WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—Beaufurn’s new Fusion table tops showcase the detailed beauty and character of wood such as old-growth timber, graying driftwood and pine. But everything is not as it appears. What lies beneath the surfaces is none other than a photo. “It’s the look of reclaimed wood and inlays at a fraction of the cost,” said Beaufurn president Bill Bongaerts.Fusion is created from a high-resolution photo fused into the table substrate. The proprietary process immerses the image deeper into the wood than printing a picture overlay. And the effect is more authentic. “It’s a high-end, finely detailed appearance,” said Bongaerts....

INDIANAPOLIS—Global textile maker Camira has achieved an important environmental certification mark for its premium upholstery fabrics Blazer and Blazer Check—the European Union Ecolabel. As a textile manufacturer based in the United Kingdom, the EU Ecolabel helps to identify products and services that have a reduced environmental impact throughout their lifecycle, from the sourcing of raw material (pure new wool in this case) through to production, use and disposal. The Ecolabel is symbolized by a flower, so it is easily recognized by businesses and consumers. The criteria for accreditation have been developed by scientists and the application process is evaluated...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Barton Creek Resort & Spa has earned Bronze Level certification by Green Seal in recognition of its environmental stewardship, making it the second hotel in Austin and the fourth hotel in Texas to earn this award. Green Seal is a nonprofit organization that uses science-based standards and certification to help shoppers, travelers and companies identify what is truly “green.” “At Barton Creek Resort, we care about serving our guests and protecting our planet,” says general manager James Walsh. “We recognize the great responsibility that comes with operating our resort in such a beautiful landscape and we have adopted cutting...

GRAND RAPIDS, S.D.—Adoba Eco-Hotels and Suites has designated Interface Hospitality carpet tile its floor covering of choice for the brand’s chain of properties. The Adoba Eco Hotel brand is committed to environmentally responsible architecture and design, improving the environmental footprints of its holdings one guestroom at a time. “The flooring is the first big step toward sustainable interior design and Interface, known for the highest of sustainability standards, is the ideal partner to deliver great design that will delight the AdobaEco Hotel guests,” said James Henderson CEO/president of the Adoba brand. “We encourage our property owners to source many of...

FRESNO, CALIF.—The VA Medical Center has selected the Hospitality Battery Holder for all of its AD Series (Schlage) electronic locks. By doing so the VA Medical Center, located in Fresno, San Joaquin Valley, Calif., has become the first hospital in its local category to utilize these products.The VA Medical Center is affiliated with the University of California School Of Medicine. They will be discontinuing the expensive wrap-around battery packs and will save on the battery replacements to power their electronic locking system.The Hospitality Battery Holders can be used with alkaline or rechargeable batteries without compromising the function of the...

POMPANO BEACH, FLA.—The 200-year-old expensive process of burning fossil fuels and baking limestone in kilns, which was invented in England and is now used worldwide, has seen its day according to scientists in Florida. Blue World Crete Inc. has found a sustainable and superior alternative concrete which does not pollute and is less expensive than Portland.The Portland process produces 1.25 tons of carbon dioxide for every ton of cement manufactured along with a variety of dangerous amounts of heavy metals. Geo-Blue Crete takes advantage of a natural chemical reaction which emanates from the oceans’ marine life, called bio-mineralization. In...

WILMINGTON, MASS.—Altro has removed all the phthalates or “plasticizers” from its safety flooring range. Phthalates, a common additive in most plastics, allows the material to be flexible and useful for applications such as floor and wall coverings. Recently, phthalates have come under some scrutiny as being possibly dangerous to public health. While there is no clear direct scientific data to support the belief that phthalates in flooring are dangerous to human health, the skeptics still remain. Because they have become objectionable to some, Altro has eliminated phthalates from its entire safety flooring range and has replaced them with a renewable, bio-based...

REUTLINGEN, GERMANY—AppliedSensor, a designer and manufacturer of chemical sensor components, recently introduced its intelligent air quality (iAQ) Duct Kit enabling the integration of a complete air duct sensor into a demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) system. The kit was marketed to OEMs and exhibited at Sensor + Test 2012, in Nürnberg, Germany. The trade fair hosted nearly 600 exhibitors and more than 8,000 attendees from approximately 30 nations.“A growing number of studies suggest that some VOCs are potentially harmful to your health,” said AppliedSensor GmbH director of marketing and sales Heiko Ulmer. “While there are a few mixed gas duct sensors...

MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS.—Alto-Shaam recently added a new, smaller Combitherm oven capable of holding four full-sized hotel pans and eight half-sized hotel pans in a compact footprint. The new 4.10ESi CT Express Combitherm oven equals all the performance benefits associated with Alto-Shaam’s larger Combitherm ovens.The new “bistro size” oven measures just more than 20 inches wide, 36 inches deep and slightly more than 30 inches high. Its EcoSmart design uses less electricity and water than other compact models.The CT Express Combitherm is available in an array of colors and has a controller with basic LED inputs, ExpressTouch controller with 200...

ATLANTA—Acuity Brands, Inc., a provider of energy-efficient lighting and control solutions, announced the addition of wireless capabilities to its nLiGHT network lighting control technology. The nWiFi solution from Sensor Switch uses existing WiFi network infrastructure to further simplify control installation and reduce hardware costs.The nWiFi solution adds conventional WiFi technology (802.11n) to nLight devices, such as occupancy sensors and relays, enabling them to seamlessly communicate with both wired and wireless nLiGHT lighting control zones. Additionally, nWiFi devices can directly communicate to locally wired nLight devices through CAT-5 cables.“The addition of nWiFi makes nLight unique, integrating both wired and wireless...