Heckmondwike, the market-leading UK manufacturer of commercial fibre bonded carpets, has supported one of its customers in the education sector by joining their environmental project.
Led by UK & Ireland Sales Manager, Bob Mortimer, Heckmondwike donated and planted a number of trees, via the support of the Woodland Trust, at St Leonards Church of England Primary School in Banbury, Oxfordshire.
St. Leonard’s Church of England Primary School is a Heckmondwike customer and has been using the company’s products for a number of years. The school is currently carpeted with Supacord and Broadrib throughout, alongside Hippo for its entrance areas.
Bob Mortimer said, “The education sector is Heckmondwike’s most important, with millions of square meters of Supacord alone currently installed in schools, colleges and universities throughout the UK.
“With the sector being crucial to the company, it’s always a nice feeling when you can give something back and offer support that goes above and beyond providing carpets.
“The opportunity to support the school with an eco-friendly project was great, it was brilliant to see the children learn about the importance of their local environment.”
When developing new apartment complexes, or refurbishing an existing residence, a key consideration is how to create communal areas that serve a purpose, look atheistically pleasing and stand the test of time.
A crucial part of that is the carpet. As Heckmondwike FB is one of the UK-leading manufacturers of fibre-bonded heavy contract carpet and carpet tiles, the company has expertise in producing products for communal areas of apartment complexes.
Here are some top tips for specifying carpets for apartment communal areas:
Be versatile
In an installation, one carpet may be required for several different areas. For example, if a specifier is looking for the same finish in the corridors, stairs and meeting areas, it would be sensible to use the same carpet or carpet tiles – especially one that is risk-averse and suitable for heavy contract use, due to large footfalls in those particular areas.
Supacord is the perfect example of this – with hard wearing, non-ravel, non-fray properties, a ten-year wear warranty, and 42 colours to choose from, Supacord can be specified with confidence for almost any requirement in an apartment complex.
Add some colour
Traditionally, communal areas may have been considered a dull part of an apartment, only there to act as a functional measure as people move from one room to another.
However, many modern developments are vibrant, with hints of bright colours used on the walls and soft furnishings.
Adding colour to the carpet can also be a great way to match the colour scheme of a room, or be used to create breakout sections on the floor.
Heckmondwike FB’s Array range is the perfect design-led option to add a splash of colour to corridors and communal areas – with a striking pattern that will stand out in any installation.
Focus on footfall
Entrances and corridors are often the most used part of an apartment complex, with people coming and going throughout the day. In the mind of designers, entrances can be a great place to set the tone for the building – providing a light environment that welcomes residents and visitors.
However, when looking at heavy trafficked areas, the carpet choice is crucial.
Not only has the carpet got to be strong enough to withstand footfall for a sustained period of time without showing wear and tear, but it has also got to ensure that outside debris does not ruin the carpet throughout the apartment.
Manufactured specifically for entrance areas, Battleship/Hippo is suitable for the most demanding of spaces – ensuring carpets throughout the apartment area protected. For corridors, Heckmondwike FB’s Dreadnought is suitable due to its diagonal rib and heavy structure.
To discover more about carpets for communal areas, please visit https://heckmondwike-fb.co.uk/sectors/apartment-complexes/.
Heckmondwike FB, a market leading manufacturer of heavy contract commercial carpets, is supporting the future of flooring industry by sponsoring an apprentice across its National Floorcoverings Ltd group of companies.
The company is working alongside Hillside Contracts, a flooring contractor in Leicester to provide assistance to Kai Linton, a trainee floor layer.
Having started his course in September 2018, Kai is currently completing the first year of his two year apprenticeship, making him an important part of the future of the flooring sector. He is learning his trade through onsite training assessments and tutoring at Floortrain Training Centre in Doncaster.
With little assistance from local trade bodies or colleges, Heckmondwike FB’s sponsorship supports 17-year-old Kai in covering transport costs from his home in Nottingham to Doncaster, alongside the essential tools and equipment needed to carry out his work.
