Contract Flooring Journal articles from November 2003

Contract Flooring Journal archives from November 2003

You 'boring old farts!'.(Editor's comment)(Editorial)
November 1, 2003... Well done, Mike Mills! At last someone of standing as had the guts to use plain language to spell out the problems for the British carpet industry. Mr Mills OBE, chief executive of Ulster Carpets and chairman of the Carpet Foundation, set out...

Old patterns brought back to life.(St Patrick's Cathedral floors re-tiled)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... FLOORING is a central feature of one of the most prestigious refurbishment Projects in Northern Ireland recently at St Patrick's Cathedral in Armagh. All the floor tiling was undertaken by ARMATILE. The company designed new tile formats,...

Entertaining customers--is it a shot in the dark?(Corporate Hospitality)
November 1, 2003... In a difficult economic climate is the money spent on 'corporate hospitality' a good investment? Terry King, sales & marketing manager of Burmatex, says it certainly can be. COPORATE hospitality is in essence just one more marketing tool,...

DPMs are not all the same.(Damp Proof Membranes)(moisture membrane necessary when installing flooring)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Following comments by the consultant Stan Webb (CFJ, October 2003) Bob Mabbutt, development manager at Laybond Products, says not dealing with moisture and omitting a good quality membrane is false economy. THE insertion of a moisture...

The carpet industry needs 'converts'.(Sales Opportunity)(Industry Overview)
November 1, 2003... EVERY new carpet sale should also mean a new underlay sale--just imagine the increase that would bring to sales volumes and profits! It could potentially mean a massive 80% increase in sales volume and a substantially higher percentage increase...

Some manufacturers are very short-sighted.(Selling Direct)(Letter to the Editor)
November 1, 2003... I READ with interest your editor's comment (CFJ August 2003). I am an agent for two Dutch companies MID Carpets bv and Van Besouw. Both companies have some presence in the contract sector. However, we have a very strict policy of nor...

The Glues Brothers: the series.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The golden knee pads European championships Part 21 by Bob Lawton GOLDEN KNEE PAD EUROPEAN CHAMPS AND HERE WE ARE WAITIN' FOR THE PHONE TO RING NOT SO MUCH AS A WRONG NUMBER IS IT PLUGGED IN? WE'VE HAD THIS FAX OFFERIN' US...

Harrogate expands contract connection.(From the president)(National Floor Show )
November 1, 2003... I attended the National Floor Show at Harrogate for a day, this year and was very pleased to see many old friends and colleagues. On the day I attended, the show was very busy and the number of exhibitor's stands seems to grow year on year....

How not to be caught short by shrinkage.(Ask Sid)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... SID BOURNE, training and technical manager of Floorboards, answers questions from CFJ readers in this monthly column and shares some of his 25 years of installation experience. As well as being an experienced and authoritative source of...

Training directory.
November 1, 2003... FLOORING INDUSTRY TRAINING ASSOCIATION Nov 10-12 ceramic fitting. * All courses could be run in other locations depending on interest * One-to-one tuition can be held in your location for all courses. Course at FITA Training Centre,...

BAL to help tilers qualify for NVQ.(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... BAL, the tile adhesive and grout manufacturer, has launched a new national training programme to tackle the chronic skills deficit in the tiling industry. BAL is teaming up with Salford College and the CITB to facilitate and assess NVQ Level 2...

Broken steps: always have a crack at prevention.(Ian Knifton's tile talk)
November 1, 2003... IF YOU walk down any High Street you'll see there's some sort of damage to ceramic steps at the entrance to many shops, caused by heavy objects, deliveries, or even pushchairs being dragged over the top of them. However, the answer is simple....

Get netted in the best possible way (Part 2).(Problem solving)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... LAST month I concentrated on how a company can promote itself effectively on the internet. Now I shall look at other ways in which electronic communications can help you to raise your company's profile. There are various opportunities for...

Wood flooring warts and all!(Terry Wolfe's case book)
November 1, 2003... The selection and installation of wood flooring--Part 1. IF I were to advertise for sale a flooring material that changed in dimension with the seasons, was badly affected by dampness, was subject to attack by insects and could decay in...

CFA school floors contest wins Government backing.(News file)
November 1, 2003... THE CFA has received Government endorsement for its new 'win a floor in your school' promotion. A statement from the Department for Education and Skills says: 'With our new programme of rebuilding and renewal we have started to transform...

Carpet TV ads a big 'turn on'.(News file)(Carpet Foundation)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... GREAT things are expected of the 1m [pounds sterling] TV advertising campaign by the Carpet Foundation, Mike Hardiman the organisation's chief executive, told delegates at the TIFCON conference in Blackpool. He said that the promotion was...

