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Guest Speakers

Special How do I assess the substrate and which levelling agent do I use in diffi cult conditions?

Floor Forum International N° 135, February 2024

"Thorough advice is our most powerful weapon for customer retention"

Loyal customer base
Bostik is originally a French specialist in adhesive systems that are used in nearly 80 countries worldwide in various application areas. Just think of industrial assembly or hygienic disposables. Its wide range also includes solutions for the construction industry, from new construction to renovation, for both residential and commercial environments. Bostik has production sites in more than 50 countries. In Belgium, the flooring technology products are distributed through specialist retailers and paint wholesalers.

Review Domotex Hannover (D)

Floor Forum International N° 135, February 2024

"Domotex was good barometer for successfully approaching 2024"

After being present at the 2023 edition with a rather small stand, Lalegno went all out at Domotex this year with a completely new stand. An extensive team presented the main lines of force of the three brands - Lalegno, Tocca Legno and Rigid Floors & Walls - to the numerous visitors. At the same time, the numerous advantages of the Flooring Club, under which the three brands are bundled to make them even more accessible to B2B customers, were also explained.

Special Who can off er herringbone or Hungarian point floors in bamboo?

Floor Forum International N° 135, February 2024

Flooring made of bamboo, hype or new standard?

Flooring in bamboo... it sounds like the start of a fairy tale, but it is reality: bamboo is on the rise worldwide and is in demand as a material for floors, terraces and cladding, for example. Wholesalers and installers are increasingly turning to this material that has a high degree of sustainability. "Bamboo is no longer an exotic story, but a product that is increasingly considered a full alternative to wood," says Edwin van Houten, Sales Manager at MOSO®. Together with Bregina Broersma, Sales Support Benelux, they enthusiastically talk about the company, which has played an ambassadorial role in the sector for over 25 years.

Preview Flanders Flooring Days (B) 

Floor Forum International N° 135, February 2024

Mapei Belgium eagerly awaits Flanders Flooring Days

From 13 to 16 May 2024, the Flanders Flooring Days, a three-day event entirely dedicated to hard and soft flooring as well as supporting products such as adhesives, will take place at Kortrijk XPO. One of the manufacturers present is Mapei, an international player and reference as a manufacturer of chemical products in the construction sector. We already had the opportunity to have coffee with Leo Haeldermans, Marketing Manager and Machiel De Medts, Business Developer and Product Manager Resilient at Mapei Belgium. Together they look ahead to Flanders Flooring Days.

Special Producers of terrace floors in wood and composite

Floor Forum International N° 135, February 2024

"Normal start of trading started later, but all omens point to a ‘normal’ year"

After the pandemic caused a huge surge in sales of all types of decking wood, we saw a return to normal volumes from the second half of 2022. What is the current state of sales of this product? To find out more, we knock on the door of a specialist, Erpe-Mere-based Denderwood. That predicted exactly a year ago in these columns that the market would stabilise by 2023.

Special Walk Behind machines for grinding concrete, old tiles, and terazzo and removing carpet, adhesive residue, etc…

Floor Forum International N° 135, February 2024 

Husqvarna on the development of a new line of diamond tools
When you talk about floor preparation and finishing, sooner or later you end up with Husqvarna. Having acquired both HTC (2018) and Blastrac (2021), the Swedish manufacturer is literally "incontournable" thanks to a complete line-up in all floor sanders and preparations. That includes all applications for using diamond tools, which we talk about specifically here, focusing on Walk Behind and remote-controlled machines.

Special Top Polish companies focused on export

Floor Forum International N° 135, February 2024

Innovative wooden products and production automation play a leading role at AST-C.J
Poland is one of the leading exporters of wood and wood-based products in Europe. Wood as a raw material is the basis for many important sectors of the Polish economy, including the production of wooden floor coverings.

Special Adjustable floor support systems for terrace floors

Floor Forum International N° 134, December 2023

Profilpas – an innovative look at adjustable pedestals
Profilpas has established itself as a leader in the dynamic world of adjustable pedestals. With Enrico Barison at the head as CEO, the company has not only welcomed a new leader, but also has reinforced its position as part of the Mapei Group. In this inspiring interview with Enrico Barison we discover the history of Profilpas, its core business, and its vision for the future of the industry.