Heckmondwike FB and Hillside Contracts have worked together closely for over 20 years, with Heckmondwike FB providing the company with its full range of fibre-bonded carpets, including the company’s flagship product, Supacord.
Bob Mortimer, UK Sales Manager for Heckmondwike FB said: “From speaking to our customers in the flooring industry, we are well aware of the skills shortage within the sector and are eager to play a role in addressing the balance.
“As a company, education is one of our most important sectors, with millions of square meters of Supacord installed in schools, colleges and universities right across the country — so it’s important for us to give something back to the industry.
“Therefore, when the opportunity arose to support Kai in his development — we were more than happy to help.”
Chris Goode, Director of Hillside Contracts added: “In the current market, it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit experienced floor layers, particularly when looking at commercial projects. Therefore, employing an apprentice guarantees our workforce is as skilled as possible for years to come.
“Working with Heckmondwike FB to support Kai was an easy choice to make. Alongside the financial benefits, the company provides us with sales support, alongside ensuring products are in stock as and when required – it really is a perfect fit.”
Teachers, students and all those working in the education sector are counting down the days until the Easter holidays in April, with the chance to get some well-deserved time off and to start planning for the next term.
However, within the education industry, Easter can be the perfect time to think about what needs freshening up in classrooms and communal areas.
For example, there will be many teachers across the country who will be popping into their classrooms to tidy up displays, re-arrange furniture and give their classroom a new lease of life, so that the students have something different to engage with when they return from the holidays.
However, would it not be much better if the classroom, school, college or university had a complete refresh from top to bottom?
With many in the education sector receiving at least two weeks holiday, Easter is the ideal time to think about larger-scale changes to small or large areas of an education facility, that only take a couple of weeks to carry out.
One such area is the carpet.
A new carpet can breathe life into any room, particularly if it is mixed and matched with the colour scheme of a classroom, or the educational facility as a whole.
However, there is much more to think about than how the carpet looks. In most situations, it needs to be a heavy-contract carpet, and ideally, fibre bonded, with such carpets delivering anti-ravel, anti-fray performance, alongside providing reductions in noise and the durability to manage hundreds, if not thousands, of students even day.
With tens of thousands square meters being purchased for the education sector every year, Supacord is the smart choice for schools, colleges and universities, a tried and trusted commercial carpet solution that is perfect for any requirement.
To discover more about having Supacord installed for Easter, contact your local area manager here.
Read more about Supacord for the education industry.
As one of the UK’s leading commercial carpet and carpet tile companies, Heckmondwike FB has a long history of producing and manufacturing products in the UK – a legacy that continues to the present day.
All of Heckmondwike FB’s commercial carpets and carpet tiles are made in Britain, at the company’s facility in Liversedge, West Yorkshire.
This includes Heckmondwike FB’s most widely recognised and specified product, Supacord – perfect for the education section, with over 40 years delivering results in schools, colleges and universities across the country.
Primarily, the company manufactures products for stock throughout the year to successfully manage customer demand and to ensure supply is guaranteed in short delivery windows.
This is of particular benefit in the lead up to the peak summer months when carpet and carpet tiles are required for fit-outs in the education industry.
Alongside its manufacturing and production processes, as a company that is proud of its British manufacturing heritage, Heckmondwike FB strives to work closely with UK based suppliers throughout its supply chain, where possible.
Due to the UK’s current political situation (at the time of publishing), the company has been asked how changes in the political climate will impact supply to customers.
Although one of the main certainties of Brexit is in its uncertainty, the company would like to inform its customers, whether they are end-users, specifiers, architects/developers or flooring contractors, that Heckmondwike FB envisages no significant issues over the coming months when it comes to supplying products to UK-based customers.
If you would like to find out more about what the company is doing to ensure orders are completed or to answer any questions, please contact your local area manager, a list of which can be found here.