Skillbuild is the next goal for floorlayers.(Training)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... FLOORLAYING is set to have a fill national skills competition for NVQ students within two years if new entrant trainee numbers and colleges offering the courses continue to expand. Students from Northumberland College supported by their own...

Recognition for top apprentices.(News file)(Skillbuild awards )
November 1, 2003... GOLD, silver and bronze medals for skills in various trades were presented to 30 construction apprentices last month. Skillbuild, the UK's national construction competition, supported by CITB-Construction Skills, was held during National...

Headlam profits.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Headlam saw a 10% increase in turnover (to 194.2m [pounds sterling]) in the six months to June 30. Operating profit was up 27.5% at 14.4m [pounds sterling] with pretax profit rising by 8.6% to 23.9m [pounds sterling]. Among 22 acquisitions by...

Retentions disputes.(Business in brief)(Association of Independent Construction Adjudicators)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Only 50 retentions disputes were referred to the adjudications panel of the Association of Independent Construction Adjudicators (AICA) between August 2000 and July 2003. Of these, 46 resulted in a decision in favour of the sub-contractor....

Contracts won.(Business in brief)(4M/Land Rover Advance Screeding/Laing Homes)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... 4M is reported to have won a 250,000 [pounds sterling] contract from Land Rover in Solihull, while Advance Screeding has scooped a 100,000 [pounds sterling] package for work on a development for Laing Homes in Putney, London.

Peter Oliver's advice.(Business in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... One of the flooring industry's best known and most experienced marketing people, Peter Oliver has set up a new company offering interim management service in areas including accounting, advertising/PR, market research, sales and marketing,...

Haywood is out.(Business in brief)(Haywood Handbook for Flooring )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The fourth edition of the Haywood Handbook for Flooring is now available. The 156 page publication contains information on over 1500 companies, including manufacturers and suppliers of flooring and flooring related products. There are 15 major...

Safety consultation.(Business in brief)(A Strategy for Workplace Health and Safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... An eight-week consultation of A Strategy for Workplace Health and Safety in Great Britain to 2010 and beyond has been launched by the government, www.hse.gov.uk Tel: 01787 881165

Recycling 'improves product'.(News file)(Tandus carpet recyling system)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... TANDUS (Europe) has introduced a closed-loop carpet-to-carpet recycling system. The company now collects post consumer vinyl backed carpet at its facility in Blaina, Wales. It then bales it and ships it to the its purpose-built US recycling...

I'll fight for standards--new NICF president.(News file)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... TONY SANSOM, new president of the NICF has vowed tofight to raise standards. Commenting after his election, Tony bemoaned the falling standard of products due to pressure on prices from consumer groups and clever marketing by some retail...

Green focus in 100m [pounds sterling] investment.(News file)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... NEXFOR, the wood-based panel manufacturer has completed a 100m [pounds sterling] five-year capital investment programme at its plants in South Molton, Cowie and Inverness. Of this, nearly 60m [pounds sterling] has been targeted at environmental...

Carpet history.(Industry in brief)(Woven in Kidderminster )(Book Review)(Brief Review)
November 1, 2003... Woven in Kidderminster is a new illustrated history of the carpet industry in Kidderminster from 1735 to 2000. Written by Melvyn Thompson, it contains more than 200 pages and over 150 photographs, including company histories, maps, anecdotes...

Language service.(Industry in brief)(Derwent International Communications )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Derwent International Communications offers a language service that incorporates artwork production, including a typeset document ready to paste straight into sales literature, a multi-media or PowerPoint presentation or website,...

Skills council formed.(Industry in brief)(Construction Industry Training Board/ Construction Industry Council )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The government has established Construction Skills, a partnership between CITB and Construction Industry Council designed to represents employers' skills needs with priorities including reducing skills gaps and shortages; and improving...

News on the net.(Industry in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Newhey Carpets has a new website which enables visitors to request samples online and view 3D room shots and over 1300 custom designs. www.newheycarpots.co.uk Floor the manufacturer Harvey Maria has a new website with a buy online facility...

CIRIA moves.(Industry in brief)(Construction Industry Research and Information Association)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... ClRIA, the Construction Industry Research and Information Association, has moved to Classic House, 174-180 Old Street, London EC1V 9BP. www.ciria.org Tel: 020 7549 3300

Osmosis guide.(Industry in brief)(FeRFA guide)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... FeRFA has published a guide on prevention of Osmosis in resin flooring, www.ferfa.org.uk

Anti-cowboy firms.(Industry in brief)(Quality Mark scheme)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... A total of 500 firms are now registered with the government's Quality Mark scheme to combat cowboy builders.