Special LVT, PVC, vinyl and laminate: click systems examined, a survey

Floor Forum International N°166, December 2023 

‘Easy-to-install click systems are becoming the norm.
’Laetitia Kimblad, director of floor locking at Välinge Innovation, is absolutely convinced. The 5G® Fold Down system is one of the most reliable forms of technology on the click system market. The Swedish firm was formed in 1993 by Darko Pervan and has grown into a global technological reference player in the flooring sector. The firm is known mainly for the 5G technology with 5G® Dry™, 5G® Climb™, 5G® Cross, 5G-i®, and 5G® Herringbone as typical of the range. Floor Forum International spoke to Laetitia about operations at Välinge Innovation and about how easy installation is increasingly becoming the holy grail in the sector.

Special Underlay : part III

Floor Forum International N° 134, December 2023

'The market makes strict demands, including for acoustics.’

The subfloor sector is moving on at the speed of the demands made by modern homes (acoustics) and the legislative framework for elements such as fire safety. We chatted with Melissa Mican over the proverbial cup of coffee. This lady has an impressive technical knowledge and is technical engineer for sales at James Hardie Netherlands, the manufacturer of fermacell® Floor Elements. She explains the market demands for subfloors in which both fitters and end clients have their say. ‘The reduction of external sounds in a home is increasingly becoming an essential feature instead of a pleasant luxury,’ Melissa explains as she gives further clarification about the solutions which fermacell® Floor Elements offer.

Special Sanding machines - part III

Floor Forum International N° 134, December 2023

‘The choice of the right edge sander for professionals is highly personal.’
Everyone in the parquet world has heard of Devomat Industries. This company from Edegem, which has operated since 1980, has its own research and development centre, operates in various parts of the market, and focuses on four key segments (primers and adhesives, sanders, abrasives, and finish products). Devomat presents most of its products and machines under the general brand name Devo.

Special Producers of ecological adhesive

Floor Forum International N° 134, December 2023

"Renewable is the most important thing we can offer"
Sustainable and ecologically responsible working has outgrown the stage of mere product thinking for some time now. What can a far-reaching 'green' way of working look like when we talk specifically about adhesives? We ventured into the market and found the ideal interlocutor in Kleiberit. Based in the southern German town of Weingarten Baden, Kleiberit has more than 75 years as a specialist in adhesives, with the flooring industry as one of its main markets.

Special Who has lacquers specifically for wooden staircases?

Floor Forum International N° 134, December 2023

An interview with Thomas Viellevoije, sales manager at RIGO Pro Nederland

An interview with Thomas Viellevoije means access to a man with knowledge and experience. The sales manager at RIGO Pro Nederland has a wealth of experience in the paint and lacquer sector and is ideally placed to consider developments on the market. He talks about the activities and position of RIGO Verffabriek, the range of lacquers for applying to items such as wooden staircases, and how sustainability legislation has caused the paint and lacquer sector to develop.

Special Top Belgian companies focused on export

Floor Forum International N° 134, December 2023

A look behind the scenes at the Belgian top player and trader in wood

Stating that Vandecasteele Houtimport belongs among the very top Belgian companies would be an understatement. This trader with its headquarters in Aalbeke, West Flanders (Belgium), can boast a rich history in the timber trade and the international market. Export manager Geneviève Standaert comments: ‘We regularly supply timber for projects in countries like Canada, USA and even Indonesia.

Special Producers of multi-layer floors

Floor Forum International N°133, November 2023

‘Presenting just one trade name (Chapel Parket) streamlines communication to the outside world.’
These are exciting times at Chapel Parket. In 2023, they have been working hard on both drastically refining the production apparatus and the manner of communication from the start of 2024. The ultimate aim is to streamline the various forms of overlapping from the past and communicate with the outside world with just one trade name, namely Chapel Parket.

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