Our history
Our story begins over three decades ago when we invented the first ever mechanical floor locking system. This transformed our industry forever and we have kept leading the way ever since.
We create change
Decades of continuous innovation
Innovation has been the heart and soul of our business since day one. For 30 years, we have constantly challenged the technological solutions of the day, bringing new ways of thinking to the flooring, furniture, and surface technologies used in people’s everyday lives. It’s how we revolutionise new possibilities for both our licensees and their customers.
Browse the timeline below to learn more about some of the innovation milestones in Välinge’s history.
Revolutionary innovations
Välinge Innovation history
Birth of the laminate flooring
Swedish company Perstorp AB develops the first laminate flooring …
Market introduction by IKEA
Laminate flooring is introduced on the market by IKEA in 1979…
First license agreements
Välinge offers the first license to Pergo who is not interested…
Goodbye glue
Välinge (together with its licensee Alloc AS)…
Alvesta training centre
Välinge opens its first lab, training center and exhibition in Alvesta…
1:st Veneer Lock
Välinge (together with its licensee Kährs Group)…
Production of 1:st loc for parquet flooring
Välinge (together with its licensee Kährs Group)…
Launch of 1:st Wood Lock at Domotex
Välinge is first in the world to show that long parquet planks…
Tongueloc
Välinge develops a compact Tongueloc system for laminate and wood floorings…
Only angling
Välinge (together with its licensee Berry floor) introduces the world’s first angling-angling installation…
1:st resilient floor with mechanical locking
Välinge develops floating floorboards consisting of resilient plastic surface layers attached to an HDF…
First R&D center
Välinge moves to its new 5,000 m² R&D center in Viken…
1:st small strips
Välinge introduces the world’s first small strips in laminate…
3G, Semi floating, Soft floor, Decorative grooves
Välinge introduces several groundbreaking products…
5G™ fold down is launched at Domotex
Välinge introduces the first 5G fold down system with a displaceable bow shaped flexible tongue together with its licensee Rappgo…
Roll to panel, Solid Edge, Edge treating
Välinge also introduces the following products at the Domotex fair…
5G® bristle tongue
Välinge introduces the first 5G fold down system with an advanced flexible…
5G+Side Push
Välinge presents a new version of a fold down system…
Goodbye paper, Wood Fiber Floor is born
A new paper-free Wood Fibre Floor (WFF)is born 30 years after…
Nanoparticles
Välinge, together with Photocat AS, develops a method to incorporate photocatalytic nanoparticles…
5G-S® side push
A new side push system – the single slide fold down system 5G-S, is introduced. 5G-S is based on a new technology that enables locking with a linear sliding of a separate tongue along and parallel to the joint.
Wood Powder Laminate
Välinge presents the first Wood Powder Laminate – WPL. Välinge’s Powder Technology is used to improve a conventional laminate floor by applying a powder layer of wood micro fibers and melamine under a decorative paper. The new technology provides improved properties, increased flexibility and a cost efficient production.
New R&D center
Välinge moves to its new 17,000 m² R&D center…
5G-C® is introduced
Välinge presents 5G Compact – a new fold down locking system …
Production of powder based floors
Välinge installs the world’s first full-size production line for wood fiber floors (WFF) in Viken…
Launch of powder based floors at Domotex
Välinge presents the first commercial product range of wood powder-based…
High quality powder printing
Välinge develops a digital powder printing technology…
Nano and powder technology
Välinge develops a method to incorporate photocatalytic nanoparticles…
Full size production of powder and nano particles
Välinge invests in a full-size production line to mill and mix wood powder…
3D powder printing
Välinge develops advanced high quality 3D powder printing for advanced stone and wood designs…
Välinge Expo
Välinge presents Pressloc, Ziploc, Cliploc and a surface stretching technology…
Powder backing and sublayers
Välinge presents the WPL powder technology. Powder backing and powder sublayer…
Bjoorn starts selling WFF floors with Nadura®
The first commercial products based on the Powder Technology are produced…
2G Plus
Välinge presents a new one piece angling locking system, based on a new joint…
Välinge Invest AB initiates R&D
The mother company of Välinge Innovation – Välinge invest AB – initiates R&D…
Powder backing
Powder can now be used to replace paper-based backing layers in conventional…
All time high IP activities
The total IP base developed by the Välinge group during the previous 18 years…
Digital Binder And Powder (BAP) printing
Välinge presents a new digital printing technology….
