Alloc is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of laminate flooring. In 1996 the company introduced the locking system that revolutionised the floor industry and made it possible to lay floors without using glue. Alloc has now developed a new system that provides greater precision and locking effect to simplify installation.

Long-term agreement

The heart of the system is locking clips or fasteners of aluminium extrusions. Alloc has now signed a development and delivery agreement that makes Hydro Aluminium Profiler the sole supplier of nearly 75 million clips over the next five years. The agreement was signed at the company's head office in Lyngdal in the presence of the key members of staff involved in the project led by Alloc's operations manager Patric Van Ackere and Hydro Aluminium Profiler's marketing manager Atle Larsen.

Looking forward to working together for many years, from left, Atle Larsen – marketing manager Hydro Aluminium Profiler, Anne Margit Mushom – procurement manager Alloc, Tore Gysland – logistics and planning manager Alloc and Odd Skoglund, the salesman from Hydro Aluminium Profiler.

"We make great demands on our suppliers for quality and long-term commitment," says Tore Gysland, Alloc's logistics and planning manager as well project leader for the development of the new locking system. "Working with Hydro we can feel confident about deliveries in the long term of the extrusions for our new fastening system."

Put to the test

The heart of Alloc's fastening system is the locking clips made of aluminium extrusions.

The agreement follows a year of development work where Hydro's production resources were really put to the test by the high demands of this specialised product with close tolerances. Apart from producing the fastening extrusions Hydro has invested in fully automatic machining and a logistics system customised for Alloc's stores and production. The five-year agreement is for the delivery of about 15 million locking clips a year or some 400 tons of aluminium extrusions or 2.000 tonnes over a five year period.

"We are very pleased to have secured this exciting project with a long-term agreement that offers both technical challenges and good development opportunities," says Atle Larsen.

Alloc was started in 1953 and is owned today by the Belgian Beaulieu International Group.