History

Linoleum was the world's first resilient flooring. A mixture of linseed oil, rosin, wood flour and limestone, combined successfully for the first time by Fredrik Walton in 1860, it provided a uniquely smooth surface, with a characteristic appearance. The first linoleums were solid unicolour; the characteristic marble patterns were introduced somewhat later. In the following decades linoleum became the standard utility flooring solution for public architecture and for hallways, corridors, kitchens and bathrooms in private homes.

Only four of the many linoleum factories that once produced linoleum round the world are still in operation. Two of those, owned by Forbo, are among the world's largest and most impressive industrial sites. Today Forbo satisfies 65% of the world demand for linoleum.

Marmoleum

The marbled structures of linoleum have long been refined to produce a variety of different structures complemented by a wide range of different designs. New techniques have allowed for light and bright colours to enter the colour spectre of the product that in earlier days was dominated by brown and black and all darker colours of the spectre.

Environmental sustainability

Today’s environmental legislation looks critically at product components, production techniques and residual value. Linoleum provides superior performance in any life cycle analysis (LCA) and offers special benefits such as its anti-bacteriostatic properties, which suppress the multiplication of any bacteria that come into contact with the floor.

Marmoleum is an extremely durable material, resistant to scuffs and cigarette burns and requiring minimum cleaning effort. Independent research has shown that the non-soiling properties and cleaneability of Forbo’s Topshield coating, a water-based dispersion, make it the best coating of its kind. Although Marmoleum flooring was invented as long as two centuries ago, today's product still occupies a unique niche in resilient floor coverings.