Scott Carothers, academic director for the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, highlights how shoddy tile work around a bathroom drain in a restaurant could have been avoided if the tile installers had referenced ANSI Standards, industry best practices—and a little common sense. 

Women in the Floorcovering Industry (WIFI) is accepting applications for its second round of scholarships until July 10, 2024.

Scott Carothers, academic director for the Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, solves the mystery of large-format tile terminology and explains how the established definition helped determine its subfloor requirements. 

In a new column, International Certified Flooring Installers Association (CFI) Advisory Board Chair Rod Von Busch shares the journey that CFI is on to embrace change and diversity, the challenges it faces, what potential members can expect and how its current members are setting it apart. 

Scott Carothers, academic director, Ceramic Tile Education Foundation, walks us through the industry standards that are in place to help you achieve a successful cementitious backer unit installation under tile. 

What's happening in the residential and commercial flooring markets? While the flooring and interiors market remained challenged in the first half of 2024, there are modest signs of an impending recovery. 

The industry is preparing for 2025 with a focus on improving installation processes and attracting new talent. Initiatives include Mohawk's CFI certification for product development teams, IFC's partnership with FCEF for workforce development, and various educational programs. 

Learn about the roadmap required to activate the imaginations of Gen Z recruits, which requires visions of stability, long-term career growth, and the potential to work on meaningful projects.

As the Federal Reserve's rate cut impacts the flooring sector, industry veterans demonstrate adaptability. Dan Frierson's 60-year journey at The Dixie Group showcases innovative leadership, while Starnet's long-standing members highlight stability. Our October issue also explores retail innovations, installation techniques, and pricing strategies, reflecting the industry's multifaceted nature and ability to navigate economic shifts.

As the dust settles on this deal, the company is also ushering in the next generation of Trainas to the helm. This expansion and succession demonstrates Traina Foods' commitment to keeping the fires of traditional Italian sun-drying burning bright.

Harnessing the power of Iceland's natural environment, ÖRLÖ uses patented Energy to Food (E2F) technology to produce carbon-negative algae-based supplements. These supplements offer nutrition with a minimal environmental footprint.

Known for its indulgent, low-sugar, high-protein refrigerated donut offerings, Drumroll® has gained a dedicated following among health-conscious consumers looking to satisfy their sweet tooth cravings without compromising on taste or nutrition.

Magic Cactus’ formulation features 2mg of THC, 4mg of CBG, and 6mg of CBD; a “2-4-6” ratio for what Locarni describes as an “approachable, session-able ‘buzz’” where consumers control the consumption experience.

The trend predictions are developed by Kroger's industry-leading team of food experts including Our Brands' product developers, chefs, buyers, culinary specialists and Kroger's retail data science arm, 84.51º, for a well-rounded projection of what customers will be buzzing about for the upcoming year.

Packed with antioxidants to combat oxidative stress and thereby enhance immune function, amaí’s Sparkling Hibiscus Flower Water offers a guilt-free way to stay hydrated, according to the company.

Chunk Foods leverages fermentation for a new wave of cleaner, whole-muscle plant-based meats.

By leveraging Einride's offering of connected electric trucks, charging infrastructure and digital freight platform that optimizes operations with data-driven insights, PepsiCo aims to reduce its Scope 3 emissions.

Pour it On! New products help Rich Products build on 79-year legacy of non-dairy, plant-based innovation.

The dumplings are filled with a mix of tender chicken, savory broth, scallions, and ginger, delivering a comforting, bold flavor. Crafted with no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners, they provide a wholesome, allergen-friendly option.

The challenge is hosted by IFT and funded and initiated by the Seeding The Future Foundation. In its first three years, it has attracted over 2,400 submissions from teams of scientists, engineers, innovators, entrepreneurs, and multidisciplinary teams across non-governmental organizations (NGOs), non-profits, social enterprises, universities, research institutions as well as small and emerging for-profit enterprises.

1868 Hard Cider is made from 100% US grown, fresh-pressed apples in a classic blend of Newtown Pippin and West Coast varieties that give it its signature, just-picked, apple flavor.

The formula was developed by renowned mycologist Paul Stamets. Known for his advanced research on mushroom mycelium and psilocybin, Stamets's contributions in the world of mycology have led to new ways of harnessing the power of fungi to support the health of both people and planet.

Prepared Foods talks sustainability with packaging designer Tom Newmaster, owner and partner at FORCEpkg, Lancaster, Pa.

As CFO, Craig will use his depth of experience and will bring a fresh perspective to drive strategic and operational decisions to lead the next chapter of the KIND business.

