Swiss Krono to lay off 130 workers at laminate plant

Barnwell, S.C.—Swiss Krono, LLC disclosed plans to permanently lay off 130 employees at its laminate flooring and fiberboard plant in Barnwell, S.C.

The company announced the layoffs May 12 through South Carolina’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act filing. The layoffs will take effect July 11, 2026.

WARN requires employers with 100 or more full-time workers to provide a 60-day advance notice of a mass layoff or plant closing. Swiss Krono, which makes laminate flooring and fiberboard, has operated in Barnwell since 2005. In July 2016 it broke ground on a $230 million high-density fiberboard (HDF) mill and laminate flooring production expansion in Barnwell. Since 2020 Swiss Krono has invested $400 million in capital equipment to vertically integrate MDF production at the Barnwell facility.

It reportedly employed more than 150 people prior to the expansion.

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Tarkett expands homogeneous vinyl collection

Solon, Ohio—Tarkett expanded its homogeneous vinyl sheet and tile offering with the launch of Melodia Classic and an expanded color palette for its Melodia and Aria collections.

Together, the collections now offer 73 colors and three tonal patterns designed to coordinate across a range of spaces. The palette includes neutral tones as well as bolder accent colors.

Melodia features soft tonal transitions designed to create a balanced visual. Melodia Classic introduces a slightly larger-scale pattern intended to add subtle movement while helping disguise traffic patterns. Aria incorporates terrazzo-inspired accent chips for added contrast.

“With the addition of a new pattern and a more expressive palette, Melodia, Aria and Melodia Classic give designers the freedom to shape spaces with purpose and intention,” said Omoleye Simmons, vice president of design.

Performance-focused construction

Each visual is available in both sheet and tile formats. Tarkett said the options support installation flexibility, wayfinding and creative design applications across multiple environments.

The collections also feature Tarkett’s homogeneous vinyl construction with Techtonic XD protection. The technology uses excimer defense to improve stain and scratch resistance. Tarkett said the surface requires no floor finish when paired with proper maintenance routines, helping reduce long-term maintenance costs.

The company added that welded seams and thermo-fused welding help create a more hygienic surface for demanding environments. Tarkett’s RollSmart adhesive also allows for immediate occupancy and is approved for use under hospital beds.

Sustainability initiatives continue

Melodia, Aria and Melodia Classic are ortho-phthalate-free and FloorScore certified. The collections also are eligible for Tarkett’s ReStart take-back and recycling program, which supports the company’s circularity initiatives.

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FLOR launches Summer Collection area rugs

Atlanta—FLOR launched its Summer Collection, featuring area rugs designed to combine bold patterns, fresh colors and everyday durability.

The collection includes styles built to handle pets, kids and daily messes while maintaining a design-forward aesthetic. FLOR said the rugs pair easy-to-clean construction with customizable style options.

The Summer Collection includes several new styles:

• Blanket Statement features a gingham-inspired design available in Mauve, Fawn and Pine.
• Good Fortune uses a half-moon pattern to add movement and visual interest. The style comes in Coral/Maroon, Eggnog/Black and Eggnog/Pine.
• Made You Look returns with updated colorways in Mauve and Pine.

“Beautiful design should never stop you from living your life to the fullest,” said Katherine Cohen, associate creative director at FLOR. “At FLOR, we dare you to live a little with our area rugs made up of individual carpet tiles that are durable, easy-to-clean and here for every moment. Our Summer Collection combines statement-making pieces with customizable style. Whether you’re a minimalist, maximalist, lover of color or master of monochrome, we’ve got the rug for you.”

Social Spotlight partnership

The collection launch also coincides with FLOR’s latest Social Spotlight partnership with Gina Sims, owner and principal designer of Gina Sims Designs. Sims has used FLOR products across multiple projects and highlighted the brand’s durability and flexibility.

“We are huge FLOR fans, having used the product for many years on many projects,” Sims said. “It’s a sure sell for clients who are nervous about investing in rugs because of kid and pet messes. We tell them they don’t have to have one or the other anymore. We can have a beautiful, mess-free rug by just swapping out a tile.”

Sims said FLOR products help designers create spaces with more individuality and personality.

“We are firm believers that life is too short to live dully. Sure, neutral spaces are calming, but what about joy?” Sims added. “By using FLOR, we are able to pump copious amounts of joy into the spaces we design.”

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FCIF announces Day of Giving 2026

Dalton—The Floor Covering Industry Foundation (FCIF) is calling on the flooring community to support its annual Day of Giving on June 1. The campaign raises funds for flooring families facing medical illness, injury and disability.

FCIF provides direct financial assistance to families navigating difficult life circumstances. The organization is encouraging supporters to make a new gift or renew their support for 2026.

“My commitment to the FCIF began early in my career, but it truly took shape after witnessing the passion of leaders like Keith Campbell and my late friend and mentor, Dave Ghesling,” said Max Holland, COO of FEI Group and FCIF board member. “The FCIF plays a critical role in supporting industry families during their most challenging moments and I’m inspired by our efforts to expand awareness and reach. I encourage anyone who cares about people and our industry to get involved.”

