HARVEY BOOTH, COUNTRY MANAGER, KÄHRS UK The wood flooring market has reached a plateau. Huge growth isn’t expected, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t opportunities for companies prepared to react to demand and create new trends.
This is something that we’ve been doing at Kährs for some time. Our Shine Collection is a great example of a new product innovation that has steered floor trends. Likewise, we’re now developing new patterned floors that combine the sought-after Herringbone or Chevron-look with a contemporary finish.
Targeting products to meet or create demand is more important than ever. The industry is still polarising; at the bottom end, one and three-strip commodity oak boards are continuing down the price ladder, while the middle market is being squeezed. But at the top, there’s opportunity to prosper.
Many of our new ranges, like the Capital Collection, have been developed to fulfil specific high-end market needs – from an
ROB JULL, MANAGING DIRECTOR, RAK CERAMICS RAK Ceramics produces 117 million square metres of production each year. At present, our production is dominated by porcelain products, and in all European countries our growth continues with our value-for-money ranges. As always with RAK, it is new technology that creates the new products, despite being a porcelain material, which gives an appearance as realistic as nature’s natural forms.
Two particular porcelain products breaking new ground are Hemlock and
STAUF FAMILY EMPLOYEES, STAUF "A good company that wants to achieve long-term success must remain young, dynamic, flexible and develop new, creative ideas every day." Dr Werner Stauf (1900 - 1987)
Stauf is a well-established family enterprise, just like the roots of a tree, which symbolise deep, down to earth connections. On this solid basis, we have constantly expanded our route system over six generations and anchored ourselves even deeper into the bedrock at the same time.
We have recently increased the number of Stauf offices worldwide, to enable our team to provide the service which has helped build the Stauf brand. During 2014 we will be opening a
LISA BREAKSPEAR, SALES AND TECHNICAL
DIRECTOR, FILA SURFACE CARE PRODUCTS UK Natural floor materials are becoming more and more popular, and there’s a real need for greater appreciation of their individual characteristics. They’re not difficult to look after, but in most cases, a single product won’t provide a one-stop-shop solution.
In response, we’ve been developing our range to cater for the myriad of natural materials, used in a wide variety of locations. Fila’s Green Line, in particular, now includes 17 products designed for safe application on internal and external natural surfaces. New LEED-compliant, water-based products include high-performance sealer, Fila MP90 ECO PLUS. We’re also launching two new
TOMORROW’S FLOORING YEARBOOK 2014/15 : FEATURE
products – a protective dirt-barrier, FILASTOP DIRT and dual-purpose protector, FILANO DROPS. Further product launches are also planned prior to next year’s Natural Stone Show.
www.filasolutions.com
Strata. Hemlock is the first true timber reproduction which is indistinguishable from real wood. Strata, as its name suggests, is a reproduction of volcanic formations. Both products come with all the great benefits over natural materials; they’re virtually stain- proof and scratch-proof and will come back like new with a simple warm water clean.
Our experience is that the huge benefits that porcelain offers the end user are now becoming a must-have in homes. Its minimal maintenance combined with a natural effect has become popular, so in response, we are constantly launching new large format products to meet demand – and we will continue to do so. We’re also planning to attend the Surface Design Show next year, to support increasing interest from the hotel and general commercial markets.
www.rakceramics.co.uk
new training centre and state of the art distribution centre to help continue growth.
Our ambition drives us on. With our highly motivated staff, we constantly strive for customer satisfaction.
www.stauf.co.uk
interior designer to hospitality refit companies. We’re also extending existing ranges to include more design-led finishes, and looking to attend exhibitions that specifically target design and eco-focused specifiers.
Online, we’re working alongside key customers to develop more generic content, like useful blog dialogues that are truly informative for consumers. Quality and targeted activity: these are the two objectives that will continue to steer our activities for the future.
www.kahrs.com
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