Not all rubber underlayments are created equal

In 2007, our company went from being Dodge-Regupol, Inc. to Ecore International, LLC. Today in 2014, we are still facing many challenges related to this change. Ecore Acoustics, in particular, has been trying to clear up the confusion in the marketplace related to the QT brand of sound control underlayments. Prior to 2007, we (Dodge-Regupol) were the only company manufacturing this form of recycled rubber acoustic underlayments. In 2007, the one brand spawned 2 more competing brands. So today, those in the market for a recycled rubber underlayment will probably have to make a decision between 3 brands, all of which seem very similar: Ecore, Regupol, and Pliteq. I’ve discussed this with many acoustical consultants around the country, and for the most part, they agree that QT, GenieMat, and Regupol Impacta are equivalent products. While we can’t make any claims related to the Regupol or Pliteq brands of underlayments, we can provide information about what sets Ecore QT apart from the others to help you make a more educated decision. Similarities: Composition: recycled rubber Color: black + various color specks Thickness: various options Application: may be used under a wide variety of floor finishes to reduce impact sound transmission What’s unique about Ecore QT? Manufacturing: – Ecore QT is Made in America Certified.  +Read more about this here+. – Ecore continues to manufacture solely out of it’s Lancaster and York facilities in Pennsylvania- just as it did when it was known as Dodge-Regupol.  Our cleaning and processing of the rubber does (more…)

{Case Study} Utah Valley University Student Life and Wellness Center

Utah Valley University (UVU), a once small vocational school founded in 1941, has since expanded its mission and focus, growing into a sizeable and respectable university that fosters the education of more than 33,000 students each year. In addition to its focus on academics, UVU also recognizes the importance of recreation and athletics. In order to promote health and wellness on its campus, UVU created its Student Life and Wellness Center (SLWC). Among the SLWC’s expansive list of upgrades are three basketball courts, a climbing wall, fitness areas with cardio and free weights, a bowling alley, an indoor track, game and dance rooms, a massage room, and a reflection center. Construction of the SLWC began in September 2013, and its doors officially opened on April 17, 2014, offering its students, faculty, and staff access to a quality campus recreation facility. As stated in the SLWC’s mission statement, its goal is to “enrich the quality of life for students, faculty, and staff by providing a broad range of recreation, wellness, and student engagement opportunities that complement the academic experience.” “[The SLWC] is a state-of-the-art building,” said Kevin Hirschi, President of Mountain Heights Hardwood, the company involved with supplying the surfacing for this project. Hirschi notes that this building is truly innovative, standing at an impressive four stories tall. One of the main considerations of GSBS Architects and Jacobsen Construction, the two firms involved with SLWC’s construction, was how to reduce sound transmission from the noisy, upper-level athletic arenas to its quiet, (more…)

Made in USA Certification!

With the rampant supply of lower quality acoustical underlayments being manufactured in other countries, we recently decided to pursue a third party, Made in USA Certification for our line of acoustical underlayments- QT Sound Control and are so happy to announce that QT has been found to be certified as 100% Made in the USA!! For our certification, we chose to use Made in USA Certified®, the nation’s leading 3rd party independent certification source for USA-Country of Origin claims.  Other companies who have also chosen to trust Made in USA Certified® include Walmart and Shop Vac.  The certification process included an in-depth supply chain audit to verify what percentage of the product-from raw materials to packaging supplies- is sourced and processed in the USA.  Once the audit is complete, Made in USA Certified® will award a specific seal, certifying the percentage of components that are assembled and manufactured in the US.  The various levels of certification range from 51% or more to 100%.  ECORE is proud to say that our product was certified 100% Made in USA, meaning that “100% of the product’s components (value) and 100% of the product [is] assembled & manufactured in the US.” PDF View Our Made in USA Certificate Here ECORE’s roots date back to 1869, when GW Dodge formed a cork manufacturing company in New York.  Less than 10 years later, this company was relocated to Lancaster, PA and was renamed Lancaster Cork Company.  Despite the various name-changes and improvements to manufacturing processes since then, ECORE is so proud to still (more…)