New Product Introduction

Taking Cue from Design Community in Development of New Product – noraplan degree

Lawrence, MA (March 8, 2010) – nora systems, Inc. is proud to introduce noraplan degree, a high-performance rubber floor covering with a unique textured, modular look and versatile color palette.

noraplan degree is the most recent result of the company’s ongoing collaboration with North American architects and designers.

“We wanted to see a more gradual change from one color pattern to the next, so that you have  a subtle change in pattern over the area of a room,” said Jocelyn Stroupe, principal with OWP/P I Cannon Design. “We felt a gradual change could be really unique and very successful in a lot of ways."

noraplan degree features a color palette versatile enough to ensure a wide range of design possibilities across a variety of applications and environments, including healthcare and education. Named after state capitals, the palette features 30 coordinating colors that are separated into 10 color families. Each family includes three shades, with the darkest chip in a particular color serving as the base color for the next shade in the family. The distinctive modular look of noraplan degree highlights the increased granular depth of the flooring.

“At nora we take our brand ’All About Flooring, All About You’ seriously. Collaboration with our customers – tapping into their imagination, realizing their vision, meeting and exceeding their performance challenges – is the key to successful product development. noraplan degree reflects what we heard in design workshops and in extensive interviews with architects and designers,” said Amy Bostock, manager, marketing and creative services at nora.

Architects and designers have enjoyed being so involved with nora’s product design process. Denise Roznovsky, senior interior designer at HFP/Ambuske Architects, Inc., said, “They took the information we gave them and made noraplan degree even better than we expected.”

Terri Johnson, principal at ZGF Architects LLP, added, “That’s what design is – it‘s collaboration...I think collaboration, like we experienced with nora, is really important to product development.”

The aesthetic appeal of noraplan degree (available in 3.0-millimeter tiles and rolls) is matched by its performance benefits. Like all nora flooring, noraplan degree does not contain PVC. With an extremely dirt and stain resistant surface, the floor never needs waxing or sealing, ensuring easy, inexpensive cleaning with lower maintenance costs.

Throughout the product development and design process, the architects and designers involved adopted a hands-on approach resulting in a sharing of ideas, and ultimately a new, innovative floor covering.

“Contributing ideas was fun, interesting and collaborative. I think they valued the input we provided,” said Janet Kobylka, senior associate, healthcare at HOK. “They took what we said seriously, and the things I’ve seen subsequently seem to reflect that.”

nora systems, Inc. has been located in the United States for more than 30 years. It is the U.S. headquarters of German-based nora systems GmbH, the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial rubber floor covering systems. The company has been designing and manufacturing nora rubber flooring for more than 50 years, meeting a wide range of functional performance requirements while paying close attention to the aesthetic aspects of interior design. For additional information, contact nora systems, Inc. at 1-800-332-NORA or visit the company’s web site at www.nora.com/us.