Unilin invests €30 million in world’s most advanced laminate press
More stylish, stronger, more sustainable: Minister-President Diependaele kick-starts production of the Quick-Step floor of the future with the press of a button
Wielsbeke, , Unilin, world leader in interior and construction products, is proud to announce the inauguration of the world’s most innovative and high-performance laminate press. This groundbreaking new production line represents an investment of €30 million and marks a new milestone in the growth strategy of the globally renowned Quick-Step laminate. With the new line Unilin commits fully to laminate floors as Europe’s sustainable choice. Together, Flemish Minister-President Diependaele and Unilin CEO Wim Messiaen pressed the button that officially launched the production line.
New milestone in laminate technology
The new production line, with a capacity of 15 million m² laminate floors per year, is the world’s most advanced laminate press. The €30 million investment increases the maximum production capacity by 25% and manufactures floors up to 30% faster than other lines. The deployment of artificial intelligence and advanced camera technology guarantees unrivalled speed and precision for the new press, resulting in floors with unprecedented performance and design. Compared to other laminate presses, the new line doubles the structure depth in the wood core, giving Quick-Step’s top models an extremely refined depth structure that makes them indistinguishable from actual wood. Flexibility is another asset of the new line, which is able to produce two designs at once thanks to the use of high-tech robots.
Wim Messiaen, Unilin CEO: “Through this investment we have once again pushed the boundaries in the flooring industry. This brand-new production line is the undisputed top of the bill of the flooring sector. The investment enables us to manufacture the finest and most high-performance floors in an extremely efficient manner. Today we once again bolster our position as world leader in high-performance laminate flooring.”
Unilin produces 50 million m² of laminate per year. Quick-Step, Unilin’s best-known flooring brand, is sold worldwide in over 8,000 stores. The investment in Wielsbeke is part of Unilin’s wider investment strategy in laminate flooring. In January 2025, the foundation stone was laid for a new laminate plant in Brazil, which will act as a hub for the growing Latin American market. The new laminate press in Belgium pushes the boundaries of laminate technology and consolidates the status of the Wielsbeke site as a worldwide R&D centre for laminate flooring.
Laminate: the floor of the future
Laminate is a consumer favourite in terms of flooring thanks to the unique combination of quality, sustainability and affordability. As a result of the latest developments in design, laminate floors are now so realistic as to be almost indistinguishable from solid wood floors. Moreover, the easy installation with click system is a major asset. Modern laminate floors are not only scratch- but also water-resistant, offering a solution that lasts a lifetime.
“Laminate is much more than just an affordable floor”, says Ruben Desmet, President Unilin Flooring. “It’s a sustainable product that excels in quality and aesthetics thanks to our innovations. We continue to invest in technology to be able to provide our customers with the best floors.”
Sustainability is at the heart of Unilin’s strategy. Unilin’s primary raw material is wood, a renewable resource that stores CO2. The core of laminate floors (HDF) consists of reclaimed wood. This is waste wood from other industries, such as sawmills or road maintenance. What’s more, Unilin has done groundbreaking work in the flooring industry in recent years. Since recently laminate floors have become fully recyclable, thanks to their own patented recycling technology. This turns laminate into a 100% circular product that can be recycled into a new floor at the end of life.
Flanders, the worldwide innovation hub for flooring technology
Flanders plays a crucial role as the flooring industry’s global epicentre of innovation. For decades, Unilin’s 80-strong R&D team in Wielsbeke has been developing the groundbreaking technologies that set the standard for the industry as a whole. From the iconic Uniclic system in the 90s across technology for the most lifelike surface structures and water resistance to the latest developments in recycling technology: the innovations are developed in Flanders and subsequently rolled out across the globe. These technologies are always patented and then made available to the industry as a whole.
"With this advanced laminate press, Unilin once again proves that Flanders is a global player in the manufacturing industry," says Minister-President Diependaele. "This unique project demonstrates how technological progress and craftsmanship go hand in hand by integrating circular solutions into production processes. Thanks to investments like these, Flanders remains a European pioneer in flooring technology, setting the standard for a strong and forward-looking industry."
