Swiss Krono Breaks Ground on HDF Mill and Laminate Expansion

BARNWELL, S.C.—Swiss Krono Group’s American subsidiary, Swiss Krono SC, held a groundbreaking ceremony in July for a $230 million high-density fiberboard (HDF) mill and laminate flooring production expansion.

“Strong consumer demand for our quality laminate flooring drove our decision to expand and our strong retail partners who choose to sell our innovative products are the real foundation on which this expansion is built,” said CEO Zeb Portanova.

The expansion will allow Swiss Krono to produce 300,000 cubic meters of HDF per year, which the company will use for laminate flooring manufacturing operations and to sell to furniture, cabinet, fixture, door and other wood-based manufacturers. In total, the project will increase the company’s annual laminate flooring capacity by an additional eight million square meters.

Swiss Krono anticipates adding 105 new highly skilled technical and management jobs to the Barnwell area, increasing its total employment to 275 employees. The project commences this summer and HDF operations will likely begin by the summer of 2018.

For more call (866) 334-9923, or visit swisskronoUSA.com.
 

Bostik Opens New Technical Training Centers

WAUWATOSA, WIS.—Bostik has opened three full-service technical training facilities in Texas, California and Wisconsin to better serve its growing customer base.

“Bostik’s high-performance materials are being used by savvy professionals throughout North America every day,” said Chad Bulen, technical services manager for Bostik’s Consumer and Construction Business Unit. “These include installation systems for wood floors, ceramic, stone, resilient and surface preparation materials. We have made a firm commitment to educate our attendees relative to using our products at optimal levels. This focus ultimately will result with a win-win situation for all involved.”

To achieve the best possible training, Bulen said the company envisions classrooms and demonstration sessions to never have more than 25 attendees. That way, events can be more personalized and hands-on. “Our ultimate goal is to offer industry partners a better understanding of how to select the very best system for every installation they embark upon,” he said.

For more, call (800) 726-7845 or visit bostik.com/us.
 

W.F. Taylor Moves Headquarters to Dalton

DALTON—W.F. Taylor has moved its corporate headquarters from Fontana, Calif., to Dalton.

The company, which has executed a long-term lease for a new corporate headquarters at 800 College Drive, will continue to operate its manufacturing facility in Fontana, but the move will bring 10 management and operation jobs to the new Dalton corporate office.

“Dalton is home to the carpet and floor covering industries and I am excited to welcome this well-respected company as the latest addition to Dalton’s growing business community,” said Rob Bradham, president and CEO of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce.

For more, call (800) 397-4583 or visit wftaylor.com.
 

Bosh Unveils Bosh Remastered

MOUNT PROSPECT, ILL.—Bosch Tools recently unveiled Bosh Remastered, the company’s first direct-to-consumer website where customers can purchase reconditioned Bosch tools.

The e-commerce site offers deep discounts on factory-reconditioned tools. According to the company, every Bosch reconditioned tool is stripped down, examined individually by hand and re-engineered with attention to detail, right down to the case that holds it.

For more, call (877)-267-2499 or visit boschtools.com.
 

Kersey Named Brand Manager for Engineered Floors’ Main Street Brand

DALTON—Engineered Floors has named Brandon Kersey brand manager for the company’s new Main Street flooring division, Pentz Commercial Flooring Solutions.

Kersey brings more than 20 years of industry experience from the specified and Main Street commercial side, most recently as head of Beaulieu’s Hollytex Commercial program. Prior to that, Kersey has had leadership positions with Blueridge and Mannington Commercial.

“We feel very fortunate to have Brandon on our team,” said James Lesslie, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Engineered Floors. “He knows the commercial carpet market very well and will provide just the leadership we’re looking for with our new Pentz Main Street Commercial line.”

The Pentz Main Street division joins a growing portfolio of brands from Engineered Floors, including Dream Weaver for residential replacement, DWellings for new home construction and Engineered Floors for Multifamily.

“With J+J Flooring Group being part of the Engineered Floors family, we have their 50 years of experience in the specified commercial business, giving us access to commercial technology, styling and performance,” Kersey said. “Combined with Engineered Floors’ ability to offer superior products at a great value, I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the new Pentz brand.”

For more, call (855) 343-5667 EngineeredFloorsLLC.com.

Salesmaster Expands Partnership with Mannington Mills

DEER PARK, N.Y.— Salesmaster Flooring Solutions has expanded its partnership with Mannington Mills.

