Author: cfl

On June 24th, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced that Creative Flooring Solutions (CFL), a manufacturer of laminate, wood, and luxury vinyl will create 300 jobs and invest more than $70 million in a new manufacturing facility in Calhoun, GA. “We are thrilled that CFL has chosen Gordon County to expand their business operations to more effectively reach their customer base,” said Governor Kemp. “The impact of this announcement will be felt across the region as the company seeks to employ 300 hardworking Georgians.”

Founded in Shanghai in 2004, CFL employs 3,500 at three factories, multiple offices, and distribution centers around the world. Thomas Baert, owner and president of CFL, stated “This marks a next step in our plan to become a global company, and we are looking forward to contributing to the economic wellbeing of the community in Calhoun, Gordon County, and Georgia.”

“The CFL factory and showrooms in Calhoun will drastically increase convenience of working with our partners and distributors,” said Tom Van Poyer, CFL owner and CEO. “Being able to supply products produced in the United States will allow us not only to sustain our leadership position in product design and product innovation, but also create a platform allowing second-to-none service through reduced delivery times.”

CFL will locate to a newly constructed 252,000-square-foot facility at 3576 US Highway 41 in Calhoun, with plans to build another 250,000 square feet in the near future. Perry Coker, CEO of CFL North America, added “This certainly is another major step for CFL. Most of our customers have been true partners for many years, and we have grown together. It just makes sense to make this commitment to produce closer to them, and all the benefits that go with that. But we still also have the advantage of using all our assets around the world to continue to provide unique and innovative flooring products.”

To read the full release from the Governor’s office click here

CFL has received a series of important patents in 2019 related to flooring on the basis of Mgo (magnesium) core with a locking as well as other composition patent on certain multilayered flooring. The company announces representation of these patents by I4F , Unilin and Valinge with whom it has recently signed seperate representation contracts. The launch of the commercialization of these patents will start on the upcoming flooring exhibitions in Las Vegas and Domotex Asia/Chinafloor in Shanghai. This agreement relates to a series of patents applied before January 2020.
Thomas Baert, President CFL Flooring. We are looking forward to rolling out these exciting new technologies separately via I4F, Valinge and Unilin. CFL is known to be the innovator of Asia and we are excited to be working on the flooring products of the next decade.

Read the release on Floor Daily

CFL’s new production facilities in Taiwan and Vietnam are up and running, with initial shipments of laminate and SPC having started in March 2019.    This new production not only increases CFL’s total capacity globally, but also helps to address the tariff challenges for the U.S. market.   Thomas Baert, Co-Owner of CFL, advised “In the past several months, we have worked diligently to expand our production outside of China.  CFL will continue efforts to provide optimal solutions for our valued partners.”     

– I4F receives licensing rights for new engineered stone, wood veneer composite base board
– Patented board resolves most moisture, heat issues associated with natural wood flooring
– Environmentally-friendly engineered stone composite works on all floor levels

WILLEMSTAD, CURAÇAO– I4F, a group of companies providing patents and technologies to the flooring industry, today announced that it has signed a patent partnership agreement with CFL Flooring for a new engineered stone, wood veneer composite base flooring board. The breakthrough engineered stone, veneer board resolves virtually all the disadvantages currently associated with natural wood flooring by reducing moisture intake and flammability on any floor level or room type.  In addition to I4F receiving licensing rights for the new board, the partnership also opens up future collaboration in the area of patented technologies.  CFL is fast becoming one of China’s leading flooring manufacturers and a leading Asian flooring innovator.

The new sound absorbing board provides a stone-wood composite base that keeps the wood veneer level dry and heat resistant by substantially retaining moisture and heat within the stone-wood base. As a result, this new board can be used in any room and is particularly suited to those prone to high levels of heat and humidity like wet rooms, kitchens and greenhouses as well as on all floor levels, even basements. The new board is also environmentally-friendly as it uses less wood and eliminates the need for any sub-flooring.

Thomas Baert, President of CFL, said, “We are excited about working with I4F to promote this breakthrough technology. This technology, developed by Mr. Mondo Pallon, is the beginning of many more to come over the next months and years. Innovation is in the DNA of CFL Flooring and now secured through many approved and pending patents.”

 Commenting on the new patent partnership, John Rietveldt, I4F CEO, added, “We believe CFL’s new engineered stone, veneer composite board could become the greatest thing since parquet!  This latest partnership with CFL underscores our strategy to seek out and market flooring technologies that have a profound impact on today’s flooring landscape. This innovation resolves age-old issues linked to natural wood flooring while bringing exciting new possibilities back into the market. We will continue to work, in partnership, with the world’s leading and most innovative companies to find more exciting innovations that truly make a difference.”

