Wood and laminate flooring will have a stronger presence at this year’s National Floor Show, organisers say.

Wood and laminate will account for about 20% of exhibits at the show, traditionally a bastion for the carpet industry, with an increasing number of carpet/rug companies offering ranges of their own.

David Wildman, show organiser, expects about 50 stands to exhibit wood and laminate flooring including new names Meister and Parador from Germany, Stalheim Industries from Malaysia and Beijing Sihe Décor, China. Montague L Meyer and AJ Charlton & Sons Ltd are among UK firms attending the September 3-5 event at Harrogate International Centre.

Mr Wildman said: ‘The wood and laminate area has grown dramatically over the last five years. It wasn’t long ago that we had just three manufacturers.’

Several exhibitors will display bamboo flooring described by Mr Wildman as a ‘fantastic product’ likely to prove fashionable throughout 2002 and into 2003.

&#8220The National Floor Show offers us the opportunity of showing the trade what we have been doing for years but have kept quiet about.

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Alan Duncan, sales and marketing manager, AJ Charlton & Sons Ltd

AJ Charlton & Sons Ltd, exhibiting at the show for the first time, will launch a solid oak overlay product and a European pre-finished solid oak range.

Alan Duncan, sales and marketing manager, said: ‘The show offers us the opportunity of showing the trade what we have been doing for years but have kept quiet about.’