FRANCE - Tarkett, a worldwide leader in innovative and sustainable flooring and sports surface solutions, announces changes to its North American manufacturing footprint.

These moves are consistent with the company’s strategy to optimize operations and position Tarkett to better anticipate and respond to the needs and demands of the North American market.

Tarkett is transitioning all manufacturing activities from Waterloo, Ontario and Truro, Nova Scotia in Canada to manufacturing locations in the US, resulting in the closure of both the Waterloo plant, which produces flooring accessories, and the Truro plant, which produces commercial carpet rolls.

Accessories produced in Waterloo will be moved to the recently expanded Chagrin Falls, Ohio site. Products currently manufactured in Truro will be transferred to Dalton, Georgia, specifically the carpet facility acquired with the purchase of Lexmark in September 2018.

This consolidation will reduce Tarkett’s cost base in North America and generate the planned cost synergies anticipated from the Lexmark acquisition. As most of the products manufactured in Canada are shipped to the US market, this move will also significantly improve logistics. Tarkett expects to complete the closure process before the end of the year.

With a history stretching back 135 years, Tarkett is a worldwide leader in innovative flooring and sports surface solutions, with net sales of more than €2.8 billion in 2018. Offering a wide range of products including vinyl, linoleum, rubber, carpet, wood, laminate, artificial turf and athletics tracks, the Group serves customers in over 100 countries across the globe.