Flooring
After 20 years of service,
the floors are as good as
ever – resistant to the
trials of daily life on a busy
underground system
Tom Collins, Treadmaster
a very similar product (TM3) to that supplied by Treadmaster for
the original Routemaster in the 1960s.
Another high-profile project to feature Treadmaster flooring
is the Studio City Golden Wheel in Macau, China. This is a figureeight
Ferris wheel that allows people to see the city at a height of
130m (427ft) in steampunk-themed cabins with capacity for 10
passengers each. The capsules, installed by Poma Group, had
to meet strict criteria for fire safety and wear resistance under
very high traffic, as well as looking amazing for many years.
Pride of Cornwall
Treadmaster is proud of its materials technology team, which
developed its fire retardant flooring. The research and development
laboratory is based in Liskeard in Cornwall, the most southwestern
part of the UK, and staffed by a dedicated team of technologists
working on new flooring materials.
This product has now been in service for more than 20 years.
It was initially developed to meet the stringent requirements of
London Underground rolling stock. “In recent times the importance
of fire safety in trains has been reinforced, but that is not the only
critical feature of this flooring product,” explains Collins. “After 20
years of service, the floors are as good as ever – resistant to the
trials and tribulations of daily life on a busy underground system.
The colours remain strong, and as the product is homogenous,
the pattern does not wear thin or wear out.”
Design classic
Collins says it is perhaps time to think of Treadmaster flooring
as an iconic material. It was recently spotted for sale on a topend
designer’s website, having been repurposed for table mats,
coasters and pan mats. “Loris&Livia love the speckled flooring of
the London Underground carriages; each line has its distinctive
colour code and corresponding flooring combinations,” runs
the text on Loris&Livia’s website. “The Wonderground range has
been developed in collaboration with Transport for London and
will be available in two sizes, launched in three colourways:
Victoria, Piccadilly and Wonder, a custom-made colour.”
All Treadmaster flooring is manufactured in Cornwall and
sent out around the world. Treadmaster also makes marine-specific
safety flooring for use on anything from yacht decks and RIBs
to cruise ships and tankers.
ANNUAL SHOWCASE 2019 Railway Interiors International 73
ABOVE: Treadmaster supplied
flooring for The Vessel in New York
LEFT AND BELOW: London’s iconic
Routemaster buses have been
modernised with TM3 flooring
FREE READER ENQUIRY SERVICE
TREADMASTER FLOORING
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Recently the company provided flooring for the elevators in the
newly opened Vessel building in Hudson’s Yard, New York. Londonbased
design firm Heatherwick was looking for an extremely
hard-wearing floor that would continue to look great for years to
come, despite extreme levels of footfall. Of course safety, including
fire retardancy, was paramount, but they also needed a floor that
would perform in all areas, and a manufacturer that could produce
bespoke sizes and shapes to exacting dimensions.
Other projects for which the company has provided flooring
include the new Routemaster London buses, built by Wright Bus
of Northern Ireland. Again designed by Heatherwick, they utilise
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