Contributions can be made by individuals and corporations. To support the campaign, FCIF encourages the flooring community to:

• Donate online at fcif.org/give
• Mail checks to FCIF, 855 Abutment Rd., Ste. 1, Dalton, GA 30721
• Share support on social media using #FCIFDayofGiving
• Use FCIF’s digital toolkit to help spread awareness

Supporting families in need

For more than 40 years, FCIF has provided financial assistance to individuals and families within the flooring industry. The organization said donor support continues to help families maintain stability during periods of recovery and healing.

One recent recipient is Lukas, who was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. He underwent his first surgery just 25 hours after birth and has since endured more than 13 surgeries along with ongoing therapies and daily medical challenges.

Lukas’ father has worked in the flooring industry for 26 years as a predictive reliability technician. Through FCIF assistance, the family received a grant to help cover monthly utilities and purchase a custom adaptive bike for Lukas.

“The Floor Covering Industry Foundation has been so generous in helping us meet Lukas’ needs and secure an adaptive bike so he can continue riding with his friends,” said Peggy, Lukas’ mother. “We can’t say enough about how wonderful FCIF has been to work with throughout this process.”

FCIF said the Day of Giving campaign aims to unite the flooring industry around supporting families when they need it most.

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Tuesday Tips: Understand behavior with Michelle Nix

Dalton—The World Floor Covering Association (WFCA) released a new “Tuesday Tips” this week. In the series, WFCA experts present short video tips for improving customer service and optimizing staff performance. In the end, it’s all about understanding the importance of doing 100 things just 1% better than your competition.

In this week’s Tuesday Tips, Michelle Nix, WFCA director of education, introduces DiSC and shares how understanding behavioral styles can improve communication, strengthen workplace relationships and help teams work more effectively.

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LSI Flooring refreshes Unsquashable cushion line

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.—LSI Flooring refreshed its Unsquashable High Density Polyurethane Padding line. The update includes enhanced performance, new sustainability certifications and expanded specification options for commercial construction and hospitality environments.

The updated line now carries UL GREENGUARD Gold Indoor Air Quality Certification and CRI Green Label Plus certification. The products also contribute toward multiple LEED credits tied to sustainability and indoor environmental quality goals.

Commercial products upgraded

LSI updated its two flagship contract cushions as part of the refresh.

LSI 300 returned to its original 12-pound density. The company engineered the product for heavy commercial and hospitality use. It now features more competitive contract pricing and a light gray color for easier field identification.

LSI 101 maintains its 16-pound density and targets extreme heavy-duty installations. The product is designed for areas exposed to rolling cart traffic, including hospitality corridors, convention spaces and healthcare environments. The cushion also now features a light gray color and premium positioning.

LSI said both products demonstrate stronger tensile strength and resilience than competing cushions. The company added that the products handle higher compression loads while maintaining lower smoke density ratings and Class I fire ratings.

Both LSI 101 and LSI 300 are used in conventional and double-stick commercial and hospitality installations worldwide.

Expanded certifications and warranties

The refreshed line also introduces antimicrobial protection across all products. LSI said the products are hypoallergenic and resistant to conditions that aggravate asthma or allergies.

The company also launched updated warranties across the Unsquashable line. LSI said the changes provide added confidence for contractors, specifiers and design professionals. Updated specification sheets and technical materials are now available.

LSI Flooring manufactures all Unsquashable products in the United States, with inventory stocked in Georgia. The company serves flooring contractors and installers, flooring retailers and buying groups, to-the-trade showrooms and flooring sundries distributors.

“These improvements further strengthen the performance advantage of Unsquashable padding products,” said Larry Lane, president of LSI Flooring. “Our goal is simple — deliver the strongest, most resilient carpet cushion in the industry while helping our customers grow their businesses.”

LSI Flooring also warned the industry about imitation products entering the market.

The company said only LSI Flooring’s Unsquashable Padding products come from the original Daltonian patented high-density polyurethane cushion. LSI encouraged retailers, installers, contractors and specifiers to verify the Unsquashable logo on all packaging and product materials.

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RFCI marks 50 years with new logo

Naples, Fla.—The Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) unveiled a new brand logo during its 2026 Spring Meeting here. The redesign coincides with the association’s 50th anniversary.

RFCI introduced the logo to the largest gathering of members in the organization’s history. The previous design traced back to RFCI’s predecessor, the Resilient Tile Institute, which launched in 1929.

“Given our category’s bold and innovative leadership role in the flooring industry, we determined our logo did not accurately reflect today’s dynamic resilient flooring industry and needed changing,” said Bill Blackstock, president and CEO of RFCI. “Our 50th anniversary provided a perfect opportunity.”

Paul Friederichsen and the design team at Azul Arc led the rebranding effort. The updated logo focuses on a clean and simplified design approach. “Our trade audience knows and understands RFCI and the resilient flooring industry, so no reason to over complicate it,” Friederichsen said.

The new branding is designed to better reflect the modern resilient flooring category and RFCI’s evolving role within the industry. “RFCI has had a longer history than most realize,” Blackstock added. “This new logo and look will carry us forward to make new history in floor covering’s most exciting category.”

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