MMFA Annual Meeting in Mönchengladbach

Carl Ruland newly-elected to the Executive Board

This year’s members’ meeting of the MMFA – the Multilayer Modular Flooring Association – attracted some 80 attendees who came to learn about the latest developments in the industry and the current status of Association projects. This meeting of stakeholders, held in Mönchengladbach on 25 & 26 April, was hosted by associate members Ungricht and Saueressig Design Studio. Three new associate members were welcomed into the MMFA, and as per schedule a new Executive Board was elected.

The MMFA General Assembly confirmed Mr Matthias Windmöller (Windmöller GbmH) as Chairman of the Board for a further two years of office. After six successful years with the MMFA, Founding Chairman Volker Kettler (MeisterWerke Schulte) did not stand for re-election. Members thanked him with long applause, showing their appreciation of his commitment and pioneering work in technical areas, standardisation, research and development. Mr Kettler’s duties as Vice President and Chairman of the Technical Committee have now been taken over by Executive Board member Sebastian Wendel (Akzenta/Classen Gruppe), former Chairman of the Market Development Committee. Carl Ruland was newly-elected to the Executive Board and from now on will lead the Market Development Committee as its Chairman. Dr Peter M. Hamberger (Hamberger Flooring) was re-elected as Auditor for the MMFA. All appointments were approved by a unanimous vote.

Three new members

Members voted unanimously in favour of accepting three new companies as associate members: Solutions SL (Elda, Spain), H.B. Fuller Deutschland GmbH (Lüneburg, Germany) and I4F Licensing B.V. (Eindhoven, Netherlands). Taking into account these newcomers, as of end April 2018 the MMFA now has 51 members, including 22 ordinary and 27 associate members, plus two supporting members.

The MMFA can look back over a busy and successful year in 2017. Good progress has been made in research projects and by the Market Development Committee. In his presentation, President Matthias Windmöller made reference to the joint session held in Düsseldorf in November 2017 which resulted in important decisions on product clustering, i.e. the new grouping within the MMFA for product classes. This new classification is being used as the basis for sales statistics and has been effective since the start of 2018. Looking across the Atlantic, Mr Windmöller praised the early and dynamic advances and the rapid work rate achieved by the North American Multilayer Flooring Association MFA, whose first General Assembly he attended last summer. Both associations will continue to maintain close contact and exchange professional views and information.

Dynamic market development requires swift action

January 2018 started off the year with a high point. The MMFA was invited by trade fair operator Deutsche Messe to exhibit at Domotex in Hanover in a dedicated area named ‘Pier 12’, an ideal space for introducing the MMFA’s new product classes system to an extensive specialist audience. The main objectives of the Association for 2018 are to continue handling a wide range of technical projects, refining the market statistics, acquiring new members and swapping information with the US-based MFA, working together with them to drive forward international standardisation work. Mr Windmöller pointed out how rapidly technical developments are racing ahead in modular multilayer flooring. To assess the quality of the many new ‘rigid’ products on the market, it is essential to define internationally valid standards and norms as quickly as possible. In order to achieve this, the MMFA will shortly be increasing its technical budget for 2018 and will carry out its own research work as an active contribution to the creation of the foundations needed for reliable product evaluations.

At CEN level, the MMFA is involved in setting up WG 11, a new workgroup specially focused on modular multilayer flooring. Until now, MMF floors have fallen under CEN TC 134 WG10 (harmonisation). The new WG could also serve as a model for forming an ISO committee in the future.

The MMFA also sees areas of action for the flooring industry in view of the current EU strategy on plastics. Back in January 2018, the European Union published plans and measures which aim to significantly reduce plastic waste in the EU and increase the plastic recycling rate. China has also amended its policy on plastics and will soon be imposing stricter regulations, forcing other world regions and their industries to take action themselves. The MMFA wants to be proactive and press ahead with developing a European action plan for the flooring industry.

European umbrella association planned

Further developments at EU level are on the horizon: MMFA members unanimously granted their Executive Board the mandate to establish the EuFCA – the European Floor Covering Association. The founding members are to be the ECRA (carpet), ERFMI (flexible coverings), EPLF (laminate) and MMFA Associations. In the case of the other three associations, the Executive Boards have not yet been granted authorisation by their members, but a positive outcome is anticipated soon. The new EuFCA organisation, an “Association of Associations”, is to be located in Brussels so as to fully and effectively represent the interests of the industry.

The MMFA consequently has a packed programme for the rest of the year with a great number of new tasks lined up for its internal workgroups. The Mönchengladbach meeting was an opportunity for members to find out about current developments in technology and standardisation: Bernhard Grewing (Windmöller GmbH) introduced the “Clean-off Zones” project, and Dr Rico Emmler and Petra Schulz (IHD Dresden) gave talks on the ongoing MMFA “Hot Spot” and “Castor Chair Test” projects. Gert Bauerfeind (Selit) presented the initial test results relating to underlay materials for Class 2 products with rigid core materials. Dr Theo Smet updated the meeting on the progress of standardisation work in the CEN and ISO committees, and Marcel Kies (Aspecta) gave an overview of the technical agenda of the North American MFA Association. On the second day of the meeting, Daniel Tigges from the Eco-INSTITUT in Cologne gave a talk entitled “Quality Labels and Logos – Perspectives for our Products”.

Sales of multilayer products continue to grow

The sales trend for MMFA members continues to be a positive one, although the growth in membership distorts the basis of reporting, making it difficult to draw a comparison with the previous year’s figures. Sebastian Wendel (Akzenta) presented the current MMFA sales figures to the meeting. For Class 1 flooring (HDF core) the Association estimates the share of the world market held by MMFA members in 2017 at more than 90%. In 2017, MMFA members sold 9.9 million m2 of Class 1 products around the world. In the same year, as much as 80% of sales volumes in this class could be attributed to members in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In the “old” MMFA Class 2 (based on polymer or polymer composite), MMFA members reached sales of over 48 million m2 in 2017, of which 23 million m2 was accounted for by Western Europe and around 21 million m2 by North America. According to an in-house estimate by the Association, in 2017 MMFA members achieved a share of approx. 38% for Class 2 in the main market of Western Europe.

