AHF launches Kaleido Color Lab

Mountville, Pa.—AHF Products launched Armstrong Flooring Kaleido Color Lab, a digital design tool for customizing luxury vinyl tile for floors and walls. The platform gives designers more control over color, pattern and scale.

“Kaleido isn’t just about choosing a product—it’s about authorship,” said Oxana Dallas, principal designer, commercial, AHF Products. “It gives designers control over how color, pattern and scale interact within a space, so they can express not only aesthetic ideas but emotional tone and brand identity.”

Kaleido Color Lab offers more than 500 remixable combinations. Designers can mix base patterns, accent colors and sizes in three steps. The platform provides instant visualization through an online interface.

In addition to floors, designers can use luxury vinyl tile as a commercial wall covering when the correct products, adhesives and installation methods are specified. What began as a workaround has evolved into a wall solution for offices, retail, healthcare, hospitality and mixed-use spaces.

Crafted for today’s design professional

Kaleido was designed to support modern workflows. The platform guides users through selecting a base pattern, applying an accent color and choosing a size. It simplifies the process from concept to specification.

“Designers are always looking for ways to extend the use of performance materials beyond the floor,” Dallas said. “Using LVT on walls allows us to create cohesive environments that balance durability, cleanability and visual impact. In commercial interiors, vertical LVT delivers both design flexibility and practical performance.”

The platform includes real-time visualization tools. Designers can preview designs in sample spaces or upload their own projects. This helps speed decisions and improve client confidence. Kaleido supports branding, wayfinding and spatial zoning. It helps designers shape environments while meeting performance needs.

At the core of Kaleido is Mixtera, a new in-house pattern family. It includes Prism, Mosaic and Mirage designs. Each pattern comes in neutral base tones and pairs with curated accent colors. Designers can also use coordinating products from Tandem, Duo and Terra collections. The visuals suggest softness and depth while maintaining performance.

All products use a U.S.-made LVT platform with Diamond 10 Technology for resistance to scratches, scuffs and stains. Plus, Kaleido is available in multiple sizes for commercial applications across education, healthcare, hospitality, office and retail spaces.

“In commercial spaces, designers need materials that do more than look good,” said Yon Hinkle, vice president of product management for resilient flooring, AHF Products.”They need surfaces that perform, clean easily and hold up over time. Using LVT on walls gives us a way to extend durable, resilient materials into vertical applications without compromising on aesthetics or maintenance efficiency.”

AHF Products manufactures Armstrong Flooring LVT to order in Pennsylvania. This reduces waste, limits inventory and shortens lead times. “Sustainability isn’t just about materials anymore—it’s about responsible systems. With Kaleido, we’ve built a made-to-order model that delivers exactly what’s needed, when it’s needed, without the waste or excess,” Dallas added.

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Tarkett highlights senior living at 2026 EFA conference

Phoenix, Ariz.—Tarkett highlighted its senior living flooring portfolio at the Environments for Aging (EFA) conference, March 16–18, 2026. The company showcased a connected system of responsibly made flooring solutions designed to support residents, caregivers and service teams.

“Designing senior living spaces comes with real-life challenges—and real opportunities—to create places that feel welcoming, dignified and built to support everyday life,” said Sandi Soraci, director of healthcare and senior living segment strategy for Tarkett North America. “Our senior living portfolio was built with that responsibility in mind, giving designers a connected system of solutions they can trust to perform, endure and inspire.”

Tarkett presented carpet, resilient flooring, luxury vinyl tile, wall base and finishing accessories designed to work together across senior living environments. The system supports consistent specification from resident rooms to common areas and back-of-house spaces.

Carpet collection spotlight

The company highlighted its latest carpet collections, Preserved Treasures and Interwoven Journeys. Preserved Treasures delivers warmth and elegance. Interwoven Journeys offers a modern foundation inspired by movement, connection and daily life. The collections share coordinating palettes and textures that support flexible design choices.

Attendees also previewed Transition 4.5 mm (20 mil) luxury vinyl tile. The product pairs wood, stone and abstract visuals with durability for senior living spaces. It is designed to support mobility, safety and everyday comfort. When used with most Tarkett ethos carpet tile styles, it creates a smooth transition between surfaces.

Tarkett also featured its Johnsonite Millwork Wall Base System. The collection includes 114 standard colors and more than 20 profiles. It delivers the look of milled wood without ongoing maintenance, touch-ups or repainting.

