North American Laminate Flooring Association

2004 in ReviewNorth American Estimates

2004Adjusted w/other

source figures

Square Feet (At First Purchase)

851 million

Dollars $1.103 billion

Average Price $1.29

State of Laminate Industry

• Strong and Expanding– Category growth continues to be vigorous– Double-digit percentage increases in square feet

and dollar over 2003– Decrease in average price is still slowing,

indicating continued strong sales of value-added products at high end

The past year has seen significant expansion in:

• Textured & In-register designs• Pre-glued and/or easier assembly of product• Beveled edges

Design & Technology continue to be the primary drivers in laminate flooring’s success.

Expanding Choices for the Consumer

• Laminate flooring continues to have the largest continuous product growth in flooring industry

Due To:• Continuing rapid design and technological

innovations• Consistent residential growth• Increases in commercial sales.

Looking Ahead – What to Expect

• Organization of North American manufacturers and importers of laminate flooring products

• Formed in 1997• Primary Mission:

– To encourage the establishment and maintenance of high standards in laminate flooring in North America and to recognize those that meet these standards

This year, in support of this goal, NALFA has developed…

NALFA

BUYER’S GUIDES

Specific for both

Consumer/Residential

and

Commercial Applications Available at www.nalfa.com

Regular Members

• Faus Group, Inc. • Kaindl USA • Kronotex USA, Inc.• Mannington Mills

• Pergo, Inc.• Shaw Industries• Wilsonart International • Witex USA, Inc.

Associate Members

• MP Global Products, LLC

• Pactiv Corporation• SaveWood, L.L.C.• Sealed Air Corporation• Temple-Inland Forest

Products Corporation• Voltek

• Coveright• DSM Melamine• Dynea Overlays, Inc.• IDT Laminates, Inc.• Mead Westvaco

MW Custom Papers

• Regular Member– Manufacturer, marketer or importer of laminate

flooring for sale in North America Does not include retailers, buying groups, retail cooperatives, retail

marketing groups or wholesale distributors

• Associate Member– Corporation, partnership, proprietorship or other entity

regularly engaged in the business of selling goods or services to those that are eligible to be regular members

Membership Requirements

Member’s Activities in 2004

• Active voice in constructively building the industry

• Participation in setting voluntary standards

• Growing Interaction with ISO

• Growing Interaction with EPLF activities

NALFA Standards

• NALFA LF-01-2003 approved by ANSI

• Increasingly sophisticated products and growing commercial uses demanded more stringent requirements

• 3-tiered standard makes it easier for end-user to match product to application

• Test methods incorporated in document

• Considered a step in harmonizing with ISO standards

LF-01-2003• Residential Standards

– Developed in 2001 form basic requirements for residential products

• Light Commercial Standards– Increased performance minimums for small offices,

low-traffic commercial installations

• Commercial Standards– Top static load, thickness/swell, ball impact, wear

resistance criteria for high traffic installations

Certification Process• All sample products are tested according to

established protocol• Company submits its product to a testing facility• Procedures are strictly specified for consistent

testing• Test labs are listed on the NALFA Web site

NALFA Certification Seal• Benefits of seal

– Visual symbol to assure users/specifiers that products have passed the required tests to conform to NALFA/

ANSI-LF01-2003 standards

– For marketing use on product packaging, collateral materials, advertising, etc.

– PR efforts promoting fact that seal represents consistent performance standards

NALFA/EPLF Cooperation• NALFA visited and presented at the General

Session meeting of the EPLF in April, 2004• EPLF in turn, visited and presented at the

NALFA Fall Business session in November, 2004

• These two meetings are the beginning of a sharing of ideas, statistics and standards that will result in world wide benefits to our consumer and our industry.

NALFA/ISO Meeting• NALFA hosted the International Standards

Organization in March, 2004.• Our goal is to harmonize as much as possible the

ISO/NALFA (ANSI) standards.• This hosting of ISO established the position of

NALFA in international floor covering industry.• Overwhelming attendance response by ISO.

Want to Learn More?• For more information on NALFA standards or

membership:

1-202-785-9500

OR

www.nalfa.com