Salesmaster, which already distributes Mannington Commercial in downstate New York, has received distribution rights to the rest of the state. This adds the territory from Albany to Buffalo, including Rochester, Syracuse and Binghamton.

Salesmaster will open a new distribution supercenter in the Rochester area. The centralized location will promote faster service and more efficient deliveries of Mannington products to commercial floor covering contractors, installation workrooms, the design community and retail floor covering stores, according to the company.

“[Salesmaster] have done an outstanding job in the New England marketplace,” said Zach Zehner, senior vice president of distribution for Mannington Mills. “Mannington and Salesmaster are also driven by remarkably similar core values. Each cares deeply about the customer and goes the extra mile to ensure that customer needs are met. Salesmaster salespeople are highly trained and highly technical. They are experts at commercial flooring products and have demonstrated the ability to provide the service and knowledge base that Mannington customers require.”

For more, call (800) 234-1717 or visit salesmasterflooring.com.

Mohawk Group Names Bandy VP of Sustainability

George Bandy Jr. is Mohawk Group’s new vice president of sustainability.

Bandy spent more than 22 years working in the sustainability field, amassing rich experience within concepts and practices as they relate to positioning environmental, economic and socially responsible solutions for business.

“George is a seasoned sustainability leader who will bring a wealth of knowledge and valuable industry relationships to Mohawk,” said Michel Vermette, president of Mohawk Group. “Over the past few years, our company has made significant strides in our sustainability journey, embracing new ideas and leading the building materials industry in transparent manufacturing. We are confident that George will bring a fresh perspective to our approach and catapult us to new levels of leadership in the industry.”

Bandy comes to Mohawk Group following 16 years with Interface, where he most recently served as the flooring company’s vice president of sustainability and was also a member of Interface’s Americas Sustainability Council. Bandy traveled extensively as a presenter on topics such as the business of sustainability, innovation in relation to nature, social sustainability and changing mindsets to a greener focus.

“Mohawk’s sustainability ethic already sets a high bar for businesses around the world at a time when the stakes for our efforts have never been higher,” Bandy said. “As a manufacturing powerhouse, we can continue to make outsized contributions to solutions that ensure our children’s future. At the same time, we nurture the communities in which we live and work through our environmental stewardship, inspire actions that advance our society and provide the innovation that drives growth for our shareholders.”

For more, call (800)-554-6637 or visit mohawkgroup.com.

CCA Floors Introduces Home Interiors Group

ALEXANDRIA, VA.—CCA Floors & Interiors formed a new Home Interiors Group to capitalize on the natural synergies that exist between its retail and building and insurance divisions.

Shawn Bayat, formerly of Quality Floor and Home Carpet One, will assume the role of vice president and general manager of the new group.

“Shawn’s experience is an incredible asset to have on CCA’s senior leadership team,” said Ken Hirshman, CCA CEO. “We are confident that he will help this group deliver a truly profound customer experience.”

For more, call (703)-370-0000 or visit ccafloors.com.

Second Bruce Newbrough CIM Program Scholarship Awarded

WEST BLOOMFIELD, MICH.—The Flooring Contractors Association, in cooperation with Ardex and nora systems, has awarded the second Bruce Newbrough Memorial Certified Installation Manager (CIM) Program Scholarship to Eric Gordon from Division 9 Flooring in Woodinville, Wash.

The scholarship has provided Gordon fully paid tuition in the CIM Program.

“I was looking for an opportunity to learn more efficient ways to manage my team and to become a more effective manager,” Gordon said. “I applied for the Bruce Newbrough scholarship in hopes that the CIM program will help me further my education and reach those goals.”

Upon completion of the program, Gordon will join an elite group that demonstrate a commitment to an ongoing upgrading of their skills by achieving a marketable credential that distinguishes CIMs from other flooring professionals.

For more, call (248) 661-5015 or visit fcica.com.
 

Beaulieu Introduces YHS Aligned Dealer Program

DALTON— Beaulieu has announced the launch of Your HomeStyle (YHS), an aligned dealer program available at a select group of independent retailers across North America.

YHS is a private label brand of soft and hard surface floor covering products, including carpet, hardwood, laminate and vinyl.

According to Beaulieu, the YHS color-coded selling system has been tested over the course of several years by more than 100 retailers in Canada with spectacular results and is now available in the United States.

The system allows dealers to change the conversation with their customers. Instead of talking about widths, weights or spread ratios, they will talk about style, color, value and fashion. This allows the consumers to feel like they are buying rather than being sold to.