The company also presented evidence-based design guidance developed with SAGE. The organizations published a design guide based on expert focus groups. It offers strategies for creating senior living communities that support independence, health and wellness.

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Mirage Rebate Sale returns with spring promotion across U.S.

Saint-Georges, Canada—Mirage, a hardwood flooring brand known for design and quality, announced the return of the Mirage Rebate Sale. The promotion will run across the United States at participating Mirage dealers from April 16 to May 30, 2026.

Consumers will receive a $0.50 per sq. ft. rebate on Mirage flooring during the event. The offer applies to all Mirage hardwood flooring products. This includes all species, colors, widths and collections.

“Spring is synonymous with renewal and new beginnings, making it an ideal time to elevate living spaces. This seasonal promotion gives homeowners the opportunity to invest in quality and design at a moment when inspiration and intention naturally align,” said Jerome Goulet, vice president of marketing at Mirage.

Nearly 1,050 Mirage dealers across the United States are participating in the event.

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Apollo Distributing launches The 1920 Collection

Fairfield, NJ—The Apollo Distributing Company, a fourth-generation, family-owned flooring top 20 distributor, has launched The 1920 Collection, a new brand platform unifying its established Woodlands, Aqua-16 and Diamondwood luxury vinyl plank lines under one cohesive identity.

The launch of The 1920 Collection reflects Apollo’s continued investment in delivering enhanced marketing support, product accessibility and streamlined resources for retailers, builders, contractors, designers, property managers and architects. While the product lines remain unchanged, the new brand creates a centralized digital hub designed to make it easier for partners to discover, specify and sell flooring solutions rooted in heritage, style and quality.

Apollo stocks all products within The 1920 Collection locally at its Fairfield, NJ headquarters. The collections also feature coordinating moldings, supporting complete flooring solutions across residential and commercial projects.

The name “The 1920 Collection” pays homage to Apollo’s origins, honoring the company’s founding in 1920 and its legacy of building long-standing partnerships across generations.

“The 1920 Collection is about creating clarity and opportunity for our customers,” said Charlotte Basala, marketing and digital strategy manager at Apollo. “We’ve taken products that already have a strong reputation in the market and built a platform around them that better supports our partners with the tools, resources and inspiration they need to grow their business.”

Harrison Slobodien, business development manager and fourth-generation member of Apollo, said: “For us, this launch is rooted in both legacy and forward momentum. These are products we’ve stood behind for years. Bringing them together under The 1920 Collection allows us to strengthen that foundation while continuing to evolve how we support our customers.”

The 1920 Collection is now live, with a dedicated website offering product information, inspiration and resources for industry professionals and end users. Discover and explore more at the1920collection.com.

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Karndean North America names Noah Fulton CEO

Noah Fulton

Export, Pa.—Karndean North America, which operates as Karndean Designflooring in the United States and Canada, has named Noah Fulton, vice president of business strategy, its new CEO, effective immediately.

Fulton is stepping into the role held by Bill Anderson since 2019. Anderson recently decided the time was right to step away from Karndean, 16 years after joining the company as vice president of operations.

Fulton and Anderson worked closely for more than a decade, ensuring a seamless transition in leadership, according to Ed Perrin, Group CEO of U.K.-headquartered parent company Karndean Holdings. “Nobody understands our business better from top to bottom than Noah,” Perrin said. “His long history with Karndean makes him uniquely qualified to hit the ground running as CEO. Just as importantly, Noah knows our customers and understands how best to continue supporting them. I’m confident he’s the right person to take everything that Bill helped to build and lead us in a new period of growth.”

Fulton said he promises Karndean customers one thing above all else: stability. “From our perspective, it’s business as usual,” he explained. “We’ll continue to provide everything our customers have come to expect from Karndean: beautifully crafted luxury vinyl, consistent inventory levels and expert customer support. We remain as committed as ever to being a partner our customers can count on, particularly in times when market conditions are a challenge.”

Fulton’s history

Founded in 1973 in the United Kingdom, Karndean remains a family business focused exclusively on luxury vinyl. When U.S. operations were established in 1998 just outside of Pittsburgh, Fulton’s mother, Carol, was among the very first employees, which is how Fulton found himself in the production department making sample boards that summer. Even as he went on to pursue an accounting degree from the University of Pittsburgh, Fulton continued working with Karndean in a variety of capacities, gaining firsthand knowledge of everything from sales and marketing to finance and IT.

