Prototype. Chapter text drafted from the research notes and not yet checked at the archives. Images awaiting permission are marked.

Flocked floor covering (Flotex): short nylon fibres shot upright into adhesive by an electric field (France, 1960s; UK 1971–72)

Research finding · not yet checked at the source

Made by: Flotex (Château-Renault); Low & Bonar (UK rights 1971); now Forbo
Date: 1960s (France); 1971 UK launch; Ripley factory 1972
Place: Château-Renault, France; Ripley, Derbyshire
Materials: polyamide 6.6 flock, adhesive, glass-fibre interlayer
Themes: Rug-making techniques, Tools & equipment

View at the source Cited in chapter 1, note 41

Cite this source

“Flocked floor covering (Flotex): short nylon fibres shot upright into adhesive by an electric field (France, 1960s; UK 1971–72).” Research note. bdonline.co.uk/cpd/cpd-26-2013-electrostatically-flocked-flooring/5063206.article.

Research notes

How it works: cut nylon fibres are charged in an electric field so they fly end-first into a wet adhesive layer and stand upright. After curing, loose fibres are drawn off. The result is a dense 'pile' (Forbo cites about 80 million polyamide 6.6 fibres per m²) over a waterproof adhesive and glass-fibre layers. BD Online says flocked flooring is neither carpet nor resilient flooring, though it shares traits of both. History: BD Online and Forbo say the first electrostatically flocked floor covering was made by Flotex at Château-Renault in the 1960s. Low & Bonar took UK rights in 1971, launched at Interbuild in November 1971, and opened a factory at Codnor Gate, Ripley, in 1972. Conflict: a 1994 Spanish article calls Flotex British. Sources: https://www.bdonline.co.uk/cpd/cpd-26-2013-electrostatically-flocked-flooring/5063206.article · https://forbo.com/flooring/en-uk/inspiration-references/making-spaces-into-places-blog/50-years-of-ripley/pa66c9 · https://revistas.unav.edu/index.php/revista-de-edificacion/article/download/36550/30629/100778 Research note (Oct 2026): from search results; pages not opened.