Flooring Goes Lighter, Maintains Durability

Weight, aesthetics, and durability are some of the current trends in transit flooring, as many agencies continue to evolve their fleets toward zero emissions.

“Currently — with the increasing move toward cleaner transportation such as electric buses — weight and durability are naturally key considerations from customers,” says Andrew Guay transport marketing coordinator for Altro. “Every ounce saved can contribute to a wider weight savings to allow greater vehicle range, while also reducing general wear.”

Shane Price, president for TransitFlor, adds that aesthetics is also a trend in transit flooring. In response, TransitFlor’s products are now available in smooth, ribbed, woodgrain, and hammered designs. The company also offers both marbleized and speckled options in a virtually unlimited color palette to match customers' design requirements. The company's TransitFlor LGF is now available for customers concerned with weight/fuel savings, offering the industry known benefits of rubber flooring while providing a 30% reduction in weight.

While weight and aesthetics are currently playing heightened roles in flooring, Guay adds that durability is still key for transits when looking for a product that will last long term.

“Our recently launched Heavy Duty Plus (HD+) range, for example, represents our lightest, most durable collection of flooring ever,” he says. “With no compromise on our market-leading approach to safety, the HD+ range comprises a variety of designs in a unique 2.7mm thickness engineered to provide long term resilience.”

Supported by assured, non-prorated 15-year warranties, Altro’s HD+ floors are designed to be the flooring “you only need to install once,” adds Guay.

Price concurs that durability and value remain key concerns for transits when specing flooring for their vehicles, adding that for over 80 years, TransitFlor's products have offered customers fewer replacement costs, thanks to their ability to withstand the industry's high demands.