Flooring specialist expands rubber-flooring market

Having registered positive growth in the rubber-flooring sector in 2014, commercial floor-coverings supplier Polyflor South Africa (SA) aims to continue the expansion of this market in South Africa, particularly through the supply of the Ecore ECOsurfaces rubber flooring range.

Polyflor SA is the sole local supplier of this range, which is manufactured from recycled tyres by international commercial flooring company Ecore – the largest consumer of recycled scrap-tyre rubber in North America, which reuses more than 80-million pounds of rubber material a year.

To further re-energise and refresh the look of the ECOsurfaces range, Ecore has incorporated new ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) colours. Launched last month, the new ECOsurfaces range comprises 29 new colours.

“Interest in rubber flooring has definitely increased significantly in the past few years, as more people have become aware of the versatile applications of rubber flooring,” says Polyflor SA marketing director Tandy Coleman-Spolander.

The versatility of the product is a significant advantage, as it can be used in many applications, depending on the requirements, says Coleman-Spolander. “Different thicknesses of the product make it suitable for use in corporate, office, hospitality or retail applications, including schools, sports facilities, gyms, ice rinks, playgrounds, rooftops and outdoor areas.”

The ECOsurfaces range of commercial flooring comprises postconsumer tyre rubber and Colormill EPDM rubber. These materials are bound together in an elastomeric network and are produced using a low-embodied energy-manufacturing process that requires a minimal amount of water and heat and reuses in-line scrap to decrease waste, details Coleman-Spolander.

“This product is extremely durable and hard-wearing and can be used in areas that are subject to high traffic,” she says, noting that the ECOsurfaces range also absorbs vibration, energy and noise, thereby providing better acoustics for any space.

Moreover, the colour range allows for creative design opportunities.

Coleman-Spolander adds that, as the ECOsurfaces solution is a recycled product, it is also environment friendly. She points out that, as the rubber products are not sulphur-cured or vulcanised, the product does not have the smell associated with some rubber products that may be off-putting to clients.

he company installed Ecore rubber in several school applications, as well as in the private and public sectors.

Previous projects included the supply of Ecore rubber flooring for a 691 m² flooring project at Redhill School, in Sandton, in mid- November 2012, as well as the supply of 836 m2 of flooring for Holy Rosary School, in Edenvale.