BRINTONS MAKES A LEAP WITH 24-COLOUR CARPET
I
magine if carpets could be seen in High Definition in the same way as TV can… That’s what Brintons have achieved with their new 24-colour loom, a huge leap forward for carpet manufacturing – and for carpet designers.
Nicola Hewitt, Commercial Marketing Director at Brintons, tells us about the technology:
“We have just launched our new technology in the US, which is a new loom technology that can weave up to 24 colours. With this greater depth of colour it means carpet designers can create carpets that have higher definition and a wider range of dramatic effects, or many variations of the same colour for subtle, nuanced effects, or to have 24 bright and bold colours on the floor.” So how big a leap is this? Big, says Nicola: “Until now, in the late 20th century with computers adapting jacquards, you could have up to 12 colours; some looms can weave up to 16 colours, so for us to offer 24 colours really is a big step forward.” In the short term, the technology is only being offered to US customers; Nicola explains
why: “The technology is expensive, it’s a big investment for Brintons. The technology is being applied to our existing looms, the most efficient, fast looms we have, so while we go through that implementation of technology we don’t want to create a demand we cannot then fulfil. So we’re introducing it to our most sophisticated market first, the US, to establish it there; when we get all of our looms changed, we will open up the offering internationally. From a design point of view, the US is the most sophisticated market – they use colour and size of pattern more daringly than any other market, so this proposition fits that market most appropriately. We’ve ring-fenced all of our capacity with 24 colours for the moment and are aiming it toward that market. “The US market is picking up for us, it’s our strongest and biggest market, and we’re seeing that the market is becoming more buoyant, certainly compared to some European markets.” It’s not just a change in colours and gradation of shades that comes with the new
technology – it also changes how casinos order, with no need for ‘attic stock’ any more. Nicola explains: “We can alter the way we do ‘attic stock’ with the way this loom works.
When American properties in particular put in an order for flooring, they like to have a percentage stored somewhere – either in the casino, or off-site – so if the carpet is stained or damaged, the facility can replace that piece of carpet with what they have in stock. The problem now is, if you have, for example, a big ballroom, there might not be a repeat in the
pattern – so the problem is, which part of the flooring do you choose to have in storage? What we’re doing now is, with the new loom we can weave very small amounts, so you do not have to buy attic stock; within a period of just seven weeks, we will have replacement carpet to you so you can lay the right size and shape in the damaged area. That includes two weeks’ shipping, and it’s really very quick for a bespoke piece of carpet.”
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