Interface and Nora with another stable fiscal year

(Image: nora systems GmbH)

(Image: Freudenberg & Co. KG, Company Archive)

(Image: Freudenberg & Co. KG, Company Archive)

(Image: nora systems GmbH)

(Image: Davide Saibene, Hanson Architects)

(Image: Andrea Lhotakova)

(Image: nora systems GmbH)

Constantly questioning one's own offerings and commitment, while remaining true to oneself and always prioritizing the needs of customers and markets – these core values of nora systems still hold just as true today as they did at the company's founding 70 years ago. This is also reflected in the results of the past year: The Interface Inc., to which the Weinheim-based rubber flooring manufacturer belongs, continued its growth trajectory and exceeded growth expectations for 2019 with a solid fourth quarter. In 2019, Interface achieved a net sales of $1.3 billion, an increase of 14 percent compared to $1.2 billion in 2018. Investments at the Weinheim site were also continued last year: the company spent a total of 5.6 million euros on new equipment and technology. "The biggest investments in 2019 were two calendering lines and a new kneading plant with a total investment volume of over 1.5 million euros," explains Ton van Keken, Vice President Supply Chain and Managing Director of nora systems GmbH.

Proven and resilient – a floor made for challenging times

Two of the key features of nora flooring: functionality and quality, are especially important during times like the current one with increased infection rates. They recently contributed again to creating a hygienic environment in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic. The flooring is used in hundreds of hospitals worldwide. Even during the SARS pandemic, which broke out in China in 2002, hospital planners in particularly affected regions relied on the rubber floors from Weinheim. They proved their worth and were also used again in the Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan, the hospital built in record time in early 2020 for treating COVID-19 patients. The same applies to the temporarily built 450-bed hospital at the Miami Beach Convention Center in the United States.

Tracks and tiles on which many industries stand

But not only decision-makers in healthcare, also planners and builders in other markets such as education, public construction, or industry rely on the reliability of nora rubber floors. And this has been the case for 70 years. The flooring introduced to the market in 1950 by the company Freudenberg was the creative development of an already successful product: the shoe sole. Since then, the vulcanization machine has been running, producing flooring for the B2B sector. "Reliability, toughness, and creativity – these were not only the ingredients for the birth of the rubber floor. Getting the right mix is still crucial today," emphasizes Bettina Haffelder, Vice President of nora DACH. Therefore, little has changed in the fundamental principle of manufacturing the floors over the years. And with noraplan uni, a completely monochromatic floor that is still used whenever harmonious, clean designs are desired, the first nora floor remains a core part of the range. But central to the successful development and the birthplace of the nora philosophy are innovations. After the introduction of the sheet product, the norament tile followed, which in the 1970s became synonymous with the studded floor. One of the newest developments is a self-adhesive quick-installation system that can significantly simplify the installation of rubber floors. "Customer and their requirements play a central role in the continuous adaptation and further development of our products and services," explains Haffelder. "If we listen carefully to them and put their needs at the center, they help us make our offerings 'future-proof'." The high standards set by brothers Richard and Hans Freudenberg 70 years ago regarding market understanding, consulting, and striving for the best product still apply today. For this, nora has built an industry-unique, cross-divisional support structure: starting from regional sales managers, through customer service and project coordination, to development and application technology, which is directly supported on-site. This allows even extraordinary design requests to almost always be fulfilled – even if this involves lengthy development times.

Shaping a sustainable tomorrow together

But looking into the future, the Weinheim site is about more than just the product. Like Interface, nora is committed to pursuing a sustainable future. In 2019, the rubber floors were incorporated into Interface's Carbon Neutral Floors program. A certificate confirms their CO2 neutrality over the entire product lifecycle if desired. In Weinheim, efforts are underway to avoid or reduce CO2 emissions intensively. Several ambitious projects are currently running in production, aiming to further reduce their own carbon footprint. Unavoidable CO2 emissions are offset through the purchase of emission certificates. "Our goal is to compensate less and less in the future," emphasizes Haffelder. nora rubber floors have received numerous awards for their health-friendliness, environmental compatibility, and sustainability. In addition to the "Blue Angel," they also carry the Cradle to Cradle Silver certification, which affirms a sustainable circular economy.