Shaw Joins North American Laminate Flooring Association

June 9, 2003 - The North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) has announced the addition of Shaw Industries to its roster of members. The Georgia-based flooring manufacturer is the latest to join the trade association which focuses on establishing and maintaining high standards in laminate flooring in North America and recognizing those that meet these standards.

"We are delighted to have Shaw join our Board and participate fully as a Technical member," said Bill Dearing, president of NALFA. "Our conversations have underscored Shaw's determination not just to sell laminate, but to help improve the industry."

Having just entered the laminate category in 2001, Shaw already has achieved great success, generating more than $60 million in laminate flooring sales last year. The company opened its own 150 million-square-foot capacity laminate plant in Ringgold, Ga. just over a year ago, and now runs three shifts seven days a week.

"We believe that being part of an industry is not just manufacturing products, but more leading the industry toward new standards of excellence," said Jean Briere, technical manager for Shaw Industries. "One of the ways of achieving that goal is by being an active member of the North American Laminate Flooring Association.

"I became involved with NALFA through another company and strongly encouraged Shaw to join the association," added Briere. "No one manufacturer can decide the direction in the potential of this association from the start and already we are seeing its value and impact on the industry. There's a lot more to come and we're excited to be actively involved."

NALFA established standards for residential laminate flooring in October 2001. Developed and certified through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), these standards ensure that products demonstrate the highest levels of resistance to such factors as impact, light, stains, radiant heat, static loads and general wear.

NALFA does not require that members submit their products for testing. Instead, products are submitted for testing and certification on a voluntary basis and put through a series of standardized tests at an independent laboratory by inspectors. Once a product passes the required tests and is proven to conform to all NALFA standards, it is presented the NALFA seal, which can be used on packaging and in collateral materials to indicate their certification to consumers. Any product carrying the NALFA seal of approval is considered quality flooring.

Shaw Industries is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc., is headquartered in Dalton, Georgia. Shaw produces and sells carpet, rugs, ceramic, hardwood, and laminate flooring for residential and commercial applications throughout the world. The company manufactures more than 600 million square yards of floor covering every year—enough to wrap a 6-foot wide path around the earth's equator 7 times.

For more information, visit www.nalfa.com.
Contact: Allison Kurtz 800-837-7123 or 312-565-3900