Digital embossing
Välinge presents a new digital embossing technology….
Lamella core
Välinge introduces a technology that enables cost savings as well…
3D-core for LVT
Välinge presents technology for LVT and WPC products that enables…
Digital overlay
Välinge presents the digital overlay technology. Aluminum oxide particles…
Click furniture technology introduced
Välinge’s locking technology for easier and faster furniture assembly…
Woodura™ / Lindura™
Meisterwerke introduces Lindura: a tough and durable wood floor…
Full-size digital printer
Välinge installs a full-size digital printer for the Drop On Demand (DOD)…
Ownership changes
KKR acquires 40% of the Välinge shares from Krono and 9.7%…
New investments in R&D center
Välinge extends its R&D center with 4,000 m2 and installs a second full-size…
Välinge parent company acquires parquet producer
Pervanovo Invest acquires all shares of the Croatian…
Pervanovo invests in Woodura® and Nadura® flooring capacity
Pervanovo initiates investments in Viken with a capacity of 5 million m2 of Woodura and Nadura…
Woodura® receives German Design Award
Woodura® hardwood flooring by Välinge is selected as a winner of the German Design Award in the…
Threespine® click furniture technology receives award
Välinge receives the interzum award: an award honoring the best products…
Välinge launches premium decking solution
Välinge launches ZENSE® together with licensee Södra Wood…
Välinge installs a new press line for Woodura® and Nadura®
The new short cycle pressing line with a pressure of 100 bar and a capacity of 1 million…
F2 factory for Woodura® and Nadura® is finalized
The new F2 factory with a capacity of 5 million m2 is the most advanced factory in the world…
SLS Flex and Rigid
Välinge develops powder based Single Layer Surfaces (SLS) with Woodura and Nadura surfaces in thickness…
Liteback™
Välinge launches the brand of Liteback™ based on the technology för LVT and WPC products which was presented 2013.
5G Climb™
Välinge presents a revolutionary technology for wall mounting, based on their proven 5G Fold Down…
5G Dry™
Välinge develops a fold down installation system that provides enhanced water resistance…
5G® Cross™
Välinge launches 5G Cross, an outstanding technology that makes straight-set floor installations easy, fast and reliable…
Threespine® ID
Välinge launches Threespine ID, a brand-new addition to their portfolio of Threespine Click Furniture technology.
5G NXT™
5G NXT is a brand-new update of Välinge’s well-proven 5G™ Fold Down technology.
PRO technology
Välinge introduces a new, upgraded PRO profile that significantly improves the locking strength and lifespan of all types of resilient products, maximising the performance of Välinge’s market-leading angling, push-down, and fold-down installation systems…
Onepush™
Onepush™ is an integrated locking system that improves the flexibility and durability of the new generation of resilient flooring…
Update of 5G Cross™
The new and improved 5G Cross™ version can be combined with 5G Dry™ for leakproof seams.
5G Cross for Chevron
5G Cross for Chevron is a new solution making chevron patterns easy to install, with beautiful, long-lasting results.
Update of 5G Climb™
Välinge are introducing an updated clip that easily handles floor panels in multiple thicknesses, making this technology even more versatile and easy to use.
Update of Dry technology
With the latest update of our 5G Dry™ technology Välinge are now happy to offer leakproof seams with a perfect fit for both angling, fold down and push down installations.
OUR FOUNDER
Darko Pervan
With his name on more than one thousand patents, it’s easy to see why Välinge’s founder Darko Pervan is considered a titan in the world of flooring and surface technologies. Mr. Pervan’s record of innovation stretches back to the 1970s, when he initiated a project that resulted in the world’s first laminate flooring. Since then, he has continued to play a vital role in the biggest developments to impact the industry.
In the early 1990s, Mr. Perván established Välinge, developing the first mechanical locking system for installing wood and laminate flooring. This initial innovation paved the way for today’s range of unique floor locking technologies. As the company grew, Mr. Perván drove Välinge’s development into all new areas, including the start of our powder surface technologies and the Threespine furniture solution.
After 18 years as CEO of Välinge, Mr. Pervan retired from the role in 2011. He remains active in the company as the Chairman and CEO of Pervanovo Invest AB, Välinge’s majority owner. Through Pervanovo, Mr. Pervan has also expanded his business interests with the launch of new subsidiaries that include the BJELIN Flooring Group in Sweden and Croatia.
