 | |
| Date | 2/1/2006 1:34:13 PM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=846 |
| Abstract | Saint-Georges, Quebec, Canada—Prefinished hardwood producer, Mirage, announced it will be launching an exclusive new finish, Nanolinx, at Surfaces 2006... |
| Article | Saint-Georges, Quebec, Canada—Prefinished hardwood producer, Mirage, announced it will be launching an exclusive new finish, Nanolinx, at Surfaces 2006. With Nanolinx, Mirage, is the first company in the industry to leverage state-of-the-art nanotechnology to deliver prefinished hardwood floors that offer greater durability and wear resistance without sacrificing the beauty of the wood’s natural grain, noted Luc Robitaille, vice president of marketing for BoaFranc, the parent company for Mirage. Mirage will display hardwood flooring finished with Nanolinx during Surfaces at the Sands Expo & Convention Center (booth 7538) in Las Vegas from Feb. 1 to 3. All of the company’s products will feature the Nanolinx finish. A 25-year wear warranty comes with all Nanolinx products. With nanotechnology, a patented process supplied to Mirage by an outside source, the wood mill has incorporated particles, or Nanosilica, into the finish that are less than 100 nanometers in size, or one-billionth of a meter. Manipulating material of this size brings out new properties resulting in the creation of a finish that is clearer, stronger and more flexible, said Robitaille. “In fact, the ultra-clear finish brings out the true beauty and character of the flooring’s natural wood grain. “Mirage is committed to staying on the cutting edge of manufacturing technologies,” he added. Applied by the mill, “Nanotechnology is an exciting and innovative science that enables Mirage to provide customers with beautifully finished wood flooring that stands up to the demands of everyday living.” Nanolinx follows a strong series of innovations from Mirage such as the Alumix finish, introduced in 1999. The company later introduced Alumix Ultra and Alumix Commercial in 2004. Nanolinx replaces Mirage’s Alumix Ultra finish. “The response so far has been good,” said Rob-itaille. “The two main benefits we have seen and heard is that it is a clearer finish. It’s not as milky as other finishes out there. It gives a clearer finish, providing more beauty of the wood itself. Also, the finish is a bit more elastic. Therefore, if you drop something that dents the wood, the finish will not crack like other finishes.” At Surfaces, Mirage will exhibit a full range of prefinished wood flooring from its Classic and Engineered collections. New products to be introduced as part of the Engineered Collection include Sweet Memories, which features three new stains, including Crème Brûlée, Truffle and Toffee. Robitaille claims this series is special be-cause the new stains are a mix of two colors designed to accent contemporary or country decor. Crème Brûlée combines the look of cream with that of caramelized sugar; Truffle is a rich brown tone that brings together the bitterness of black chocolate with the softness of milk chocolate, and Toffee mixes the contrasting colors of black and tan to bring a golden butter-colored stain. Mirage will also introduce Vienna, a coffee-colored stain. Vienna is available on red oak and maple (semi-gloss) in the Mirage Classic Collection in widths of 2-1/4-in. and 3-1/4-in. and in the Engineered Collection in both the 2-9/16-in. and 3-5/16-in. widths. In addition, Vienna is available with the company’s popular Cashmere finish in the 5-in. width. The mill will also unveil Tigerwood, an exotic wood species with a unique color and texture. Tigerwood features reddish-brown color mixed with intermittent dark streaks, creating a pattern similar to a tiger’s coat. Tigerwood is available in the Classic Collection in a 3-1/4-in. width in semi-gloss and Cashmere finishes. Mirage has also broadened its offerings of 5-in.-wide products to include Cabreuva (Santos Mahogany), which has a reddish-brown color and fine medium texture. The 5-in. floor width, first introduced by Mirage in early 2005, is cut using the dry sawn method. Cabreuva is also offered in the 2-9/16-in. and 3-5/16-in. widths. For more information about Mirage and its products, call 800/463-1303. —Louis Iannaco |