News Articles

Morbern Receives Prestigious Keystone Award

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On March 20, independent business owners across Ontario gathered at the Canadian Tire Center in Ottawa for the inaugural Keystone Awards, sponsored by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. Keystone Awards are presented to the most respected business builders in Canada.

Morbern joined the festivities as a proud recipient of a 2024 Keystone Award, which recognized the company for its contribution to Canadian job creation. The award highlights the company’s dedication to cultivating a workforce embodying the values of hard work, leadership, and specialized skills, particularly for the citizens of Ontario.

CEO Mark Bloomfield accepted the award. “Morbern is honored to be recognized by the CIBC for our work in Canadian job creation,” said Bloomfield. “The Keystone Award reflects the company’s efforts to build a workforce that exemplifies the work ethic, leadership ability and specialized skills of the citizens of Ontario. As an independent company, it’s no secret that our people make us who we are. We are privileged to have the respect and recognition of the CIBC, and to stand alongside other business creators across the nation.”

Clean Wins: City Transport Systems Make the Move to Morbern’s (n)Motion!™

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Denver becomes latest city to upgrade seating to vinyl upholstery.

In 1994, Denver debuted its first light rail transportation system, featuring upholstered fabric seating. Now, nearly 30 years later, the Regional Transportation District-Denver (RTD), is upgrading the interiors of light rail cars with Morbern’s (n)Motion!™ vinyl upholstery.

After listening to customer and employee feedback regarding fade, wear and stains on the trains’ fabric seats, RTD decided vinyl was the answer (video). With fabric, it takes one employee an entire eight-hour shift to shampoo all 48 seats in a train car, while vinyl allows for easy wipe-down cleaning. The rail company says the new vinyl seating creates a more welcoming transit environment: it’s brightly colored, easy to clean and stain resistant.

The custom vinyl pattern was created in a collaboration between Morbern’s design team and an RTD graphic designer using the transit system’s colors, and voted on by RTD employees.

The first rail cars with the new seat covers went into service on Nov. 14, and the conversion is expected to take about three years. The agency has committed to completing one car per week until RTD’s whole fleet of about 200 light rail vehicles is finished.

Denver isn’t alone. In July of 2018, the Los Angeles County Metro system switched its seating from fabric to vinyl. Citing years of consumer complaints, exorbitant dry cleaning bills and millions of dollars spent on fabric replacement, the L.A. Metro decided to change its subway seating from fabric to Morbern’s vinyl. Savings and sanitation were the main drivers. Everything from food to bodily fluids and insects was found in the seats.

 About (n)Motion!™

Morbern’s (n)Motion!™ is the digital print base specifically designed for the mass transit industry. It’s a blank slate that puts the designer in the driver’ seat. Any design can be printed on this industry-specific base vinyl, which adheres to FAR Appendix F Part 25 and passes the Ultra Low Smoke (ULS) test and the Toxic Gas Generation test. Its hard-wearing abrasion resistance stands up to mass amounts of traffic and it has a cold crack rating of -25 degrees, making it a solid choice for colder climes like Denver.

 

Justyna Pikul Joins Morbern as Director of Sales and Marketing

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Toronto resident and experienced sales executive Justyna Pikul has joined Morbern as Director of Sales and Marketing for the Canadian market.

“I admire that Morbern has transformed a family-owned business into a global company, with representation all over the world,” says Pikul. “The company’s culture, its people and the ability to develop products to suit a customer’s specific needs are remarkable.”

Prior to joining Morbern, Pikul was an Account Manager for Mayer Fabrics, serving the Toronto market, where she collaborated with furniture manufacturers and customers. Earlier in her career, she worked in contract furniture sales as an independent representative across Canada.

What drives Pikul to do more? Customer satisfaction as it relates not only to products but also service. “People may forget what you say, but they will never forget how you made them feel,” said Pikul.

Raised in Poland, Pikul grew up on a farm and was immersed in agriculture and carpentry. She came to Canada in 1992 and later earned a degree in Interior Design from Humber College. When she’s not selling Morbern, you can find this mother of two boys outdoors either walking, hiking, biking, or working in her vegetable garden.

Morbern’s Bantam Receives Oeko-Tex Certification

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Bantam, Morbern’s lightweight, environmentally friendly healthcare market vinyl, has just received approval from Oeko-Tex, the international organization that sets standards for safe, consumer friendly textiles

Specifically, Bantam received the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 label, one of the world’s best-known labels for textiles tested for harmful substances. The Standard 100 label ensures that every component of the product has been examined and is harmless to human health. The tests look at regulated and non-regulated substances and in many cases the requirements for the Standard 100 label go beyond national and international requirements.

