BMW showroom in Germany

BMW B&K, with offices in 17 different German cities, remodeled its branch in Taunusstein, a wealthy suburb of Frankfurt, with approximately 5000 square feet of the product in its offices, reception area and lounge.

Toyota showroom in Berlin, Germany

At Toyota Weller, with 10 branches throughout Germany, a first stage saw over 5000 square feet installed in the sales offices and bar of its Berlin branch.

In both cases, the excellent technical performance of the HPS surface finish was chosen for maximum resistance to wear. 

The new Wicanders® Woodcomfort product lines offer an immense range of decorative, versatile and sophisticated options, providing distinctive and customized atmospheres in accordance with the highest standards of quality and comfort.

Napa, CA– ReCORK America has added another partner to support its cork recycling program.  SOLE, the manufacturer of premium footbeds, socks and sandals, will use a blend of recycled cork wine bottle closures in its line of 2010 footwear products.

SOLE joins the many restaurants, resorts, organizations, wine retailers, and wineries who help collect and find use for used natural corks.

To read the full article on this new partnership, please follow this link

Amorim has launched a new cork stopper targeting the high-volume sectors of the global wine industry.

Named Acquamark, the closure has been developed using the latest in cork production technology to provide winemakers with a clean natural cork stopper at a highly competitive price.

The product name is derived from the innovative water-based coating that is a feature of this cork.

Carlos de Jesus

“Acquamark is an environmentally friendly closure that provides enhanced performance in sealing capacity and wine preservation,” says Amorim’s director of marketing and communications, Carlos de Jesus.

“It is a welcome addition to Amorim’s product mix as it allows us to compete aggressively with producers of alternative closures, particularly in the ‘basic’ and ‘popular premium’ sectors of the wine market.

“New technology means we can produce a cost effective natural cork closure for sectors where price competition is at its fiercest.”

As with all natural cork closures, Acquamark is made from renewable resources, is recyclable and biodegradable.

“In many instances wineries are faced with a difficult choice on closures between cost effective options and those that play a strong role in protecting the environment,” Mr de Jesus said.

“With Acquamark there no longer needs to be a compromise.”  It’s price is 30-50% cheaper than synthetic closures.

Amorim has applied innovative processes to the production of the Acquamark closure, ensuring total particle retention as well as consistent visual appearance. The safe and environmentally friendly water-based coating enhances the restructuring process.

Acquamark corks are subject to Amorim’s unique CONVEX boiling system that prevents contamination as well as stringent quality control procedures.

Aveda Fredric's Institute

The design of Aveda Fredric’s Institute Indianapolis began and ended with the environment and its inhabitants in mind. The design teams were given the task throughout the entire design process of seeking out materials that are eco-friendly and friendly to the end-user of the space. Whether their selections were made from recycled materials, or are recyclable or manufactured in an environmental way with environmentally friendly, sustainable materials, they were challenged to create a difference. Taking the selections one step further, much thought has been given to the psychology of color and the way it can enhance the space for the guests, students and instructors alike. Color was added through the use of varying materials, textures and applications though the flooring, paint, cabinetry, wall materials and fixtures.

Aveda Retail

A natural choice for flooring was Wicanders Corkcomfort Glue-down HPS, which was used in the retail space, the cosmetology clinic and in the hallway.  Wicanders offers a flooring solution that is environmentally friendly, aesthetically appealing, durable yet practical.  Specifically designed for high traffic areas, and with a 15 year commercial warranty, Corkcomfort Glue-down tiles have our patented HPS finish.  HPS, or High Performance Surface, works by embedding a fine shield of nano-beads atop the surface layer of the flooring, protecting it from scratches, scuff marks, stains and abrasions.  The unique strength of this finish is that it also protects the natural properties of cork flooring. 

Guest Care and Gifting Center

Wicanders cork floors with HPS are giving and resilient underfoot, are hygenic and easily cleaned.  Wicanders Corkcomfort Glue down HPS tiles are a perfect choice for salons where students and employees are on their feet all day using chemicals and dyes. 

 

Here is another great use for corks.  Watch this video, courtesy of YouTube, where Michelle Kaufman shows us how to make a mud mat out of recycled cork stoppers.  This is a super cool project, but will take some time.

If arts and crafts are not your thing, you can support the ReCORK America program by sending or dropping off your used natural cork stoppers to a participating collection center.

Cheers

Team Wicanders

The use of composite cork materials in ultra-light civilian airplanes is under development and testing through the AEROCORK project. A sum of approximately 1.65 million dollars will be invested in this project with approx. 50% of that amount being funded by the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF).

