Escalating demand for laminate flooring from the residential, commercial and industrial sectors alike at a strong pace has ensured that the global laminate flooring market will reach 1.68 billion square meters by 2010, according UK's CMPi, organizers of Fit-Out Middle East. The event is scheduled to take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center on Nov. 17-18, 2008. “Real estate projects are the principal driver of growth for the laminate flooring market which is driven by cost advantages over conventional flooring products made of stone, wood, ceramics, and vinyl,” said CMPi Group Director Chris Fountain. He noted that growth of laminate flooring was attributed in large measure to features such as superior performance of the product including its sturdiness, fade and stain resistance, low maintenance, as well as lower price and wide-ranging styles. Manufacturers are increasingly developing a range of products that fulfill the requirements of the commercial sector. Development of glue-free laminates, technological advancements, and enhanced moisture resistance are generating interest among end-users. Enhancements in technologies such as embossed registration and texturing are offering consumers a cost-efficient way of attaining the looks of ceramics, tiles, and hardwood. Laminate flooring usage in the DIY installation sector is likely to continue growing. Europe is by far, the largest market for laminate flooring worldwide, estimated at 617 million square meters in 2007. The Middle East (Asia) is the second largest market followed by United States at third position. Europe, Asia and US together account for over 88 percent of the global laminate flooring market. “Laminate flooring is the latest trend in flooring, and one of the hottest among do-it-yourselfers (DIY),” Fountain said. Laminate flooring comes in a huge array of styles, colors and textures that are more realistic than ever with looks that include exotic hardwoods or the styling of tiles like granite, marble and ceramic thus giving them an edge. “The appearance of laminate flooring has become so authentic that it is often confused for real hardwood and the beauty of the product is its ease of maintenance, laminate flooring is one of the easiest floors to care for and maintain,” Fountain added. The beauty of laminate flooring, however, is more than just skin deep. It is made from wood products and plastics that are compressed and bonded under high pressure to form an incredibly hard plank with an aluminum-oxide finish that is almost as hard as diamonds. Laminate flooring is produced by taking a photograph and attaching it to a high density fiberboard using heat and pressure. Higher quality laminates use high definition imaging to create unbelievably realistic looking laminate. The photograph is then covered with a layer of polyurethane, which protects the floor from fading, scratching and wear. Higher quality laminates use a form of urethane infused with aluminum oxide, the second hardest substance known to man, which substantially increases the resistance to scratching. Better laminates are “textured” to create a more realistic look and feel. The texture is added to the wear layer through a process called “embossing”, which involves pressing patterns into the surface. The best quality laminates use a process called “embossing in register”, where the textured pattern actually follows the grain in the image, creating an even more realistic look and feel. Fit-Out Middle East focuses on the final stages of construction and development. Launching in November 2008, the show will run alongside the established Working Buildings Middle East exhibition and conference series, in order to deliver the right mix of senior buyers and decision makers from across the Middle East region and beyond. Exhibitors will include contractors, shop-fitters, manufacturers and interior design agencies. Visitors will be those responsible for the design and function of commercial and retail space, including developers, architects, designers, facilities professionals and operations managers. The Fit-Out sector is directly aligned to the boom in construction now taking place not only in Abu Dhabi, but across the Gulf region. __
