Contract Flooring Journal articles from December 2006

Contract Flooring Journal archives from December 2006

Stopgap 800 Wearcoat from F Ball and Co.(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Stopgap 800 Wearcoat from F Ball and Co is a self-levelling floor compound designed for use where decorative floorcoverings are not required in areas such as storerooms, post rooms, workshops and corridors. It is designed to cater for light to...

UK exporters left to sink or swim.(Editor's comment)(Editorial)
December 1, 2006... IT is unbelievable that another title should bitterly attack British carpet manufacturers while praising one Belgian firm for targeting the UK. That gauche view is based on a false premise and does the industry a grave disservice. In fact,...

Bingo! for CFA contractor.(Installation of the month)
December 1, 2006... RESTRICTED timescales, overnight working and coordination with other trades such as electricians and furniture installers were factors for PETER EVANS FLOORING when it installed the new floorcoverings at Gala Bingo's new Bristol location. ...

'Don't listen to rumour and gossip on Laybond'.(Update on company)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... I AM writing in response to the news story you published in the October 2006 issue of CFJ titled 'Laybond factory faces the threat of closure,' to both clarify a few facts and put to bed any rumours and speculation regarding the future of...

It's our way of saying 'Thank you!'.(Purpose of promotions)
December 1, 2006... AS Christmas is upon us, the number of promotions and deals available to flooring contractors reaches something of a crescendo. The current Polyflor contractor promotion gift collection is running at full belt, making sure gifts are...

The 'made in China' label won't always mean cheap.(doing business in Asia)
December 1, 2006... THE Chinese don't like to say 'wu'--or 'no'. To do so is considered impolite and the word is avoided so as to help 'save face'. To date, China has delivered a miraculous increase in manufacturing capacity through a...

Underfloor heating is a hot potato.(The president)(Column)
December 1, 2006... AS regular readers of my column will know, I, in common with other writers in CFJ have often discussed laying floors over underfloor heating and stressed the importance of ensuring the subfloor temperature does not excess 27degC. ...

Flooring Industry Training Association.(Calendar)
December 1, 2006... 2007 Courses TEXTILE Basic Carpet fitting Jan 22-26 (L) Mar 5-9 (N) Intermediate Carpet fitting Feb 12-16 (N) Mar 19-23 (L) Advanced Carpet fitting Mar 26-29 (N) Carpet Tile fitting Feb 22-23...

CPD courses.
December 1, 2006... Floor firms offering CPD courses: Altro * T: 01462 489568 Amtico * T: 024 76861400 Antron * T: 07876 577317 Ardex * T: 01440 714939 Armstrong * T: 01235 554848 BAL * T: 01782 591100 Ball & Young * T: 01536 200502...

Learning to sell quality carpets.(Training directory)(Axminster Carpets Ltd.)
December 1, 2006... Robin Oakes, sales and marketing director for Axminster Carpets with Ray Morgan of The Flooring Guild and the successful candidates in the successful course on selling quality carpets held by The Flooring Guild at Axminster Carpets in Devon....

2007 diary dates.(Calendar)
December 1, 2006... HEIMTEXTIL January 10-13 Frankfurt, Germany www.heimtextil.messefrankfurt.com DOMOTEX January 13-16 Hannover, Germany www.domotex.de BAU January 15-20 Munich, Germany www.bau-munchen.de ...

The Glues Brothers.(Cartoon)
December 1, 2006... SEASONS GREETINGS, LADS--PUT THE KETTLE ON [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I'VE A BOTTLE OF SOMETHING WE CAN PUT A DROP OF IN OUR TEA [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MILK!--IS THAT SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Cheers to more floorlaying success in 2007: Martin Cummins with clues to brighten your Christmas.(Help and advice)
December 1, 2006... DURING the past year I have discussed some of the technical issues commonly encountered by flooring contractors aimed to dispel some of the myths of complexity that often are associated with them. This month I will briefly re-cap some of...

Be on the ball in brass monkey weather: David Gatfield on adhesives.(Help and advice)(Column)
December 1, 2006... YOU may remember that back in the halcyon days of early summer, I wrote a guide to storing and using two part adhesives in hot weather. Callers to the Altro technical hotline complained that two-part adhesives were curing too quickly in the...

Have a crack at a jointless installation: Ian Knifton on how to manage without joints.(Help and advice)(modular screed system)
December 1, 2006... LAST month we looked at how surface tile design could be improved by using a modular screed system which does not need movement joints. Therefore, as there are no movement joints in the screed, there is more leeway as to where surface...

