More colors, better designs and increased comfort lead to healthy sales
A chunk of that revenue goes back to flooring makers' research and development departments, where greater advances and innovations can potentially be unearthed. Darragh predicts that in 10 years' time, healthcare flooring will evolve into more than just a surface covering.
"There is work being done by numerous manufacturers who are going to dramatically change the landscape of healthcare flooring," Darragh says. "In specialized areas, flooring will be able to improve patient care and the patient environment. There is a tremendous amount of potential to use flooring to help track and identify patients, for example. These and other advances could potentially alter the role of healthcare flooring."
Roppe Corp. currently offers a full line of vinyl and rubber flooring suitable for the healthcare industry. According to Roppe's Dee Dee Brickner the products are also designed with an eye toward presenting comforting visuals.
"We offer designs and styles in commercial-grade flooring products that can endure the heavy rolling traffic that healthcare facilities endure, without looking industrial. Healthcare interiors should be designed to promote healing and aid in the comfort of patients."
Roppe's newest entries for the segment include the North Coast collections of Wood Naturals and Terra Naturals solid vinyl tiles. Wood Naturals offers an authentic looking hardwood visual in a commercial-grade floor. Terra Naturals showcases the looks of granite, stone and marble for heavy-duty commercial use. Brickner says both products have been designed to offer "the comforts of home in a commercial setting."
Roppe's sister company, Flexco, also offers design-savvy products for healthcare environments. The recently launched Health Design Vinyl Tile was brought to market "to give architects new color choices and designers more colors to use in projects," says Melissa Quick, a representative for the company.
At the NeoCon meeting in Chicago this month, Flexco plans to introduce Evolving Styles, a new line of rubber tile in 20 colors, two gauges and multiple sizes for the healthcare segment.
"This product will be great for leg fatigue and will be able to take lots of punishment from large hospital beds with large casters," she says. "The floor will help with sound absorption as well."
The company also carries grit strips and ribbed tread inserts that meet ADA requirements and provide slip resistance for stairways.