When it comes to flooring, flooring factory need to be robust and able to resist heavy machinery, vehicles and loads of products being shipped in and out of the building. They also need to be hygienic and ideally waterproof and this is particularly important for sectors like defence, food and pharmaceuticals where the floor can make or break the products being produced.
Before the Industrial Revolution, lumber had to be cut by hand using a pit saw which was very labour intensive and slow. As factories started to grow and demand for timber increased, steam powered methods were developed to reduce the amount of manual cutting that was required. This was a major advance and allowed the industry to be more efficient and to produce a more uniform look for the flooring.
Tailoring Solutions: Customizing Flooring for Your Factory Needs
In the 1970s, wood flooring manufacturers responded to consumer demands for a faster installation and a less maintenance-intensive product. The no-wax craze of the time caused consumers to switch to polyurethane-type finishes instead of the traditional stain and wax. The wood flooring industry responded by producing several textured, low-sheen woods and designs.
Today, UV-cured products continue to dominate the market as the finishing technology of choice for factory-applied finishes. They are highly effective, have low/zero VOC emissions and offer outstanding durability. They will be the choice for both commercial and residential applications in the foreseeable future.
The upcoming trends in flooring factory will likely include a move toward more natural-looking woods with a low sheen and a more pronounced grain pattern. Fashion trends in color and design will also impact the market, with lighter shades and softer hues continuing to be popular.