Armstrong Honored for Pioneering Sustainable Technology

Armstrong World Industries received the 2008 Emerging Technology Award from RadTech for pioneering the development and use of sustainable UV/EB technology for floor coatings. RadTech is the association for UV (ultraviolet) and EB (electron beam) technologies. UV/EB technology virtually eliminates potentially harmful emissions generated in the coating manufacturing process. Armstrong was one of the first to apply the UV curing process, which uses ultraviolet light with specially formulated chemistries to cure coatings faster, more economically and more environmentally safe than traditional, solvent-based methods.

In honoring Armstrong, RadTech Executive Director Gary Cohen noted our pioneering development and adaptation of UV/EB technology for floor coatings – we launched our first UV-coated “no wax” resilient residential sheet and tile flooring products in the early 1970s – and our continued expansion of the technology. Cohen also praised Armstrong's support of the advancement and application of the technology though RadTech technical committees and publications, and leadership in developing industry standards with the American Society for Testing and Materials and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

At Armstrong, we continue to evolve our UV/EB cured coated product portfolio for hard surface flooring, and we’re in the process of transitioning all of our floor manufacturing operations to either water-based or 100 percent-solids UV/EB sustainable systems.

Armstrong Commercial Products with UV Coatings
Armstrong’s Luxury Vinyl Tile with a 100 Percent-Solids UV Cured Urethane Topcoat
Armstrong’s Marmorette Linoleum with NatureCote
Armstrong’s Medintech Sheet Flooring
Armstrong’s Petit Point Commercial Sheet Flooring
Engineered and Solid Wood Flooring for Commercial Applications

Armstrong Residential Products with UV Coatings
Armstrong’s Caliber Vinyl Composition Tile
Mode Flooring
Engineered and Solid Wood Flooring for Residential Applications