01/2020

Trends: The market provides tailwind Diverse in many directions

MMFA, the Multilayer Modular Flooring Association e.V. was founded in 2012 by European manufacturers of "design floors", which are becoming increasingly established on the market. After a phase of self-discovery, for the first time a European flooring association granted membership in 2016 to those importers who offer full logistics, sales and technical advice in Europe. This created the conditions for real market coverage. Today, we can see that this type of floor has become firmly recognised, the individual product categories have found their specific applications and sales channels and expansion is running at full speed: an ideal breeding ground for innovations in various dimensions, both technical and decorative.

After a long process, the members of MMFA agreed for the first time on a clear categorization of floating floors and floors assembled from individual modules into:

• "Wood" - floors with carrier boards made of wood-based materials and surfaces made of polymer or a cork layer with a thickness below the cork floor standard,
• "Polymer" - floors with carrier plate and surfaces of polymer materials, and
• "Mixed" as a category for all other product structures.

This new categorization has to be clarified in order to understand from which segment MMF floors are currently drawing the strongest growth impulses. The category “Polymer” was later divided into “LVT Click” and “Rigid” floors, with the latter comprising so-called EPC (stands for “expanded polymer core”) and SPC (“solid polymer core”). Those “Rigid SPC” floors are now particularly popular.

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Images
Image captions:
mfnd1905_01: Tile formats ranging from 300 x 600 mm to 900 x 450 mm do justice to the stone and concrete look.
Photo: © Corkart Design Concept Plaza Collection 4102

mfnd1905_02: With integrated foam backing, the sound transmission of footstep sound into rooms below can be reduced by up to 19 dB according to the manufacturer.
Photo: © Designflooring Cortono Cameo 1

mfnd1905_03: The format country house plank extends the “vinyl floor without vinyl” range.
Photo: © MeisterDesign Farmeiche hell 6831

mfnd1905_04: MMF floors have established a firm position in the professional contract business primarily because of their durability, individuality and ease of maintenance.
Photo: © Novalis LVT Herringbone Clic

mfnd1905_05: The formats of the planks determine not only the technical side of the installation, but also the appearance of the finished floor in the room.
Photo: © Parador Modular ONE Eiche Spirit geräuchert Landhausdiele

mfnd1905_06: With stone decors, the whole range of grey tones is dominating, especially in the neutral concrete looks.
Photo: © Skema Sintesy Star.K

mfnd1905_07: Colour and decor combination between living with real parquet flooring from the same manufacturer and kitchen due to the risks of moisture with vinyl flooring.
Photo: © Tilo Elito-Trend Eiche weiss

mfnd1905_08: The material optics must authentically embody the natural origin – in deliberate contrast to the “artificial”.
Photo: © Quick-Step Rigid Pulse Click Vinyl Cotton Oak cozy grey