Milwaukee's Ascent, the world's tallest mass timber building, faced a critical flooring challenge when carpet suppliers couldn't deliver. The solution? Custom-printed carpet tiles that not only matched design specifications but improved moisture control.

The Fuse Alliance 2025 Annual Conference in Orlando attracted nearly 500 attendees, including many first-timers. Under the theme "Innovate to Elevate," the event featured keynotes on leadership, economic outlook, and difficult conversations while emphasizing AI applications, sustainability, and creating a welcoming community for flooring professionals.

Commercial flooring contractors face shrinking margins and volatile demand due to traditional bid-based processes. Starnet President and CEO Mark Bischoff recommends strategic transformation, highlighting opportunities in the growing flexible workspace market and responding to design firm consolidation through specialized services and innovative business models.

Sika's complete acquisition of Schönox HPS North America creates a single-source provider of flooring installation solutions for residential and commercial projects. Sika Senior Director of Floor Covering Marlene Morin discusses the strategic move, which combines two industry leaders, and what it means for flooring contractors in 2025.