CFL Flooring announced it has reached an agreement with the owners of the US patent nbr 9.453,349 B2; related to wood boards and planks with an engineered stone base to license and sublicense the technology.

This agreement complements CFL’s own multiple patent applications, covering different compositions for the engineered stone.  

Thomas Baert, President of CFL Flooring:  “CFL is the industry disrupter with its construction on the base of Engineered stone. We believe that this will shape the innovation in the flooring industry the next years. We are ready to take the lead”.

CFL Flooring is the leading manufacturer and inventor of PVC-free engineered stone flooring. It positions its lines as the pinnacle of the waterproof category: superb stability, rigidity and unmatched wear resistance.

Our main message on the show was that we believe the new engineered stone construction, entirely PVC-free, is the new breakthrough that will shape innovation in the flooring industry the next years and we are ready to take the lead!

CFL Flooring announced the launch of an exciting and new waterproof engineered stone.  This revolutionary new product will be introduced at Domotex & Surfaces 2019.

CFL positions it as the pinnacle of the waterproof category, featuring advantages of a newly developed Rigid Mineral Stone Core: waterproofness, rigidity, unmatched wear resistance, and superb stability. Engineered stone can be seamlessly installed over large surfaces (up to 10,000sqft) with no transitions, installed in all spaces, including 3-season rooms and sunrooms, and is approved for kitchen islands to be placed directly on top. It has up to 30% better scratch resistance than the industry leading coatings, making it ideal for commercial and residential applications.

It’s 100% free of PVC and plasticizers, inhibits mold and bacteria growth, and features a pre-attached high performance underlay. The unique backing provides additional sound reduction, stability and comfort. It is certified and made from recycled PET plastic bottles.

“PVC-free engineered stone is a breakthrough innovation and is covered by a series of worldwide patents.   Waterproof has been the buzz word of our industry the last years. The future of flooring is natural, recyclable, 100% stable, all in combination with being waterproof. Simply ask a customer whether she prefers a stone floor or a plastic floor. Expect a real game changer!” said Thomas Baert, President of CFL.

CFL is proud to announce that in order to support the fast growth of the company, and in consideration of the recent trade disputes between the USA and China, the company has initiated establishment of three new fully integrated production facilities outside of China. Products produced in these facilities will significantly expand CFL’s overall capacity, and will not be subject to the recent tariffs implemented – likely up to 25% total by January 1^st.  All facilities will be operational by January 2019.

Cited Tom Van Poyer, CEO:  “We are committed to make our partners stronger than ever in this ever-changing and challenging business environment, and feel we are far ahead in pro-actively finding solutions for our customers.  Across all categories, whether it is Laminate, SPC, WPC, or LV, we will continue to go the extra mile to bring the most innovative and differentiated products to the market place.”

Thomas Baert, President, also commented: “These manufacturing initiatives in countries outside of China mark the beginning of a more global expansion of our company.   CFL has grown into a family of close to 3000 employees, and we are very committed to providing a platform for our customers to take market share in these changing times.”

Read about the news on
Floor Covering Weekly
Floor Daily

Norwalk, CT, August 24, 2018-The American Consumers & Workers Justice Coalition (ACWJC) took its fight against proposed tariffs on Chinese LVT imports to Washington, D.C. this week by testifying before the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) 301 Tariff hearings in the International Trade Commission hearing rooms. The Coalition was represented by Harlan Stone, one of the founders of the ACWJC and president of the Multilayer Flooring Association (MFA). Barron Frith of Creative Flooring Solutions (CLF), also a member of the MFA board and the Coalition, was also present to support the removal of LVT from the list of products that would be subject to additional tariffs of up to 25%.

Barron Frith :“We were here as the voice for the Coalition, which consist of over 120 companies representing manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and contractors that believe the tariffs will have a negative impact on our industry. Hopefully Washington is listening.”

Read more on Floor Daily

CFL Flooring’s patent application for waterproof laminate technology has recently been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

The company says this represents a significant development in the protection of CFL’s technologies and helps secure its position as a leader in bringing innovative solutions to the waterproof categories in the North American market.

“We’re extremely excited about this news. Our R&D teams together with our production units worked very hard in making our Firmfit products truly unique. Even in today’s highly competitive flooring markets we’re happy to continue to be recognized for bringing innovative products. While most competitors have been focusing on WPC (wood plastic composite) versions, Firmfit has quickly become a leader in its category because of the quality and performance of the product and this patent approval recognizes just that” offered Thomas Baert, president of CFL Flooring.

Read more on Floor Daily

Read more on Floor Trends