When dirt quickly returns to haunt the cleaner: Dr Eric Brown on rapid re-soiling.(Help and advice)
December 1, 2006... IN the last two issues of CFJ we discussed two problems that carpet manufacturers may encounter when their carpets are misused during cleaning. One is that the carpet is not cleaned frequently enough. Another is that it is cleaned with...

Shock survey: designers work in the dark: Dids MacDonald on testing your company's IP 'health'.(Help and advice)
December 1, 2006... IN A recent ACID (Anti Copying In Design) survey involving over 600 designers and manufacturers in many different industry sectors, only 24 were aware of the new registered Community design, all the rest were relying on unregistered rights to...

Must you be honest on a bad ex-employee?: Anna West on writing a reference for staff who leave.(Legal advice for bosses)
December 1, 2006... IMAGINE that you have an employee who is a poor performer, and whose difficult behaviour has failed to win him any friends. When he resigns, announcing that he has a new job, you feel relieved... until his new employer asks you for a...

Doing it right could boost your bottom line: Bob Brown on foreign currency for exporters.(Business briefing)
December 1, 2006... ANYONE in business who imports from or exports to a different currency zone is exposed to the risk of fluctuating foreign exchange rates. The wrong rate could make the difference between a profit and a loss on the transaction. Some...

Don't come unstuck with cheap imitations: Sid Bourne on wood flooring adhesives.(Help and advice)
December 1, 2006... I AM often asked to recommend adhesives for fully bonding solid wood flooring. I have used many different adhesives in trials over many years. In my previous role as an independent inspector and consultant I was often called out to site to...

Contract puts brakes on carpet sales slide.(News file)
December 1, 2006... BUOYANCY in the contract market, especially in the office sector, is expected to slow the declining sales of carpet in the UK in the next five years, according to a new report by Market & Business Development (MBD). The report on the UK...

Lack of training: 'many feel unsafe at work'.(News file)(Survey)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... MORE than a third of people (38%) working for small businesses feel unsafe in the workplace due to a lack of relevant training, according to new research by online training provider, learndirect business. It found that 42% had not received...

Lusotufo snaps up Merlin.(Business in brief)
December 1, 2006... Portuguese manufacturer Lusotufo has bought Merlin Carpets, the Lancashire distributor, which will become part of New-Way Carpets, County Durham, a Lusotufo subsidiary. Stocks will continue to be held in Kidderminster and supplied by Alliance...

I-Floor on winning streak.(Business in brief)
December 1, 2006... I-Floor Design reports having secured several prestigious hotel contracts in the Middle East following its appearance at the Dubai Hotel show in June. The company sponsored the BCFA luncheon and launched new products at Sleep 06 in London. T:...

Flooring leads offered.(Business in brief)
December 1, 2006... The new lead generator Quotatis offers a pay-as-you-go system for flooring leads with no contract or joining fee. Geographic area and product--wood, laminate or vinyl, are communicated by text, email or fax. It claims to contact only five...

'Big Tick' is awarded.(Business in brief)
December 1, 2006... InterfaceFLOR has won the EDF 'Big Tick' for environmental impact at the Business in the Community Awards for Excellence 2006. InterfaceFLOR, has reduced its carbon dioxide emissions by 56% since 1996.

Balta boosts yarn plant.(Business in brief)
December 1, 2006... Belgian carpet and rug maker Balta is to extend its polyprop-yarn production capacity with a new extrusion plant coming on stream next month. Seven new pp-yarn twisting machines were commissioned recently to meet a reported rise in sales of...

BASF drives up sales.(Business in brief)
December 1, 2006... BASF reports a 28% rise in sales during the third quarter of 2006. This year BASF bought the flooring materials manufacturer, Degussa Construction Chemicals, which is expected to contribute 100m Euros (67m [pounds sterling]) to group sales.

Quote.(Business in brief)
December 1, 2006... 'We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars' 'I will not withdraw from Iraq, even if Laura and Barney are the only ones supporting me' --President George W Bush, referring to his wife and his dog 'Facts do...

Retailers put the wind in their sales.(News file)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... OVER 30 SMG retailers joined RYALUR for the drive of a lifetime at Donington Park. Participants were able to drive models such as Ferrari, Porsche and Lotus with tuition from an experienced racing driver. Go-karting and single-seat Formula Ford...

