Tarkett is a French multinational flooring and cladding company with roots dating to the end of the 19th century. The current corporate structure was created in 1997 with the merger of two major brands: the French Sommer-Allibert and the German Tarkett AG. The company specialises in the design and production of sports surfaces for the B2B and B2C sectors, supplying installers, architects, designers and private individuals worldwide. Tarkett has always stood out for its professional services and reliable installations. In addition to developing surfaces, the company offers consultancy services to provide "The ultimate flooring experience". Tarkett believes that flooring is not a mere building element but an authentic sensory experience in which reliable products can ensure comfort and well-being. Constant attention to technological progress is also evident in the eco-sustainable production policies that the company has been pursuing for years along every step of its production process, from the selection of raw materials to the production and distribution phases. Tarkett directly owns and manages 8 separate waste collection centres, substantiating the company's green commitment.
Wallcoverings and surfaces for large spaces: Tarkett products
Tarkett creates floor surfaces mainly for large spaces and sports uses, developing specific projects based on client needs and requirements. The brand's collections are extremely versatile; they include vinyl, linoleum, laminate, parquet and carpet flooring. Tarkett offers synthetic grass and PVC surfaces for outdoor sports facilities and private properties. The brand also produces vertical and stair coverings. In addition to surfacing and wall cladding materials, Tarkett creates carpets designed to add appeal and warmth to residential and contract interiors.
Tarkett, over a century of history
The Tarkett Group was created in 1997 through the merger of two major flooring brands: Tarkett AG of Germany, founded in Malmo, Sweden in 1885, and Sommer-Allibert of France, created through the merger of Allibert, created in 1913, and Sommer, specialising in plastic floor coverings since its foundation in 1880. Tarkett is the driving force behind the group. The company owes its name to a product by the same name, a plastic covering created in 1946 that would prove a global success, enabling the brand to establish itself internationally and become the market leader. From the 1950s on, the company grew industrially and opened to worldwide export. But it was in the next decade that Tarkett took its final step forward. In 1967, the Wehtjes family, the company's historical owner, sold most of its shares, and the company was listed on the Swedish stock exchange under the name Tarkett. In the late '80s, the brand's official headquarters moved from Sweden to Frankenthal, Germany, following a merger with German competitor Pegulan. At the time, Tarkett reaffirmed its supremacy in the wall and floor cladding sector. The company's growth culminated in 1994 with the acquisition of the entire share capital of CWB Capital Partners Goldman Sachs Investment Bank. The merger of the Tarkett and Sommer-Allibert groups took place in 1997, establishing its headquarters in Nanterre, France, but it was not until 2003 that Tarkett was chosen as the company's commercial name.