Viken, Sweden — Välinge Innovation AB was issued a patent related to the material savings of surface layers, which is relevant for production of luxury vinyl tile and other surfaces.
The U.S. patent (8,613,826) protects a method of producing floor panels, including separating a sheet formed surface layer material into surface strips, which are glued to a core with a space between the surface strips. The core is cut, at the space, into floor panels, and a mechanical locking system is formed in the core at the space.
By the patented method, material savings can be made within, for example, production of vinyl planks and tiles or other floor panels. Waste of the surface layer material is reduced by arranging the surface layer material with a space between adjacent strips of the surface layer material, and forming the mechanical locking system at the space.