Unilin Technologies and i4f have entered into a non-assert agreement covering water-repellent coating patents, marking a significant step towards broader access to advanced flooring technologies.
© Unilin
Announced on 31 March 2026, the agreement centres on Unilin's patent portfolio for water-repellent coatings used in laminate and wood flooring. Under the terms of the deal, i4f will be able to offer its licensees additional protection when using these technologies, enabling manufacturers to access multiple solutions from independent providers without the risk of patent disputes.
Both companies offer distinct coating systems designed to improve the water resistance of wood-based flooring products, an increasingly important feature as demand grows for durable, high-performance surfaces in both residential and commercial interiors.
Unilin's solution is marketed under the Unicoat brand, while i4f's technology is available as AquaProtect. By aligning their patent positions, the companies aim to provide greater flexibility and legal certainty for flooring manufacturers seeking to enhance product performance.
The agreement reflects a broader trend within the flooring and interiors sector towards collaboration over litigation, particularly in areas of technical innovation where overlapping intellectual property can create barriers to adoption.
For manufacturers, the deal opens up new opportunities to integrate water-repellent edge-coating technologies into their products, supporting the development of more resilient flooring systems. This is particularly relevant as consumers and specifiers increasingly prioritise durability, moisture resistance and long-term performance.
Unilin Technologies, known for its licensing model and innovations such as the Uniclic locking system, brings a substantial patent portfolio to the partnership, with around 4,500 patents across 550 families. The company continues to play a central role in advancing manufacturing technologies within the flooring industry.
The agreement also underscores the growing importance of technical solutions in shaping the future of interiors. As flooring products are expected to meet higher performance standards, particularly in moisture-prone environments such as kitchens, bathrooms and commercial spaces, collaborative frameworks like this are likely to become more common.
By enabling shared access to key innovations, Unilin and i4f are helping to accelerate the development and adoption of next-generation flooring technologies across the global market.
More information:
Unilin
www.unilin.com
