MANCHESTER, NH - March 31, 2010 - Velcro USA Inc., the industry leader and inventor of the hook and loop fasteners which have made life easier at home and work for more than 50 years, announced today its latest invention: VELCRO® Brand Temporary Carpet Protection. This unique product, ideal for use in the home construction industry, is a durable, high-quality laminate with a non-woven face and a water resistant, yet breathable film backing that secures to loop carpeting using patented hook technology by the Velcro Companies.
"Our goal was to create a product that solves problems the construction industry has faced for years," said Blaire Townsend, Construction Division Manager and leader of the team that invented VELCRO® Brand Temporary Carpet Protection. "As construction schedules have gotten more and more aggressive, design overlaps construction and every trade overlaps the previous, causing finish materials to be put in place and at risk of damage much sooner than most contractors would like. As a result, more time and money is spent on temporary protection throughout the course of a project. Yet the construction industry and in particular the carpet industry has been plagued by products and practices that instead of providing protection have caused a whole host of problems and millions of dollars in claims. Our Temporary Carpet Protection is easy to use, can be applied by hand or with a simple applicator tool, and is designed to withstand the rigors of a busy job site."
VELCRO® Brand Temporary Carpet Protection offers many distinct product features, including:
• Durability that protects against spills, dirt, and typical construction foot and wheeled traffic
• Does not trap moisture, allowing newly installed carpet adhesive to breathe and cure properly
• No adhesive residue left behind to collect dirt and damage carpeting
• Easy to install, repositionable and reusable - saves on material and labor costs
• Self-engaging edges allow for easy coverage of large areas without the need for costly, time consuming and failure prone-taping
• Custom printing allows for new advertising opportunities, previously unavailable
The printable face is a new, distinguishing feature to this product. Velcro USA Inc. will provide custom printing, allowing carpet manufacturers, installers, general contractors, or any customer the opportunity to display their logo on the product and enjoy previously unavailable exposure and advertising.
Protection products used on carpeting often incorporate a pressure sensitive adhesive, which if used improperly can leave a residue behind, inhibit the curing of the adhesive used to install the carpeting, and compromise the color in solution dyed yarns. For these reasons, the Carpet and Rug Institute and carpet manufacturer's guidelines advise against the use of this type of self-adhering film product or risk voiding their warranty. This patent pending Temporary Carpet Protection product is targeted to the commercial construction industry, where loop and loop combination carpeting is the predominant flooring product.
"Other products used for temporary flooring protection in the industry, such as tarps, paper, masonite or homasote panels are also problematic. These systems are expensive, labor intensive to install, adjust or relocate, fail easily, and create trip hazards. Having spent over 20 years in the commercial construction industry, I faced these issues every day. This product was specifically developed to address them," added Townsend. "We spent 18 months developing this Temporary Carpet Protection product with contractor and installer feedback, extensive lab testing and field trials, and carpet manufacturer and industry experts' input. It has been previewed to rave industry reviews."
VELCRO® Brand Temporary Carpet Protection is a competitively priced option for all construction industry participants in need of temporary protection that saves money, avoids costly claims and provides free advertising - a unique combination of benefits not offered anywhere else.
Velcro USA Inc. also plans to launch a protection product for hard flooring surfaces later this year.
Made in the USA, VELCRO® Brand Temporary Carpet Protection is now available for purchase from the company, select distributors and resellers. Each 3' x 100' roll is supplied with a 2" x 30' roll of hook tape for securing leading and trailing edges, to ensure a safe and effective installation. This product is for use with all commercial grade loop and loop combination carpets. For more information, please contact Velcro USA, Inc. at 1-800-225-0180, e-mail marketing@velcro.com or visit the Carpet Protection page at www.velcroconstruction.com . For media requests, please contact Blaire Townsend at btownsen@velcro.com.
About Velcro USA Inc.
Velcro USA Inc. is part of a worldwide family of companies founded on innovation inspired by nature. The Velcro companies worldwide are a technologically driven, global organization and the industry leader in hook and loop fasteners. For more information, visit www.velcro.com.