Pergo’s parent company, Pfleiderer Schweiz, has signed a deal with New York City-based Material ConneXion, a leading material advisor providing consultation on "materials, sustainable alternatives and their potential uses," Pergo said. Under the terms of the worldwide agreement, both companies will work closely to support Pergo’s product development initiatives with an eye toward enhancing the performance, aesthetics and sustainability of Pergo laminate flooring.

“As differentiation in our category becomes increasingly important and harder to come by, we believe this strategic alliance gives us a distinct competitive advantage,” said George Kelley, CEO of Pergo. “We are excited about this partnership and look forward to leveraging the expertise and extensive research of Material ConneXion to enhance the products we bring to market.”

Additionally, Pergo said it was recently awarded a patent from the European Patent Office for the company's fold-down locking installation technology. The technology allows a flooring panel to be locked simultaneously on two edges with other panels that are already installed. The patent number is #EP 1 276 941 B1.