The Association of European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF) is sceptical that recent developments in wood fibre technology pose a threat to the laminate flooring industry.
The new technology, which is being billed as suitable for the manufacture of hard floor coverings, comprises a powdered mixture containing sawdust, binding agents and other additives, applied to a core and printed. Manufacturers of the product claim that this will completely replace laminate flooring within 10 years, but the EPLF says this is “unrealistic”.
“Wood fibre technology may well be another of these innovations that can be used outside the flooring industry – for wall coverings or furniture fronts, for instance – but we believe it’s unrealistic to claim that laminate flooring will be pushed out of the market,” said EPLF president Ludger Schindler.
EPLF’s technical experts say they believe wood fibre technology may give rise to a new product group in its own right but that, due to its characteristics, it could not be considered its equivalent, or comply with laminate flooring standards.
