NEW Reclaim'e Collection, Heathered Oak

Dallas, January 24, 2012 – Quick-Step, the style, innovation, and technology leader in laminate flooring, is launching a brand new collection as well as new products into existing lines at Surfaces 2012. Quick-Step’s new decors feature a superior level of realism and design, providing Quick-Step consumers with the best combination of style and value in the industry.

Quick-Step’s new Reclaimé Collection offers the same visuals and charm of a hardwood floor constructed from reclaimed, vintage wood. The collection’s expansively 7-1/2” wide and 54-11/32” long 12mm thick planks create a substantial feel in a room.

The Modello Collection’s new line additions feature Quick-Step’s MetaLux surface technology that accurately replicates sophisticated wire brushing used in high-end hardwood, adding dimension and subtle luster to accentuate the details of the woodgrain.

The Rustique Collection’s line additions feature a hint of European grey in the traditionally American brown-toned designs as well as GenuEdge Technology, a revolutionary innovation that delivers the most realistic hardwood edge visual ever seen in the laminate industry. And, into its Classic Collection, Quick-Step is launching the brand’s first strand woven bamboo visuals.

“Quick-Step prides itself on being the first to market with the hottest styles, latest trends, and most sophisticated features, and we feel this year’s Surfaces launch is our best yet,” said Roger Farabee, senior vice president of marketing, Unilin. “Quick-Step has the technical ability to produce visuals and an unmatched level of realism that competitors cannot. This year’s Surfaces launch is the right mix of products to keep our brand firmly in the position of style leader.”

The new Quick-Step products will be featured prominently during Surfaces 2012 in the Quick-Step booth # S6549, on the Surfaces show floor at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, January 24th through 26th.

The New Reclaimé Collection
Many of today's consumers are looking for a floor that adds depth and personality to a room. Launching at Surfaces 2012, Quick-Step’s new Reclaimé Collection provides consumers with the rich, character look of reclaimed hardwood to meet this design need. The collection’s 12mm thick single planks create a substantial feel in the room, while the 7-1/2” generously wide by 54-11/32” extra long planks deliver unmatched realism and expansive style.

Quick-Step’s Reclaimé Collection offers the same visuals and charm of a hardwood floor constructed from reclaimed, vintage wood. Two of Reclaimé’s colors offer a rustic Oak visual reminiscent of barn wood weathered by time and the elements. Effective shade variation throughout the planks lends further authenticity to these reclaimed wood designs. The superior surface structure of the decors’ registered embossing, combined with Quick-Step’s mastery of 5-color printing, sophisticated styling, and detailed designs, achieves a heightened level of realism in these two romantic, reclaimed visuals.

The Reclaimé Collection also includes three additional Oak products that feature a “skip-sawn” textured surface, reminiscent of wood originally cut in a bygone era. The kerf marks on these Reclaimé planks accurately mimic the saw marks caused by the starts and stops of a cutting blade — nostalgic hallmarks of a time when planks were cut by the rhythmic push and pull of a hand-held two-man saw or the up-and-down motion of an early band saw, before modern mills. Through effective use of proprietary, cutting-edge technology, these Quick-Step products offer skip-sawn texturing and visuals not currently available in any other product on the market today. All five SKUS in the new Reclaimé Collection have been selected by Quick-Step’s designer partner, Erinn Valencich, as 2012 Designer’s Choice products.

Reclaimé’s planks with skip-sawn visuals range from light to dark in color, and the collection’s SKUS featuring time-worn, reclaimed wood designs are offered in both medium brown and dark brown planks. Micro-bevels frame all four sides of each Reclaimé matte-finished plank. Made in the USA, the collection also features Uniclic, the best and most widely-used glueless installation locking system in the world today. This floating floor may be installed on, above, or below grade level.

All Reclaimé SKUS meet CHPS Section 01350 Low Emitting Products and are compliant with CARB ATCM Phase 2 requirements. Products in the Reclaimé Collection are NALFA Certified, carry an AC3 or AC4 wear rating depending on the SKU, and are backed by a Limited Lifetime Residential Warranty.

This collection’s level of realism and sophisticated design ensures that Quick-Step’s new Reclaimé Collection offers the best combination of style and value in the industry.

The Rustique Collection’s New Line Additions
During Surfaces 2012, Quick-Step will launch new line additions in one of its best selling collections, Rustique. The three new Rustique Collection SKUS feature GenuEdge Technology, a revolutionary innovation that delivers the most realistic hardwood edge visual ever seen in the laminate industry. A consumer will struggle to see the difference between real wood and these three new Rustique line additions.

The new single plank designs accurately replicate lightly distressed White Oak planks and are offered in a light, medium, and dark brown. The browns are all delicately infused with just a hint of a European grey influence. Although a grey tonality is currently very popular, its presence in the new Rustique colors is ever so slight, simply adding a touch of European sophistication while still keeping the product firmly grounded in a distinctly traditional American look. The new visuals feature authentic, registered embossed texturing that accentuates the natural wood grain, further giving these rustic products a natural, realistic hardwood look. Rustique’s new Bleached Rustic Oak has been hand-picked by Quick-Step’s designer partner, Erinn Valencich, as a 2012 Designer’s Choice product.

The collection’s 4-7/8” wide by 47-1/4” long planks are on a premium HDF 8mm platform. The price/value resulting from this platform positions the collection in a mid-range price point, attractive to a large portion of a retailer’s customers. Made in the USA, Rustique’s planks also feature the Uniclic glueless installation locking system for quick and easy installation as well as increased protection against water damage and warping. This floating floor may be installed on, above, or below grade level.

