Article Number: 4453
Shaw’s Tech Services: An Inside Look At How Science Betters Flooring
Nitrogen analysis by Chemiluminescence. X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive x-ray analysis capability.
What does all this scientific mumbo jumbo have to do with flooring? Everything, as FCNews found out during an exclusive tour of Shaw’s Technical Services Department.
While this all sounds like something from a CSI episode (in some ways it is), the fact is these are some of the many pieces of sophisticated equipment Tech Services uses to make sure the mill’s products meet or exceed international standards.
“We’ve all seen product claims that on the whole look good,” said Reggie Newton, Shaw’s vice president of residential marketing. “But when put into a real-life situation it fails to meet those claims. This hurts everyone in the industry.”
At Shaw, he added, the goal is to produce products that if sold into the right application, installed and maintained correctly, will exceed the end user’s expectations.
This is where Tech Services come into play. Comprised of 48 full-time technicians and scientists, four primary groups— Central Laboratory, Product Care, Field Technical Services and Product Certification—at its Dalton headquarters, the department is more than a place to test products; it is truly a state-of-the-art scientific laboratory.
It has been a catalyst for testing protocols and innovations that advance the entire industry, such as the Carpet & Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval program to assisting—and teaching— the FBI and other federal and state crime labs on identification of dyestuffs in fibers.
Cary Mitchell, director of the department, adds a number of governmental agencies, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and foreign organizations, such as the European Union’s Council of European Communities audit team, have visited Shaw’s facilities to learn what is available.
Even flooring dealers attest to the value Shaw Tech Services has provided them. “We’ve had reps from Tech Services come to Montana to inspect jobs and conduct training in all our locations for both our commercial and residential, both sales and installation,” said Dave Kalberg, manager of commercial operations for Pierce Flooring & Design.
Roland Thompson of Kehne’s Carpet One Floor & Home in Maryland, noted, “Being on the installation and customer service end of the business, it is always comforting to know that help is only a phone call away. This kind of service gives us the confidence to tell our customers everything will turn out [great] and they will love their flooring.”
This is the largest operation of its kind in the industry, according to Mitchell. He pointed out how the company has invested heavily in equipment that allows his team “to carry out the most extensive and stringent testing there is—whether it is a soft or hard surface product. We have to look at things years down the road to make sure the product does what we say it will do.”
This includes everything from the basic construction to how it reacts to dirt and different types of cleaning agents to making sure it will install easy and without claims. “Every new product we develop undergoes an intensive evaluation,” Mitchell explained, “including installation. We also evaluate new installation equipment, materials and practices to ensure our systems and customers are up to date. Helping dealers and consumers understand the aspects of a product’s performance is one of the keys to success.”
To prove how far Shaw goes, he pointed to the temperature/humidity controlled installation lab that can simulate different weather conditions to see how products respond.
More than just being “unique in the industry,” Mitchell said the lab played a crucial role in helping Shaw develop its revolutionary SoftBac by allowing the company to ensure it will not buckle or wrinkle.
Another area he points to is the Product Care Group. Beyond testing to make sure its soil and stain resistance claims hold up, he said the company has spent a great deal of money researching specific types of soil/stain resistant treatments and chemicals.
Through its ICP Lab, Shaw can do different types of elemental analysis, which means it can check to see if just about any element on the Periodic Table is left in a product.
While Shaw already enjoys a solid reputation for its Tech Services, the mill wants to let every customer know the testing it does before shipping any product as well as the fact its people are there to help them in a crisis.
To do this, the company is sending out 10,000 24-page, four-color booklets and companion videos that showcase and explain the work Tech Services does to put the testing facilities in the limelight.
“Shaw is already a credible source for products and information,” said Randy Merritt, the company’s president. “But this lets people see how much we’ve invested in equipment and talentto ensure our products are of the highest quality.”
—Matthew Spieler
What does all this scientific mumbo jumbo have to do with flooring? Everything, as FCNews found out during an exclusive tour of Shaw’s Technical Services Department.
While this all sounds like something from a CSI episode (in some ways it is), the fact is these are some of the many pieces of sophisticated equipment Tech Services uses to make sure the mill’s products meet or exceed international standards.
“We’ve all seen product claims that on the whole look good,” said Reggie Newton, Shaw’s vice president of residential marketing. “But when put into a real-life situation it fails to meet those claims. This hurts everyone in the industry.”
At Shaw, he added, the goal is to produce products that if sold into the right application, installed and maintained correctly, will exceed the end user’s expectations.
This is where Tech Services come into play. Comprised of 48 full-time technicians and scientists, four primary groups— Central Laboratory, Product Care, Field Technical Services and Product Certification—at its Dalton headquarters, the department is more than a place to test products; it is truly a state-of-the-art scientific laboratory.
It has been a catalyst for testing protocols and innovations that advance the entire industry, such as the Carpet & Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval program to assisting—and teaching— the FBI and other federal and state crime labs on identification of dyestuffs in fibers.
Cary Mitchell, director of the department, adds a number of governmental agencies, including the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and foreign organizations, such as the European Union’s Council of European Communities audit team, have visited Shaw’s facilities to learn what is available.
Even flooring dealers attest to the value Shaw Tech Services has provided them. “We’ve had reps from Tech Services come to Montana to inspect jobs and conduct training in all our locations for both our commercial and residential, both sales and installation,” said Dave Kalberg, manager of commercial operations for Pierce Flooring & Design.
Roland Thompson of Kehne’s Carpet One Floor & Home in Maryland, noted, “Being on the installation and customer service end of the business, it is always comforting to know that help is only a phone call away. This kind of service gives us the confidence to tell our customers everything will turn out [great] and they will love their flooring.”
This is the largest operation of its kind in the industry, according to Mitchell. He pointed out how the company has invested heavily in equipment that allows his team “to carry out the most extensive and stringent testing there is—whether it is a soft or hard surface product. We have to look at things years down the road to make sure the product does what we say it will do.”
This includes everything from the basic construction to how it reacts to dirt and different types of cleaning agents to making sure it will install easy and without claims. “Every new product we develop undergoes an intensive evaluation,” Mitchell explained, “including installation. We also evaluate new installation equipment, materials and practices to ensure our systems and customers are up to date. Helping dealers and consumers understand the aspects of a product’s performance is one of the keys to success.”
To prove how far Shaw goes, he pointed to the temperature/humidity controlled installation lab that can simulate different weather conditions to see how products respond.
More than just being “unique in the industry,” Mitchell said the lab played a crucial role in helping Shaw develop its revolutionary SoftBac by allowing the company to ensure it will not buckle or wrinkle.
Another area he points to is the Product Care Group. Beyond testing to make sure its soil and stain resistance claims hold up, he said the company has spent a great deal of money researching specific types of soil/stain resistant treatments and chemicals.
Through its ICP Lab, Shaw can do different types of elemental analysis, which means it can check to see if just about any element on the Periodic Table is left in a product.
While Shaw already enjoys a solid reputation for its Tech Services, the mill wants to let every customer know the testing it does before shipping any product as well as the fact its people are there to help them in a crisis.
To do this, the company is sending out 10,000 24-page, four-color booklets and companion videos that showcase and explain the work Tech Services does to put the testing facilities in the limelight.
“Shaw is already a credible source for products and information,” said Randy Merritt, the company’s president. “But this lets people see how much we’ve invested in equipment and talentto ensure our products are of the highest quality.”
—Matthew Spieler
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