Novalis Invests $35M in LVT Facility

TORONTO—Novalis Innovative Flooring announced the completion of a landmark deal with Zhenjiang City to purchase a 35–acre tract directly across from its existing manufacturing facility. The company plans to erect a new state-of-the-art luxury vinyl tile (LVT) plant.

“After looking at a variety of options and scenarios, we determined that building literally across the street from our existing plant made the best sense for servicing and supplying our customers, both in the U.S. and around the world,” stated John Wu, president and CEO of Novalis. “Our combined operation and expanded corporate campus will afford us amazing design and production synergy that we just couldn’t duplicate anywhere else.”

In addition to new LVT production lines, the new facility will house the company’s new headquarters and administrative offices, expanded R&D and design facilities and a new customer experience center to share and educate the Novalis vision of sustainability. The design and construction of the new space will be LEED and WELL certified. According to the company, completion will occur in three phases over the next 36 months, with phase one completed by Q1 of 2019. The total investment will be approximately $35 million.

“We are currently working on the next generation of LVT in both flexible and rigid core, so the timing of this investment couldn’t be better for us,” said Wu.

For more, call (704) 799-1111 or visit novalisinnovativeflooring.com.

DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR to Celebrate 20th Year

SHANGHAI—The Shanghai New International Expo Center will host the 20th anniversary edition of DOMOTEX asia/CHINAFLOOR, the largest flooring show in the Asia-Pacific region, March 20-22, 2018. The exhibition will feature 12 halls—five dedicated to carpet and rugs; four to wood, laminate, cork, bamboo, other hard surfaces and FloorTech; and three halls dedicated to resilient. Some of the world’s leading brands will exhibit at the show including: Armstrong, Gerflor, LG Hausys, Nox, USFloors, Tarkett, Haro, Swiss Krono Group, Valinge, Balta, Oriental Weavers, Beaulieu and Mannington. Show organizers report that more than 80% of the exhibit space has been booked.

For more, visit domotexasiachinafloor.com.

Shaw to Modernize Tennessee Carpet Plant

DECATUR, TENN.—Shaw will invest more than $42 million in its Meigs County, Tenn., carpet plant to modernize the facility and allow the company to use both nylon and polyester fiber at this location, including recycled PET.

“By continuing to invest in our people, processes and products, Shaw is able to provide a diverse product mix, innovative design and the greatest quality and service to our customers,” said Shaw’s chairman and CEO Vance Bell. “The upgrades to this facility are indicative of our commitment to advanced manufacturing and enhancing our operations as we rapidly respond to shifts in the market and customer preferences.”

The plant employs approximately 370 associates and with the expansion, the company anticipates the creation of 75 new jobs. Shaw operates five facilities in Tennessee, employing more than 650 associates statewide. The first equipment will be operational in November with additional machinery coming online through June 2018.

“I’d like to thank Shaw for its continued investment in Tennessee and this commitment to Meigs County,” said Bob Rolfe, Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner. “As the largest employer in Meigs County, Shaw plays a pivotal role in the economic well-being of the area and its residents. It’s encouraging news that Shaw will create 75 new jobs in the region and a testament to the skills of Meigs County’s workforce and Tennessee’s overall business climate.”

For more, call (800) 441-7429 or visit shawinc.com.

My Flooring America Continues Hurricane Relief Efforts

HOUSTON—My Flooring America in Houston distributed six commercial size truckloads of carpet and hard surface flooring, valued at nearly $350,000, to Builders Without Borders of Texas, a non-profit organization that assists with food, housing, education and medical services to disadvantaged people locally and around the world.

Mohawk helped My Flooring America transport the flooring to the needed areas. By partnering with Builders Without Borders of Texas, hundreds of homeowners in need will receive flooring from these most recent donations.

“Our community is struggling to begin the process of rebuilding, while dealing with very difficult circumstances,” said Scott Steel, co-owner of My Flooring America. “As local business owners, we have a responsibility to do whatever we can to help people get back on their feet again. By partnering with Builders Without Borders of Texas, we can have the quickest and greatest impact on helping families with the materials they need to rebuild their homes.”

For more, call (832) 604-4745 or visit myflooringamerica.com

Letter from Shaw Industries President Randy Merritt

Dear Friends,

Where does time go? It is hard to believe that it has been almost 42 years since Shaw Industries offered me a job as a trainee in the spring of 1976. I remember the day well...

I could not say “yes” fast enough! With everything I owned in the back of a Vega station wagon, Dalton became my new home.

Over the past 41 years I have been so blessed to be a small part of the incredible story of the growth of Shaw Industries and our community. Most of you know the history and what the company has meant to the flooring industry. For me through those years the greatest part of the story has been the wonderful people I have had the honor of working with. Every day, every year we all focused on how we could help create a better future...for our customers, our associates and their families, our communities where we lived and worked, and of course for Shaw.

As Sharon and I head toward retirement and full time grand parenting I want to say thank you. I wish I could see everyone face to face, but alas this is my best opportunity.

First, thank you to all of the customers across the country who have supported our company professionally and me personally. I am so grateful that I have been mentored by so many of you and have the privilege of calling you friends as well as great customers. I have had the pleasure of seeing your businesses grow and in some cases seeing second and third generations step in to continue the legacy of this great industry. Thank you all for your unwavering support and kindness. Nothing would have been possible with out each one of you.