The breadth of those experiences gives him a perspective that will benefit both Karndean and its customers. “I have a pretty good understanding about what our team needs to do their jobs well, because in a lot of ways I’ve lived it,” Fulton said. “There may be opportunities where, together, we can find more effective ways to work. That’s going to make us an even stronger organization and, ultimately, an even better partner to our customers.”

Perhaps more than anyone, Fulton also said he appreciates the culture of a family business. Karndean was started by Mike Walker, a flooring installer, in his family home more than 50 years ago. “Again, I’ve lived it,” Fulton explained. “As a family business, there’s a natural importance placed on relationships, on caring about people. It truly shapes who we are, both as a special place to work and as a partner for our customers.”

Anderson’s impact

Bill Anderson

During Anderson’s 16 years with Karndean, the company grew to a market leadership position for luxury vinyl in North America. Not long after being appointed CEO in 2019, Anderson deftly guided the company through the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading Karndean to new heights.

Perrin and Fulton both say Anderson leaves an indelible legacy, as both a business leader and a steward of the Karndean culture. “We all thank Bill for his commitment and tireless efforts toward making Karndean what it is today,” Perrin noted. “He’s created a solid foundation upon which we will continue to grow, and we wish him the very best.”

Fulton also credits Anderson for ensuring Karndean remained true to its identity as a family business, even as the company grew under his leadership. “Bill’s humility and caring nature set the tone for our entire organization,” he said. “We’ll all miss him personally, and we’re indebted to his leadership.”

For more on this story, see the April 20 print edition of FCNews.

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Rox acquires Precision Flooring Products

Beauceville, Quebec—Rox, a North American manufacturer specializing in hardwood stair parts and flooring accessories, has acquired Precision Flooring Products, a U.S. manufacturer of prefinished hardwood moldings and accessories. The move expands Rox’s product range and production capabilities. The acquisition supports the company’s goal of becoming a leading North American manufacturer of prefinished and unfinished stair parts and flooring products.

Dave Wallace, president and owner of Precision Flooring Products, will remain involved as a co-owner. He will continue to lead the company alongside Rox. Richard Porter will support operations as general manager to ensure continuity.

The companies expect the deal to deliver immediate benefits. These include a broader product offering, increased production capacity and faster lead times. “This acquisition is a winning formula,” Wallace said. “Our customers will benefit from a unified and highly responsive North American platform.”

Rox said the combined platform will offer a wide catalog of stair parts and flooring products. It will include thousands of stain and finish options. The company said it can match most hardwood flooring colors without physical samples.

The acquisition builds on Rox’s earlier purchase of CG Hardwood Moldings, now CG Finishes, in 2024. Together, the companies now operate as a one-stop shop for manufacturers, distributors and retailers.

ROX’s facility here will continue to supply unfinished stair parts. These products support its prefinished divisions in the U.S. and Canada. The company also noted improved service in the U.S. market. A Tennessee warehouse will allow for faster delivery and closer access to key regions.

“This partnership is a true win-win,” said Pierre-Luc Thomassin, president of Rox. “We are building one of the most complete and agile platforms in North America.”

ROX, Precision Flooring Products and CG Finishes will showcase their combined offering at the NWFA Expo. The event will take place April 21–23 in Orlando, Fla.

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Locking systems aim to ease the task at hand

Floor covering manufacturers often get the bulk of the credit when it comes to fresh looks, trendy styles and award-winning designs. Rightly so, given the amount of investment in research and development required to create products that consumers and end users crave.

But it’s equally important to recognize the role that the industry’s major manufacturing technology providers play, particularly in the development of locking systems incorporated across the array of popular hard surface products available today. These behind-the-scenes providers are responsible for innovations that not only allow today’s hard surface floors to be installed quickly and securely, but also elevate the performance of those products as it relates to resistance to moisture incursion.

Classen’s Megaloc Aqua Protect provides up to 48 hours of protection against water penetration.

Classen, for example, builds on its reputation for innovative locking systems, first seen on its popular Megaloc technology. The company now offers Megaloc Aqua Protect, which is designed to make laminate more water resistant thanks to the innovative Taploc system—along with its Liquid Lamination Technology. Megaloc Aqua Protect provides up to 48 hours of protection against water penetration thanks to fold-down technology that prevents moisture from entering the joints, thereby reducing swelling by up to 75%. In addition to that, Classen offers Megaloc Twin, a locking system that allows the installation of herringbone strips via “AA” panels vs. the traditional “AB” panels. This not only expedites installation, but it also provides a more secure connection across the length of the installation.

