Hamont, Belgium—i4F, a group of companies providing patents and technologies to the flooring industry, introduced AquaProtect, a patented technology developed by its IP partner Classen. According to i4F, AquaProtect is a high-precision, resource-saving impregnation technology that protects laminate core HDF boards from water surface swell by up to 75%, thus increasing dramatically their overall water-resistance.
“We believe AquaProtect is quite simply the most advanced water-swell-resistant laminate impregnation technology in the world,” said John Rietveldt, CEO, i4F. “Return on a relatively low investment is fast as AquaProtect is easy to introduce into existing laminate production lines meaning manufacturers can offer high-quality, premium water-resistant laminate without having to use high-cost, high-resin HDF boards.”
Laminate treated with this technology meets all recognized international laminate water-resistance standards and tests, including NALFA and ISO 4760. According to the company, AquaProtect is exclusively available via an i4F license and is the company’s latest addition to its highly advanced process technologies for flooring manufacturers.
AquaProtect is said to offer a relatively low investment and enables laminate manufacturers to significantly upgrade their offering by transforming standard laminate core HDF boards into highly water-resistant products, according to the company. This technology also saves on core materials as it allows for the use of standard HDF boards to obtain the same moisture-resistance performance as HDF with a 20% higher resin content.
AquaProtect technology is fully compatible with existing laminate manufacturing lines, therefore, requiring relatively low investments to introduce it into production. This technology uses a high-precision spray system that applies the hydrophobic impregnation agent exactly where its needed, avoiding unnecessary overspray. It seals the joint edges of both V-grooved and non-V-Grooved laminate panels.
The impregnation agent’s unique formula is supplied by Riepe, a market-leading company that delivers spraying solutions for the woodworking industry and is exclusively available for AquaProtect licensees, according to the company.