Laminating Seminars Explore Industry Trends.MORE THAN 140 industry representatives participated in a pair of annual laminating seminars held Nov. 17-19 in Chicago. Leading off was a half-day session titled "The Fourth Annual Essentials of Laminate Flooring." The program was sponsored by the North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. Laminate Flooring Assn., the Composite Panel Assn., the Laminating Materials Assn. and Wood & Wood Products. The second seminar, "Specifying & Fabricating Decorative Laminated Composite Panels," was held Nov. 18-19. It was sponsored by the CPA (Computer Press Association, Landing, NJ) An earlier membership organization founded in 1983 that promoted excellence in computer journalism. Its annual awards honored outstanding examples in print, broadcast and electronic media. The CPA disbanded in 2000. , LMA LMA left mentoanterior (position of fetus). and W&WP. The seminar, devoted to the fast-growing laminate flooring market, focused on commercial applications and opportunities. In introducing the program, NALFA's president, Bill Dearing, said that a new survey of the North American laminate flooring market indicates that sales reached $472 million in 1998, with all but a silver being generated by the residential market. Yet, he added that the growth potential of laminate flooring in office, retail and other commercial venues is "very exciting." One of the highlights of the program was a panel discussion about commercial uses for laminate flooring made up of three industry representatives: Juan Flores Flores, town, Guatemala Flores (flōrəs), town (1990 est. pop. 2,200), capital of Petén department, N Guatemala. Flores was built on an island in the southern part of Lake Petén Itzá and on the site of the , general manager of Faus Floor; Doug Rende, vice president and general manager of contract sales for Pergo; and Mark Kieckhafer, national commercial manager for Wilsonart. All three panelists noted that laminate flooring manufacturers are developing specialized products for the commercial sector featuring greater wear resistance and other improved performance characteristics. Kieckhafer cited a study by Mead/Intertek indicating that laminate flooring outperformed vinyl and wood in a slew of wearability tests, including those for resistance to abrasion, burn, scratch, scuff and stain. "Maintaining a commercial-grade laminate floor will cost up to 85 percent less than hardwood flooring in a typical application because there is no buffing, wax stripping or refinishing Refinishing in woodworking and decorative arts means fixing or redoing the finishing paint, varnish or other top coating of an object, from resanding to new paint and new varnish. The artisan or restorer is traditionally aiming for an improved or restored and renewed finish. ... You just mop up with a glass cleaner." Flores said the quality of installation is critical. "Fifty percent of the value of flooring is tied to installation." Addressing design trends, James Voss Jr., director of design for Suddekor, said, one of the hottest looks for laminate flooring emulates "vintage woods." Laminated Panel Trends The vast majority of decorative laminates are applied to particleboard par·ti·cle·board or particle board n. A structural material made of wood fragments, such as chips or shavings, that are mechanically pressed into sheet form and bonded together with resin. or medium density fiberboard fi·ber·board n. A building material composed of wood chips or plant fibers bonded together and compressed into rigid sheets. Noun 1. , two products that experienced a strong year in 1999, according to Rich Margosian, who was making his last official public address as president of the Composite Panel Assn. Margosian noted that many "market gurus" believe that demand growth will slow in 2000-2001 at the same time that North American production capacity of particleboard and MDF (1) (Main Distribution Frame) A wiring rack that connects outside lines with internal lines. It is used to connect public or private lines coming into the building to internal networks. "accelerates" because of new mill startups. That scenario could lead to continued price breaks for panel buyers, he added. Some of the new agrifiber panels coming on the market, including those made with straw and other wood composite alternatives, have a potentially bright future, Margosian said. Their attributes include enhanced moisture resistance, lighter weight and good strength and machinability. However, he said some of the challenges these manufacturers must overcome include ironing out manufacturing bugs and costs associated with raw material procurement and the use of more expensive isocyanate i·so·cy·a·nate n. Any of a family of nitrogenous chemicals that are used in industry and can cause respiratory disorders, especially asthma, if inhaled. resins. George Carter, executive director of the Laminating Materials Assn., said while all classes of decorative overlays are increasing, the biggest share-of-market gains between 1988 and 1998 were registered by thermofused melamine melamine (mĕl`əmēn'), common name for 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine. Melamine is a trimer (see polymer) of cyanamide, H2NC≡N, and is synthesized from calcium carbide. and heat transfer foils. Speakers Sought Plans for the Fall 2000 laminating seminar are being drawn up. |
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