Hicksville, N.Y.—With the 2004 edition of NeoCon just around the corner,
several commercial broadloom manufacturers have sprung ahead with new
introductions. The following takes a look at some of these contract creations,
as well as recent news happenings in the commercial broadloom segment. New from
Karastan Contract is Pascal, a densely woven design evoking a strong
architectural sense. “It features a grid pattern which forms an attractive
baseline for corporate order,” noted a spokeswoman for the company.
Karastan has added to the color palette of the grid lines. There are 16
colorways, with four dis tinguished by the enlivened linear effects in accent
tones such as orange, purple, chocolate brown or slate gray. “Pascal has been
created to coordinate with several of Karastan Contract’s top-selling patterns,
particularly Fifi, Henri and Portia,” she added. Constructed of DuPont Antron
Legacy Nylon and offering maximum durability, Pascal is touted for use in
boardrooms and offices, shops and showrooms. For more information, call
678/355-5820.
Mohawk Commercial has unveiled Advanced Geometry Fractals, a modular tile
system complete with UltraSet Modular System backing, a technology offer ing a
lifetime product warranty against wear, edge ravel and zippering. It features
thermoplastic materials which are designed to resist mold and mildew. Three
stylish graphic patterns are in the series: Parallelogram, featuring a block
motif; Curves, distinguished by circular design, and Lines. All can be placed in
large-scale facilities such as airports or universities. The system is
constructed of Colorstrand Infinity nylon with 50% recycled content. For
additional information, contact 770/792-6300.
The newest patterned carpet from Durkan Commercial, Grand Avenue is a jaunty
design of dots and dashes suggesting movement—with alternating spaces that
create unique geometrical designs themselves. Grand Avenue utilizes Solutia’s
Ultra Nylon in a textured multicolored cut and loop style, and is available in
17 colorways. It can be specified as broadloom or modular tile. For more
information on Durkan products, call 800/241-4580.
Responding to requests for structural, sophisticated designs for
architectural interior spaces, Milliken Carpet has developed Simply Artistic, a
36-in. modular line of three, textural and time less designs. The classic ribbed
line is the collection’s touchstone, noted a spokesman for the company, evoking
the elegance of a striped designer suit while suggesting the comfort of familiar
timeless textures. Three patterns—Exhibit, Avant and Display—are available in an
array of 12 colors for flexibility in coordination. Simply Artistic is the
latest in a string of nine collections that make up Milliken’s expansive Simply
line. With almost 330 SKUs, the Simply line provides a wide range of coordinated
designs that are simple, yet sophisticated for wide application to the office
market, he noted. For additional information, call 800/241-4826.
Shaw Tek has debuted In Line, a sophisticated collection of complementary
carpet styles designed for the higher education, healthcare and government
markets. It comes in six styles—Flurry, Dabble, Surge, Drift, Mingle and
Shuffle—with each available in nine colors. “This is a highly developed
collection,” said Jeff West, vice president of marketing for Shaw Tek. “Whether
specifiers select one product from the collection or six, the end result offers
a cohesive and aesthetic that is conservative with a modern twist. While
offering a broad range appeal, we see this product being especially successful
in the higher education market.”
Shaw Tile has introduced No Rules, a carpet tile collection that can be
installed without a predetermined pattern, yielding the ultimate flexibility,
both functionally and aesthetically, noted Brenda Knowles, vice president of
marketing for Shaw Contract/Shaw Tile. Advanced tufting technology allows for
unlimited pile height, no pattern repeat and unique color gradations. The result
is a highly styled collection that can be installed in any configuration with
undetectable dye lot blends suitable for a wide range of applications. “The
rules say you have to put your carpet down in a predetermined pattern—we say
forget that,” said Knowles. “You can put No Rules down in any configuration you
want and it still looks great.”
Different contrast levels and amounts of color density create a unique
pattern in the No Rules products, she noted. Colors are layered on shapes to
create new colors and forms. Each of the four products in the collection is
available in 16 colorways, with five colorways offered as quick ship options.
Styles include Shadow Play, Color Play, Blox and Kinetic. “The unique design
combined with the performance and cost saving benefits of No Rules make it a
best bet for anyone looking for a good short and long term investment,” said
Knowles. “We see this in a variety of applications, especially those that may
grow or change over time.” For more information on Shaw Tek or Shaw Tile
products, call 706/278-3812.
Mannington Commercial has developed Centerfield II and Game-time II, two
Texture-Twist commercial styles. Featuring a creative yarn-making process which
embodies the textural interest of a hard twist with the resilience of a tight,
low loop, Texture-Twist raises the intensity level of solution-dyed nylon,
making colorations appear brighter and livelier, all the while retaining the
anti-soil, anti-stain benefits long associated with DSDN nylon, noted Monica
Brock, marketing communications manager for Mannington Commercial.
Centerfield II, which comes in 12 colorations and is produced in both 20- and
26-oz. face weights, is made of DSDN premium nylon by Invista. It comes in
12-ft. width, and 18-in. modular sizes. Backings are Standard SBR, UltraBac
Plus, Integra HP and Infinity Modular Reinforced Vinyl Composite Closed Cell
Polymer. The 26-oz. version, in 12-ft. width, will be on Standard SBR and
UltraBac Plus. GameTime II, made of XTI premium nylon by Invista, will be
available in 20-oz. face weight, 12-ft. width, and 18-in. modular. Backings for
GameTime II are the same as that of Centerfield II. For additional information,
call 706/629-7301.
In other news, in a strategic move to more efficiently manufacture and market
their combined hospitality flooring products, Moda-Vation by Lees has been
merged into The Mohawk Group’s Durkan Patterned Carpets division. “Merging the
ModaVation capabilities into the Durkan line was a logical progression to expand
market presence, considering Mohawk’s infrastructure that lends itself to the
design, servicing, marketing and distribution of custom Tapistron-type
programs,” said Allen Parker, vice president of custom design for Lees.
“ModaVation was focused on the high-style public space sector of the
hospitality market,” he explained, “utilizing the unique patterning capabilities
of Tapistron CYP tufting technology. Combining ModaVation’s CYP capacity with
Durkan’s will produce, by far, the most CYP capacity in the industry.” The
integration of both organizations’ capabilities, creativity and knowledge of the
hospitality market will create new and cutting-edge opportunities in design,
technologies and services, he noted, ensuring the commercial carpet industry
will reap enormous benefits from this dynamic union for many years to come.
Stellar Reps
“The stellar reputations of both Durkan and ModaVation in terms of design,
performance and service will make for an extremely successful marriage of the
brands,” said Steve Hillis, senior vice president, sales for Durkan Patterned
Carpet. “Durkan has transitioned from a small, family-owned niche player,” he
added, “to the strongest and most competitive package of carpet products for
public spaces, corridors and guest rooms. “Clearly,” Hillis concluded, “our
ability to further develop Durkan’s business has been an added value to the
hospitality industry, and we are confident that incorporating ModaVation by Lees
will yield similar benefits and results.” —Louis Iannaco
