Shaw’s Scott Sandlin flanked by FCNews’ Mike Blick, left, Al Wahnon, & WFCA’s Chris Davis.

On top of the world. Shaw Industries was named the Best Overall Manufacturer by the flooring industry in the 11th Annual Award of Excellence competition. It marks the first time the mill has taken home the top prize. It did finish as the runner-up for six of the previous competitions. Sponsored by Floor Covering News and the World Floor Covering Association ( WFCA), the Award of Excellence is a way for manufacturers’ customers—retailers, distributors, designers, installers, specifiers, etc.—to honor the companies they feel help them most in running a successful, profitable business operation, whether it be a retail store, a distributorship, a design center, an installation showroom, etc. FCNews readers, members of the WFCA as well as any other industry personnel not employed by a manufacturer was eligible to vote for the mills they felt best met the criteria in the six individual floor covering categories—Carpet, Area Rugs, Resilient, Hardwood, Ceramic and Laminate—as well as the top Overall company. Voting was held between October 1, 2006 and Feb. 28. This was the first year companies in the individual categories were grouped.

Award winners:

Best Overall
Shaw Industries

Carpet
Group A: Mohawk Industries
Group B: Milliken Carpet

Resilient
Group A: Mannington Mills
Group B: Karndean International

Laminate
Group A: Wilsonart Flooring
Group B: Alloc

Ceramic
Group A: Dal-Tile
Group B: Crossville

Hardwood
Group A: Armstrong/Bruce/Robbins
Group B: Mirage Prefinished Hardwood Flooring

Area Rugs
Group A: Shaw Living

Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order)

Best Overall
Armstrong/Mannington/Mohawk

Carpet
Group A: Beaulieu of America
Group B: Dixie/Fabrica/Masland/Kraus/Stanton/Royal Dutch

Resilient
Group A: Armstrong/ Congoleum/ Tarkett
Group B: Amtico/ Centiva/ Roppe

Laminate
Group A: Armstrong/Bruce/Mannington/ Pergo/Shaw
Group B: Columbia/Faus/ Formica

Ceramic
Group A: Mannington/Mohawk/Shaw
Group B: American Marazzi/ Florida Tile/ Laufen

Hardwood
Group A: Anderson/Mannington/Tarkett
Group B: BR-111/Lauzon/Mullican

Area Rugs
Group A: 828 International/ Nourison/Oriental Weavers