Locking systems tout latest innovative technologies

Across the flooring manufacturing landscape, there’s no shortage of advancements and innovations that are poised to change the game. These include alternative cores, advanced locking systems, AI-based technologies and more.

Following are a few standouts:

Bjelin

Bjelin Woodura Planks 3.0 offer improved performance.

Bjelin recently unveiled the latest iterations of its signature Woodura-branded flooring with the launch of Woodura Herringbone 3.0 strips and Woodura Planks 3.0. Bjelin’s hardened wood floors feature the patented Woodura technology, a high-quality solution that maximizes the use of raw materials while creating 100% real wood floors that boast 3x the strength of engineered wood floors. The improved dent- and water-resistance makes them ideal in busy homes as well as high-traffic commercial settings.

“Our team has worked tirelessly to combine cutting-edge technology, quality raw wood materials, sustainability and Scandinavian design,” said Bob Naida, residential and commercial national sales manager for the U.S. market.

Bjelin, part of the Pervanovo Invest AB Group, develops and manufactures a broad product portfolio of traditional wood floors and innovative floors in new materials in collaboration with sister company Välinge.

Classen

The Classen Group, a global pioneer in non-PVC flooring solutions, has devised a way to produce polypropylene-based flooring at a cost level comparable to traditional PVC products. According to the company, this development has the potential to fundamentally reshape the flooring market.

“We strongly believe that polypropylene is the right material from a quality, environmental and health perspective,” said Céline Quervel, managing director, Classen Group. “With our new production process, we are now establishing the economic foundation to bring this material to scale.”

From the early days of PVC flooring, Classen made a deliberate decision to move away from the material—primarily due to the use of plasticizers and stabilizers. Instead, the company invested early in polypropylene, one of the world’s most widely used and cleanest plastics. Polypropylene is chemically stable, free from harmful additives and fully recyclable, making it ideally suited for circular systems.

Over the past 15 years, Classen has built deep technological expertise and a strong and differentiated patent position in polypropylene-based flooring. According to Classen, polypropylene flooring delivers superior performance across key dimensions, including environmental impact, health profile, durability and long-term material stability.

i4F Technologies

i4F is going high tech and riding the artificial intelligence wave with the launch of ai4F, a new artificial intelligence strategy designed to strengthen product performance through data-driven insights and scientific analysis. The program relies on structured data collection, analysis and ongoing learning designed to foster continued improvement.

How it works: The AI systematically analyzes large volumes of data related to compositions, locking profiles and performance results. As the database expands, the system continues to learn and refine its insights. The system generates actionable, data-driven recommendations, including composition and process adjustments aimed at improving performance outcomes.

“We have brought in all our test results of the last 12 years of our locking or composition in a consistent database,” said John Rietveldt, CEO. “With our new ai4F strategy, we are laying a strong foundation for how data and analytics will shape future technology developments in the global flooring industry.”

Unilin Technologies continues to expand on its portfolio of locking system innovations.

Unilin Technologies

Unilin Technologies is aiming to simplify the flooring accessory development process by offering a comprehensive array of technology solutions for its hard surface licensee partners. The proprietary processes Unilin employs allow for the creation of a variety of accessories—including: wall base panels that click together; trims and moldings; and 4-in-1 matching profiles. The best part: utilizing the flooring manufacturer’s original planks “means a perfect match between your floor and accessories,” said Lauren Delee, business development manager, IP.

Aside from the array of accessories solutions, Unilin is also looking to make it easier and more efficient to install various flooring formats beyond traditional hard surface planks. Take its Squareclic technology, for example. This solution not only allows for the speedy installation of square tiles in, say, a checkerboard pattern, but it also keeps the tiles perfectly aligned during and after installation. The special insert utilized in the installation system, according to Delee, can be integrated at the manufacturing site, so there’s no hassle for the installer to work with separately delivered inserts. Plus, no additional tools needed for installation or deinstallation.

“Squareclic minimizes the risk of shifting panels while making the installation easier than ever,” said Floris Koopmans, sales & marketing director. “The integrated insert automatically locks into the other panel, creating the perfect alignment between tiles. It keeps the floor looking exactly as intended, even years after installation.”

Välinge Innovation

Välinge Innovation, an early pioneer in the development of click flooring, puts the spotlight on several noteworthy innovations for 2026. The first is 5G H/B One, Välinge’s one-panel solution for herringbone installation. By eliminating the need for separate A and B panels, it enables faster, more user-friendly installation while ensuring strong, reliable connections.

