Competence in construction

After four days full of interesting news and events, Domotex 2017 – the international trade fair dedicated to new products and technology for textile, resilient and wooden flooring which was held in Hannover, in Germany, from the 14^th to the 17^th of January – came to an end registering a considerable growth in both the number of exhibitors and the amount of display space occupied by the participants, and in the number of exhibitors and visitors from abroad. 1,409 exhibitors from more than 60 countries from all over the world presented their most recent innovations to the global public, highlighting the numerous solutions currently on offer in the flooring sector.

And just like all the previous years, Mapei was an enthusiastic participant at this international gathering, along with their German subsidiary Mapei GmbH, to present all their products and systems developed specifically for this sector.

And, as always, Mapei’s participation was highly appreciated by the numerous visitors to the event, with around 70% coming from abroad, mostly (43%) from EU member states. Worth mentioning was the large increase in the number of visitors from the Middle East (+9%) and from the Orient and Central Asia (+16%). There was also quite a large increase in the number of visitors from the United States and the United Kingdom. Domotex proved to be in constant evolution, becoming a privileged observation point for all that’s new in the flooring field.

EXPERTISE COMES FROM EXPERIENCE

In their large display area (Stand A30 - Hall 7), Mapei highlighted its wide range of solutions.

“Mapei. To Build Expertise” was the key claim adopted to also emphasise Mapei’s international leadership in the sector of adhesives and complementary products for the installation of all types of flooring. Expertise in building that is the result of Mapei’s unrivalled know-how: specialisation in the building world, internationalisation, research and development into increasingly technologically-advanced products, technical support, teamwork, concern for the health and safety of all those who use our products and the special care taken towards all the people working for the Mapei Group.

LVT: STYLE AND INNOVATION

Mapei increases its range of products for LVT. What better occasion than Domotex to exhibit the completeness of their product ranges, which from this year also include the possibility of applying over (and removing from) old flooring, including in damp surroundings (bathrooms, showers, kitchens, etc.).

And it was by using a real shower that the stand managed to capture the interest of the visitors, who were able to see and touch the new members of the family for themselves. The shower was chosen mainly to present the new, safe, complete system for installing LVT in damp surroundings, which includes overlaying old covering materials on the walls and floor of showers, consisting of a one-component, silylated polymer-based reactive adhesive (ULTRABOND ECO MS 4 LVT) and a non-slip finish (MAPECOAT 4 LVT), as well as the most suitable products for preparing and sealing substrates in this particular area of use.

Let’s start with the adhesive: ULTRABOND ECO MS 4 LVT is a modern, one-component, silylated polymer-based reactive adhesive specifically developed for installing LVT and to replace conventional two-component reactive adhesives in all areas where this type of material is installed. It is also recommended for installing all types of textile and resilient flooring, particularly the various types of PVC.

It is extremely tough and highly resistant to shear loads, which makes it particularly suitable for floors exposed to direct sunlight or intense mechanical loads and stresses from fork-lifts, pallet trucks, etc. and for floors in areas constantly exposed to water (entrances to public areas, communal kitchens, showers, bathrooms, etc.).

It is also available in a thixotropic version (ULTRABOND ECO MS 4 LVT/WALL) for bonding LVT on walls.

ULTRABOND ECO MS 4LVT is certified EMICODE EC1 Plus (very low emission of volatile organic compounds) and Blue Angel.

But let’s go back to showers, which provided another opportunity to present FLEXCOLOR 4 LVT ready-mixed grouting paste for floors and walls, a product that allows you to add a personal touch to LVT flooring. It can be used, for example, to create an effect that reminds us of wood-like flooring on the bridge of a ship. Or it may be used for the grout lines between tiles to give a ceramic or stone-effect finish. The results you can achieve are often quite surprising.

To close the system, MAPECOAT 4 LVT two-component, non-slip, aliphatic polyurethane finish in water dispersion, available in a matt version (10 gloss) or with a semi-gloss finish (30 gloss) for LVT floor and wall coverings. This product offers a non-slip finish with high resistance to wear on LVT flooring in civil and commercial surroundings, including areas subjected to high volumes of foot traffic.

Apart from the complete system for installing LVT in damp surroundings, other products which complete the line were also presented.

PLANIPREP 4 LVT ready-mixed smoothing and levelling mortar, used to smooth over and level old, uneven substrates or surfaces with grout lines before installing self-adhesive and “tack-dry” LVT. It is now also available in an easy-remove version that leaves no traces of the product, PLANIPREP REMOVE 4 LVT, so that once self-adhesive LVT flooring has come to the end of its use, the underlying flooring can be quickly restored to its original condition.

PLANIPREP 4 LVT and PLANIPREP REMOVE 4 LVT are certified EMICODE EC1 Plus (very low emission of volatile organic compounds).

For soundproofing needs the showcased product was MAPESONIC 4 LVT, a sound-absorbing mat for LVT available in two versions; self-adhesive MAPESONIC SA 4 LVT and bonded MAPESONIC GD 4 LVT, both capable of reducing noise in rooms and buildings (reduction in noise from footsteps by up to 16 dB).

