All the statistics about the European parquet market At the European Federation of the Parquet Industry (FEP) General Assembly held in Malaga in May the sector’s definitive results for the year 2013 were made public. These data included a reduction of 2.6% in the use of parquet in FEP countries and a 1.81% decrease in production. With regards to Spain, the 2013 results, showing a 14.32% fall in use and 0.69% in production are undoubtedly better than those recorded in 2012, but they show that the Spanish market continued to be in recession, at least up until a few months ago. European parquet summit on the shores of the Mediterranean Malaga, the dazzling Andalusian capital, welcomed the participants to the European Parquet Conference organised by the European Federation of the Parquet Industry (FEP) in Spain at the invitation of the National Association of Parquet Manufacturers (ANFP). The Spanish «Suelos de Película (Films on Floors)» campaign was one of the main focuses of this meeting and the French standardisation expert, Frederic Henry received the 2014 FEP Award. 21st FEPM Conference in Bilbao The Basque Country capital was the setting for the 21st Convention of the Spanish Wood Flooring Federation (FEPM), attended by a considerable number of businessmen and professionals, prepared to continue pushing the sector towards a more promising future. This conference had a certain special nature due to the announcement by the Chairman Ángel Ramírez of his retirement as the Head of the Federation. The talks covered topics of significant interest. The uncertain future of the Madrid light flooring installers Currently, the Madrid light flooring installation sector is attracting little demand, within a market that is still in recession and where public investment is much reduced. APIMA (Andalusian Professional Association of Installers of Wood Flooring) promotes an arbitration system for parquet Andalusian parquet installers have gambled on the decision to promote the arbitration system as the most efficient means to resolve disputes about parquet without using the law courts. They consider that in this way they can offer their clients the best guarantee of their professionalism. On a separate note, they are pushing an ambitious training programme that includes the first course on risks in the workplace specifically for light flooring installers. Stability of laminate flooring in the international market In 2014 the European Producers of Laminate Flooring (EPLF) General Assembly commemorated the 20th anniversary of its creation in Bad Oeynhausen (Germany). The laminate flooring international market situation remains stable, wi th a sl ight rise, except in Western Europe. Vinyl flooring: Concerned about low cost imports The vinyl flooring market is growing strongly and the forecast is that sales increase, with double figures at least two or three more years. But the success of the vinyl flooring wi th Cl ick has caused a prol iferation of brands, some with dubious quality. There is fear that price competition and technical problems cause the repetition of mistakes made in the past with other floorings. Laminate flooring: main figures in the residential market This year, 2014, has been another difficult year for laminate flooring, although some operators believe that they have now managed to stop the fall in sales and that in the latter months of the year a slight recovery is envisaged, although mainly in lower-end product brands. Glues and adhesives: quality, feasibility, safety In the glues and adhesives market the decrease in sales has been curbed and it appears to have stabilised in recent months. There is cautious confidence that in the coming year things may improve. Eduardo Benmayor, CEO of Flint Floor y Aismalibar: «Flint laminate flooring technology returns to the market» Flint, a historic brand in light flooring in Spain, returns to the market after its acquisition by Grupo Benmayor in 2013, which had previously been bought by Aismalibar, its parent company. The new Flint y Aismalibar CEO, Eduardo Benmayor, wants to position Flint once again as a high-quality product with excellent features. The new Living Floor collection has been developed and its factory is now working at full capacity.
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