Lexington, Ky.-based Ross-Tarrant Architects will team with the Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI) to sponsor a local installer certification program Sept. 17-18 at Southland Flooring Supplies in Louisville.

Powernail Co. has broken ground for the construction of a new 122,000-square foot manufacturing plant located in Lake Zurich, Ill.

Marina Sandoval, who worked for two decades for the Trade Commission of Spain (Tile of Spain), died in a car accident July 25.

Wilsonart Flooring has been awarded the GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certification by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute of Atlanta. Wilsonart Flooring products now bear the GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified label. Only products proven to be low emitting to ensure good indoor air quality in any setting are allowed use of the label.

Effective Aug. 22, the Emulsion Polymers business of Dow Chemical Co. is increasing the price of Styrene Butadiene (S/B) latex sold into the carpet industry by 5 cents per pound (dry) in the United States and Canada.

Mohawk Industries has reported record diluted earnings per share (EPS) and net earnings for the second quarter of 2004 of $1.29 (15 percent above last year) and $87.2 million (16 percent above last year), respectively. This compares to EPS and net earnings of $1.12 and $75 million, respectively, for the second quarter of 2003.

The Floor Installation Association of North America (FIANA) will host its 10th Anniversary Convention and Trade Show at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans, Oct. 14-17.

The Washington State Floor Covering Association will hold a social event Sept. 2 at the Museum of Flight in Seattle. The program will include a dinner buffet.

Representatives of Domco-Tarkett and Mannington will be on hand for a Commercial Hard-Surface Educational Seminar, scheduled for Sept. 13-17 at WFCA headquarters in Anaheim, Calif., to participate in training and provide hands-on demonstrations of proper installation techniques along with examples of improper installation procedures.

Based on exhibitor demand, Surfaces 2005 is poised to be one of the biggest shows to date. Exhibit space for the show is already 85 percent sold out. This represents a 5 percent increase in bookings compared to this time last year, with pending contracts expected to substantially increase the percentage of sales over the previous year.