Floorlayers' injury risk rising, says HSE stats: 577 seriously hurt while handling, lifting or carrying.(News file)(Health and Safety Executive)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... THE increasingly serious injury risk to floorlayers is revealed in the latest national construction statistics (2005/06) announced by the Health and Safety Executive. It records a total of 577 major injuries caused while handling, lifting...

Countdown to CIS.(News file)(construction industry scheme)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... WITH only four months before the introduction of the new CIS construction industry tax in April 2007, the National Specialist Contractors Council (NSCC) is urging flooring contractors to update their documentation. This month's advice is...

Orders on the rise again.(Industry in brief)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
December 1, 2006... UK construction orders in the year to September rose 8% compared with the previous 12 months, including rises in public housing and housing association (40%); private commercial (39%); and private industrial orders (6%). However during the same...

EU building activity rated.(Industry in brief)(Brief article)(Statistical data)
December 1, 2006... Construction activity across the 25 EU countries increased by 0.5% in June this year, according to new figures. Britain, Belgium, Germany and Hungary saw biggest rises, but there were falls in the Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden and France. The...

Repairs backlog claimed.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... The growing backlog of repairs in schools and the NHS runs to 8bn [pounds sterling] and 3.7bn [pounds sterling] respectively, according to the Construction Products Association. It claims that the UK is near the bottom of the European league...

New skills card launched.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... CSCS has launched a new Professional Qualified Persons skills card to allow non-site based professionals to prove their safety credentials. The card will cover with health and safety roles--such as consultants, clients and engineers. T: 0870...

Vinyl 'greenest flooring'.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... Vinyl is one of the few flooring materials which can be recycled into new flooring. This was the message to a recent British Plastics Federation conference by Pete Thomas of Tarkett Marley Floors. www.bpf.co.uk

Terrorist consults RIBA.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... Dhiren Barot, the aI-Qaeda terrorist recently sentenced to 40 years in jail, is reported to have used the RIBA library to research his planned mass murder attacks.

Record entry for FeRFA resin awards.(News file)
December 1, 2006... A RECORD number of entries were received for the FeRFA resin flooring awards this year, showing the value of the awards and rising profile of FeRFA and its members. Helen McGachie, chief executive of FeRFA, acclaimed the excellent quality...

Parallel gets certification.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... Parallel Flooring Accessories has achieved COC (Chain of Custody) certification from both FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes). www.flooring-trims.com

Quest agent appointed.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... T1 commercial has been appointed agents for Quest Systems flooring accessories covering Essex, Hertfordshire, London, Kent and Suffolk. Details from John Northwood. T: 01702 302553

CRA focus on training.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... The recently established Concrete Repair Association (CRA) health & safety committee has established a common H&S policy including a commitment to a skilled and competent workforce, through regular Health and Safety training. T: 01252 739145....

A-Plant revamps website.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... A-Plant has revamped its customer website which now offers 34,500 pages of information. www.aplant.com

Many 'lack bad debt plan'.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... Nearly a third (31%) of small and medium sized construction firms have no bad debt provisions, says Bibby Financial Services. The time spent chasing late payment and dealing with bad debt costs UK SMEs 286m man hours and nearly 3.6bn [pounds...

Material outstrips labour.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... The rapid rise over the past year in building materials prices (7.5%) has been twice the rate of labour costs hikes (3.6%), according to David Langdon. It expects the 5.5% tender price increase this past year to be repeated in 2007.

Police probe corruption.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... The City of London Police has set up a new unit to investigate whether several construction companies won contracts by bribing overseas officials.

A bit on the side?(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... Construction workers are in the top 10 professions most likely to have an affair, according to a survey by extramarital dating website IllicitEncounters.com

CFJ to sponsor major industry tournament.(News file)
December 1, 2006... CFJ has agreed to sponsor the construction industry's largest golf tournament with knock-out rounds taking place throughout next year, culminating in the grand final in October. CFJ aims to encourage increased support from the flooring...

TRADA gets international seal of approval.(News filer)(Timber Research and Development Association)
December 1, 2006... THE new TRADA (Timber Research and Development Association) test on the likely wear resistance of floor seals and lacquers has generated significant international interest. TRADA consultant and contributor to CFJ, Peter Kaczmar, revealed...

CFJ Engel winners.(Industry in brief)(ENGEL WORKWEAR)(contract flooring journal)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... First prize in the CFJ workwear competition in association with Engel Workwear was won by Jeffrey Jensen of Christina Fallah Designs, London. He will receive a Svalbard pilot jacket, WorkZone T-Shirt; casual holster pocket trousers and one pair...

