A Look Back on 2020
December 2020
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In a year that was unfortunately overshadowed by a global pandemic and where “social distancing” became a part of our everyday vocabulary, 2020 has been filled with challenges aplenty. However, here at Forbo, we stayed optimistic and ensured that we were doing all that we could to support our customers. Join us as we take a look back at some of our key moments from the last twelve months.
New Year, New Product Launches
At the turn of the new year, we refreshed our ever-popular Allura Luxury Vinyl Tile collection. Now with more than 120 contemporary designs and an acoustic offering, the revitalised range enables designers to create beautiful floor spaces and better indoor environments, no matter what the project requirements or budgets may be.
We then launched our latest carpet tile collection, Tessera Earthscape, which is inspired by the patterns, textures and colours revealed upon the canvas of the earth. The heavily textured composition, combined with its natural organic design, creates a warm and inviting surface that will complement a range of interior trends; creating inviting, comfortable spaces.
What’s more, due to the continuing strong demand for wood aesthetics, the Flotex Naturals range was also developed as a solution for where both design and performance are key.
From traditional timber and weathered oak, to more contemporary shades such as ash grey and black, along with new plank structures, the highly realistic wood-effects add a new dimension to flooring schemes.
If you want to learn more about our most recently launched products Visit our Newest Products Section
Making Spaces COVID Secure
After the successful launch of our new ranges, the world was suddenly hit by the ‘C’ word. To support specifiers, contractors and facility managers in making buildings COVID-secure, we introduced an array of services and new products. This included Coral Logo entrance matting, designed to act as a gentle reminder for people to keep their distance, and Allura Circles to encourage social distancing – especially in queues.
For one-way systems, we also provided the option for Tessera Layout and Outline carpet tiles to include directional arrows within the design or for loose arrows to be cut into existing resilient installations.
For more information on our flooring solutions to help aid social distancing, visit our covid-19 centre
Taking It Online
When national lockdowns were imposed and working from home became the ‘new normal’, our commercial sales teams began offering online consultations via Teams to help with specification and technical advice, sampling and more. Customers could also easily order samples and have them delivered straight to their homes.
Would you like to have an online consultation with your local Forbo business manager? Click here to request a call
As the first lockdown eased, our Forbo Direct service was reintroduced to ensure that orders for projects that required a quick turnaround were received promptly. At times of uncertainty, you could rely on us.
find out more about forbo direct
Keeping Static Discharge Under Control
Moving into September, we then launched our ‘Under Control’ collection, which provides specifiers with a diverse array of flooring products to help control static discharge in sensitive areas of a building. Alongside our unique Marmoleum Ohmex sustainable solution, the collection features the popular Colorex tile range, refreshed to include two new products, and Sphera SD/EC, a technically advanced homogeneous conductive sheet vinyl range.
For jobs that need to be turned around in as little time as possible, our Colorex Plus range of adhesive free tiles - which are part of our Fast Fit offering - can save up to 50% on installation time.
Find out more about our Under Control collection
Find out more about our Fast fit adhesive free solutions
Reaffirming Carbon Neutrality
As part of our Live Forward campaign, which underlines our commitment to sustainability and minimising the environmental impact, we reiterated how Marmoleum can help to build a net-zero future. Manufactured from 97% natural raw materials, using linseed instead of plastics, the weighted average of our Marmoleum product range is CO2 neutral (cradle to gate) without offsetting.
To support this, Forbo hosted its first ever international webinar, which took a peek into a CO2 neutral future with Cristina Gamboa, CEO of the World Green Building Council and Innovator & Artist, Daan Roosegaarde.
Read All About It
This year, we made a conscious effort to ensure that you were still well equipped for your projects through guidance and literature. We updated a range of our existing whitepapers and even developed new ones on Neurodiversity, ESD flooring and Sustainability. Visit our Whitepaper download centre
We also created an office fit-out book and Healthcare Design Guide.
Alongside all of this, we made sure that those subscribed to our contractor and architect-focused magazines continued to receive their copies of Cutting Edge and Archidea. In fact, our latest issues have recently landed, check them out here.
Fly Forbo... Reimagined!
In the middle of it all, we were pleased to be able to share the good news that James Hopkinson of Blake Hopkinson Architecture took home the Fly Forbo 2019/2020 trophy for his exceptional work on Project Rejuvenate – Parker Hannifin.
Due to the current climate and with travel restrictions likely to be around for a while, we have made the decision to reimagine our 2020/21 competition. If you’re an Architect or Interior Designer and you have worked on an outstanding Forbo project this year, find out more information about Fly Forbo – The Staycation Edit today.
Visit the Fly Forbo Staycation Edit pages
Fly Forbo 2019/20 Winners
Winner: Project Rejuvenate Parker Hannifin Offices
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Highly Commended: Bank of Scotland Flagship Branch
Thank you
What a year it has been! And we really couldn’t have gotten through it without your continued support. Thank you, it really does mean a lot to us. We hope that next year there is a light at the end of the tunnel but from everyone here at Forbo, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Stay safe, stay in touch and we will see you soon!
Watch our end of year video here for a message from our General Manager, Angus Fotheringhame and our commercial sales team.