New locking systems designed to enable and simplify herringbone patterns are also a focal point for innovators like i4F Technologies. The company continues to promote its HerringB/ONE system, a highly intuitive installation drop-lock technology that eliminates the need for A/B panels by using only one panel type. According to the company, this greatly simplifies installation, production, logistics and stock management, while ensuring precise alignment and a highly aesthetic visual result.

Another recent innovation from i4F Technologies is CeraGrout, a technology that aims to mimic the aesthetics of modern ‘rectified’ ceramic tiles with an integrated grout. Fully waterproof, CeraGrout-enhanced tiles are extremely durable and deliver proven resistance to wear and tear, stains and chemical household agents. Panels are designed to install, remove and replace more easily than traditional ceramic tiles, the company said.

Perennial favorites within the i4F Technologies portfolio include 3L TripleLock, a one-piece drop-lock system for the short side of the panel. With this system, no special inserts are needed, meaning less work and lower costs. Another go-to system, Click4U, is designed to work seamlessly with 3L TripleLock, enabling extremely high locking strength. Fast and easy to install, no special tools are needed—and it’s suitable for existing high speed production machinery.

i4F Technologies’ HerringB/ONE features a one drop-lock mechanism on all herringbone panels, thereby eliminating the need for separate A & B versions.

More recently, i4F took the wraps off its new Stair Tread system. The technology addresses one of the flooring industry’s key challenges by enabling stairs to seamlessly match the floor using the same material, décor, texture and height. This creates consistent floor-to-stair integration across SPC, LVT, WPC, laminate and wood, including top steps and landings. Two construction approaches are available to suit different stair configurations: L-shaped and U-shaped systems. Water-resistant and engineered for safety, performance and speed, the Stair Tread solutions are suitable for residential, commercial and hospitality applications. As no structural stair modifications are required, installation is quick and straightforward, ensuring a visually coherent design from floor to stair.

Uniclic remains one of the most popular locking systems for laminate, rigid core and engineered wood floors.

Unilin Technologies offers its licensees a host of innovative solutions when it comes to locking systems. Among the most popular are: Uniclic, Unizip and Unidrop. Uniclic, the technology that essentially put Unilin on the map, is arguably the most popular locking system available on today’s hard surface flooring products. And its popularity continues to grow due to its proven reliability and strong connection. The Uniclic system is designed to prevent common issues in the market, such as edge damage and visible ledging. This performance is consistent even in thinner products, making Uniclic a trusted solution across a wide range of applications.

Then there’s Unizip, which enables the faster installation of the ever-popular herringbone pattern, and the signature Unidrop system, a one-piece fold-down locking profile that enables a fast, reliable installation while delivering secure horizontal and vertical locking. Unidrop also allows for easy and efficient deinstallation should installers need to reposition the panels.

“With the support of our experienced technical and marketing team—and more than 40 years of hands-on expertise in click systems and core materials—we work closely with our factory partners to deliver the best possible product to the end user,” said Lauren Delee, business development manager IP, Unilin.

Välinge Innovation displayed the full range of its locking system and green technologies at Surfaces earlier this year, but the one that stood out the most was its new 5G H/B One (short for Herringbone-One) innovation. Not only does 5G H/B One enable simpler, faster installation and dismantling—according to Laetitia Kimblad, director, business unit, flooring technology—but it also provides improved vertical strength. “Because of the improved vertical strength, you can reuse the planks, or put them in another place if you need it,” she explained. “You just click it together and it’s perfectly locked. We also provide a special dismantling pin to make it easier to take the planks apart.”

What’s more, the new H/B One system gives the installer more flexibility in terms of where he/she begins to lay down the planks. “The great thing about the one-panel solution is you can also work backwards with the installation,” Kimblad explained. “Let’s say you’re coming to the corner of the kitchen island or you do the installation from the middle of the room—you want to be able to do a backwards installation. Essentially you can go in any direction, which is very good for the installers.”

Välinge Innovation’s herringbone technologies are at the core of the new Woodura Herringbone 3.0 line from sister company Bjelin. It’s designed as an upgrade over the 2.0 version, which launched at Surfaces last year.

It’s just the latest addition to Välinge Innovation’s family of 5G-branded technologies. The latest introductions expand on familiar favorites such as 5G Fold Down, 5G Dry, 5G NXT, 5G Cross, 5G Climb and 5G PRO. Additional offerings include 5G Push Down, 5G One Push as well as 2G Angling.

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