Quality products "Made in Germany"

(Copyright Photos: Dirk Wilhelmy)

(Copyright Photos: Dirk Wilhelmy)

(Copyright Photos: Dirk Wilhelmy)

(Copyright Photos: Dirk Wilhelmy)

(Copyright Photos: Dirk Wilhelmy)

(Copyright Photos: Dirk Wilhelmy)

(Copyright photos: Dirk Wilhelmy)

The Schapfenmühle in Ulm is almost a landmark of the Swabian Alb, standing for high-quality grain products from the region for more than 500 years. First mentioned in documents in 1452, the company now exports to 44 countries worldwide. The grain silo of the Schapfenmühle, with a height of 116 meters, is the second tallest grain silo in the world. It is therefore only natural that the company places great importance not only on its products but also on the equipment of its own production facilities, using high-quality materials "Made in Germany". For example, in the new office building opened in spring 2017, not only the employee canteen and changing rooms but also the corridors and staircase were equipped with floor systems and shaped stairs made of rubber from nora systems. The traditional company from Weinheim produces its durable and resilient floors – despite its international orientation and a worldwide sales network – exclusively in Germany.

Unbreakable and easy to clean

The Schapfenmühle is Ulm's oldest manufacturing company. All types of grain are processed in the state-of-the-art production facilities. The product range includes flours, flakes of all grain types, as well as baking mixes, muesli ingredients, and puffed rice. Customers include bakeries, retail grocery stores, and the food industry. The good business development made the construction of a new office building necessary, which houses not only administration but also social rooms and the canteen for nearly 200 employees. "For the new building, where all employees from administration and production come together, we wanted a durable and resilient floor that is resistant to dirt and easy and hygienic to clean," describes Ulrike Seibold, responsible for purchasing at Schapfenmühle and co-responsible for the construction project, the requirements. Architects and interior designers recommended rubber floors: "I have used nora floor systems in many other projects and know from decades of experience that they are almost indestructible," says architect Peter Schweizer. The surface of the rubber coverings is extremely dense due to vulcanization under high pressure and high temperature. As a result, they are not only highly durable but also do not need to be coated permanently. They can be cleaned easily and economically.

Chemically safe and slip-resistant

For the management of Schapfenmühle, safety was also a decisive criterion for the nora floors. "In 1983, the original mill in Ulm's old town burned down, and the cause was never clarified," reports Seibold. "A fireproof floor gives us a good feeling." nora rubber floors are chemically safe in case of fire and meet the highest fire safety class (category Bfl-s1 according to EN 13501-1). They are flame-retardant and do not contain chlorinated organic compounds like PVC, which can contribute to the formation of hydrogen chloride gas in case of fire and thus cause respiratory injuries. Additionally, the rubber coverings are slip-resistant even when wet, which is especially important in canteen and changing areas where moisture can reach the floor, as well as on stairs.

Attractive appearance with matching accessories

Thanks to the excellent substrate preparation with the cementitious filler Uzin NC 170 LevelStar New, the rubber floor norament satura impresses with its high color saturation, its subtle tone-in-tone granulate inclusion, and its stylish hammer finish surface, offering a flawless appearance. The two color schemes, neutral architectural colors and chromatic accent colors, allow for a variety of design options for different room concepts. The dark gray of the rubber covering was chosen by users to match the minimalist style of the new building. "The fact that there are also color-matched skirting boards with a flat, tapered edge, on which flour dust cannot adhere as easily as on the usual dust edges, convinced us additionally," says Seibold. In addition, the permanently elastic rubber floors offer a high walking comfort.