Page 66 - CFJ_Feb26

NEWS REVIEW

17 ‘Adhesive-free is flexible choice for all types of resilient and textile floorcoverings, takeover in November 2023 and the wood-
furniture showroom’ Ultrabond ECO MS1 is easy to apply, fast based material manufacturer says it’s already
setting and very low VOC – and now easier
Altro Illustra adhesive-free flooring was to store, transport and handle in the smaller taking comprehensive, multistage investment
steps, which are due to be completed in
reportedly the perfect choice for JDD carton size,’ says Mapei. autumn 2026.
Furniture’s full refurbishment of its flagship ‘A universal, sylilated polymer-based adhesive,
showroom. The Birmingham-based Ultrabond ECO MS1 is suitable for bonding 9 Work till you drop
manufacturer of handcrafted, ‘meticulously- LVT, PVC, carpet, linoleum, rubber, PU based
executed’ workspace furniture was looking for and sports flooring onto absorbent and non- Floorlayers are among the careers in the
flooring with strong aesthetics, performance, absorbent substrates. Its tough formulation firing line when government makes us work
flexibility and sustainability credentials for its and resistance make it ideal for areas till we drop, writes David Strydom. ‘Talk is rife
Birmingham jewellery quarter showroom where subjected to heavy wear and floors exposed government will soon raise the state pension
it flies the flag for local, British manufacture to UV and water. It can also be used with age to 70. At the moment, it’s 66 and will
and ‘thoughtful, useful design’. rise to 67 by 2028, then 68 by 2046. The key
underfloor heating systems.’
phrase: at the moment. Government and those
16 Collaboration and sustainability 11 Junckers has the education sector with power over our lives are itching - itching,
focus for Altro in education covered with solid hardwood floors I tell you – to push retirement age to 70 and
BAM Construct UK has collaborated with Altro Junckers says as the UK’s leading supplier of beyond. If they do (and were I a betting man,
and Recofloor to achieve what’s described as solid hardwood floors to the education sector, I’d take a big fat bet on this one), floorlayers
significant sustainability gains on several major it’s supplied flooring to more than 800 schools, will be one of the careers worst hit. But we’ll
school construction projects. At Weldon Village colleges, and universities in the UK in the past return to that in a bit.
Academy, a new purpose-built secondary decade.
school near Corby, BAM Construct UK built the ‘A solid hardwood floor from Junckers has 8 Floored: What happens when a
state-of-the-art, three-storey facility to provide a longer lifespan than most other flooring customer goes into administration?
education, sport and recreation facilities for the options. It can be sanded and refinished up The news media regularly reports on
community as well as the school population. businesses in difficulty or are about to go, or
to 10 times without affecting its quality or
15 American Oak wood design chosen by performance. have gone, into administration. Indeed, in July
last year (2024) the trade saw an industry
retirement housing residents in Bridgend 10 EGGER Group celebrates start of behemoth, Carpetright, fall into administration
The American Oak wood design from IVC construction of €200m investment – owing £350m and with the loss of 1500 jobs
Commercial’s Isafe 70 sheet vinyl flooring has project at Markt Bibart plant and closure of 273 stores and 19 concessions.
been chosen by the residents of retirement The EGGER Group, headquartered in St The brand was subsequently bought by rival
housing in Bridgend, Wales. Operated by Tai Johann in Tirol (AT), has big plans for its 22nd Tapi which also acquired two warehouses, 54
Wales & West Housing Association and built plant in Markt Bibart (DE). The plant has only stores, and 308 employees. But beyond this
in 1979, Cwrt Angfora is a retirement housing been part of the international group since the headline were the losses suffered by others.
complex of 40 one- and two-bedroom flats for
social rent.
14 Karndean Designflooring takes next 7
steps toward low carbon business
with approval from Science Based
Targets initiative
Karndean Designflooring, UK supplier of luxury
vinyl flooring, is forging ahead with its Karndean
Evolve sustainability strategy after receiving
approval of its near-term targets from the
Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The
SBTi, a corporate climate action organisation
that’s developing standards, tools and guidance
to help businesses set appropriate targets, has
announced it has independently assessed and
approved Karndean’s near-term science-based
emissions reduction targets.
13 25 years on, Shaw Contract
continues to close the loop
Shaw Contract is a commercial flooring
manufacturer led by design optimists who see
sustainability and design as essential. The
company focuses on people and planet, with
four core ambitions: material health, carbon
impact, circular economy, and social fairness. Future-ready: Woodura flooring leads the way
‘Ninety percent of what we design and Bjelin UK has quickly made a name for itself in the flooring sector, bringing a unique
manufacture is cradle-to-cradle certified,’ says combination of sustainability, high technology, and European craftsmanship to the
Business Development Director Andrew Jackson. market. Simon Darbyshire, managing director of Bjelin UK, explains how the company
‘We’re a local Scottish manufacturer serving the has leveraged its heritage, cutting-edge innovations, and a commitment to responsible
EMEA region from our carbon-neutral factory.’ resource use to stand out in a competitive industry.
‘Bjelin’s origins are closely tied to our sister company, Valinge Innovation,’ says
12 ‘Ultrabond ECO MS1 is easy to apply, Simon. ‘Valinge was founded in 1993 by Darko Pervan, the inventor of click flooring,
fast setting and very low VOC’ and has been at the forefront of developing new flooring technologies. Bjelin itself
Mapei’s bestselling Ultrabond ECO MS1 was established in 2016, born out of a vision to create high-quality, sustainable, and
adhesive is now available in a 7kg unit. ‘A innovative flooring products.’
high performance, ready-to-use adhesive for
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66 CFJ February 2026 www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk
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