YHS uses four distinct lifestyles: Boho Chic, Studio Urbano, Classik Elegance and Cozy Casa. By understanding consumer tastes and personal styles, retail sales associates can quickly match the customer with the right product collection. The four lifestyles are described in a way that makes the process of finding the ideal flooring products for their home very easy.

This new selling system is a combination of strong messaging and visuals, and the four lifestyle categories are color-coded throughout the sampling process.

For more, call (800) 227-7211 or visit beaulieuflooring.com.

JJ Haines Extends Coverage of Earthwerks LVT

HOUSTON—JJ Haines has extended its coverage of Earthwerks luxury vinyl tile (LVT) to the Florida area.

“J.J. Haines has grown rapidly with our product line and adding it to their Wheeler division will make it even stronger,” said Amy Sadler, Earthwerks’ national sales manager.

“A&M Supply Corp. has supplied Earthwerks LVT to the Florida area for years and will continue its support. Under A&M Supply’s distribution, the EarthWerks LVT brand has grown significantly and will remain an important part of our network,” said Shane Calloway, EarthWerks vice president of sales.

For more, call (800) 275-7943 or visit earthwerks.com.

Taffy Event Strategies Named Show Management for Coverings

ORLANDO, FLA.—Taffy Event Strategies has been named show management for Coverings 2017, taking place April 4 through 7 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

Taffy is a full-service trade show and management company focused on producing events that inspire audiences, create connections and deliver results. The company will also be responsible for producing Coverings’ exhibition and conference program.

“We are looking forward to supporting the industry’s showcasing its truly remarkable tile and stone products, while also fostering business-building networking and education opportunities for today’s professionals,” said Jennifer Hoff, president at Taffy.

For more, call (703) 539-5504 or visit coverings.com.

Shaw Releases 2015 Sustainability Report

DALTON— Shaw Industries’ 2015 Sustainability Report discloses key metrics and progress against its goals.

“Shaw is committed to continuous improvement and constantly driving innovation into our business based upon our perpetual quest for a deeper understanding of the needs of our customers, associates and communities,” said Vance Bell, Shaw’s chairman and CEO. “Our annual sustainability report reflects our progress and our continued investment in what our internal and external stakeholders deem most important.”

The company’s 2030 sustainability goals include:

• Reduce water intensity (per pound of finished product) by 50%.
• Decrease energy intensity by 40%.
• Reduce waste to landfills and hazardous waste by 100%.
• Design 100% of Shaw products to Cradle to Cradle protocols.
• Achieve an OSHA incident rate of zero.
• Reduce non-biogenic GHG emissions intensity by 40%.

“While we remain steadfastly focused on our 2030 goals, we are perpetually assessing whether they are reflective of our priorities and operations, that they are material for us and what matters most to our customers, associates and other stakeholders,” said Paul Murray, Shaw’s vice president of sustainability and environmental affairs. “We will continue to look for opportunities to listen and learn as we develop innovative products, processes and programs.”

For more, call (800) 441-7429 or visit shawinc.com/reports.

WFCA Announces New Hire, Promotion

DALTON—Kaye Whitener has joined the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) as national manager of member relations, and Ashley Welch has been promoted to membership coordinator.

Whitener comes to WFCA from Metro Carpets in Nashville, Tenn., where she oversaw the retail, builder and commercial divisions of the company. In her new position with WFCA, Whitener will oversee membership recruitment, engagement and retention in all categories. Whitener will help drive utilization of benefits offered by WFCA, Certified Flooring Installers and the Floor Covering Business to Business Association. She will also be in charge of outreach strategies for WFCA affiliate and affinity partners. Whitener will report to Freida Staten, vice president of sales and marketing.

In Welch’s new role within the organization, she will be responsible for maintaining and ensuring accuracy of the WFCA member database, the processing of member applications and renewals, coordinating member mailings, developing and updating the association’s contact list, as well as building relationships with current and prospective members. Welch will report to Staten.

For more, call (800) 624-6880 or visit WFCA-PRO.org.

Karndean Introduces Commercial Suite for Specifiers

PITTSBURGH—Karndean Designflooring launched a commercial suite of specification tools to support the project needs of architects, designers and contractors.

The suite includes new architectural folders with easy-to-view samples and a commercial portfolio that showcases the ways in which Karndean can be used across commercial sectors. The new tools complement Kardean’s Product Selector Book, which is a hard-cover specification tool that provides photography and product information for all of Karndean products, and a Product Selector App for iPad and Android devices.

For more, call (888) 266-4343 or visit karndean.com/commercial.
 

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