A new proprietary manufacturing process called Tetrad ™ is producing two new flooring materials, Washi and Ogura, inspired by the ancient art of Japanese papermaking. Sourced from Europe, Washi and Ogura are offered exclusively in North America by Collins & Aikman.
The creation of these unusual flooring materials starts with layering of fiber blankets to compose three individual layers, which are then locked together through a fiber integration process creating a non-directional blanket. The fourth layer is composed of fiber color slubs applied through proprietary dispersion process developed solely for the use with the TetradTM system. In the final step, thermal bonding melds all layers in such a way that they become a single structure.
According to Nat Harrison, director of design and product development at Collins & Aikman, these carpet alternatives render them highly desirable for environments where traffic heavy and little attention is given to daily maintenance. He adds that the six colors in each product’s colorway were chose to help hide dry soil and wet stains as well as to provide a design component absent in other products.
Washi and Ogura are warranted against manufacturing defects for a period of five years. Collins & Aikman further warrents for a period of five years that the product will not delaminate, zipper or edge-ravel. Easily installed with no pattern repeat, both are AD-compliant with a slip-resistant surface. In six-foot roll only, Washi and Ogura feature yarn-dyed fibers and soil-resistant chemistry.
For more information call Collins & Aikman at 706-259-9711 or visit www.collinsandaikman.com
