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CLASSEN and i4F strengthen patent partnership with innovative polypropylene (PP) flooring solutions

Published on February 7, 2025
Hand reaches into a large quantity of gray Ceramin® granules
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i4F will be the licensor of CLASSEN polypropylene technology CLASSEN third parties.
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Following extensive testing, i4F Drop-Lock is now specified for CLASSEN coverings.
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CLASSEN now CLASSEN its PP products with the i4F drop-lock system 
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Meets the growing demand for more sustainable and recyclable products
Kaisersesch, GERMANY/TURNHOUT, BELGIUM – The CLASSEN, a leading global innovator and manufacturer of floor and wall coverings, and i4F®, a group of companies that provides patents and technologies for the flooring industry, announce the strengthening of their long-standing patent partnership. This now also includes CLASSEN polypropylene (PP) technologies. In addition, following an intensive development process, CLASSEN has specified i4F's Drop-Lock system for its PP-based products, which are manufactured at its production site in Kaisersesch, Germany, with a capacity of over 20 million square meters. i4F also obtains the rights to license the patented PP technology to other manufacturers, thereby expanding its portfolio of sustainable material technologies. This initiative responds to global demand from the flooring industry for more sustainable solutions and responsible production.

CLASSEN decision to offer i4F Drop-Lock technologies on its CERAMIN PP) products is based on extensive testing. The widespread introduction of the i4F Drop-Lock system in the "New Material" flooring category (design and vinyl flooring) has already confirmed its outstanding performance in this segment. It has now been determined that the technology also optimally meets the specific requirements of PP flooring. CLASSEN therefore integrate the i4F system into its product portfolio and offer its customers the exceptional quality and reliability of this locking technology.

Further significant technological advances at CLASSEN already in the works, including the development of a complete production line layout from extrusion to surface treatment and profiling for polypropylene (PP)-based floor coverings. Details will be announced to interested parties in the second half of the year.

Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer produced by the polymerization of propene (or propylene). It offers several advantages in floor coverings, including low density for a lightweight structure, excellent water and chemical resistance, and high flexibility and durability. PP is also recyclable, making it an environmentally friendly option.

Céline Quervel, Sales Director at the CLASSEN, explains: "We are delighted to further strengthen our long-standing partnership with i4F – this time with future-oriented PP products. Our PP solutions are a direct response to the growing demand for more sustainable products, thanks to an optimized concept that encompasses both panel production and surface treatments, including digital printing. CLASSEN more than twelve years of experience in PP mass production and knows exactly how to put locking solutions to the test. The i4F Drop Lock system has not only exceeded all industry standards, but also far exceeded our expectations. Sustainable, forward-looking solutions are the future, and CLASSEN firmly committed to this obligation."

John Rietveldt, CEO of i4F, adds: "CLASSEN the benchmark for the production of PP-based products, and we are proud not only to have earned their trust in the quality of our Drop-Lock technologies, but also to have been granted the licensing rights for this innovative recyclable solution. This latest development in our eight-year patent partnership with CLASSEN on a shared vision and commitment to advancing patent strategies that benefit the entire flooring industry."

About i4F: 

i4F® is an innovation group focused on developing patents and technologies for the flooring industry. Its IP portfolio includes floor installation and wall mounting systems, material compositions, surface treatment, digital printing, and technologies for laminate and panel production. i4F has strategic partnerships with the industry's key IP players, including CLASSEN, Kronospan, HMTX, CFL Flooring, Tarkett, Kingdom Flooring, Li&Co, QuickStyle Industries, Hymmen, Wellmade, Exterpark, Hesse-Lignal, Amorim, and Tianzhen (TZ). The company's flagship technologies, 3L TripleLock®, Click4U®, i4F HerringB/ONE, and i-Click4U®, offer a unique, one-piece drop-lock installation technique for floor panels that eliminates the need for additional locking on the short side. The solution is suitable for laminate, LVT, EPC, SPC, and wood. International patents and patent applications for i4F's technologies have been granted and filed in over 100 countries worldwide. Visiti4F.com

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About the CLASSEN Group

As a leading German manufacturer of wall and floor coverings, this family-owned company stands for technological leadership and sustainability. Under the motto "Floors For A Better Tomorrow," the approximately 2,000 employees of the CLASSEN are committed to a sustainable future in all areas of the value chain. With great passion and expertise, they achieve outstanding results – from resource conservation and long life cycles to the complete recycling of healthy wall and floor coverings.

CLASSEN avoids the use of chlorine, PVC, and plasticizers in its healthy wall and floor coverings. With numerous patents available to the entire industry, the company not only underscores its own independence, but also its ongoing commitment to our natural resources. With CERAMIN®, CLASSEN has developed CLASSEN material that consists largely of recycled plastics and is 100 percent recyclable. In this way, CLASSEN is making CLASSEN exemplary contribution to the circular economy.

Founded in 1962 by Dr. Hans-Jürgen Hannig, the family business is currently managed by three generations, including the founder himself.
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