Flooring Podcast

CRI’s Werner Braun on CARE, the European Market and Association Membership

October 13, 2005—Carpet and Rug Institute President, Werner Braun discusses the upcoming Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) entrepreneur meeting and provides an update on the industry’s carpet recycling efforts and the opening of dialog with StarNet regarding the program. Braun also previews the November 2, CRI annual meeting in Dalton and discusses the European Carpet and Rug Association, whose president will be a keynoter at the meeting, and offers some insight into carpet’s market share problems in Europe and talk about the membership of the CRI in a consolidating and diversifying industry.

Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill - The Week in the Floor Covering Industry

October 11, 2005—Floor Focus magazine publisher Frank O’Neill dicusses: The official opening of the Unilin plant in Thomasville, NC; the affects of price increases on all players in the industry, including Solutia’s announcement that it has declared force majeure for certain products within its Integrated Nylon Division; the Floor Focus design survey and its finding that the A&D community appears to have little trust when it comes to supplier partners and; The drop in the third quarter office vacancy rate.

CCA’s Dave Stafford on Sustainability & LEED -Part 1

October 8, 2005—Dave Stafford, Executive Vice President, Commercial Carpets of America of Alexandria, Virginia, in the first part of a two-part series, discusses sustainability and LEED and how they has affected the floor covering industry and how flooring products are specified to meet LEED critera. Stafford talks about dealing with GSA, matching existing product offerings to governmental needs, how CCA deals with the disposal of old carpet and the company’s focus on installation.

CCA’s Dave Stafford on Sustainability & LEED – Part 2

October 8, 2005—Dave Stafford, Executive Vice President, Commercial Carpets of America, based in Alexandria, Virginia, in the first part of a two-part series, discusses sustainability and LEED and how they has affected the floor covering industry and how flooring products are specified. Stafford talks about dealing with GSA, matching existing product offerings to governmental needs, how CCA deals with the disposal of old carpet and the company’s focus on installation.

Aquafil USA’s Franco Rossi on Carpet Fiber in the US

October 8, 2005—Franco Rossi, AquafilUSA, discusses this Italian-based, global fiber, plastics and chemical company, its position in Europe and the rest of the world and its operations in Cartersville, Georgia that services the U.S. carpet industry. Rossi talks about the changing fiber industry and his expectations for further change in the future and Aquafil’s plans to expand in the U.S. with the addition of an extrusion operation in Georgia. Rossi talks about the company’s product offerings in and where the company fits in the marketplace.

Warner Braun on the CRI Launch at the Kennedy Space Center – Part 2

October 6, 2005—In the final part of a two-part series, Carpet & Rug Institute President Werner Braun, discusses the kick-off for the association’s new Seal of Approval program for extraction carpet cleaning equipment, which tool place at the John F. Kennedy Space Center. Braun recaps the event and talks about the first Seal of Approval certifications, which were presented during the event, the NASA, developed, technology, which is the basis for this program and discusses how this technology has been applied to the carpet industry as well as the reaction this program has garnered from major mills and how the program will affect all within the carpet industry.

Faus President Juan Flores on the Launch of U.S & Asian Manufacturing Facilities - Part 1

October 5, 2005—Juan Flores, President, Faus Group, in the first part of a two-part series, discusses the company’s U.S. and Asian manufacturing expansion with the acquisition of a facility in Georgia and the opening of a facility in Shanghai. Flores also discusses the company’s product strategy, its aggressive stance on intellectual property rights and the launch of; FastDesign, a multi-design system, which permits five different laminate floor designs form one SKU and: Multi-Direction Design, which allows for the creation of uninterrupted wood grain strips across seams.

Faus President Juan Flores on the Launch of U.S & Asian Manufacturing Facilities - Part 2

October 5, 2005—Juan Flores, President, Faus Group, in the final part of a two-part series, discusses the company’s U.S. and Asian manufacturing expansion with the acquisition of a facility in Georgia and the opening of a manufacturing facility in Shanghai, China. Flores also discusses the company’s product strategy, its aggressive stance on intellectual property rights and the launch of: FastDesign, a multi-design system, which permits five different laminate floor designs form one SKU and: Multi-Direction Design, which allows for the creation of uninterrupted wood grain strips across seams.

Floor Focus’ Frank O’Neill on the Week in the Floor Covering Industry

October 4, 2005—Floor Focus magazine publisher Frank O’Neill sums up ceramic tile show Cersaie, and discusses Faus Group announcement that it will launch a manufacturing operation in Georgia and had already opened a manufacturing operation in Shanghai and launched some product innovative products. O’Neill also discusses the successful CCA Global/FCIF Charity Golf Tournament; Mohawk’s earnings guidance announcement; iFloor.com’s move to open brick and mortar stores: and Forbo’s exit from Surfaces.

Mark Falanga Looks Back at NeoCon East

October 3, 2005—Mark Falanga, Vice President, Merchandise Mart, on the final day of the NeoCon East in Baltimore, discusses the show its record attendance and exhibitor turn-out. Also discussed is the show’s focus on the governmental market and its partnership with GSA’s National Furniture Center. Falanga talks the successful promotional program leading up to the show and the events surrounding the show.