Bentley does it for 4m.(News file)(4m Flooring contract for Bentley Motors wins award)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THE 2003 FeFRA award for best application went to 4m Flooring for a 550,000 [pounds sterling] contract for Bentley Motors. 4m designed, supplied and installed a 22,500sq m performance floor for the luxury car manufacturer's main production area...

Playing Ball.(News file)(Independent Floorcoverings Distributors Association awards F Ball)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: LEFT: Ted Tookey (right), F Ball's sales director, receives a crystal glass trophy for the best flooring accessory supplier from the Independent Floorcoverings Distributors Association, from IFDA president...

Gaskell Textile winners fly off for a flutter.(News file)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... BLACKPOOL carpet retailers Aureen and Peter Whiteside have won 1,000 [pounds sterling] worth of holiday vouchers in a prize draw they entered on the Gaskell Textiles stand at the National Floor show in Harrogate. They have chosen to go to Las...

Laser technology.(Products in brief)(Mans International )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The LMH600 is a new auto self-levelling rotary laser from Mans International said to offer precise levelling for any interior or exterior flooring using dual beam laser technology for horizontal levelling and vertical plumb lines. ...

Jacob Velvet.(Products in brief)(Alternative Flooring Company )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Alternative Flooring Company has become a licensee of the British Wool Marketing Board following the introduction of a new British Wool range, Jacob Velvet claimed to be the only carpet made in 100% un-dyed Jacob Wool without the use of...

Finsa laminates.(Products in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Finsa has introduced Country FinClic on a 8mm moisture resistant HDF board with AC3 classification and featuring a Wood-Touch texture and currently available in six designs all with rustic colours. The existing FinClic range has also been...

Aluminium floor.(Products in brief)(Medes Floor system)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THG has introduced the Medes Floor system, including aluminium modular and staircase coverings, said to have many advantages, including easy cleaning, stability and non combustible. Tel: 020 7602 8057

Protection material.(Products in brief)(Cordek)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Cordek, manufacturer of specialist expanded polystyrene construction products, has issued new brochure on its Cortex protection material. www.cordek.com Tel: 01403 799600

Tile literature.(Products in brief)(Tiles UK )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Tiles UK has published leaflets on company and contract profiles. www.tilesuk.com

Screwfix site.(Products in brief)(Screwfix Direct )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Screwfix Direct offers a wide range of tools which can be ordered via its website, www.screwfix.com

Harrogate success.(Events in brief)(2003 National Floor Show )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The 2003 National Floor Show attendance was 5% up on last year, according to the organisers. Further growth is anticipated for 2004 when the show will be held between September 7-9. www.nationalfloorshow.co.uk

Leisure visitors.(Events in brief)(International Leisure Industry Week )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... International Leisure Industry Week (LIW) at the NEC, Birmingham, in September received 14,785 visitors, up 4% on last year's show, according to the organiser. There were over 400 exhibitors. Tel: 20 8232 1600

Decorex attendance.(Events in brief)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Visitor numbers at Decorex this year were 3.9% u p, according to the organiser, There were 225 exhibitors, www.decorex.com

Travel to Domotex.(Events in brief)(Pressplan Travel services)(Brief Article)(Product/Service Evaluation)
November 1, 2003... Pressplan Travel offers tailor made arrangements to Domotex (January 17-20), offering a large selection of hotels and flights from most UK airports. Hotel prices start from 91 [pounds sterling] per person including breakfast based on sharing a...

Europarket dates.(Events in brief)(Europarket 2004 )(Brief Article)(Calendar)
November 1, 2003... Europarket 2004 will be held in Kortrijk, Belgium, from March 28-30. www.europarket.com

Floor Surfaces.(Events in brief)(Surfaces Show London )(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Flooring companies Heckmondwicke FB, Isocrete, Amtico, F Ball and Egger are among the first 27 companies to sign up for the Surfaces Show London at The Business Design Centre, London, from March 31-April 1, 2004. The event showcasing building...

Disability pavilion.(Events in brief)(Interbuild trade show)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Interbuild (April 25-29, NEC, Birmingham) will have a Disability Pavilion in response to sweeping changes in building legislation designed to improve access for people with disabilities. www.interbuild.com

BHK Horden band blows its own trumpet.(News file)(National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... THE BHK (UK) Horden Band, victorious in the first section of the National Brass Band Championships of Great Britain, is to compete in the championship section from January 2004 with a chance to perform at the Royal Albert Hall. The...

