Imperfect tiles produced offshore result in ugly installations, costing time and money.
In a survey of large flooring contractors, we asked them to list their biggest complaints with conductive and static dissipative vinyl flooring produced offshore. Every response included major concerns about:
- Squareness, and shrinkage – resulting in gaps between seams – and call backs
- Economic liability for the contractor, the janitorial service and ultimately the owner, due to tile shrinkage and lack of squareness
Less than perfect tile costs installers and owners time and money
Vinyl tile made in the USA is squared in line using a CNC process. Most imported tiles, on the other hand, are merely die cut. Since consistency in squareness and thickness are the key metrics contributing to a seamless installation, tiles need to be precision manufactured.
When tiles are imperfect the installer has to sort and cut tiles in order to make them fit properly. They also need to buy extra tile to compensate for tiles they can’t use. After installation, the owner is harnessed with permanent maintenance problems, including gaps in seams and ongoing shrinkage. Gaps collect dirt and compromise the visual appeal of a floor that was supposed to look like an operating room in a hospital.
Unusual Sizes
Size also matters. Many offshore companies supply unusually-sized tiles that are only available from them. 12″ x 12″ and 24″ x 24″ are US standards. When tiles are specified in unusual sizes – such as 18.5″ x 18.5″ – they are imports. The one-of-a-kind size makes replacement difficult.
Environmental hazards
Offshore vinyl flooring can differ greatly from flooring products produced in the USA. US manufacturers are held to higher standard for material content and VOC emissions.
AmeriWorx ESD vinyl tile is precision milled for perfect, gap-free installations
What makes AmeriWorx better than offshore tile?
- Total control of raw materials. All AmeriWorx components are sourced, blended and produced in the United States. Raw materials are never substituted based on market price or availability. We do not change suppliers.
- Quality inspections: AmeriWorx tiles are made using an automated process with quality monitoring throughout the production line. Conductivity and dimensional records are computer generated for every tile in every batch for 100% traceability and control.
- Shrink free and shrink resistant: We don’t use fillers or components that outgas and result in long-term dimensional changes to the tile.
- Precision Milling: Every tile is CNC precision-milled 72 hours after pressing. After die cutting, solid vinyl tiles continue curing for up to 72 hours. Precision milling is the final process we perform before we put our name on your floor.
- Green manufacturing: AmeriWorx tiles are produced using green processing procedures, and have zero detectable VOCs.
- No heavy metals. All AmeriWorx tile meets Rohs directive. Some off shore tile isn’t even tested for Rohs compliance. Info on Rohs compliance here.
- Competitively priced: No layers of middlemen. You deal direct with StaticWorx.
- Gap-free installation: No bevels, no chopping edges, no dimensional variations. Every tile is perfectly square with 90 degree right angles at all seams.
- Access to the best installation contractors in North America. StaticWorx has relationships with top notch contractors throughout the US, Canada and Mexico. The best contractors know that poor quality costs everyone money; they won’t install any flooring that doesn’t meet their own quality standards.
AmeriWorx ESD vinyl tile—also known as antistatic vinyl tile and static-control vinyl tile—meets all ESD Association (ESDA ) standards.
Offshore vinyl flooring can differ greatly from flooring products produced in the USA. US manufacturers are held to higher standard for material content and VOC emissions.
