HPS Schönox presented the first ever Schönox Smooth Performer Award this week to CDC Distributors, headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. Al Futscher, CEO & President, and Tony Robert, COO, both of CDC Distributors, accepted the award from Thomas Trissl, HPS Schönox Principal. “We were happy to make the trip from Florence, AL to Ohio to personally present this award to Tony, Al, and the entire CDC team,” said Trissl. “CDC was one of the first distributors to join the journey with Schönox in the US; their dedication from management to the sales team is unbeatable, with incredible results – this is such a solid relationship.”. . .

Just two weeks ago, HPS Schönox asked flooring professionals to show us your worst and how you made it your best with the opening of its Second Annual Worst Subfloor in North America Contest™. Today the three judge panel of independent industry experts was announced. Tom Jennings (Vice President of Member Services, WFCA,) Dean Thompson (President & CEO, RFCI,) and Robert Varden (Executive Director, CFI) will judge contest entries in an impartial manner that includes having all identifying information removed from the entry with only the photos and project notes provided for their review. Judging will begin after December 14th, the deadline for contest submissions.. . .

Show us your worst and how you made it your best. That’s how HPS Schönox formally launched its second annual Worst Subfloor in North America Contest™ today with its announcement going out to the flooring industry opening participation in the Contest. “We want to see the brittle, crumbling, cracked, unstable, rough, uneven, damaged subfloors faced by flooring professionals in the field and how they met those challenges to produce smooth, sound subfloors ready for the highest quality flooring installations,” explained Thomas Trissl, HPS Schönox Principal. The Contest is open to flooring companies to show the tough subfloors they encounter, how they renovated them using Schönox products, and to provide them with much deserved recognition.. . .

While still operating as separate companies, Schönox GmbH and HPS North America, Inc. announced a strengthening of their strategic relationship today encompassing a multi-year operating agreement that has the companies working closely to market, distribute, and fully support their subfloor products in the North American marketplace. “We’ve reached our objective of a seamless relationship between the two companies that clearly supports our customers and distribution partners,” explained Thomas Trissl, HPS Principal. “HPS North America is the exclusive importer of Schönox products to the North American marketplace.”. . .

In a ceremony this week at the Surfaces trade show in Las Vegas, the winners of the Schönox Worst Subfloor in North America Contest™ were announced. The Schönox Worst Subfloor in North America Contest™ is an opportunity for any company charged with making a damaged subfloor smooth and sound to show the tough subfloor conditions that they encountered and how they renovated them using Schönox products. The Contest entries were independently judged with first, second, and third place winners awarded Schönox products based on the severity of the original subfloor’s condition, the skill and attention to detail taken in executing the project, and the quality of the finished subfloor. John McGrath (Director, INSTALL,) Lew Migliore (President, LGM and Associates Technical Flooring Services,) and Jim Walker (CEO, International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association / CFI) served as the judges for the Contest.. . .

A new App, subfloor products for some of the toughest subfloor challenges, and a website to support customers will all be introduced this week at the HPS Schönox booth at the Surfaces and NAHB International Builders’ trade shows in Las Vegas. The new Schönox App, available in both the Google Play Store and the Apple iTunes Store, provides information for each of the company’s products, a product usage calculator, video-based installer tips, and a GPS-enabled tool to find your sales representative. “Installers and flooring professionals are on the move and need information quickly where they are,” explained Thomas Trissl, HPS Schönox Principal. “The new Schönox App puts the tools in our customers’ hands to understand all of our products, how to use them, and how much of the product is required for their particular project needs.”. . .

Preparations are underway in Las Vegas to reward installers for their finding and then repairing the worst subfloors in North America. In May of 2014, HPS Schönox kicked off its Contest with a simple question, is your company working on a project that has what might be the worst subfloor in North America? Since that Contest kickoff, flooring professionals have responded with subfloor challenges they have faced of all kinds. “It has been really interesting to see the Contest entries and the nightmare subfloor issues that are faced in the field,” explained Thomas Trissl, HPS Schönox Principal. “It’s exciting to see how Schönox products and the dedicated professionals who use them have corrected every subfloor situation.” . . .

This week marked the end date for entries into the Schönox Worst Subfloor in North America Contest. Launched in May 2014, the Contest was put together to shine a light on tough subfloor conditions, detail the best ways to renovate them, and provide some recognition and publicity for the companies who handle these challenging projects. “We’ve been really excited to see the strong participation by installers and contractors and the overall interest by the flooring industry in the Contest,” commented Thomas Trissl, HPS Schönox Principal. “We are eager to demonstrate the importance of subfloor preparation and to recognize flooring companies who excel in this area.” . . .

Doug Young has joined HPS Schönox as Executive Vice President to work extensively with the overall strategy of the company and in further development of the national sales and support teams. Heather Yario-Rice is now Regional Vice President of Sales for the Great Lakes Region working to expand distribution and brand awareness throughout this important area of the country.. . .