Forbo Flotex: a unique textile floor covering

This article introduces Forbo Flotex flooring. You will learn:

• what it is;
• where it is used;
• how and from what it is made;
• what designs and formats are available;
• its main properties and advantages;
• completed projects.

What is Flotex?

Flotex is a technologically advanced textile floor covering that combines the advantages of vinyl and carpet:

• like vinyl flooring, Flotex is unaffected by moisture, hypoallergenic, hard-wearing and easy to clean;
• like carpet, it is a soft, comfortable floor. Flotex is not slippery, absorbs noise well and creates acoustic comfort in a room.

Where is it used?

Thanks to these properties, Flotex suits all commercial spaces. It is ideal for offices, hotels, cinemas and restaurants, as well as educational institutions. Rooms floored with Flotex are comfortable, quiet and attractive. At the same time, cleaning is as simple and effective as it gets — vacuuming plus damp cleaning. Flotex is a textile floor covering that can be washed with water.

How and from what is Flotex made?

Flotex is made from vinyl: a glass-fibre reinforced backing with a dense layer of nylon fibres firmly bonded to it. Flotex is an exceptionally dimensionally stable floor covering that looks like a textile finish while being functional, hard-wearing and easy to clean, and it also traps allergens and fine airborne particles.

The production technology is flocking. What does that mean?

First the fibres are cut to a set length, producing “flock” (from the English flock — a tuft of fibre). Adhesive is applied to the PVC backing and, under an electrostatic field, the fibres are aligned perpendicular to the backing and bond to it. Flotex has more than 80 million nylon fibres per square metre. This high fibre density makes the material strong, resilient and resistant to deformation and moisture.

What designs and formats are available?

Flotex designs impress with their huge choice of colours, patterns and layouts.

Flotex Colour comprises three different abstract designs, each with more than 30 shades.

Flotex Linear offers five contemporary linear designs in a range of colour schemes.

Flotex Vision consists of digitally printed designs that can be matched by colour and style to suit your interior.

Collections created with designers

Flotex by Starck was created in collaboration with Philippe Starck.

Flotex Sottsass is the result of a collaboration with the Italian design studio Sottsass Associati .

Flotex Tibor was inspired by Tibor Reich's Fotexur collection. He was one of the first post-war British textile designers to found his own company, Tibor, which is still successfully in business today.

Browse the design and colour options on the website, and you can view Forbo Flotex samples at our showroom.

Go to the catalogue

The Flotex collection is produced in tile, plank and roll formats. Dimensions:

• plank 100 x 25 cm;
• tiles 50 x 50 cm;
• roll 3000 x 200 cm.

The thickness is 4.3 mm for rolls and 5 mm for tiles and planks.

Properties and advantages of Flotex

• Its structure makes it strong and durable. It suits spaces with heavy traffic — for example, the waiting areas and boarding gates of Lviv International Airport are very busy, and Flotex works perfectly there.
• Soft and comfortable — it provides good sound insulation and noise absorption of 20 dB, so office staff and hotel guests are not disturbed by noise.
• Safe — not slippery either dry or wet.
• Flotex traps allergens and dirt yet is exceptionally easy to vacuum. It is suitable for people with allergies, as confirmed by Allergy UK.
• Flotex is impregnated and therefore protected against mould, bacteria and odours.
• After cleaning, Flotex returns to its original appearance and keeps its colours and brightness as on the first day.
• A wide choice of designs, colours and formats.

Flotex is manufactured by Forbo in the United Kingdom. It is a top-quality floor covering that looks good, lasts a long time and needs little maintenance.

Completed projects

Flotex flooring is an excellent solution for commercial spaces. The best proof of this are the completed projects in which Forbo Flotex was chosen for the floor.

One of them is the Semashko hotel in Grodno, completed in 2019. See more photos here.

You will find other completed projects here.

Watch the Forbo Flotex video

If you are interested in this floor covering, drop in at the showroom to see the samples. Any questions? Call or write to us!