The group responsible for the management of this investment is made up of Dyn’Aero Ibérica, Corticeira Amorim through Amorim Cork Composites, PIEP (Innovation in Polymer Engineering – University of Minho) and AST (Active Space Technologies).

AEROCORK is producing, testing and certifying cork composites with the intention of replacing synthetic materials with cork composites in airplanes of Dyn’Aero Ibérica. The first flying tests are scheduled for the second half of 2010.

Amorim, the world’s leading producer and developer of cork composites, and the manufacturer of Wicanders Cork Flooring, will be responsible for providing know-how about agglomerated cork that is the most appropriate to the aeronautical applications in question. Amorim is already involved in the US Space Shuttle project, providing cork composites to NASA, and sees this new initiative as an “opening door” for other high technology industries, such as the railroad system.

In addition to its unique structural characteristics, cork offers undeniable environmental advantages – it is a sustainable, ecological, natural and recyclable material – and will reduce the impact of the aviation industry on the environment. 

We are proud that our parent company is part of this project.

Happy Earth Day to all!

Team Wicanders

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Amorim Flooring North America, Inc. has appointed Architectural Systems, Inc. (ASI, www.archsystems.com) as its distributor in the commercial segment of Wicanders cork flooring.   ASI will cover the  Metro New York and New Jersey areas.

Founded in 1990, ASI has been known from the start for its fresh, innovative solutions for commercial interiors.  Today, the company’s products are confidently specified by the foremost architecture & design firms and installed globally in major retail, entertainment, hospitality, corporate, healthcare, education and institutional projects.

ASI’s clients return again and again for ASI’s extensive product expertise, professionalism, commitment to service, and collective eye for what’s next®, and the ability to find it all in one place.  Founders Nancy Jackson (President) and Ron Jackson (CEO) are design advocates who help their clients materialize their vision and have worked with the most prestige clientele.  ASI’s team of experts has been recognized for their involvement in every part of the contract project process from concept to installation.  Their innovative style and established relationships in the A& D community distinguish them from the rest.  Their exceptional knowledge of the industry is known globally and sets trends before anyone recognizes them as trends.

 Architectural Systems, Inc. (ASI), a family business, is acclaimed by the industry as a leading provider of architectural materials including sustainable products.

Amorim’s international flooring portfolio is known for its unique ecological properties, aesthetic design and technical attributes. 

This new strategic partnership reinforces the demand for high quality eco-efficient flooring solutions, and will strengthen Wicanders’ presence in the New York and New Jersey markets.

We welcome ASI to our family.

Team WIcanders

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As some of you may have heard, our very own Amorim of Portugal is sponsoring a pilot program in California and the Pacific North West to recycle natural cork wine closures. The program, called ReCORK AMERICA, is focused on obtaining used and surplus corks from winery tasting rooms, bottling lines and quality assurance laboratories. In addition, collection locations are being established with key retailers and restaurants in larger metropolitan areas.

We’re pleased to bring you some exciting updates on concerned businesses that are teaming up with ReCORK AMERICA, in order to address the opportunities to recycle natural cork closures.

WTN Services® and the Winetasting Network® a division of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM® as well as 25 Northern California Whole Foods Market stores have joined the ReCORK AMERICA Alliance. Both companies now encourage customers to add wine corks to their list of recyclable packaging and offer convenient drop off receptacles for any consumer wanting to return their corks for recycling.

ReCORK AMERICA Collection Box

Unlike plastic or metal screwcap closures, recycled cork can be turned into building insulation, shoe soles, fishing rod handles, bulletin boards, soil conditioner, and obviously our fabulous Wicanders Cork Oak Floors. Natural cork is biodegradable, sustainable and a valuable source for carbon retention.

To make this program work we need corks! For a current list of participating recycling locations near you, please visit http://www.recorkamerica.com/recork_locations.html

To all the participating companies we’d like to say, Cheers!

Team Wicanders

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It’s finally here! We’ve unveiled our gorgeous 2009 Collection at Surfaces and now nature’s pallet is in your hands, so you can enjoy exciting new patterns, finishes, textures, and design possibilities.

In this video, our very own Marketing Manager, Ronit McGuthrie, introduces you to distinctive textures and exotic contrasts that celebrate your identity, and your personal expression. Just like we promised, now you can see for yourself that whatever you’ve thought about Green flooring design has now changed.

By now you all know that cork oak is one of the greenest and most sustainable flooring options available and how a true commitment to sustainability can spark progress toward developing clean energy sources, fighting climate change, conserving our land and waters, and rebuilding a battered economy.

So, on this President’s Day, we’d like to inspire you with a quote from Barack Obama’s inaugural address: “We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.”

Best wishes for a very green holiday, everyone…
Team Wicanders

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