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PRODUCTS QUICK-STEP


A Commitment to Craftsmanship


Quick-Step, manufacturer of engineered hardwood, laminate and luxury vinyl flooring, is proud to announce the launch of its Massimo hardwood flooring collection.


A testament to the brand’s enduring love for wood, the luxurious Massimo collection from Quick-Step features its longest and widest floorboards yet, measuring 240cm x 26cm. The boards are characterised by large knots and subtle cracks, while the extra matt oil or extra matt lacquer finish enhances the natural, untreated look that is completely in line with today’s aesthetic of authenticity and simplicity.


Quick-Step Design Director, Oke Nollet, said: “It’s no secret that we’ve always been obsessed with wood: its elegance and appearance, the warmth it exudes, its feeling to the touch, and the typical scent.


“With our vinyl and laminate collections, we went out of our way to perfect the natural look. But with these Massimo floorboards, we took our passion to new extremes – from the size of the boards to the superior authenticity and craftsmanship in every single detail.”


Arts and Crafts(Manship)


From raw material to finished floorboards, Quick- Step’s passion for wood is reflected in every step of the manufacturing process.


1. PURCHASING


Everything starts with the handpicked selection of the required wood species. During the purchasing process, the characteristics of the timber, its origin, milling process, moisture content, dimensions, straightness and overall grading, as well as the supplier’s PEFC certification, are meticulously inspected. The latter is important to ensure that the wood comes from certified sustainable forests. Following the inspection process, the purchased wood is then stored and protected from the elements.


2. DRYING


Next is the kiln drying process, which takes place at UNILIN’s own facilities. This highly-specialised process can take a few days to a couple of weeks depending on the species. Drying is critical to control the moisture content of the timber and to guarantee the quality of the final product. Spacers are used to improve air circulation between boards.


3. CREATING THE FACE LAYER: FULL PLANK OR MULTISTRIP


The engineered hardwood floorboards either have a full-plank or multi-strip face layer. In the first case, the boards are cut into five or six face lamellas. The lamellas are then selected


60 | Tomorrow’s Retail Floors


and graded based on colour, number of knots and wood grain pattern. There are five categories in the Quick-Step grading system: Finesse, Nature, Marquant, Vibrant, and Character.


For three-strip floorboards, the raw timber is planed and moulded on four sides, and cut to length. The face layer is split into small lamellas, which are subsequently selected, sorted and stacked according to grading. An automatic composing line arranges the lamellas into a multistrip surface pattern, which is then joined into a single face layer under high pressure.


“Wit our vinyl and


laminate collections, we went out of our way to perfect te natural look.”


To give our Variano collection its reclaimed, patchwork look, various pieces of lamella’s in different types and sizes are used. They are cut roughly to a correct size and composed in a random pattern. The few remaining gaps and height differences, as well as the sawcuts and sunken knots, give the floor its unique appearance.


4. COMPOSING THE FLOORBOARDS


The core of each floorboard consists of spruce blocks held together. Using a special press and strong-bonding glue, the face lamellas are attached to the core mat and veneer. Then, the boards need to cool down and stabilise for 24 hours to ensure their flatness. They are then cut into individual planks and sanded by a calibrated machine to obtain the perfect thickness and surface. Open knots and cracks are manually filled with a colour/design-specific sawdust filler.


5. FINISHING


To create the most exquisite décors, our designers use several techniques. One of the colouring processes used for the engineered hardwood floorboards is called ‘fuming’: the controlled darkening of oak in a fuming chamber. Depending on the tannin content of the


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