10 key players in carpet and flooring industry give an insider’s view of the future of their sector

Today marks the start of the second edition of Flanders Flooring Days (FFD). During this four-day event, 10 leading companies from the carpet and flooring industry will give everybody a unique opportunity to take a peek behind the scenes. From 22 to 25 May, visitors will be able to learn all about the manufacturing process, innovations and future plans of some of the industry’s world leaders in our area, within a radius of barely 25 kilometres.

The first edition of Flanders Flooring Days in 2022 was a big hit, attracting hundreds of industry players. Visitors were able to discover tons of new products in just a short amount of time. This very successful experience makes this second edition a matter of course.

Alive and kicking

FFD is about more than just showcasing products and innovative ideas. The event is also a great opportunity for visitors to witness the drive and ambition behind this sector.

Together, the companies behind FFD provide a total of 17.000 jobs worldwide, have 300 vacancies and plan to invest more than 300 million euros in their businesses over the next two years.

These investments focus on aspects such as energy saving, renewable resources and training.

• This year, for instance, Unilin will be investing 20 million euros in increased production capacity for Luxury Vinyl Tiles. Among other projects, the company will launch a brand new production line that will use much less energy.
• Condor Group, one of FFD’s new partners, uses recycled plastics from the ocean, just as Associated Weavers does. “In addition to the direct benefit of CO2 reduction, this also helps local communities see the social impact of beach clean-ups“, says Jan Hoekman jr., board member at Condor Group.
• The companies also pay close attention to training and employee development. Peter Desmet (CEO of Mc Three): “We invest in our people and give them specific training. This also provides them with the opportunity to get better at what they do.“

Traditions come together

Flanders Flooring Days is where two local traditions merge: the deep-rooted expertise and passion for the carpet and flooring industry and Flemish hospitality. Ruben Desmet, cofounder of the event and President of Unilin, perfectly sums up the concept: “The atmosphere of this event is highly convivial: it is almost as if you were inviting someone into your home instead of to a restaurant.“

So, FFD is a one-of-a-kind trade fair, in the sense that it is held within the participating companies. Because what better place to explore everything than in their flagship showrooms? And where can you find professionals with such great expertise within a stone’s throw of each other? There is no better place than Flanders to do so!

Find out how enthusiastic the companies behind FFD are about their sector in some of the attached testimonials.