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EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Unilin’s aspirational ambitions

Background knowledge that within the day-to-day running of
When looking at a company at the Unilin, Mohawk allows its subsidiaries to
scale of Unilin, it is worth stepping back have their own identity and autonomy.
briefly to get a general overview before Where the impact has been felt,
drilling down to specifics. The company however, is in resource and investment.
itself was founded in the 1960s and is ‘I started at IVC about 11 years ago,
headquartered in Belgium, although it before we merged fully with Unilin,’ Paul
has been owned by Mohawk Industries says. ‘Since then we’ve seen massive
ne of the UK’s most notable players since 2005. Mohawk is a publicly listed US investment in factories. Some of our
Oin the LVT market is Unilin, a giant, but the relationship is structured in plants are probably the newest and most
Belgium-based manufacturing group a way that leaves Unilin operating with a state-of-the-art in the world when it
with several brands to its name and large degree of independence. The Unilin comes to flooring.’
operations that span the commercial group itself features a corporate structure Automation is a central feature of those
and retail market. The company’s LVT that spans multiple product areas beyond facilities. Paul describes highly automated
strategy centres on manufacturing flooring, including insulation, panels and production lines, with robotics playing
control, technology development and technology. a major role in logistics and materials
brand positioning, with its commercial Within flooring, the group operates handling.
team viewing these elements as key to several well-known brands. According This automation is also closely tied to
navigating an increasingly price-driven to Laura, three in particular form the the company’s sustainability goals, with
LVT sector. company’s premium offering: Quick-Step, the entire process ‘geared to be efficient
Recently, we spoke with Paul Webb, Pergo and Moduleo. The first two span and future-proof,’ Paul says. ‘That means
Unilin’s commercial manager for the multiple product categories, including we can make great products at a really
UK and Ireland, and Laura McShane, laminate, wood and LVT, while Moduleo is good, sustainable value for money.’
marketing manager for the region, to focused primarily on LVT. Moving in circles
understand how the group views its Support from above Indeed, sustainability is another area
position in the market, from sustainability Acquisition is always a scary concept, where Mohawk’s ownership does
and manufacturing investment to its particularly when it comes to enormous affect Unilin’s business, with the parent
global competition. American corporations, but Paul explains company’s ‘incredibly high standards’ 

4 LVT April 2026 www.contractflooringjournal.co.uk
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