German firm EPLF reports second best year in its history, with demand for laminate picking up in Europe and the US.
Laminate flooring business EPLF recorded worldwide sales of 479m sq m of flooring in 2010, second only to the 500m sq m recorded in 2007, before the economic crisis.

"2010 went better than expected. Not all markets are developing equally well at this point in time, but the upward trend is easily recognisable," said EPLF president Ledger Schindler.

Overall growth in the traditional western European core markets was said to be rather moderate, with Germany still the largest single market, followed by Turkey, France, Great Britain and the Netherlands.

Sales figures in Eastern Europe however are rising just as rapidly as they fell in the recession in 2009, said the firm. According to EPLF, Poland, Russia and Romania, the most potent Eastern European markets, are almost back to pre-crisis levels.

The flooring firm has also observed a pick-up in the United States, while Asian markets are said to be performing well.