The oldest trade group in hardwood flooring, the Wood Flooring Manufacturers Association, (NOFMA) has been consolidated into the National Wood Flooring Association. Ed Korczak, executive director and CEO of 4,000-member NWFA will oversee the newly expanded St. Louis-based organization.

Korczak noted that NOFMA, which was founded nearly 100 years ago and was based in Memphis, Tenn., has been officially dissolved as a corporate entity. The group’s certification program will retain the NOFMA name and be continued under the direction of the NWFA, he added.

“It became clear that we were singing the same hymns, so we decided why not use the same hymn book,” Korczak toldNFT,in explaining the reasons for the move. “This is good for the [hardwood flooring] industry because it gives us one solid voice. We can expand our marketing and include many more companies in the certification program.” 

Korczak noted that the certification program stands to be greatly expanded from the 16 companies that were members of NOFMA, to include more than 300 manufacturing companies that belong to NWFA. Each will now be eligible to receive the NOFMA seal on hardwood product that meets certain rules and standards  

More than 50 manufacturer representatives were in attendance at NWFA headquarters on Dec. 16 a when a formal agreement was signed by NWFA chairman Ken Schumacher, and NOFMA president Bob Haggard. NWFA plans a press conference some time during Surfaces to further discuss the new arrangement.