IOBAC has beaten strong competition to be named as winner of the Innovation Zone Awards at Ecobuild 2012 for its IOBACTM Magnetised Flooring Technology, which offers a fast, efficient and sustainable way to install flooring using magnetised carpet or vinyl tiles on an IOBAC paramagnetic floor, without the need for adhesives.
The Innovation Awards were held at the world’s biggest event for sustainable design and construction as a result of a partnership between UK-GBC, the Modern Building Environment Knowledge Transfer Network (MBEKTN) and the Technology Strategy Board, which delivered the show’s third Green Innovation Zone - an area dedicated to showcasing the latest new and emerging technologies destined to shape tomorrow’s built environment.
With around 80 businesses entering the competition, IOBAC’s sustainable flooring solution was amongst 25 other pioneering products selected for display within the Green Innovation Zone for the duration of the exhibition. Visitors were encouraged to vote for their favourite idea or concept on a daily basis, with the overall winner offered the impressive main prize of being included in Marks & Spencer’s new Sustainable Learning Stores.
All entrants into the awards were asked to demonstrate how their idea, product or concept is designed to meet the challenging environmental criteria now expected of modern building materials. This included looking closely at a number of factors, including how businesses and manufacturers are addressing the need for 0% of construction waste to be sent to landfill sites and the importance of increasing the amount of recycled content used in building materials to achieve excellent environmental credentials.
On winning the prestigious Innovation Zone Award, Chief Executive of IOBAC, Derek Smyth, said:
“We are delighted that around 14,000 people voted IOBACTM Magnetised Flooring Technology the most innovative product on display within the Green Innovation Zone. We were extremely pleased to be one of the 25 finalists selected to display at the show but winning the top award is hugely encouraging and suggests the wider UK construction industry can already see the huge potential of IOBACTM technology too.
“Traditionally, flooring installed with a damp proof membrane, levelling compound and adhesive is sent straight to landfill when flooring is renewed. In stark contrast, IOBAC users only ever need to install an initial floor preparation - a paramagnetic finish - that will accept our magnetic flooring products. As the IOBAC system works like a fridge magnet, no glue is ever used, which means vinyl flooring or carpet tiles can be uplifted and reused quite easily - uncontaminated by adhesive - so nothing ever goes to landfill.
“Having worked closely with our partners 3M, Karndean and InterfaceFlor to develop and perfect the IOBAC system, which has recently been trialled, tested and approved by ASDA, we’re extremely confident the finished product is set to revolutionise the commercial flooring industry in the very near future.”
For more information about IOBACTM Magnetised Flooring Technology visit the website www.iobac.co.uk.
