CLASSEN Group and i4F further strengthen patent partnership with innovative Polypropylene (PP) flooring solutions

- i4F becomes sole licensor of Classen’s PP technology to third parties
- After rigorous testing i4F drop-lock now specified for Classen PP flooring
- Classen now offering its PP products with i4F drop-Lock
- Meets growing demand for more sustainable, recyclable products

KAISERSESCH, GERMANY/TURNHOUT, BELGIUM – CLASSEN Group, a world leading innovator and producer of flooring and wall coverings, and i4F®, a group of companies providing patents and technologies to the flooring industry, today announced the strengthening of their long-standing patent partnership with the addition of Classen’s Polypropylene (PP) technologies. After an intensive development process, Classen has specified i4F’s drop-lock system for its PP-based products, produced at its Kaisersesch, Germany facility, which has a capacity exceeding twenty million square meters. i4F obtains the rights to license out the patented PP technology to third party manufacturers and expands its sustainable board composition technologies cluster. This initiative aligns with the global flooring industry’s demands for more sustainable solutions and responsible manufacturing.

Classen’s decision to offer i4F’s drop-lock technologies on its CERAMIN (PP) based products follows extensive testing carried out by Classen. The widespread adoption of i4F’s drop-lock system in the new materials segment has demonstrated its exceptional performance in that flooring category. Additionally, it has now become evident that i4F’s drop-lock is perfectly suited to meet the specific requirements of PP flooring. Consequently, Classen will integrate the i4F system into its product portfolio offering its customers the outstanding quality and reliability of the locking technology on its PP flooring products.

Significant further technology advancements are already underway at Classen, including the development of a complete production line layout from extrusion to finishing and profiling accompanied by technical support. More news regarding these advancements will be provided second half of this year.

Polypropylene (PP) is a thermoplastic polymer derived from propene (or propylene) monomers through polymerization. When used in flooring products, it offers several advantages, including a low density for a lightweight structure, excellent water and chemical resistance, and durability with flexibility to withstand bending and stress without breaking. Additionally, PP is recyclable, making it an environmentally friendly option.

Céline Quervel, Managing Director Sales of the Classen Group, says, “We are delighted to solidify further our already long-standing partnership with i4F - this time with future-focused PP products. Our PP solutions provide a direct response to the growing demand for more sustainable products, by using a streamlined concept comprising board production as well as surface treatments, including digital printing. Classen has more than twelve years of mass PP production experience, so we know exactly how to put locking solutions to the test. i4F drop-lock passed with more than just flying colors, it exceeded by far all industry standards. Forward thinking, more sustainable solutions are the future and Classen is committed to these solutions.”

John Rietveldt, i4F’s CEO, says, "Classen is the point of reference when it comes to producing PP based products and so we are extremely proud to not only receive its endorsement on the quality of our drop-lock technologies, but also to obtain the licensing rights for this innovative recyclable solution. This latest evolution in our eight-year patent partnership with Classen is driven by a shared vision and a commitment to advancing patent strategies that benefit the entire flooring industry.”

About i4F: 

i4F® is an innovations group focused on the development of patents and technologies for the flooring industry. Its portfolio includes IP for flooring installation and wall mounting systems, material compositions, surface treatment, digital printing as well as laminate and board production technologies. i4F has strategic partnerships with the industry’s most important 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®, provide a unique one piece drop-lock installation technique for flooring panels that eliminates the need for an additional insert on the short side. The solution is suitable for stone polymer core, expanded polymer core, luxury vinyl tyles, laminate, and wooden flooring panels. International patents and patent applications for i4F’s technologies have been granted and filed in over 100 countries worldwide. Visite i4F.com

About the CLASSEN-Group

As a leading German manufacturer of wall and floor coverings, the 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 Group are committed to a sustainable future in all areas of the value chain. With great passion and expertise, they achieve outstanding results - from the conservation of resources and the long life cycle to the complete recycling of healthy living wall and floor coverings.

CLASSEN deliberately avoids the use of chlorine, PVC and plasticizers for its healthy living wall and floor coverings. With numerous patents, which are available to the entire industry, the company not only underlines its own independence, but also its continuous commitment to our livelihoods. With CERAMIN®, CLASSEN has developed a material that consists largely of plastic recyclates and is 100 percent recyclable. In this way, CLASSEN makes an exemplary contribution to the circular economy.

The family business, founded in 1962 by Dr. Hans-Jürgen Hannig, is currently run by three generations, including the founder himself, in operational management.