Rewarding fixer club.(News file)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... TILE adhesives manufacturer BAL has launched a Fixer Club for trade customers. Membership includes a reward scheme based on a selection of BAL adhesives, grouts and waterproofing products. Purchasers collect points which enable them to claim a...

Take a break with Polyflor.(News file)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... POLYFLOR is celebrating the 20th 'birthday' of its Polysafe safety floors with a free prize draw in which 20 lucky winners will each receive 2,000 [pounds sterling] in holiday vouchers. The competition is open to flooring contractors,...

Invista gets its first outing at 100% Design.(News file)(ANTRON carpet fibres)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... ANTRON carpet fibres, viewed publicly for the first time under the new brand Invista, is reported to have enjoyed considerable success at 100% Design. More than 50 products from over 30 carpet manufacturers which use Antron were displayed on...

The sun shines on wool at Harrogate.(News file)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... A CONTEMPORARY striped carper was the main locus of the WOOL INTERIORS stand at this year's national Floor Show. The colourful design uses Glacial technology to achieve a brightness and clarity of shade, said to be completely new in wool...

10 facts about Domotex 2004.(News file)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... 1. Dates: January 17-20. Venue: Hannover, Germany 2. The highest ever number of foreign exhibitors are expected, numbering over 800, compared with under 300 from Germany. 3. A total of 63 countries will be among the exhibitors,...

Concrete show.(Events in brief)(Calendar)
November 1, 2003... The Concrete Show will again run alongside SED (Site Equipment Demonstration) at Fen Farm, Milton Keynes from May 18-20. www.sed.co.uk Tel: 01923 778311

China show.(Events in brief)(Calendar)
November 1, 2003... The 6th China International Building & Decoration Fair--CBD 2004--(July 6-9, 2004) has an exhibition area of 90,000sq m, with 2,000 companies expected to exhibit, www.cbd2004.de Tel: 0049 406087 6926

Axminster Carpets.(People)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Axminster Carpets has formed a specialist contracts division under GEOFF HUMPHRES, contract sales director. Supporting Geoff are CUNLIFFE, formerly of Newhey Carpets, covering London and south of England; DAVID HOLCROFT previously with Firth...

Compriband.(People)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... ANDREW CHATFIELD has joined Compriband as national field sales manager. He has over 20 years international sales management experience in the building industry.

SATRA.(People)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... BILL HIGGS is a new team leader in SATRA's Floorcoverings testing and research division responsible for sales and marketing, technical operations, development, project management and contracting. Bill has over 25 years' experience with flooring...

4M Flooring UK.(People)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... ADRIAN BELUNGHAM, GRAHAM SUMMERFIELD and ANTHONY JOHNSON have joined 4M Flooring UK, respectively as commercial sales manager within the new commercial flooring division; sales manager in the manufacturing and general industrial sector; and...

Devi.(People)(Dawn Kenshaw)(Floor covering industry)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Devi has named DAWN KENSHAW as a business development manager for north of England and Scotland. Previously contract sales manager for H&R Johnson Tiles, she has over seven years experience in the construction industry.

Tintawn Carpets.(People)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Tintawn Carpets has three new sales staff. DENNIS JOHNSON, who has been with Tintawn for 15 years, becomes UK retail sales manager; DARRELL FENN replaces Dennis as sales rep for East Anglia and the Home Counties North; and ROLAND HARPER, who...

Anglo.(People)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... CONNIE LU has become business development manager at Anglo, manufacturer of floorcoverings from recycled fibres. Connie, who speaks five languages, is the first member of her family to leave Shanghai in China. She took an MBA at Huddersfield...

Telenzo.(People)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Dutch carpet manufacturer Telenzo has appointed PAUL BREWER as agent for South Wales. Paul, who has been in the carpet trade for 30 years, has been the company's agent for West Midlands for five years and will continue in this position along...

CIRIA.(People)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... PETER BROOKES, chief executive of Edmund Nuttall has been elected as chairman of CIRIA. He succeeds Ron Williams, director of Mott MacDonald Group.

Douglas Gordon has retired after 40 years with Heckmondwike, 36 of those as a director.(People)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... DOUGLAS GORDON has retired after 40 years with Heckmondwike, 36 of those as a director. He is replaced by MARK PASS. The company will now be known as National Floorcoverings with two divisions, Heckmondwike FB and Paragon.

