Wetherill Park, Australia - Supermarket chain Coles has specified Sikafloor from Sika Australia for installation in 30 of its supermarkets across Australia, with additional stores to be refurbished in the coming months, according to Sika.
Sikafloor is a high quality polyurethane flooring solution designed for use in food-preparation areas as a more durable alternative to vinyl and epoxy finishes, Sika said.
Coles had found that existing epoxy floor finishes in its deli, bakery and chicken preparation areas required frequent repairs and maintenance, according to Coles' standards management team, which oversees the Coles store construction and specification function nationally.
The project manager at Sika Australia, Anthony Lewis said that surfaces within all food related businesses from manufacturing to service must be durable to withstand the constant demands placed on them. Breakdown of floors due to food acid attack results in constant and costly repair and resurfacing works to fix damaged floors.
Coles commissioned a rigorous examination of all flooring systems, with polyurethane concrete based resin solutions trialled for a six-month period, during which floors were exposed to a searching examination of quality, durability, wear and overall safety.
Sikafloor-22N PurCem was selected based on its suitability for food preparation areas, including slip resistance, heat resistance and resistance to food acids and fats. According to Lewis, the Sikafloor system is a solution to long term floor maintenance, while also upholding hygiene, health and safety standards. The flooring system is ideal for bakeries, meat and dairy preparation areas, commercial kitchens and catering facilities.
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