Once a month we ask a member of Flowcrete’s global team to share some of their insights and expertise with us. This month we talked to Sean Tinsley, the Managing Director of Flowcrete Australia.
1. Where do you foresee the growth in the industry over the next five years?
Looking at the Australian market landscape, I think that we will see continued growth in low VOC flooring technology and a spotlight on achieving green building standards. I also think there will be more focus on products being locally and internationally tested and certified. In addition, I would forecast growth within fast-curing flooring technology as the demand for less downtime and increased productivity grows.
2. What has been the biggest flooring challenge you have had to overcome?
The biggest flooring challenge I have had to overcome would definitely be the task of training a team of 50 people who had no resin flooring experience or knowledge on the 250,000m2 Deckshield ED installation at the KL International Airport in Malaysia.
This was a huge challenge because there was a language barrier! The vast majority of the contractors didn’t speak English so I had to try and overcome the communication barrier along with the knowledge barrier. It was an enormous test, but the project ended as a success and not only afforded me a unique experience but it allowed me to evolve my skill-set.
3. Is there a flooring project you’ve seen that has particularly impressed you?
A local Australian project that has most impressed me in recent years would have to be The Star Casino Car Park in Sydney. I was impressed with this project for several reasons including the quality of finish, the ability to provide the level of finish on a live project (the car park was functional throughout) and the choice of specification (including slip resistance and choice of colours) as it was tailored to the needs of the facility whilst meeting local compliance. The specification was unique to the project and focused on delivering both performance and aesthetics to the end user.
4. What has been the major game changer in your career?
The biggest game changer in my career with Flowcrete was the move to Malaysia to provide technical support for the KL International Airport, as this was Flowcrete’s largest ever project at that time.
This move allowed me to test my skills from a technical and operational point of view and it opened the door to working with Flowcrete as an expatriate in various countries in a senior management role. This opportunity enabled me to evolve my skills and allowed me to develop a greater, broader understanding of working in an international business.
5. What’s your number one piece of advice for someone going through the flooring specification process?
The number one advice I have for architects, end-users, designers, engineers or builders is to speak with the manufacturer as early as possible in the specification process. This is crucial to developing a clear understanding of not only how they want the floor to perform in terms of finish and aesthetics but how it will be used post-application. As a snapshot this would include why do they need the floor finish, what key performance requirements are necessary, how are they going to clean the floor and what level and type of traffic will the floor be subjected to. Understanding how the floor will be used in real life conditions is crucial to ensuring that the right flooring specification is chosen in the early stages and that this focus is carried through the build process.