The company is not stopping there. It’s looking to further optimize resilient flooring with the proliferation of its line of game-changing locking systems, including 2G PRO, 5G-i PRO and 5G PRO. These are designed to increase vertical locking strength by up to 3x while enhancing overall durability. Combined with Liteback, Välinge’s panel technology that reduces weight, lowers material use and adds sound-reducing properties, these solutions enable manufacturers to optimize resilient flooring performance in all aspects.

Lastly, Välinge is looking to enhance wood flooring’s performance—particularly resistance to water incursion—with installation systems such as 5G Dry. The technology is designed to prevent water from penetrating joints.

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Reshoring survey to inform U.S. industrial policy

Sarasota, Fla.—The Reshoring Initiative, in collaboration with Regions Recruiting, launched an industry-wide survey examining the factors shaping manufacturers’ decisions to reshore factories and supply chains. The research comes as the U.S. works to rebuild its manufacturing base.

The Reshoring Initiative survey will gather feedback from manufacturing operations, supply chain and procurement decision makers and contract manufacturers. According to the organization, industry leaders and the Trump administration will use the findings to help shape policies that support manufacturing.

“Our 2025 survey explored the likely impact of contemplated 2025 policy changes,” said Harry Moser, founder of the Reshoring Initiative. “The 2026 survey focuses more on the impact of actual policy changes, including taxes, tariffs and the resulting uncertainty, the need for a greatly enhanced skilled workforce and training system and the expected impact of AI. Reshoring has surged from 11,000 jobs announced/year in 2010 to 244,000/year in 2025, a 25% compound annual growth rate. Our economy and national defense need much more reshoring and workforce to thrive and survive.”

Kathy Nunnally, managing partner at Regions Recruiting, which specializes in lean manufacturing and distribution leadership placements, added, “The pandemic was an eye-opener and now, the war with Iran, showing us what’s at risk when supply chains are disrupted. Most of our OEM clients continue to work on supply chain resiliency strategies and the building of teams and technological capabilities required to execute them. There is a bright future ahead for domestic contract manufacturers, that’s for sure.”

The organizations are calling on OEMs and contract manufacturers to participate. The nationwide survey is open now and will remain open through June 15.

Take the survey now.

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Tuesday Tips: Fuel savings for WFCA members

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, Melissa Thome explains how members can make the most of their WFCA membership with exclusive fuel savings through WEX Fuel Cards.

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Dealers deploy tactics to fight online scams

Nearly nine in 10 ransomware breaches in 2025 involved small and midsize businesses, research shows.

As if running a small business isn’t hard enough, merchants must be on guard for scams that seem to be lurking in the shadows.

Indeed, it is increasingly difficult for merchants to keep up with scammers as fraud becomes more sophisticated, automated and prevalent, according to Visa Acceptance Solutions.

Flooring retailers are facing a multi-dimensional, high-stakes-threat landscape. In the past year, U.S. businesses lost an average of 9.8% of their revenue to fraud, representing a 46% jump from 2024, according to OrboGraph, which provides innovative AI-based technology to the banking and remittance industries.

The flooring industry is far from immune to these threats, whether it’s cyberattacks such as ransomware, widespread credit card fraud or check-washing scams.

Here’s a closer look at what’s happening out there:

Credit card threats

The “fake credit card” threat has evolved beyond simple plastic replicas into complex digital ecosystems.

AI-generated synthetic identities: Fraudsters use AI to blend stolen social security numbers with fabricated data to create “synthetic” people who can pass standard verification and open retail credit accounts.

Magecart and digital skimming: Criminals inject malicious code into online checkout pages to “skim” payment info as it’s entered. Over 23 million transactions were compromised this way in 2025 alone, according to Entrust’s Payment Fraud Report.

Automated card testing: Bots run thousands of small-dollar tests on retail sites to see which stolen card numbers are active before reselling them.

Deep fakes: Criminals now use deep-fake technology to bypass biometric facial recognition and voice authentication, allowing them to pose as legitimate customers.

The check whitewashing surge

Despite the decline in check usage, check fraud now accounts for 30% of all fraud losses in the U.S. Chemical washing removes the original payee and amount, allowing criminals to write in new, much larger figures. Recent high-value cases include a $27 million U.S. Treasury check scam.

Retailers on alert

For flooring retailers, the question isn’t have they been scammed, it’s when will they be?

