Contract - September 2009 - (Page 30)

focus What’s old is looking quite new again at Tandus, after input by two of the country’s leading textile designers, Jhane Barnes and Suzanne Tick. While Powerbond was first introduced by Collins & Akimann (now a brand under Tandus) in 1967, it is likely that many designers have never even considered specifying it—or perhaps never even heard of it. The reason? It was admittedly not the most attractive product around, even if it does boast outstanding performance and maintenance characteristics. But when Tandus recently added the design talents of Suzanne Tick and Jhane Barnes to the functional equation, Powerbond emerged as a floorcovering that is finally turning some heads. Neither resilient flooring nor carpeting, Powerbond is actually termed by Tandus a “hybrid resilient with a textile wear layer” that encapsulates the best qualities of each category. The patented, 6-ft., structured-back floorcovering has long combined the performance characteristics of hard surface flooring with the textile-like appearance of carpet. “Durability, maintainability, and acoustics cost are qualities that usually point to resilient flooring,” says Tom Ellis, vice president of sales at Tandus.“The addition of the textile face to a resilient construction opened up a whole new design medium. Powerbond can save 20 to 30 percent on cost and still offers those same performance characteristics.” Now, it also features updated styling. “What Suzanne [Tick] and Jhane [Barnes] brought to us was their ability to design any type of fabric. We brought the technology to put that onto a floor,” continues Ellis. Tick and Barnes actually lobbied Tandus to add specific manufacturing technology that made new patterns like Tick’s Manufactured Landscapes and Barnes’ Box Study possible—a significant purchase that was proven worthwhile when the new Powerbond products received an outstanding reception among designers at NeoCon®. Powerbond has proven to be a long lasting product, with some installations dating back 30 years or more. It has been favored in the durability-obsessed education and healthcare markets, and the retail sector is beginning to take note. It is offered in three different constructions: condensed cushion, which is recyclable, ER3 Cushion made from recycled content flooring material, and non-PVC Ethos. Water-impermeability and excellent seaming qualities add to its appeal, as does its new look—the next chapter in the decades-old story of Powerbond. Readers Service No. 200 Give us your feedback on this story at www.contractmagazine.com/contact. Manufactured Landscapes (above) designed by Suzanne Tick. Box Study (right) designed by Jhane Barnes. don’t judge a floor by its cover If it looks and feels like carpet but performs like resilient flooring, it must be Powerbond from Tandus By Jennifer Busch 30 contract september 2009 www.contractmagazine.com http://www.contractmagazine.com/contact http://www.contractmagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - September 2009

Contract - September 2009
Contents
Editorial
Industry
Resources
Don’t Judge A Floor By Its Cover
Smart Workstations
Green Collar Jobs On The Rise
From Castle to Treasury
Make Me A Star
Green Apple
A Different Ball Game
Creative Energy
Quiet Riot
Books Stored
Reading Room
Designers Rate: Casegoods
Ad Index
Perspectives

Contract - September 2009