Mannington Mills announced that it plans to increase prices from 5 to 7 percent across all commercial and residential resilient products. According to the company, the increase is needed to offset rising costs "including steadily rising prices of oil and natural gas, which impact both manufacturing and transportation costs."

ABN Amro Capital, a Dutch private equity firm, has purchased flooring maker Amtico from Electra Private Equity for about $184 million dollars. With this move, ABN Amro becomes the principal shareholder of the Coventry, England-based manufacturer with a 56 percent stake in the company. Plans call for Amtico's management to also invest a portion of shares and for Electra to retain an 18 percent stake.

On the heels of Julian Saul's departure as president, Shaw Industries announced a further transition in its top management. Co-founder and CEO Robert Shaw said he will relinquish his post Sept. 1. He will be succeeded by Vance Bell, a 30-year Shaw veteran who now serves as executive vp in charge of operations. Randy Merritt, executive vp in charge of sales and marketing, who has also been with the company for more than 30 years, has been tapped to succeed Saul.

With an eye toward significantly growing its ceramic tile brands, Florim USA has named Jim Dougherty vp marketing. A 25-year veteran of the industry, he will be responsible for developing marketing and customer service initiatives, including branding strategies for the company's Esquire and American Florim lines.

In a bid to increase the reach of its signature product, carpet binding maker Instabind, based in Murfreesboro, Tenn., has recently merged with Bond Products of Philadelphia. Bond, a 64-year-old company, produces narrow fabrics for binding and binding equipment. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Julian D. Saul, president of Shaw Industries, announced that he will retire effective July 14. Plans call for him to relinquish his day-to-day duties but remain onboard as a consultant to the company.

The Floor Covering Consumer Credit Association (FLEX), which facilitates credit for floor covering purchases, said it will cease operations at the end of June and donate its remaining assets of $770,700 to the Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF). In announcing its decision, FLEX stipulated that about $330,000 would be earmarked to establish a permanent endowment at the FCIF, which is administered by the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) to assist people in the floor covering industry who are in need.

Robert Hill, who heads the $100 million mid-western retail operation Floor Covering Associates, Inc., is set to assume his position as chairman of the World Floor Covering Association (WFCA). He succeeds Aaron Pirner of Cap Carpet Inc., Wichita, Kan. who is set to complete his one-year term July 1.

Decorative tile maker Questech Corp. recently garnered a 2006 New England Innovation Award from the Smaller Business Association of New England. With this honor, the Rutland, Vt.-based company joins an exalted list of New England luminaries including past winners Ben & Jerry's, Green Mountain Coffee and the Vermont Teddy Bear Co.

BNP Media, the parent company of NFT, has significantly enhanced the transfer speed of its annual online Radiant Flooring Guide. The streamlined digital version of the 108-page magazine offers the ability to click-through on products and advertiser links, and takes readers directly to manufacturer's Web sites.