Morbern joins a list of international brands that carry the Standard 100 label including Glen Raven and Unifi.

Bantam, introduced in 2020, was designed for healthcare interiors, which require high performance products that are also healthy and sustainable. Free of anti-microbial additives, phthalates and flame retardants yet CAL TB-117 compliant, Bantam shows no wear after 100,000 double rubs and is cold crack resistant to -25 F. It can handle stains like cola, coffee and ketchup, and easily cleans with soap and water.

Bantam’s environmentally friendly attributes means it falls under the MorGreen label, Morbern’s initiative to create products that are sustainable, responsible and leave as little environmental impact as possible.

Morbern Introduces Silky Smooth Vinyl Upholstery for Marine Applications

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Morbern, North America’s leading designer and manufacturer of decorative vinyl upholstery, has introduced Mink, a silky-smooth base vinyl for saltwater and freshwater marine pursuits. Taking its name from the soft, water-shedding coat of the semi-aquatic animal, Mink combines the finesse of an ocean liner with the work ethic of a longshoreman.

Built on Morbern’s popular Splash vinyl with a highly tailorable, multi-directional stretch base, Mink sports a soft hand, emulating the butter feel of fine Nappa leather. Mink maintains its clean finish thanks to Sea Silk, the newest, most stain-resistant marine topcoat from Morbern that has a satin, low gloss finish and ultra-fine leather grain.

“Mink is a hard-wearing vinyl with the softest possible hand available,” said John Weaver, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Morbern. “It is constructed to the highest performance of any Morbern vinyl and we know the industry will fall in love with its workability as well as its softness.”

Mink is available in 12 stocked colorways, including White, Champagne, Warm Grey, Buckskin, Stone, Oyster, Glacier, Black, Driftwood, Medium Grey, Saddle and Storm Grey. The fabric is made-to-last in Canada.

Morbern named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies

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Morbern has been named as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies. The award acknowledges Morbern’s dedication to innovative, world-class business practices.

For the second year in a row, Cornwall, Ontario-based Morbern has been named as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies.

Established in 1993, Canada’s Best Managed Companies organization remains one of the world’s leading business awards programs recognizing companies for innovative, world-class business practices.

“It is such an honor to be included with this select group of companies,” said Morbern CEO Mark Bloomfield. “I couldn’t be more proud of the entire Morbern team for achieving this recognition for two consecutive years. If you think about the obstacles that we had to overcome during the past 12 months, this is truly a remarkable accomplishment.”

The 2021 Best Managed program award winners are among the best-in-class of Canadian owned and managed companies with revenues of more than $25 million, demonstrating investment in talent and technology, innovation in a competitive environment, and an increased focus on global competition. Each entrant is examined in four categories of its structure: strategy, capability, commitment and return on investment.

Canada’s Best Managed Companies is run by a group comprising Deloitte, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Smith School of Business, TMX and Canadian Business Magazine. Each year, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies compete for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates the caliber of their management abilities and practices.

Morbern joins a field of prestigious winners. The entire list can be found at www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

Introducing Varsity

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The billion-dollar world of sports connects fans from around the globe, with bonds that run deep and a camaraderie that can last a lifetime. Fellow fans indicate their alliance by sporting team colors. A dual-colored bumper sticker, jersey or t-shirt is a sure sign of someone’s home team.

That’s why Morbern created Varsity, a colorful line of vinyls geared toward the sports enthusiast and designed for the hospitality market and the marine aftermarket. With guidance from the color experts at Pantone, it carefully selected the most popular color combinations for teams nationwide. Designed to increase sales by tapping into team spirit, this product can cover anything: stadium seats, golf carts, grills, chairs, commemorative balls, tote and duffel bags, bar stools, cushion-topped coolers, coasters and tabletops. Anything that can be covered in vinyl, can become a team player.

“In the world of commercial interiors and product design, color is a major factor in attracting the consumer,” said John Weaver, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Morbern. “Varsity taps into the emotional response color generates, and gives restaurants, hotels, marine companies and product manufacturers a new way of appealing to their customers.”