To help patients successfully complete their treatment and live better lives, it's important for providers to specify an ergonomic, patient-friendly flooring solution that strikes a balance between force reduction and energy restitution.

The Mycelium Collection features SRP TPU flooring technology, which transforms waste plastic bottles into circular flooring. 

The new ECOsurfaces Desert & River commercial flooring line from Ecore, a company that transforms reclaimed materials into high-performance products that make people’s lives better, offers the architect and design community an innovative solution that fuses aesthetics and sustainability with ergonomics, acoustics and safety.

Three sports flooring providers have merged to create the Icon Group, a construction group that specializes in flooring and lockers for athletic facilities and surfaces for equine and other animal applications. 

Ecore International has been upcycling rubber into high-performance surfaces for over 40 years. The firm announces the launch of its TRUcircularity program, which aims to eliminate rubber waste by recycling and reimagining every end-of-life rubber floor. 

Discover the essential elements of electrostatic discharge (ESD) flooring and gain insights into achieving optimal ESD protection and mitigation. In this article, we debunk common misconceptions, explore the significance of resistance levels, and shed light on the latest material advancements that address industry challenges.

Sherwin-Williams High Performance Flooring introduced SofTop Comfort flooring systems, an addition to its seamless resinous flooring collection.

Regupol, a manufacturer of recycled rubber surfaces for sports and fitness and acoustic insulation, introduced Regupol Upscale. It is a collection of recycled rubber tiles and planks for commercial installations.

Gerflor, a global leader in designing and manufacturing specialized resilient flooring for sport, commercial, transport, and residential environments, is unveiling two new lines of Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) manufactured in the USA for healthcare and the education segments.

In addition to typical rubber sports flooring, wood-look rubber flooring fulfills a variety of fitness facility needs such as basketball courts, group fitness spaces and functional training areas.

Shaw Industries has completed the installation of a half-acre solar array at its carpet tile manufacturing and recycling facility in Adairsville, Georgia.

Designed from customer feedback and tailored specifically for light strength and conditioning workouts, Performance Motivate Plus complements Ecore’s Performance Beast flooring, which excels in handling heavier weights.

When the static electricity in a medical office, examination room or lab is under control, it helps reduce the risks of shocks to personnel, disruption of data, malfunction of sensitive equipment, igniting flammables, and reducing contamination due to electrostatic attraction.

PPG has signed a strategic agreement with flooring leader Shaw Industries Group, Inc. to offer the PPG Flooring line of resinous flooring products. The products will be available to Shaw’s customers in the commercial property market via its Patcraft brand. 

Milchwerke Schwaben’s presence in the dairy industry starts as early as 1922, dairy farmers in Ulm, Germany joined together to form a cooperative that would make it possible to produce dairy products with greater efficiency. This merger resulted in a company whose products meet the needs of consumers throughout Germany and abroad.

When COVID-19 began spreading across America, the Food Bank of Alaska in Anchorage quickly became overwhelmed. The organization had been making the best of outdated equipment in a remote location for many years, often dealing with breakdowns that led to significant losses of perishable food items. But, as the pandemic brought many longstanding issues to a head, it became clear that a permanent solution needed to be found.

Vertical form fill seal (VFFS) machines can mean different things to different people. The criteria used in evaluating, and ultimately determining, which bagging machine to buy is likely different if you are a small startup manufacturer versus operating for a global Fortune 500 brand.

The company successfully completed a build-out with employee-centered construction for Crown Bakeries.

Buying online is growing, and FPL Food LLC in Augusta, Ga., has been leaning into this trend while also selling large volumes of beef to retail stores, foodservice and food manufacturing partners.

A single-stream mechanical recycling pilot demonstration produces the rFlex bale, a flexible packaging byproduct that could be used for future end markets and as a possible feedstock.

Niagara Bottling’s new 600,000-sq.-ft. production and distribution facility in Rialto, Calif., manufactures and distributes 120,000 bottles of water per hour. Supporting this throughput are 56 laser-guided vehicles, integrated with a 33,000-position robotic pallet shuttle storage system. Designed and built by E80 Group, the distribution automation operates 24/7/365.

Solutions for accurate control, easy maintenance and remote diagnostics.

A brewer turns to Siemens for its turnkey Blockchain-based Trusted Traceability Solution to expedite future recall scenarios throughout the brewer’s extensive supply chain.

Co-manufacturer Cascade Coffee adds automation to its secondary packaging operations by adding six cobot palletizing units.

Changing consumer preferences and regulations have introduced additional complexity to supply chains, necessitating that food and beverage retailers invest in robust traceability solutions.

After years of mergers and acquisitions, large food and beverage companies seek operational data visibility across multiple plants to drive efficiencies.