Recruitment supported.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... Blast! Sales recruitment helped Amtico fill a vacancy. Headed by Kevin Jackson, Blast! has a large database of candidates and an extensive network of contacts within the industry. Samantha Cooper, a Blast!'s candidates was appointed as...

Creom gives vouchers.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... Winners of the M&S vouchers in the Creom competition were: Paul Hannan (100 [pounds sterling]), Town & Country Flooring, Wolverhampton; Gerry Howdle (50 [pounds sterling]), Ecel Flooring, Leeds; and John Carlton (25 [pounds sterling]), Carlton...

Many 'cut corners'.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... Research from Trustmark shows that 218,000 (58%) of new UK homeowners admit to calling in friends and family to do work such as electrical, roofing or plumbing jobs on their home rather than calling trained professionals. www.trustmark.org.uk

Home sweet home.(Industry in brief)(Survey)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... British people spend 79% more on home improvements (34 [pounds sterling] a week or 1,768 [pounds sterling] a year) than on improving their relationship with a partner (19 [pounds sterling] a week), according to research by Rated Tradesmen. Over...

FTBA raffle at wood show.(Industry in brief)
December 1, 2006... The Furnishing Trades Benevolent Association (FTBA) raised 163.40 [pounds sterling] in a raffle at the W6 Working with Wood Show recently.

Satisfy women, urges Dawn.(News file)(Dawn Gibbins)(Flowcrete Group Plc)
December 1, 2006... DAWN GIBBINS MBE is urging business leaders to 'Satisfy Women'. Dawn, founder and chairman of Flowcrete Group Plc, was a key speaker at a recent prestigious business summit at Central Hall, Westminster, attended by David Cameron, leader of the...

'Bespoke' charity event turns in 16,000 [pounds sterling].(News file)
December 1, 2006... RYALUX and parent company Sirdar has raised over 16,000 [pounds sterling] for Leukaemia Research, Bury Hospice and Rochdale Hospice and Wakefield Hospice by organising and hosting the 40 strong Magic Carpet Ride in August. The fundraising...

I-Floor ranges launched.(Products in brief)
December 1, 2006... I-Floor Design is launching St George, a bespoke UK Axminster range with a dedicated colour bank and unlimited design options, plus fast-track delivery, no minimum quantity and competitive prices. Other new ranges are Urban Stripe and...

Pownall has 42 options.(Products in brief)
December 1, 2006... Pownall Carpets has introduced New Graphics, an 80/20 wool/ nylon blend, available in seven stock colourways, each in six designs. The 42 stock options can be delivered anywhere in the UK within a number of days and to mainland Europe on a...

Stainless steel sprayer.(Products in brief)
December 1, 2006... Airofog 5L is a new high quality stainless steel sprayer for the professional carpet cleaner from Spray Systems. It has an all brass shut off assembly and Viton seals and comes with a full repair kit, carry straps and a choice of nozzle sizes....

Software for CIS.(Products in brief)
December 1, 2006... The Access CIS System, which accompanies the company's HM Revenue & Customs accredited Access Payroll solution, is a software package designed to help flooring contractors prepare records for changes to the CIS tax scheme from next April....

Acoustic flooring error.(Products in brief)
December 1, 2006... The Isorubber range of acoustic insulation products from Thermal Economics was mentioned in the underlay feature in CFJ (October 2006). We regret that the image published under the caption was of Floortherm, another Thermal Economics product,...

Plimsoll names the top 'flooring contractors'.(News file)(Plimsoll Publishing)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... THE UK's most successful 'flooring contractors companies' have been named as part of a study by industry analysts Plimsoll Publishing. These companies have been grouped by Plimsoll into five areas of financial success. The four...

Asbestos regs backed.(Health and safety news in brief)
December 1, 2006... Reduced exposure limits and mandatory training are stipulated in The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2006 effective from last month. Most asbestos work still needs to be undertaken by licensed contractors, but decisions on whether work is...

UK keeps working opt-out.(Health and safety news in brief)
December 1, 2006... The UK keeps its 48-hour working week opt-out after a new European deal on the working time directive was scuppered in Brussels. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said it was a 'missed opportunity' to ensure that UK workers are properly...

20% stressed at work.(Health and safety news in brief)
December 1, 2006... One in five people in the UK say they are stressed or very stressed by their work, costing the country 3.8bn [pounds sterling] a year, according to HSE. Advice on managing stress and improving well-being in the workplace is available on the HSE...