Annual MMFA statistics for 2018 are recorded in line with the new product class grouping: 1, 2A, 2B and 3. The division of Class 2 takes into account current product developments. The new system of clustering products will in future result in shifts within the sales statistics.

The updated MMFA Class 1 (based on HDF) applies to products with wood-based cores containing a minimum of 65% wood particles/wood fibres. From now on, this category will also include floors with cork as the wear layer, although only those with a cork thickness of less than 2.5 mm. These were previously allocated to MMFA Class 3. The previous MMFA Class 2 (based on polymer or polymer composite) has now been split into sub-classes 2A and 2B. Class 2A refers to the “classic” hot pressed and calendered LVT/vinyl click products as specified in EN10582 and EN 16511, whereas Class 2B represents more rigid/solid products with click connection, either with SPC (Solid Polymer Core) or EPC (Expanded Polymer Core, i.e. polymer foam core layer). 2B also covers PVC-free polymer products. Class 3 continues to apply to all other flooring structures not covered by Classes 1 or 2A/B, or own external standards. This would include, for example, MMF modules using the click system with a textile top layer, or those with a mineral core.

The MMFA workgroups will meet up for further sessions over the course of this year. The next Annual General Meeting will take place in May 2018 in Buttenwiesen, Germany, at the invitation of member company Surteco.
www.mmfa.eu

Illustrations – Image captions
mfnd1802_b01: General Assembly of the MMFA: Around 80 industry experts gathered in Mönchengladbach on 25 and 26 April at the invitation of Ungricht and Saueressig Design Studio. – Photo: MMFA

mfnd1802_b02a/b: Hosts Gregor Ungricht (left) und Steffen Völker (right) welcomed attendees to the meeting in Mönchengladbach – Photo: MMFA

mfnd1802_b03: The MMFA Executive Board led the session for the last time with the old line-up: (l. to r.) Sebastian Wendel, Volker Kettler, Matthias Windmöller and Managing Director Peter H. Meyer. – Photo: MMFA

mfnd1802_b04: MMFA President Matthias Windmöller: “Dynamic market development requires swift action. The MMFA has a great number of tasks lined up for 2018.” – Photo: MMFA

mfnd1802_b05: “To assess the quality of the many new ‘rigid’ products on the market, it is essential to define internationally valid standards and norms as quickly as possible.” – Volker Kettler, former Chairman of the Technical Committee. His office will be taken over by Board member Sebastian Wendel. – Photo: MMFA

mfnd1802_b06: “For Class 1 flooring (HDF core) the Association estimates the share of the world market held by MMFA members in 2017 at 90%.” – Sebastian Wendel (Akzenta) presented current MMFA sales figures to attendees for the last time as Chairman of the Market Development Committee. The new Chairman will be Carl Ruland. – Photo: MMFA

mfnd1802_b07a/b: Matthias Windmöller thanked Volker Kettler, outgoing Chairman of the Technical Committee, for his dedication over six successful years of working for the Association. – Photo: MMFA

mfnd1802_b08: The newly-elected MMFA Executive Board: (left) Carl Ruland, new member of the Executive Board and Chairman of the Market Development Committee; (centre) Sebastian Wendel, new Vice President and Chairman of the Technical Committee; (right) Matthias Windmöller was confirmed for a further two years in office as President of the MMFA. – Photo: MMFA

mfnd1802_b09: Bernhard Grewing (Windmöller GmbH) introduced the ‘Clean-off Zone’ project. – Photo: MMFA

mfnd1802_b10: Gert Bauerfeind (Selit) presented the initial test results for Class 2 products with rigid core materials. – Photo: MMFA

mfnd1802_b11: Dr Rico Emmler (IHD Wood Technology Institute, Dresden) presented the current status of the ‘Hot Spot’ research project. – Photo: MMFA

mfnd1802_b12: Petra Schulz (IHD Dresden) gave a talk on the ongoing MMFA ‘Castor Chair Test’ project. – Photo: MMFA

mfnd1802_b13: Dr Theo Smet (Concuise GCV) reported on the activities of the international standardisation committees at CEN and ISO level. – Photo: MMFA

mfnd1802_b14: Marcel Kies (Aspecta) gave an overview of the technical agenda of the North American MFA Association. – Photo: MMFA

mfnd1802_b15: Guest speaker Daniel Tigges (Eco-INSTITUT) provided interesting insights into the subject of quality labels. – Photo: MMFA

INFO BOX

MMFA Classes – updated version, effective 01/2018

Agreement on product clusters covered by the MMFA (as defined during the joint session of the MMFA Technical & Market Development Committees held in Düsseldorf on 16 November, 2017):

Multilayer modular floorings for floating installation…

Class 1: All products with wood-based core (≥ 65% content of wood particles/wood fibres in the core) with polymer or cork overlay (cork thickness < 2.5 mm).

Class 2: Substrate based on polymer or polymer composite with polymer overlay and/or polymer lacquer system.
(New: two sub-classes):
Class 2A: LVT click products (acc. to EN10582 and EN 16511) – Hot pressed and calendered
Class 2B: All other polymer click products
(EPC: Expanded Polymer Core and SPC: Solid Polymer Core).

Class 3: All other flooring structures that are not covered by Class 1 or 2, or external standards.

Note: Class 3, for example, covers modules using the click system with a textile surface, or those with a mineral core.