Välinge presents new locking technology for LVT.

Viken, Sweden - August 30, 2011

A new locking system - ”ZipLoc” - especially developed for thin LVT floorings, will be presented at Välinge Expo 14-15 September 2011.

Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) is one of the fastest growing flooring categories. The unique properties of low sound level combined with moisture resistance and attractive designs are highly appreciated. LVT is easy to install since it may be cut with a knife and no expansion joints are needed since there are no swelling and shrinking. The popularity of the product has increased considerably due to the fact that LVT is possible to install mechanically with the Välinge locking system.

LVT with a mechanical locking system was developed by Välinge in 2002. Several patent applications are pending.

Mechanical locking systems of this kind may only be formed if the floor panel has a minimum thickness of about 4 -5 mm.

Such mechanical locking systems are of a high quality and provide an easy installation. However considerable cost savings may be obtained if the floor panel could be made with a thickness of about 3 mm. Such very thin LVT floor panels and also other high quality powder based floors are now possible to produce and install mechanically with the new ”ZipLoc” system that reduces the requirement for a minimum floor thickness considerably.

VFT (Välinge Flooring Technology AB), the mother company of Välinge Innovation, has developed and patented this new locking technology that may reduce the production costs with more than 1 EUR/m2 and that allows high quality mechanical locking of floor panels with a thickness of 3 mm.

Ziploc is intended to be used on long and short edges. Advanced patented production technology is used to accomplish three-dimensional forming of the edges in line with conventional rotating cutting tools. Only limited investments are required to form the three dimensional parts of the new locking systems. Such equipment may be delivered by Välinge innovation AB.

Välinge Innovation AB will also sublicense this technology and handle all customer support.

Välinge believes that this new locking technology may gradually replace all conventional mechanical locking systems in thin floor panels and that it will help the LVT producers to expand their market considerably. Several version have been developed that allow locking with angling and vertical folding.