Click systems for flooring: Unilin, Välinge and i4F
The three major patent holders, their systems and the turbulent history of the glueless click floor.
Clik systems in numbers
| First patent | 1996 (Välinge) |
| Three licensors | Unilin, Välinge, i4F |
| Tongue-and-grove | Not patented anymore |
| Royalty | Per m² of produced flooring |
| Applications | Laminate, LVT, rigid, wood flooring |
1. What is a click system?
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A click system is a mechanical connection at the edges of floorplanks, allowing a floating installation without glue or nails. The planks are locked together by tongues and fitting grooves; it is the actual geometry of these two that allows the locking of the click.
These systems are fundamentally different from a classic tongue-and-groove, where planks are slid together without actually being mechanically joined. Once planks with a click systems are joined correctly, they cannot be separated (expect by performing the movement in reverse). Glue is no longer required.
The classic tongue-and-groove is no longer patented. The use of click systems, however, still requires a license of one of the three main patent holders.
2. History and patent battle
The click revolution starts in the '90s, but its background is really linked to the earlier invention of laminate flooring.
77
1977
The first laminate flooring is produced by Perstorp AB (Sweden), then lead by Darko Pervan. The planks are still joined with glue, the click system does not exist yet. The first decors are willingly simple : beech and ash, as these wood species have few distinctive or complex characteristics. The absence of knots and intricate structures makes these wood species ideal candidates to be printed on decor film. More on the complete history of laminate in the articleHistory of laminate.
93
1993
Darko Pervan founds Välinge and takes a patent on the first mechanical locking system, the 2G (angle-angle).
96
1996
Välinge enters the market. Norske Skog (the future Alloc) and Kährs are the first licensees.
97
1997
Unilin takes a patent on a similar click technology. A long-lasting conflict with Väling ensues as both parties claim the invention.
00
2000
Berry Group takes a majority share in Välinge, becoming the holder of its patents. Berry "forgets" to renew the patents ; Dark Pervan immediately reissues the patents to one of his other companies. Berry Group gets to keep Alloc (the later BerryAlloc) but loses its grip on the patents.
13
2013
i4F is founded by a team of former managers of Tarkett, Unilin, Berry and Välinge, and takes new patents on click systems.
20
2020
Unilin renews a series of lapsed patents and claims rights to nearly every type of flooring that has a core, a top layer and a glueless locking system. This opens up new discussions in the flooring sector.
22
2022
Välinge re-enters product development alongside licensing via a patented wood powder technology — more on this in a separate article.
Effects for flooring producers
Nearly every major producer of flooring in the world pays royalties to either Välinge, Unilin and/or i4F for every square meter of flooring produced with a locking system.
3. The three licensors
3a. Unilin Technologies
Unilin (a part of Mohawk Industries) is a producer of flooring and an important licensor. Unilin Technologies, de IP-division, is one of the most valuable units in the group. Unilin click systems are known as Uniclic and variants thereof.
The major Unilin-systems are:
- Uniclic multifit — angle-angle and angle/snap, installable in two directionr
- Unifit — angle-drop, angle-angle of angle-snap, with plastic insert providing extra locking
- Unidrop / Unidrop X — drop-systeem without plastic insert; the X-variant is fit for herringbone (HB)
- Unizip T&G — specifically for herringbone wood flooring
- Unipush — angle-drop without insert
- Flintile — angle-angle with an recessed joint, made to imitate ceramic tile flooring
3b. Välinge Innovation
Välinge (Sweden) is mainly active in innovation and licensing : they develop click systems, take patents and give licenses to flooring producers around the world. The best known systems are the 2G and 5G families. Recently Välinge got back into the production of flooring, using its own patent on a wood powder technology. That technology and the products coming from it are the subject of a separate article.
- 2G — the original angle-system (angling in both the long and short side)
- 5G — fold-down with plastic insert; angle the long side, drop the short side
- 5G-i — fold-down without insert, for laminate and LVT
- 5G-dry — fold-down with an insert that keeps water from damaging the core of the product
- 5G-climb — the 5G adapted for installation against walls (vertical installation)
3c. i4F
i4F is the most recent licensor and focuses on the SPC and WPC market. The systems are designed to facilitate the milling in products with hard cores.
- Click4U — angle-system on the long side
- 3L TripleLock — drop-system without insert on the short side; triple-locking system
- i-Click4U — water resistant drop-variation without insert, for the short side
Many rigid floors use combine Click4U on the long side with 3L TripleLock on the short side.
4. Overview per installation method
| Long side | Short side | Unilin | Välinge | i4F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angle | Angle | Uniclic | 2G/2G | — |
| Angle | Drop | Unifit, Unidrop, Unipush | 2G/5G, 2G/5Gi, 2G/5G-dry | 3L TripleLock, i-Click4U |
| Angle | Snap | Uniclic multifit, Unifit | — | — |
| Snap | Snap | Uniclic multifit | — | — |
| HB — één type | — | Unizip T&G | — | — |
| HB — L en R | — | Unidrop X, Unifit X | 2G/2G | — |
Herringbone and Chevron
Herringbone and chevron patterns typically require mirrored left and right planks. Systems like Unidrop X and Unifit X (Unilin) and 2G/2G (Välinge) are developed for this application, where the locking system on the short side functions on both left and right planks.
Sources & further reading
- Cambien, K. (7 oktober 2020). Bernard Thiers wint fameuze juridische slag in de VS. Made in West-Vlaanderen. made-in.be
- Cambien, K. (7 april 2022). Unilin zet zijn rijke geschiedenis te boek: van Vlaamse vlasser tot wereldspeler. Made in West-Vlaanderen. made-in.be
- Välinge Innovation — technische overzichten kliksystemen. valinge.com
- Välinge Innovation — History. valinge.com
- Woodura by Välinge — Wood powder technology. woodura.com
- Meister — Lindura: wood powder flooring. meister.com
- Unilin — Hoe Uniclic de hele vloerenindustrie veranderde. unilin.com
- Välinge Innovation — History. valinge.com
- i4F — productbeschrijvingen en licentie-informatie. i4f.com