More falls clocked up.(Health and safety news in brief)
December 1, 2006... The number of serious accidents caused by slips and trips increased by 11% after the clocks went back in the autumn, according to new research in conjunction with the HSE.

2.4m [pounds sterling] bill gets backs up.(Health and safety news in brief)
December 1, 2006... The Health and Safety Executive has been criticised from within the industry over the 2.4m [pounds sterling] cost to taxpayers of the recent better backs campaign. Part of the campaign can be viewed on the website. www.hse.gov.uk/betterbacks

Fewer take 'sickies'.(Health and safety news in brief)
December 1, 2006... Over 30m working days were lost in the UK due to injury and ill health in 2005/06, according to the Health and Safety Commission. This is a decrease from 35m in 2004/05. Stress and musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 75% of this figure.

Targetting school-leavers.(Health and safety news in brief)
December 1, 2006... A new qualification for school-leavers designed to improve their understanding of safe working in work experience has been launched by the Health and Safety Executive in partnership with the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health and...

'Zero risk is bad'.(Health and safety news in brief)
December 1, 2006... Excessive risk aversion is threatening Britain's spirit of adventure, enterprise and competitive edge, according to a report by the Better Regulation Commission. The BRC is an independent body set up to advise the government on reducing...

Fancy a new floor for Christmas?(News file)(Flowcrete)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... AS Christmas fast approaches, manufacturers are being urged to put an unusual present on their list--a new floor. Across UK manufacturing sector Flowcrete floors have helped companies achieve the 5s--to strip, sort, shine, standardise and...

Junckers.(PEOPLE)
December 1, 2006... JOHN FLANNERY has taken over as md of Junckers. He will continue to run the Irish subsidiary of the company, a position he has held for nearly six years. He replaces Mike Sharkey who is moving on to another sector within the building industry.

I-Floor Design.(PEOPLE)
December 1, 2006... I-Floor Design has appointed MATT WEAVER, formerly from Ulster Carpets, as senior London designer; and KAREN RAFFLES, formerly from Milliken, to take care of key accounts both UK and European. The company now employs 10 dedicated designers...

Cormar Carpets.(PEOPLE)
December 1, 2006... NEIL EVANS has been appointed as Cormar Carpets new south west sales representative. With over ten years of experience in sales 33-year-old Neil has joined the company to further strengthen the sales team and is set to maximise business in the...

Puhos Board.(PEOPLE)
December 1, 2006... Puhos Board (UK) has redefined the responsibilities of key staff. MICHELLE MCNISH now complements her sales administration function with responsibility for customer contracts, the company price book, co-ordination with partner company Total...

Carol Blackmore.(PEOPLE)
December 1, 2006... CAROL BLACKMORE adds direct forward Trus Jost sales, all board purchasing, landing stock and cost change controls to her sales administration role.

Anna Joki.(PEOPLE)
December 1, 2006... ANNA JOKI provides the lead role in Trus Joist sales and stock landing, and now controls shipment costs, provides marketing management, sales leads and customer communication.

The Shop and Display Equipment Association.(PEOPLE)
December 1, 2006... The Shop and Display Equipment Association has elected a new president, RONALD COHEN of Foxbarn, with GEOFF FAIRFIELD of Fairfield Displays and Lighting as vice president.

Copycat foiled.(On the record)
December 1, 2006... Five years ago, in December 2001, CFJ confirmed the launch of a new sister title, a new wood and laminate magazine under the editorship of Joe Simpson. Our initial title, Wood and Laminate Review (announced In September at the National...

SDS into fourth year.(Events in brief)
December 1, 2006... In its fourth year, the Surface Design Show (March 7-8) at the Business Design Centre, Islington, will again host a preview evening. This year the event attracted 126 exhibitors and 4,200 professional visitors. A CPD seminar programme,...

Health and Safety Show.(Events in brief)
December 1, 2006... Health & Safety 07 (February 20-21) will be held at Sandown Park, Surrey, featuring suppliers of specialist equipment and services, including personal protective and first aid equipment; materials to reduce slips, trips and falls; and training...

Wood show success.(Events in brief)
December 1, 2006... James Latham reports 'great success' at this year's W6 exhibition where it featured the Bausen hardwood flooring range. www.lathams.co.uk

Neocon 'a big draw'.(Events in brief)
December 1, 2006... Organisers of the fourth annual NeoCon East in Baltimore claim that 86% of exhibitors have signed up for next year's show (October 17-18). There were 7,700 visitors, up 17.5% on last year, with 20,000sq m of exhibition space. ...