MMFA Association meeting in Viken, Sweden

Work in progress on new test methods for multilayer floors

At the invitation of extraordinary member company Välinge Innovations Sweden AB, the participants of the MMFA – the Multilayer Modular Flooring Association – met on 20th and 21st April for their Ordinary Members’ Meeting. Over 40 industry players attended, using this opportunity to carry out in-depth technical discussions and to be involved in work on the Association’s projects within its Technology and Market Development working groups.

The MMFA currently has 34 members in eight European countries. Matthias Windmöller, President of the Association, began by greeting the representatives of the companies Sandvik TPS (Göppingen) and Forbo Flooring BV (Assendelft/NL), who joined the association at the start of the year. Mr Windmöller presented an all-round positive summary of the Association’s activities during the previous year to the assembled members – mentioning, amongst other things, the rapid preparatory work carried out on EN 16511 in collaboration with the MMFA, the publishing of the “Underlay Materials” Technical Bulletin and the successful launch of the MMFA Industry Workshops.

Volker Kettler (MeisterWerke), Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Technology Working Group, stressed to the attendees the important role of the MMFA as a joint interest group and a driving force for the continued development of the standardisation work within the ISO and CEN committees. Mr Kettler reported: “In view of the growing diversity of mixed products on the market, the test methods used so far are no longer adequate – in some areas, completely new test standards need to be developed. We want to take on the leading international role here by carrying out our own research work and using the collective expertise of our MMFA members.”

First series of tests using new methods

Members at the Viken meeting voted jointly on new parameters for testing locking strength and temperature resistance. The series of tests will start this summer in partnership with IHD, the Wood Technology Institute (Dresden). The MMFA working group involved will be led by Dr Rico Emmler (IHD). All results from the project will be channeled directly back into the CEN for the continued development of content for standards relating to multilayer and LVT. In this way, the MMFA will be contributing towards international implementation of uniform quality standards for modular multilayer flooring, for the purpose of safety in handling and use. Mr Kettler indicated that technical discussions between the CEN working groups TC134/WG7 (Resilient Floor Coverings), TC134/WG9 (Laminate Floor Coverings) and WG10 (Harmonisation) will be stepped up in future. As one of the official MMFA representatives, Dr Theo Smet will be providing support for the standards development work undertaken by the ISO and CEN committees.

Another item agreed at the meeting in Sweden was the ongoing schedule for the Association projects “Installation Instructions”, led by Bernhard Grewing (Windmöller), and “Cleaning and Maintenance”, led by Dr Karl-Michael Schutz (CC Dr. Schutz). The intention is that both these MMFA Technical Bulletins should contain universal, non-company specific instructions and recommendations for the various product groups. After completion, they will be available as downloadable files free of charge to any specialists who are interested. 

Additional seminars for craftsmen

During 2015, the MMFA is again providing comprehensive information on innovative multilayer flooring at regional trade events. Flooring installers, interior designers, technical experts and salespeople at the POS are invited to make use of these practical training opportunities. On 12th June, a one-day workshop serving the area of Northern and Eastern Germany will be held at the Dorint Hotel in the Eppendorf quarter of Hamburg. Following that, there will be an event on 9th October in Salzburg serving the catchment area of Southern Germany as well as Austria and Switzerland.

Growth of the multilayer market in Europe

Sebastian Wendel (Akzenta), Chairman of the Market Development Working Group, presented positive market development figures to the assembled meeting. He reported a further increase mainly for products in the MMFA Class 1 category (Substrate based on HDF with polymer layer, excluding lacquer only systems), for which Association members have approx. 95 % market coverage. The turnover in square metres for the first quarter of 2015 showed a rise of approx. 20 % compared with the same quarter of the previous year. In MMFA Class 2 (Substrate based on polymer or polymer composite with polymer layer and/or polymer lacquer system), product sales remained stable compared with the previous year. It has not yet been possible to ascertain data for MMFA Class 3 (all other flooring structures which are not covered by Class 1 and 2 or external standards, e.g. with a mineral core) due to antitrust regulations, under which at least five notifying companies are making claims. Mr Wendel is optimistic that this statistical gap will be closed by the end of 2015. MMFA members currently estimate the volume of the total Western European LVT market for 2015 at around 56 million m².

The two-day information agenda for MMFA members was rounded off with the following specialist talks: Bjørn-Erik Øye (Prognosesenteret AS, Oslo) – Development of the European Building Construction Markets; founder of Välinge, Darko Pervan – New Developments in Flooring Technology; and Prof. Tunga Salthammer (Fraunhofer WKI, Braunschweig) – A Sensory Evaluation of Building Products. The MMFA Working Groups will meet up for further talks over the course of this year. The next Ordinary Members’ Meeting will take place on 9th and 10th May 2016 in Southern Germany at the invitation of extraordinary member Schattdecor (Thansau).
www.mmfa.eu

Images – Captions:

mfnd1502_b1: Ordinary Members’ Meeting of the MMFA: More than 40 industry players met on 20th and 21st April in Viken, Sweden, at the invitation of Välinge Innovations AB. – Photo: MMFA
mfnd1502_b2: The MMFA Board in Viken (l. to r.): Volker Kettler, Sebastian Wendel, Matthias Windmöller and Peter H. Meyer – Photo: MMFA
mfnd1502_b3: Volker Kettler, Vice Chairman of the MMFA and Chairman of the Technology Working Group: “We want to take on the leading international role by carrying out our own MMFA research activities.” – Photo: MMFA
mfnd1502_b4: Host and founder of Välinge, Darko Pervan, reported on new developments in flooring technology. – Photo: MMFA
mfnd1502_b5: Bjørn-Erik Øye (Prognosesenteret AS, Oslo) briefed MMFA members on development of the European construction markets. – Photo: MMFA
mfnd1502_b6: Prof. Dr. Tunga Salthammer (Fraunhofer WKI, Braunschweig) provided fascinating insights into methods used for the sensory evaluation of building products. – Photo: MMFA