Bob’s Carpet & Flooring, with 17 locations in the Tampa area, had to wait weeks to get its data back after a catastrophic security breech, according to Ashlie Butler, president. Her suggestion: “Back up your data frequently and keep it separated from your main system, if possible. I’m no expert by any means, but having to wait weeks to get your data back can be brutal, if not crippling.”

For several years, Butler and her team have instructed its RSAs on how to handle potential scam calls. “Now, when one store gets a suspicious call, they immedi a t e ly alert all other locations,” she said. “But when it comes to cyberattacks such as ransomware, there’s only so much you can do—and most of it seems to be on the offense. We do what we can, carry insurance, etc.”

Butler also recommended dealers talk to their managed service providers to determine if they are using the best security suite. “Even if everything is done right, these threats can come from trusted suppliers, which can infiltrate even well-protected networks.”

Several dealers told FCNews they have been victimized by check-washing schemes. “We’ve been targeted by check washing and ACH fraud, but our use of Positive Pay and ACH positive pay has prevented any financial impact to date,” said Susan Hadinger, president of Hadinger Co. of Naples. “As these scams continue to evolve, we make it a priority to regularly review and upgrade our safeguards to try and stay ahead of emerging threats.”

Positive Pay is an automated bank fraud detection service that matches a company’s issued check or ACH data against presented payments, rejecting unauthorized discrepancies to prevent fraud. It acts as a security checkpoint, flagging mismatched amounts or account numbers for review before funds are taken.

Similarly, Ted’s Floors & Beyond in Anniston, Ala., was the victim of check washing—not once but several times during the early part of 2025. Ted Gregerson, president, said he also used the Positive Pay program. He logs onto the website every morning and manually approves every check that is being presented that day for payment. “It is a pain to have to do it, but I will say that once we implemented it and started doing it early on we caught about five checks that had been washed and were being presented for fraudulent payment. Once we caught those, it seems the crime organization figured it out and left our checks alone.”

The most common type of fraud is with credit cards and can come in a variety of ways. In some cases, the “consumer” will call up and order flooring to be picked up. “In my case, they call with an out-of-town phone number, barely speaking intelligible English, attempting to pick up large quantities of any type/color of flooring, paying with a card over the phone and sending someone in the area to come pick up the materials almost immediately,” said John Bretzloff, president of Barefoot Flooring, Castle Hayne, N.C. Sensing the red flags, Bretzloff said they shut these would-be transactions down at once by asking them to visit the store in person, with ID matching the credit card being used for the purchase. “No one ever shows, of course.”

Sadly, many other dealers can relate. Haight Carpet & Interiors, Woodinville, Wash., only recently had some orders go out that were paid for by what turned out to be a stolen credit card. “The legitimate owner of the card flagged it as fraudulent a week or so later and Visa charged us back,” said Mark VanderGiessen, owner. “We’ve historically had some good policies here; we just had to tweak them a bit. When we don’t know the buyer, cash and carry sales must be paid in person, and we check ID. We have also started to collect ID from the person picking up an order if we don’t know them. It feels a bit like whack-a-mole. You figure out how they’re taking advantage of you—and solve for that—just in time to learn the new scheme.”

To protect their assets, some dealers have moved data storage to the cloud. That’s what Ben Boss, owner of Dixon, Ill.-based Boss Carpet One Floor & Home has done. “Additionally, our co-op, CCA, has been great about pushing us to stay protected by providing a reliable source for cyber insurance to make sure we’re covered from every angle.”

In recent years, Carpet Exchange, with 17 stores in the Denver market, has tightened its security measures. As president/ owner Bruce Odette explained, “Our servers are protected with multiple firewall layers, including CrowdStrike, and all of our PCs are covered by Bitdefender GravityZone Enterprise. For credit cards, we rely on Chase and their built-in fraud protection, which is extremely strong. The biggest risk we still face is people clicking on malicious links or attachments in emails. That’s just the reality everywhere. The good news is that if something slips through, Bitdefender alerts us immediately so we can address it quickly.”

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Retailers React: Will AI level the playing field between small/large companies?

Every two weeks, FCNews seeks out flooring retailers across the country to offer their advice on hot topics of the day. This week, we asked: Will AI level the playing field between small/large companies?

Here are their responses:

“I believe this primarily depends on adoption and what it is used for. If small businesses adopt AI and use it well, not just for rewriting emails, they have a chance to level the playing field. However, if they don’t, it will likely widen the gap.”

—Elise Lefebvre

ProSource Wholesale of Arizona

Tempe, Ariz.