To order a sample card visit: https://heckmondwike-fb.co.uk/request-sample-cards/.
Heckmondwike, one of the UK’s leading fibre bonded carpet and carpet tile manufacturers, has launched a new RIBA approved Continual Professional Development (CPD) seminar for specifiers, architects and other construction professionals.
The CPD seminar, ‘what to consider when specifying fibre bonded carpets’, is included on RIBA’s core curriculum under Design, Construction and Technology, with a General Awareness knowledge level. It will provide participants with the necessary information and essential regulatory requirements for correctly specifying and installing fibre bonded contract flooring.
Each session will cover the key factors that should be taken into consideration when specifying the right commercial carpet for a specific environment. This includes how fibre bonded carpets meet contract flooring requirements, the differences between sheet products, carpet tiles and carpet planks and their installation and maintenance.
In addition, participants will also gain a better understanding of the manufacturing processes, how to identify whether a fibre bonded product is fit for purpose, and how floorcoverings can meet health, safety and environmental standards.
Bob Mortimer, National Sales Manager for Heckmondwike, said: “Our new CPD seminar is designed to help construction professionals gain an even better understanding of fibre bonded floorcoverings. In addition, it will showcase how this type of carpet offers performance and aesthetic benefits for a wide range of commercial and education settings. We’re confident that the sessions will be of great value to everyone that attends.”
Heckmondwike products are made in the UK and provide outstanding performance, as well as being backed by a 10 year limited wear warranty, which means they can be specified in complete confidence.
Heckmondwike’s Fibre Bonded carpets are renowned for their durability, but also for their low maintenance properties and the fact that they will not ravel or fray, which is ideal for high-traffic areas.
If your company or practice wishes to book a lunchtime presentation of Heckmondwike’s new CPD seminar, call +44 [0] 1924 410544 (Option 6) or email marketing@heckmondwike-fb.co.uk. Booking, and further information, is also available via the RIBA CPD website.
We have been working tirelessly this year to ensure your orders are delivered on time and that your carpet is of the quality you have come to expect!
With this in mind, our wonderful bosses have allowed us a few days off over Christmas, so we thought it best to let you know so you can ensure that your orders are placed on time.
The Sales Office will close at 12pm on Friday 22nd December 2017 and will reopen on Tuesday 2nd January 2018. Please ensure all orders required before Christmas are placed by close of business on Friday 15th December 2017.
We have created a handy postcard for you to download, print and pin up in your office to remind other members of staff of our Christmas shutdown period.
Finally, from all at Heckmondwike FB, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Heckmondwike FB, one of the UK’s leading carpet manufacturers, has been shortlisted in trade magazine Tomorrow’s FM’s annual awards for its Supacord fibre bonded carpet range.
The national magazine, which is read by facilities managers across the UK, selects the top 50 companies that manufacture products and services that it feels are worthy of winning the prestigious ‘best product/service title’.
A full list of entries is released in a Guide produced by the magazine in January and readers are invited to vote online for who they believe deserves to win. Three winners then receive a trophy, which is presented in March.
Jeremy Broadhead, Commercial Manager at Heckmondwike FB, said: “We are really pleased to have been shortlisted for this prestigious award. Our Supacord range is very well established and widely specified for education and commercial projects – what really makes it stand out is the 42 different colour choices within the range. We’re really excited to see the results of the online voting!”
Rebekah Thompson, Editor of Tomorrow’s FM magazine, said: “We’d like to congratulate Heckmondwike FB for being shortlisted. We reviewed hundreds of companies’ products and services and it was an easy decision to nominate Supacord. We wish them and all the other shortlisted companies all the best in the final voting stage.”
Used in classrooms for over 40 years, Supacord is considered the number one carpet solution for schools, colleges and universities. It has an A+ BREEAM rating, offers anti-static and anti-slip properties and a reduction in impact noise. Like all Heckmondwike FB’s products, Supacord can be cut on-site without the risk of fraying, allowing individual flooring designs to be created and installed with ease.
