Forbo Sarlino celebrates its 100th anniversary

Inauguration of a new showroom at its Reims site

It is at the heart of these buildings that the manufacturer, since renamed Forbo Flooring, has nurtured, over the years (100 to be exact!), its expertise in flexible floor coverings (now diversified: PVC, LVT, flocked textile, entrance mats, etc.), multiplying investments and innovations, driven by incessant technical and aesthetic research.

Thus, celebrating a century of local, national and international economic dynamism, Forbo Flooring is today inaugurating a brand new showroom within this emblematic Reims site: 460 m2 dedicated to its entire range, the layout of which has favored an environmental orientation - echoing its strong commitment to Sustainable Development - and digital - because its centuries-old know-how has always been accompanied by a perfect mastery of technological developments.

A century of innovation and success, of commitment to its employees and customers 

On the appellation side, Sarlino created in 1924, merged with the Union Continentale du Linoléum in 1931, consolidating its position on the market, to become Forbo in 1970 then Forbo Flooring Systems in 2007.

On the product side, the production of the famous "lino" stopped in Reims in 1970 to make way for other flooring products. Let us mention the advent of a PVC flooring line in 1977, completed in 1999 by the creation of an acoustic chamber that allows their certification, then in 2008 by a rotogravure printing line guaranteeing optimal quality of the decors. The acquisition of Bonar Floors, in 2009, gave the Marne-based manufacturer the opportunity to develop a textile offering using the revolutionary Flotex technology (80 million polyamide fibers/m2 implanted vertically by electrostatic flocking in a PVC backing). Its portfolio of solutions was further expanded in 2013 thanks to the design of Modul'up, which features an installation without glue or double-sided adhesive, which has allowed Forbo Flooring to establish itself as the leader in 100% free-standing installation. Finally, in 2020, the Reims site welcomed the Allura decibel line, a stylish and sustainable acoustic LVT. It should be noted that each of Forbo Flooring's innovations has always been accompanied by a high level of environmental commitment (recycling, natural raw materials, processes with a reduced carbon footprint, etc.), as its signature still reflects today: "let's create a better environment."

The Reims site, which is celebrating its centenary this year, employs several hundred people across all departments except sales (production, maintenance, laboratory, customer service, administration, marketing, design, and R&D). At its heart lies a strong corporate culture that permeates every employee, fostering cohesion and motivation internally, and driving external growth, performance, and competitiveness. Catherine Mastio, Human Resources Director, proudly highlights the teams' commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement: " Every day, I see how essential the cohesion of all our employees is to ensuring that the customer remains at the heart of everything we do. " Past and present employees are warmly thanked for their commitment and dedication at the end of a video dedicated to Forbo Flooring's centenary.

A new Reims showroom at the cutting edge of technology and dedicated to sustainability

Within its Reims site, Forbo Flooring is dedicating a 460 m² space to all of its collections, offering an immersive and interactive experience to visitors.

From linoleum ranges (notably Marmoleum cocoa, whose formulation specifically includes recycled material from cocoa bean husks) to high-performance vinyls (such as Allura, available in tackified, clipped, and now loose-lay, or Modul'up), to textile solutions (Flotex in construction next or even the tufted Tessera tiles), each product benefits from inspiring stagings allowing interior architects, fitters, designers, and customers to fully understand the potential applications in various environments. QR Codes on the explanatory panels of the ranges link to the dedicated pages of the Forbo Flooring website. Touch screens offer the advantage of being able to customize the flooring (FloorVizualiser simulator) and measure the extent to which Forbo Flooring solutions dress and transform spaces: an asset to promote inspiration and decision-making! Access is also given to the Forbo Flooring France YouTube channel. In addition, a virtual reality experience offers the possibility of visiting, without having to travel, the various Forbo Flooring factories (including Assendelft and Coevorden in the Netherlands).

It's worth noting that the showroom's ambiance is intended to be soothing, conveyed by light and pastel shades: an ode to nature, also embodied by the presence of large plant-based paintings. The majority of the furniture comes from salvaged equipment from international photoshoots or old exhibition spaces. In fact, Flooring Flooring visually demonstrates its commitment to environmental preservation and circularity.

This meeting place with Forbo Flooring experts aims to provide tailored advice, selection assistance, and detailed technical information for residential, commercial, and office projects. It also serves as a platform for community events, workshops, and training sessions, fostering exchanges and knowledge sharing during internal and external meetings.

" This is the culmination of a very fine team effort, bringing together all of Forbo's values ​​through our environmental and human commitments, " concludes Cécilia Aouainia, Marketing Director for Southern Countries.

Today, Forbo Flooring's two Marmoleum linoleum manufacturing sites are located in Assendelft, the Netherlands, and Kirkcaldy, Scotland.