“AI itself will not level the playing field. I believe every company—whether big or small—will need to leverage technology via AI just to stay on the field. The gap will be determined by which companies will be able to grow strategically and support the opportunities that AI will produce.”

—Roy Tokuhama

Abbey Carpet & Floor of Hawaii

Honolulu, Hawaii

“Yes, it will level the playing field. Those who embrace it are going to win. These users can be the first to be recommended by AI apps—as we are. Many early adopters took advantage when Google Search started up years ago; they can now be first in their market with AI. If you’re still thinking about it, get off the mark and run toward what may be one of the biggest opportunities of our lives.”

—Don Lovato

CarpetSource USA

Albuquerque, N.M.

“Growing a company requires grit, judgment and a little bit of luck. AI is just a tool, and if used wisely can make you more efficient. But it doesn’t replace the grit it takes to build something real.”

—Alex Roberts

Roberts Carpet & Fine Floors

Houston

“Unfortunately, I think it will widen the gap. Many smaller companies don’t even have the resources to start AI use. AI is so helpful, especially for marketing, but many smaller store owners may not have the knowledge or staff with knowledge on how.”

—Janice Clifton

Abbey Carpets Unlimited

Naples, Fla.

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Comp-U-Floor ERP: The future of flooring software

Comp-U-Floor uses a cloud-based platform.

Busy season has a way of stress-testing a flooring business. When a retail or contractor operation is running smoothly, quotes go out on time, purchase orders are clear, materials are accounted for, installers know where to be and invoices go out when the work is done. But when systems are disconnected, the pressure shows quickly. Quotes sit too long. Purchase orders get missed. Inventory status becomes unclear. Installers wait on updates. Accounting falls behind. Reports take longer than they should.

During slower periods, disconnected systems can be easier to tolerate. But when volume picks up, every extra step matters. If a quote has to be re-entered, that takes time. If a sales order and purchase order are not connected, someone has to double-check the details. If inventory is not clear, someone has to verify. If installation schedules live outside the main system, the office and field can get out of sync. Across dozens of jobs, those gaps become real operational drag. The goal is not to add technology for the sake of technology; the objective is to reduce friction in the day-to-day work.

For over four decades, Comp-U-Floor has helped flooring businesses work smarter, stay organized and manage growth with better control. Today, Comp-U-Floor ERP stands as a cloud-based management solution designed specifically for the flooring industry, built by people who understand the challenges installers, retailers and owners face daily.

“We’ve made your business, our business, for over 40 years,” said Edgar Aya, president of Aya Associates, developer of the Comp-U-Floor program. Comp-U-Floor ERP brings tight margins, scheduling demands, inventory control, billing requirements and customer expectations into one cohesive system, giving companies better visibility, fewer disconnects, stronger communication, reduced friction and more control from lead to payment.

Comp-U-Floor ERP systems

Built for the flooring industry, not adapted to it: Flooring is not generic retail. A flooring sale can involve estimating, quoting, supplier coordination, purchase orders, inventory allocation, receiving, delivery, installation scheduling, job costing, billing and payment collection. Commercial work adds bids, revisions, change orders, AIA-style billing, retainage, project tracking and multiple stakeholders.

That is why generic software usually falls short. By comparison, Comp-U-Floor ERP was created to serve flooring professionals. From estimating and inventory to scheduling and financial reporting, every feature is designed around the way flooring businesses actually operate. The platform brings critical functions into one connected workflow, reducing separate tools, duplicate entry and scattered information.

From lead to payment—all in one system: At the heart of the ERP is a built-in CRM system that helps businesses track leads, qualify prospects, create estimates, generate quotes and move opportunities forward whether they are in the showroom, office or a customer’s home.

Once a sale is made, the system supports inventory tracking, purchase orders linked to sales activity, installer scheduling, mobile job updates, field payment collection, invoicing and reporting without pulling information from multiple places.

Built-in accounting: For commercial flooring companies, integrated accounting is a control point for the entire business. Every quote, change order, purchase order, cost, invoice and payment affects job profitability. When accounting lives outside the operational system, teams re-enter information, chase updates and wait too long to know where a job stands financially. Built-in accounting helps streamline the operation, reduce duplicate administrative work, lower unnecessary overhead and give owners a clear view of cash flow, receivables, job performance and true profitability while work is still happening.

Mobility: Flooring businesses are not managed from one desk anymore. Salespeople may be in the showroom, at a customer’s home or on a jobsite. Warehouse teams are moving materials. Installers are in the field. Managers need answers while work is moving. Comp-U-Floor’s cloud-based platform allows users to access the business from anywhere, on any device. Installers can receive mobile job updates, including directions, documentation and status updates. Managers can see the operation and make decisions with better information.