Heckmondwike FB carpet tiles are British-made and provide outstanding performance, as well as being backed by a 10 year limited wear warranty, which means they can be specified in complete confidence.
Supacord samples and shade cards are available on request by calling 01924 413637 or via Heckmondwike’s free online sample store.
Heckmondwike FB, one of the UK’s leading commercial fibre bonded carpet manufacturers, has strengthened its market presence with two significant new appointments.
Lincoln Chillman has been appointed to the role of Area Manager for West London, Tunbridge Wells, Hampshire, Berkshire and Dorset and Jason McKelvey has been promoted to the role of Works Manager, following 12 years as Quality Control Inspector.
Lincoln has been in the flooring industry for over 20 years which includes working in flooring wholesale, retail, contracting and manufacturing. His objective is to raise awareness of Heckmondwike FB floor finishes within the region in which he operates, building on the company’s reputation for excellence in fibre bonded carpet.
Jason aims to enhance quality and production efficiency, to further improve customer satisfaction. His role involves running the production and despatch on site for both Heckmondwike FB and Playrite, the company’s sports surfaces business.
Commercial Manager Jeremy Broadhead explains: “Lincoln and Jason have almost 35 years’ experience in the carpet industry between them. Their extensive experience and understanding of the flooring industry will help us to reinforce our offer to the market, backed up by industry leading quality, production and delivery.”
Heckmondwike FB has recently revealed its new company branding, a new brochure and a re-designed website. The company’s powerful new strapline – ‘Heckmondwike – Makers of Fibre Bonded Carpets’ – demonstrates its unique heritage, celebrating 50 years of fibre bonded carpet manufacture for the education, commercial and health sectors.
The company’s refreshed contemporary image reflects a new design-led approach, which is reflected in its new shade card suite and corporate marketing literature and collateral.
Heckmondwike FB is entering an exciting new era with new branding, new shade cards, a new brochure and a re-designed website.
With a powerful new strapline – ‘Heckmondwike – Makers of Fibre Bonded Carpets’ – the company is demonstrating its unique heritage, celebrating 50 years of fibre bonded carpet manufacture for the education, commercial and health sectors.
Heckmondwike FB’s refreshed contemporary image reflects a new design-led approach, which is reflected in its new shade card suite and corporate marketing literature and collateral.
The company’s shade cards are extremely popular with interior designers, architects, schools and flooring contractors. Recently released are shade cards for Heckmondwike FB’s Supacord, Broadrib, Hobnail, Wellington Velour, Iron Duke and Entrance ranges. All ranges have been used extensively across educational settings and other environments for over 50 years and their exciting new look will make it even easier for contractors, specifiers and end-users to select the correct carpet to suit their needs.
A new 20 page brochure presents the revitalised Fibre Bonded and Entrance ranges, clearly demonstrating the company’s comprehensive choice of colours and designs.
In addition to the new literature, there are a number of colours that have been added to Heckmondwike FB’s Hobnail, Iron Duke and Wellington ranges, to make them even more versatile for use in different environments and sectors.
The new website, which is due for launch in October, has been designed with a new contemporary and uncluttered look. The website features all Heckmondwike FB’s ranges, with high quality installation and product photography, plus NBS specifications, BIM models, downloadable literature, notable case studies and installation and maintenance advice.
Jeremy Broadhead, Commercial Manager at Heckmondwike FB, said: “We are really excited to be launching our new identity and support literature and website. Design is becoming increasingly important in the choice of carpet, rather than it being a purely functional purchase and this is reflected in our literature and in our extended choice of colours in certain ranges. With our new website, brochure and shade cards, we are making it even easier for the specifier or buyer to make the right choice for them.”
Heckmondwike’s Fibre Bonded carpets are renowned for their durability, but also for their low maintenance properties and the fact that they will not ravel or fray – great in high-traffic areas. The company’s carpet is widely specified for education, public sector and commercial environments.