MAPESONIC 4 LVT is a compact (1.5 mm), high-density, underfloor soundproofing system reinforced with glass fibres specifically developed for LVT flooring systems to provide additional dimensional stability. It is particularly recommended for use in renovation work (housing units, hotels, offices, etc.) where soundproofing needs to be improved without having to remove the old flooring and screed.

MAPESONIC 4LVT is also certified EMICODE EC1 Plus (very low emission of volatile organic compounds).

EXPERTISE RECEIVES ITS JUST REWARDS

MAPESONIC 4 LVT and ULTRABOND ECO MS 4 LVT, in their respective twin versions (full set of documentation available at www.mapei.com), were selected by a jury of 9 architects, designers and flooring experts, headed by the designer Stefan Diez, as technologically-innovative and cutting-edge products in the “Application technology and installation” category. The recognition of these innovations is a reflection of current and emerging trends in the textile flooring sector (including fibre and woven flooring), in the resilient, wooden and contemporary laminate flooring sector and in the field of installation techniques and methods. The products were chosen to be included in Innovations@DOMOTEX 2017 – an innovations forum, on this occasion was at its fourth edition – following a selection process which took into consideration all their technological, quality and functional aspects. The products were then put to the test to evaluate their relevance for end-users.

A NEW GENERATION OF LEVELLING PRODUCTS

Particular attention was paid to the large family of self-levelling products, which has now been enlarged with the addition of PLANEX HR rapid-drying, moisture-resistant, self-levelling smoothing mortar for layers from 1 to 10 mm thick, PLANEX HR MAXI, rapid-drying, moisture-resistant, self-levelling smoothing mortar for layers from 2 to 20 mm and PLANIPATCH FAST TRACK ultra rapid-drying, fine grained, thixotropic smoothing compound for integrating repairs in small areas up to 25 mm thick, which allows resilient flooring to be installed after just 1 hour.

Numerous new levelling products were showcased at Domotex, such as PLANIPREP REMOVE 4 LVT, PLANIPATCH FAST TRACK, PLANEX HR and PLANEX HR MAXI.

CARPET: A QUESTION OF STYLE

Carpet is an innovative, highly technological, high quality, versatile and elegant product with its own special characteristics which makes it an ideal floor covering and a key feature in the most exclusive surroundings, such as luxury hotels, cruise liners, theatres and airports.

Mapei, world leader in the sector of adhesives for textile flooring, has developed a range of reliable, highly-technological installation systems that are able to keep pace with the latest trends and developing needs. Amongst the showcased products at Domotex was ULTRABOND ECO 195 with low odour emissions during application and when in service according to ISO 1600-28.

Amongst the other products presented at the trade fair was the updated range of adhesives for textile flooring, including the innovative adhesive ULTRABOND ECO TX 3, characterised by its rapid initial grab, and ULTRABOND ECO 195, a low-odour adhesive with high shear strength and low emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) for bonding carpet, which makes it particularly recommended for bonding needle-punch flooring without the risk of shrinkage or opening at the joints. In the field of adhesives for resilient flooring, another highlighted product was ULTRABOND ECO VS30, a highly versatile adhesive for PVC, linoleum and carpet, characterised by its high shear strength that develops a strong bond very quickly.

CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF WOODEN FLOORING

At Domotex, Mapei presented various new products for the care and maintenance of wooden flooring:

■ ULTRACOAT TRAFFIC MT two-component, acrylic-polyurethane, water-based lacquer with very low emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC), which may be applied directly on flooring without a primer.

■ ULTRACOAT CLEANER concentrated detergent for cleaning lacquered and oil-finish wooden flooring.

■ ULTRACOAT REMOVER PLUS detergent for removing old wax and stubborn dirt.

■ ULTRACOAT POLISH ANTI-SLIP natural non-slip protective polish.

■ ULTRACOAT POLISH MATT stain-resistant wear-resistant protective polish.

Also showcased was the innovative cleaning aid MAPEI SPRAY MOP, recently introduced onto the market for cleaning domestic floors quickly and efficiently.

Along with the range of products to help maintain wooden flooring, Mapei also used the event to propose ULTRACOAT OIL COLOR, low-odour urethane oil finish for colouring wooden floors. It can be painted over with the Ultracoat finishes, which highlight the veins in wood.

Another family of products presented at the trade fair was the Ultrabond range of adhesives with very low emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC). Made from silylated polymers, the products from the Ultrabond family have exceptional viscosity and workability, as well as exceptional rib stability. One of the members of this family is ULTRABOND ECO S968 1K one-component, solvent-free adhesive for bonding all types of solid and pre-finished wooden flooring on any type of substrate, including heated screeds.

The next edition of this important international trade fair will be held, as always, at the Hannover Exhibition Centre, from the 12^th to the 15^th of January, 2018.