The MAPEI family develops bonds that last through good times and bad, and we feel that many of us have come even closer together as we have worked through the difficult economic times of the last three years.
The MAPEI family develops bonds that last through good times and bad, and we feel that many of us have come even closer together as we have worked through the difficult economic times of the last three years. Due to leading indicators we have been observing in the general economy, we are cautiously optimistic that better times are coming within the next year.
I believe the most important thing distributors, retailers and installers in the flooring industry can do now is prepare for the upswing. MAPEI has remained committed to its long-term strategy for growth and innovation, and we feel that this dedication to the future will see us positioned to meet your needs as your businesses begin to grow and flourish again.
For example, we have expanded our production line for urethane adhesives at our Garland, Texas, plant to support the requirements of the wood flooring sector. We are enlarging our manufacturing plant in British Columbia and have opened a distribution center in Calgary, Alberta, to serve the market growth in Western Canada. We increased the operating efficiency of all our manufacturing plants in the Americas without laying off any of our MAPEI family of employees. As your business picks up and you need products for your customers’ flooring projects, MAPEI will be there to ship you what you need when you need it.
Because we are a single-source supplier, MAPEI distributors can provide you with everything you need to capture the entire sale in a resourceful way – from surface preparation and waterproofing to installation systems for tile and stone, carpet, wood, vinyl and rubber, as well as concrete restoration. Working with a single-source vendor in the rebounding economy, MAPEI distributors can consolidate shipping on a wide variety of products, carry fewer SKUs, and keep optimal stocking levels on hand, increasing efficiency even further.
MAPEI never stops researching and developing new innovations. This year, we have introduced Mapelastic AquaDefense, a fast-track ready waterproofing membrane for use under tile and stone installations. It dries quickly and does not require mesh, saving installers time and labor. Our new Ultraflex LFT medium-bed mortar was developed in anticipation of new standards for the installation of large-format tiles. And our Floor Covering Installation Systems have been completely redesigned to simplify the selection process and provide the best product for your soft surface installation needs.
One of the most important ways we can all prepare to grow our businesses is by pursuing education. MAPEI now has five specialized training centers across North America, where our MAPEI Technical Institute conducts two- and three-day seminars to train distributors and installers in the use of our products so they can achieve the best results. MAPEI also supports all the industry associations related to our field. Most recently we have been supporting the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation’s certification program for tile installers, lending our MTI facilities for their use and providing products and assistance whenever they are needed. We strongly believe that well-trained and certified craftsmen will increase consumers’ desire for the best floor covering products.
Sincerely,
Luigi Di Geso
President and CEO
MAPEI Americas
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