The stats on Varsity make it a winner. High abrasion resistance (no significant wear after 100,000 double rubs), cleanability, and it’s housed on a 100 percent recycled, green cardboard tube. Formulated without phthalates, flame resistant additives and microbial additives, Varsity is compliant with CA TB 117-2013, NFPA 260 and UFAC Class 1 and is AB2998 compliant.

Varsity is part of MorGreen™—the story of Morbern’s journey toward sustainability and the products that exemplify it. MorGreen™ products have been reformulated to lower environmental impact and ensure most materials contain bio-based renewable ingredients.

 

Available in 14 standard colorways, with the ability to create custom collegiate colors. Learn more about Varsity here: https://morbern.com/product/varsity/

Morbern Sponsors Dream Big Event

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Morbern is excited to be a prize sponsor of the Dream Big Virtual Career Expo, held on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.  The Dream Big event is a project of the Build A Dream organization, a nonprofit that inspires and educates young women to pursue careers in STEM, entrepreneurship, skilled trades and emergency response. As part of the organization’s commitment to diversify the workforce, it develops opportunities for young women in technical fields where they are traditionally underrepresented.

Dream Big is a virtual career discovery event geared toward young women in grades 7-12. The event features inspiring speakers, engaging activities and resources so young women and their families can continue to explore careers throughout their high school journey.

Morbern is a proud to support this initiative and is eager to someday introduce these aspiring young women to the coated fabrics industry. Click here to register: #DreamBigEasternOntarioCatholic – Build a Dream (webuildadream.com)

Excellence in Marine Vinyl

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While captains may be dry docking their vessels for the season, it’s time for boat manufacturers and aftermarket experts to think about boating in 2021. What design, technology and resources will be available to tame the salt, sun and moisture challenges while simultaneously providing an enjoyable experience for boaters and their guests?

Learn about the technologies that reduce heat transfer, eliminate cracking and prevent UV damage in boat upholstery. Discover how to enhance a solid color with custom grains, quilting techniques and finishes. Plus, tips on cleaning and maintenance.

From hull liners to helm chairs, see how Morbern covers the boating industry. Join us November 10th at 1 p.m. EST to hear about the latest in marine upholstery from boating industry veteran Lynn Prouty.

Register here:

https://morbern.webex.com/morbern/onstage/g.php?MTID=eb7ab5de4b6e6024607e89991ed000e1d

Please note that this will be recorded and sent out to all who register.

Recreational Seating Webinar

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Webinar host Rich Ostriker, Sales Manager of Vacuum Form and Transportation for Morbern, has more than 35 years of experience in the vacuum form industry. On September 1, hear from Rich as he guides you through an insightful look at innovations in vinyl seating brought about by advancements in vacuum-form technology. What is vacuum forming? Where would you use it? What are its advantages? Why is vinyl the best cover? Join us and discover applications for Heavy Truck, Marine, Recreation Vehicle and RV markets.

This webinar is part of the KnowMor: Morbern Educational Webinar Series.

Watch it here:

Light on Additives, Bantam Still Packs a Heavy

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When Morbern created its latest product addition to its line of commercial interior vinyls, the task was to make something different – something powerful yet sustainable. The research team delivered Bantam and Morbern knew they’d found a winner.

 

Bantam packs a powerful punch of performance for contract and healthcare interiors. Often the most challenging environments in commercial design, healthcare interiors demand not only high performance in critical spaces, but also health and sustainability attributes.

 

It’s lack of additives is what makes it a lightweight winner. Free of anti-microbial additives, phthalates and flame retardants yet CAL TB-117 compliant, this fighter of a fabric shows no wear after 100,000 double rubs and is cold crack resistant to -25° F. It spars with stains like cola, coffee and ketchup, and then easily cleans with soap and water.

 

Bantam’s environmentally friendly attributes means it falls under the MorGreen label, Morbern’s initiative to create products that are sustainable, responsible and leave as little environmental impact as possible.

 

Bantam features an anti-static slip finish, urine stain resistance, sulfide stain resistance and oil resistance. Its palette of 10 colorways comes in earthy shades of blue, red, green, orange, yellow and gray.

 

Colorways:

  1. Apple (Green)
  2. Cosmic (Blue)
  3. Dove (Light Gray)
  4. Firelight (Yellow)
  5. Ghost (Medium Gray)
  6. Ginger (Orange)
  7. Inkberry (Purple)
  8. Iron (Dark Gray)
  9. Rabbit (Taupe)
  10. Tropical (Red)

Click here to learn more or order samples:
https://morbern.com/product/bantam/