Second, thank you to all of the wonderful people of Shaw Industries. Throughout the years this has numbered in the hundreds of thousands. We have all worked together with a common goal to serve our customers with great products and great service...every day. And while we did not get it right some days, it was not for lack of heart or effort. Shaw Industries is a family and an unbeatable team of great people. That is truly the secret—great people doing innovative and creative things.

Third, I have to say a special word of thanks to Vance Bell, our CEO. I have been blessed to know Vance since my first week at Shaw. No one has worked harder, nor given more, in their time as a leader. Vance was a steady hand on the wheel through the worst recession of our time. He has made insightful and strategic decisions throughout his career that have helped lead us to where we are today. He has been, and continues to be, a great servant leader and I have been honored to work with him.

Finally, I want to say thank you to the members of the trade press. You all work tirelessly to support this industry and everyone in it. Through the years you have been fair to Shaw and fair to me. I appreciate the relationships and friendships we have built and will always be grateful. I will continue to follow the industry through your work.

As proud as I am of all we have accomplished at Shaw over the past 50 years, I am even more excited about the future that lies ahead for the next 50. We have an incredible team of talented, energetic leaders who are bright, hungry, and dedicated. They all possess and live the core values of honesty, integrity and passion. My experience has shown me through the years that when one leader moves on, they are inevitably replaced by one that is even stronger and more talented. No one misses a beat and the former is soon just a fond memory. I am so excited that this will be the case for Vance and his team going forward. The men and women of Shaw Industries are more prepared than ever to lead the flooring industry for many years to come.

So, not only from me, but from my entire family, thank you for the distinct honor of working with you all for the past 41+ years. Thank you for your advice, your support, your encouragement, and most of all, your friendship. My days as an every day participant in the flooring industry are about finished...but I hope my days as a friend to you all will never end.

In humble gratitude, Randy

Industry Celebrates Antron Performance Award

KENNESAW, GA.—Invista, Starnet and Mannington Commercial celebrated with Bonitz Flooring, the winner of the first Antron Performance Award, at an event held at the Avenue in Greenville, S.C. Bonitz won the award for the use of performance-driven carpet choices at Concentrix Corp.

The awards are the result of a joint partnership between Antron and Starnet, recognizing the use of performance-driven carpet choices in commercial applications.

“I’m quite familiar with the challenges faced in busy call center environments” said Steve Spencer, retired State Farm facilities manager. “From heavy foot traffic to the rolling castors of the office chairs, Bonitz delivered a flooring solution to reduce the crushing and matting of the carpet using Antron Carpet Fiber.”

For more, call (770) 952-4093 or visit bonitz.us.

Artaic Acquires Terraferma

BOSTON—Artaic-Innovative Mosaic has acquired all assets of Terraferma USA, a firm specializing in large mosaic projects fashioned with high quality glazed porcelain and vitreous glass.

Operating under Terraferma by Artaic, Terraferma will maintain a separate identity under the Artaic company brand, and president Emilio Garello will become president of Terraferma by Artaic, while Terraferma’s founder, Gianni Meneghini, will assist Artaic as a strategic advisor.

By adding Terraferma by Artaic , Artaic is now able to offer a foundational running line–ideal for projects that demand sizable volumes of high-quality tile at competitive pricing. These new materials can be specified as field tile to be positioned alongside Artaic custom mosaic works throughout an entire construction project.

“Terraferma delivers Artaic deep roots in the international mosaic tile market via its industry veterans,” said Ted Acworth, founder of Artaic. “Emilio and Gianni were looking to partner with an innovative mosaic provider. Specifically, one which could take their company to the next level in terms of design style and support and help them more aggressively expand a growing dealer network. Together we will advance a shared commitment to exceptional quality, service and value. So, whether it’s fresh design collections, stunning custom work or unique running patterns at high volume, Terraferma by Artaic will deliver.”

For more, call (617) 418-1928 or visit artaic.com.

Milliken Names Director for Specialty Interiors

SPARTANBURG, S.C.—Textile industry veteran Dana Claire Larson is Milliken’s new director of design and development for the company’s newly integrated Specialty Interiors business.

The addition of Larson complements and enhances the seasoned team of business, sales, marketing and design professionals Milliken continues to build to exceed the needs of textile customers and prospects across a wide range of industries, including home, office, healthcare, hospitality and specialty events.

In her new role at Milliken, Larson will lead a team of designers, development engineers and technicians in all phases of the new product development process, including ideation, proof of concept and commercialization. She will collaborate closely with customers, sales and marketing teams and manufacturing partners to create and commercialize new innovative fabrics for the commercial interiors, hospitality, healthcare and residential markets.

Larson spent nearly 20 years in progressively responsible advanced technical textile and design roles and has become a well-known name in the contract textile industry. She brings broad and deep knowledge of all aspects of textile design, yarn development and textile manufacturing processes, as well as keen business and analytical insight.

For more, call (864) 503-2020 or visit milliken.com.

PID Opens NYC Showroom

NEW YORK—PID Floors has opened a new showroom in New York City’s Herald Square. Through a recent partnership with Bauwerk, PID floors will feature the flooring manufacturer’s parquet flooring products exclusively in the new showroom.

“For us, this partnership seemed like a natural fit,” said Steven Skutelsky, PID’s managing director. “We strive to offer our clients the very best quality of product with an emphasis on environmental sustainability, health, and well-being. Bauwerk shares a very similar value system to us. They adhere to a strict standard of “Healthy Living” environmental measures, while simultaneously providing a high-quality and beautiful product.”

For more, call (212) 337-3433 or visit pidfloors.com.