Comp-U-Floor is also placing renewed focus on commercial flooring features.

AI-driven innovation: Looking ahead, Artificial Intelligence is being incorporated into the Comp-U-Floor ERP with a cautionary but highly advanced vision, for release later in the year. The new design incorporates AI agents to assist with complex ERP tasks, including purchasing supply management and installation schedules.

Andy Michel is marketing and sales executive at Comp-U-Flor. Backed by Aya Associates, Comp-U-Floor reflects decades of flooring industry experience.

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Intertek broadens testing for flooring applications

York, Pa.—Intertek, a leading Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide, has expanded its independent flooring and floor covering testing services via the recent acquisition of Professional Testing Laboratory (PTL). Located in Dalton, PTL—which has long enjoyed a partnership with Intertek—brings decades of specialized experience to the table.

“We’ve had an ongoing relationship with PTL,” Brian Buckle, marketing director, Building & Construction, Intertek, told FCNews. “We do a lot of the acoustic testing work for the flooring industry, and we had already been working with PTL on a sub-contract basis for 25 years, actually.”

For the industry, the acquisition bolsters Intertek’s support for manufacturers, suppliers and specifiers serving the floor covering industry. Specifically, it provides Intertek’s newfound PTL customers with expanded support that includes accredited laboratory testing and on-site inspections to help assess products, support compliance efforts and address regulatory requirements. “We’ve been in building and construction in the U.S. for a long time, but now we’re just adding other ‘strings to our bow,’ so to speak,” Buckle stated.

For Intertek Group plc, the acquisition of PTL complements Intertek’s North American operations and will greatly expand PTL’s services to Intertek’s existing clients, including major retailers. Furthermore, the acquisition provides an opportunity to expand PTL’s testing services internationally, broadening beyond the USA by leveraging Intertek’s scale and global footprint in other key flooring markets around the world.

While Intertek already operates laboratories here in the U.S., the partnership enhances its ability to test all manner of building products for domestic manufacturers and the retailers/distributors that sell them. “That’s anything from acoustic to fire testing, material testing, product development, hurricane testing, doors and windows,” Buckle explained. “Whatever goes into a building, we can test that, too.”

Broadly, Intertek’s expertise covers four major categories: Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification (or “ATIC”).

Meanwhile, PTL’s flooring and interior finish materials services focus on three areas that affect how products perform over time and in the spaces where they are used.

• Performance: Flooring materials need to hold up under foot traffic, rolling loads, moisture, cleaning and daily wear. Testing evaluates performance, durability, and physical properties to help assess how products will function over time.
• Wellness: Flooring can affect indoor environmental quality in the spaces where people work, learn, heal and live. Testing helps assess product characteristics tied to healthier interior environments.
• Installation: Onsite conditions can directly affect flooring performance in the field. Assessment services help identify factors that can influence installation results and long-term in-service performance.

Perfect timing

The timing of Intertek’s expansion strategy is key, given the rapid pace of new product introductions in the U.S., particularly on the hard surface side. We’re seeing, for example, an influx of SPC, WPC, laminates, engineered hardwood and even some hybrid materials. All this means additional products to vet—particularly when it comes to heightened consumer expectations—as well as heavy promotion of waterproof products at the retail level.

“We’re seeing big box retailers that are working with different product manufacturers in the development of private-label products,” Buckle stated. “However, a lot of those brands don’t have a major strategy around product certification. That becomes an issue when you’re dealing with consumers who are buying flooring or for their homes, but the subfloors might not be level, for instance. The retailers are facing some challenges in how to deal with that from a certification standpoint.”

This presents a valuable and timely opportunity for Intertek to apply its knowledge, expertise and relationships within the manufacturing community. According to Buckle, it goes back to the issue of proper product certification, which often dovetails with inspections at the factory level. “That’s definitely something that we’re going to be able to bring to the market—to help a lot of buyers make sure that factory inspections and things like that are done consistently,” he explained.

But it’s not just about ensuring the quality of products coming off the assembly line at the plant. Many product failures, Buckle noted, can be traced back to sub-par site conditions.

“With flooring, it all starts with a level surface,” he explained. “In many cases the products we’ve tested meet all the requisite certifications, but when someone’s not doing floor flatness tests before the floor is even put down, then you open Pandora’s box as to which product is really at fault or what caused the issue.”

(Look for more on Intertek in future editions of FCNews.)

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