Access floor manufacture

Mostly used in the commercial sector, raised floors take a special position in the flooring industry due to the specific requirements for the product. Access floors can sustain extreme loads, frequently have to meet demands to resist high temperatures or fulfil anti-static requirements and provide space for special installations.

Raised floors create a flexible and permanently accessible void which is hidden under the flooring and offers space for special installations, for instance communications cables and electrical wiring or water pipes. Therefore, access floors are widely used in specialized areas where easy access to mechanical and electrical services is a requirement, such as at trade fairs or in computer rooms. Access floor panels are characterized by high load carrying capabilities and frequently provide additional functions: The tiles are usually made from wood and laminated with a functional layer. In general, the substrate is laminated on the top and the underside with a special foil, e.g. of aluminum, using powerful hot melt adhesives based on PUR which are applied by rollers. These foils provide additional functions and may be for instance anti-static or heat-absorbent. In the following step, the tiles are assembled and receive a surrounding edgeband which is usually made from aluminum. Panels which are not turned over during use are coated with a protective layer on the underside.

The adhesives used in the manufacture of access floors also have to fulfil certain requirements. They have to be characterized by optimum adhesion to rigid materials, high initial strength, high heat resistance, very short open times, and permanent durability. Special PUR hot melt adhesives for flat lamination meet these demands and ensure a permanent bond.