Another technical advantage found in Rustique is patented ScratchGuard Advanced Finish Protection. ScratchGuard provides greater resistance to micro-abrasions than other leading laminate brands. ScratchGuard specifically helps prevent the dulling and tiny abrasions caused from everyday dust and dirt. ScratchGuard keeps floors looking newer, longer.

All Rustique products contribute LEED points, are Environmentally Preferred Products (EPP) in most green rating systems, and are compliant with CARB ATCM Phase 2 requirements. Products in the Rustique Collection are NALFA Certified, carry an AC3 wear rating, and are backed by a Limited Lifetime Residential Warranty.

Rustique’s level of realism ensures that these new line additions offer the best combination of style and value in the industry.

The Modello Collection’s New Line Additions
Quick-Step will be launching two new decors into the Modello Collection during Surfaces 2012. These two line extensions will feature Quick-Step’s “MetaLux” effect that accurately replicates sophisticated wire brushing used in high-end hardwood. Quick-Step’s MetaLux finish creates decors that feature a slight metallic accenting, lending a hint of modern sophistication and excitement to the traditional warmth of the rustic planks.

The metallic nuances woven throughout the new products’ surface textures authentically mimic a complicated, multi-step process in hardwood flooring. In hardwood, the craftsman goes through a labor-intensive process of putting a gloss finish on wire brushed planks, wiping it off, and then topping the planks with a matte finish. The result is a textured hardwood plank with glistening highlights. Through effective use of technology, Quick-Step has captured this effect in its two new Modello designs. Modello’s new Mink Oak has been selected by Quick-Step’s designer partner, Erinn Valencich, as one of her 2012 Designer’s Choice products.

The addition of these two new MetaLux designs brings the number of metallic accented visuals to four within the Modello Collection. The rest of the collection offers both exotic and traditional designs. All Modello designs feature natural authentic surface texturing that mirrors the pattern of the floor’s woodgrain. Modello’s two new rustic Oak designs are available in medium and dark brown planks, framed on all four sides with an elegant micro-beveled edge.

The Modello Collection’s 6 1/8” wide by 54 11/32” extra long single plank designs are on a premium HDF 8mm platform. The price/value resulting from this platform positions the collection in a mid-range price point, attractive to a large portion of a retailer’s customers. This floating floor may be installed on, above, or below grade level. Made in the USA, Modello’s planks feature the patented Uniclic glueless installation locking system.

Another technical advantage found in Modello is patented ScratchGuard Advanced Finish Protection. ScratchGuard provides greater resistance to micro-abrasions than other leading laminate brands. ScratchGuard specifically helps prevent the dulling and tiny abrasions caused from everyday dust and dirt. ScratchGuard keeps floors looking newer, longer.

All Modello products contribute LEED points, are Environmentally Preferred Products (EPP) in most green rating systems, and are compliant with CARB ATCM Phase 2 requirements. Products in the Modello Collection are NALFA Certified, carry an AC4 wear rating, and are backed by a Limited Lifetime Residential Warranty.

Modello’s high level of realism, texturing, and sophisticated design ensures that the new Modello line additions offer consumers the best combination of style and value in the industry.

The Classic Collection’s New Line Additions
During Surfaces 2012, Quick-Step is also launching the first strand woven bamboo visuals into its product line. These strand woven bamboo designs as well as two hickory visuals make up the new line additions being added to the existing, value-priced Classic Collection.

Classic’s two bamboo designs are virtually flawless replications of strand woven bamboo flooring. These authentic visuals are available in a light and a medium 2-strip plank. The lighter bamboo decor mirrors bamboo in its natural, unstained state. The medium colored bamboo design authentically replicates the color and design of carbonized bamboo – bamboo that has been heat treated, caramelizing the sugar within, which changes the color to a warm brown hue. Both decors accurately replicate the designs and shade variations found in real bamboo flooring.

Two new Atlantic Rustic Hickory line additions are also being added to the Classic Collection. Available in light and dark 2-strip planks, they provide the look of one of today’s most popular domestic exotic species.

All decors are available in 7-1/2” wide by 47-1/4” long 2-strip planks, on a premium HDF 8mm platform. Made in the USA, each plank is framed on all four sides by square bevels. This floating floor may be installed on, above, or below grade level and features the Uniclic glueless installation locking system for quick and easy installation as well as increased protection against water damage and warping.

Another technical advantage found in the new Classic SKUS is patented ScratchGuard Advanced Finish Protection. ScratchGuard provides greater resistance to micro-abrasions than other leading laminate brands. ScratchGuard specifically helps prevent the dulling and tiny abrasions caused from everyday dust and dirt. ScratchGuard keeps floors looking newer, longer.

These new products contribute LEED points, are Environmentally Preferred Products (EPP) in
most green rating systems, and are compliant with CARB ATCM Phase 2 requirements. These products carry an AC4 wear rating and are NALFA Certified. In addition to carrying a Limited Lifetime Residential Warranty, these new Classic SKUS are also backed by a 5-Year Commercial Warranty, suitable for light to medium retail traffic such as in a restaurant or boutique retail store.

As in all new Quick-Step’s products launching at Surfaces 2012, the level of realism and sophisticated design in these products offers consumers the best combination of style and value in the industry.

About Quick-Step
Quick-Step is a market leader in flooring, providing solutions for a wide variety of interiors. Quick-Step is a registered trademark of Unilin Flooring, a Mohawk Industries company. Mohawk Industries is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a Fortune 500 company. To find the nearest Quick-Step dealer or for additional information, visit quickstep.com.