Ecore looks to make gains in health care

LANCASTER, Pa.—One Midwestern rubber manufacturer well known in the "sports courts" market is using one of its product lines to build momentum and revenue growth in the health care sector.

Lancaster-based Ecore is using its Rx Collection flooring to support continued double-digit annual growth by manufacturing and distributing floors that are widely used in senior housing facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, urgent care centers and more. The Rx Collection comprises a vulcanized composition rubber base layer that is fusion-bonded to a contemporary heterogeneous vinyl sheet, using Ecore's patented TRU Technology.

The Rx Collection has been in the market for nearly five years, and recently Ecore added its Crossings Rx to the product line, which offers a soothing palette of eight neutral colors and contemporary designs that makes it ideal for a variety of spaces. These spaces also may include physical therapy clinics, group exercise areas, office buildings and multipurpose court and fitness areas.

Available as 6-foot-wide rolls, the most significant benefits to Crossings Rx is that it offers a seamless, easy-to-maintain surface that can lessen the risk of injuries associated with falls, and soften the constant impact of individuals working or exercising on their feet for hours at a time. The entire Rx collection also delivers superior sound control and comfort underfoot as well, said Bo Barber, Ecore executive vice president of sales and marketing.

"This line offers a level of both performance and aesthetics that is really appealing to a wide range of customers," Barber said. "Ergonomically it gives workers in acute care environments a significant level of support to help lessen the impact (on their joints) of being on their feet for eight, 10 or 12 hours at a time." Barber indicated nurses and physicians working long shifts are among the professionals who benefit the most.

One of the benefits specifically for senior care facilities or nursing homes is in case a resident falls, the flooring can reduce the force of impact. The flooring is similar to what is readily available in many communities on children's playgrounds, sports courts or indoor and outdoor workout surfaces.

"The patented technology allows us to take a material that, in past years, was relegated to industrial sports and recreation and deliver a high-performing solution to new industries," Barber said. He indicated some hospitals have added the flooring to entire wings that experience high foot traffic among employees. The flooring also is able to more easily withstand the constant impact of imaging equipment and other health care technology transported daily throughout a unit.

"The non-directional textile patterns in this line add another layer of tranquility, in addition to safety, ergonomic and acoustic benefits this surfacing brings to any space," Barber said. "We're taking the next step with design and features."

The increased interest in the health care and wellness sector in the Rx Collection and the new Crossing Rx designs to support frontline workers started long before the impact of COVID-19, with customers ranging from Kaiser Permanente to Mayo Clinic, Barber said. The Rx Collection achieves an Impact Isolation Class (IIC) rating of 52 with a six-inch slab and no ceiling assembly, which significantly reduces surface generated noise. Crossings Rx achieves a force reduction of 11.5 percent and energy restitution of 72 percent, making it an ergonomic and supportive surface. This floor also is resistant to indentation and is an ideal solution under sustained or rolling loads.

"The release of Crossings Rx is really a hallmark moment for our company because we have taken (flooring products) that, for years, were offered to a niche market and (made) it truly commercial," Barber said. "It also helps us to get rid of the term 'recycled' to describe the rubber process because we are using reclaimed rubber and upcycling it in amazing ways."

The manufacturing process that creates the flooring is rather complex and is done at Ecore's York, Pa., facility, Barber said. Team members essentially take old tires and break them down in a variety of ways to construct a floor. It requires a significant amount of machinery and manpower.

Given the rising demand for the product, Ecore invested significantly in creating a second manufacturing line that went live in April to help increase production.

It has hired an array of professionals in supply chain, IT, product management, engineering and others to help in the process as well. In fact, Ecore has seen its revenue and its employee count double throughout the past decade. It now employs roughly 525 team members, Barber said. The company continues to hire tradespeople, engineers, welders and more even during these challenging economic times.

"We're in excess of double-digit annual growth and perhaps up to 75 percent of our future growth may be tied to (the Rx Collection product line)," Barber said.

Ecore was established in 1871 and over the years has built its reputation on serving athletic and commercial flooring customers.