How Uniclic revolutionised the entire flooring industry
October 6, 2025 • 5 minutes reading
What started as a clever technical solution to make the installation of laminate floors easier grew into a gamechanger for the entire flooring industry. It also laid the foundations for the success of Unilin Technologies, the IP and licencing division of Unilin.
In 1997 Unilin registered a patent for a new click system that made laminate easier to install: Uniclic. From then on, the planks could simply be clicked together, eliminating the need to glue or nail the floor down.
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Democratisation of laminate flooring
Launched under the Quick-Step brand, the system signalled a huge breakthrough. It meant the democratisation of laminate flooring: besides being durable, hard-wearing and affordable, it also became the perfect floor for DIY enthusiasts. Suddenly anyone could install a floor themselves, turning laminate into the most popular flooring category overnight.
Later, thanks to continuous improvements and adaptations, Uniclic also made its way into other flooring categories; it even became a staple on the wider flooring market when Unilin decided not to keep the technology to itself. A request from a competitor to use Uniclic marked the start of a new model: licencing instead of exclusive ownership. By opening up the system to the market through licence agreements, Unilin not only increased its own market share but also turbocharged growth across the entire flooring category.
The birth of Unilin Technologies
What followed was the systematic development of a licencing and patent strategy, leading to the creation of Unilin Technologies. The department grew into an independent division within Unilin, with its own mission: to share knowledge and technology, both internally and externally. What began with Uniclic has now become a fully fledged business with a global presence.
Unilin Technologies translates the technological innovations of its R&D teams into patents and licences for companies within and outside the group. The approach is unique: not only protecting what is developed internally, but also actively partnering with external players. Companies that lack the resources or expertise to bring their inventions to market can turn to Unilin Technologies for know-how, guidance and an international network.
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Innovation as a permanent strategy
The strength of this model lies in its scalability. By making technology accessible through licences, innovation is accelerated rather than slowed down, leading to sustainable collaborations where all parties benefit. Today innovation is an essential part of Unilin’s DNA. The recipe for success? Turning smart ideas into impactful technologies and sharing them with the world.
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