Diary dates.(Calendar)
November 1, 2003... FLOORING RUSSIA November 18-20 Moscow Contact: Montgomery International Tel: 020 7886 3106 ECMOD Catalogue & e-commerce show November 18-20 Earls Court, London Contact: Synergy Partnership Tel: 01271 866112 2004 HEIMTEXTIL January...

Carpet growth: continued expansion of the carpet market in the next five years is forecast in a new report on the UK domestic floorcoverings market.(Market surveys)(Illustration)
November 1, 2003... THE report, by MSI Marketing Research for Industry, expects a 23% volume growth in the laminate market by 2007 with value rising by 25% in real terms. In contrast the market for linoleum and cushioned vinyl will rise by barely 1% during the...

Initial controversy.(Have you heard?)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The Construction Plant-hire Association is threatening to sue the Construction Products Association. Both associations use the initials CPA, but the plant-hire body says it has been calling itself CPA since 1941.

Construction fat cats.(Have you heard?)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... Directors at 38 construction firms are reported to be earning over 1m [pounds sterling]. Peter Johnson of George Wimpey is claimed to be receiving a salary of 1.7m [pounds sterling].

'Forced to opt out'.(Have you heard?)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... A quarter of all UK workers who have signed an opt-out from the maximum 48 hour working week under Working Time Regulations were given no choice in the matter, according to a TUC survey.

Work sickness.(Have you heard?)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... The HSE says 2.3m people in the UK are suffering from ill health they believe was caused or made worse by their work.

Quotes.(Market surveys)(Brief Article)
November 1, 2003... 'I say bluntly that the use of foreign workers in construction is a short-term state of affairs. We should be working with our own people to ensure that the right skills are available' Charles Clarke, secretary of state for education ...

Distributors make the gains: the profitability of major British carpet manufacturers fell 19% in the three year period up to August 2002, according to a new report.(Industry league tables)(Illustration)
November 1, 2003... The Business Ratio report examines the financial performance of over 100 leading companies in the industry, including manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. Contract flooring specialists feature in the top 10 companies by pre-tax profit...

Tony Longworth: group production director, Flowcrete.(In the dock)
November 1, 2003... * Did you get into trouble at school? Only for minor things, one of the more bizarre being sent home for having excessively pointed shoes. * What was your first part-time job? A paper round, a position I held until the grand old age of 17!...

Like father, like son: Chris Fox, of Oxden Floors, in Kent, celebrated his silver jubilee in the flooring industry in August with a golf day at the prestigious Tudor Park course attended by 50 of his closest friends and colleagues from the trade.(Flooring contractor profile)(Oxden Floors)
November 1, 2003... ONE of the best pieces of news for Chris in his 25, sometimes turbulent, years in the trade was the decision, of his son Lee, to join the family firm recently. Lee's announcement was a boost for the company as it was attempting to...

Our business is doing okay: distributors continue to face the perennial problem of manufacturers going direct to the trade.(Distributor focus)(Floor covering industry)
November 1, 2003... BUSINESS across the distribution sector remains fairly brisk, however, with most wholesalers reporting satisfactory sales. Some, meanwhile, are trying different ideas to retain and even grow their market share. David Lewis, owner, Key...

V for vinyl: specifiers and end-users seeking vinyl flooring have a large choice, as our survey shows.(Vinyl flooring survey)(Buyers Guide)
November 1, 2003... ALTRO has launched Altro Maxis, Claimed to be the ultimate in safety flooring. Many manufacturers now claim ease of Maintenance for their safety flooring, but Altro says it has taken this concept into a new Dimension. Altro Maxis builds on...

Flooring on a pedestal: raised access flooring, used for many years in the commercial office market, is increasingly being used in other locations as our survey shows.(Raised access flooring survey)
November 1, 2003... ALLIBERT BUCKHORN supplied plastic glass reinforced flooring, including Alligrid open grid grating, for Elkes Biscuits at its new Dove Valley Bakeries in Staffordshire. Part of the Northern Foods Grocery Group, Elkes specified a closed top...

Going back to school.(Raised access flooring survey)(Terry Newman)(Kingspan Access Floors PLC)
November 1, 2003... Terry Newman md, Kingspan Access Floors, says the raised floor industry must invest more in education, especially as the product has made significant inroads in the education sector. EDUCATION does not stop at training our own people in...

Making life easier for speciers.(Raised access flooring survey)(National Business Specifications)(Floor covering industry)
November 1, 2003... Albert Hazeldine, general secretary of the Access Flooring Association, heralds the new AFA Design Guide along with the AFA Best Practice Guide for Installation, prepared in collaboration with the RIBA. The guides, due to be published soon, are...