Hardwood Floors April/May 2025

American Products Inc. PINEVILLE BOOTH 1431

I am a big golfer, so for those who share the love of the game, we are an hour and a half from Pinehurst. For something a little closer to Charlotte, I would recommend checking out the National Whitewater Center. This is a great place to get outdoors and enjoy the Carolina weather. They have whitewater rafting, mountain biking, climbing, and ropes courses. Ben Thompson NOTEWORTHY IN NC

American Products Inc. (AMPRO) celebrated 50 years in business in 2023. Today, the distribution company has six branches throughout North and South Carolina and the ability to reach the entire United States via their website. Daily operations and logistics run from all of AMPRO’s Carolina facilities, where they also offer vendor seminars and trainings.

Offerings include unfinished and prefinished wood flooring, technology in the installation of hardwood flooring, floor sanding equipment, floor finishes, and maintenance products. As the primary distributor of Southern Luxe Flooring, Ben Thompson, executive vice president of AMPRO, says the Vintage Series in the collection is the flagship for the brand. Thompson adds that AMPRO is known for providing a place and culture to customers that only a family-run business typically can provide. “We are very attentive to our customers’ requests, priding ourselves on going above and beyond to help take

care of the people who take care of us,” he says. “Without our loyal customer base, we would not have been able to continue providing the services we have for 50 years, surviving through times like 2008.” Noting that AMPRO strives to give back to the community when they can, Thompson shares that they provided assistance following the devastation of Hurricane Helene on Western North Carolina. He says they love the communities in which they live and work and are looking forward to the NWFA Expo being in Charlotte.

American Sanders SPARTA BOOTH 1227

The story goes that Alex A. Clarke grew tired of the rough spots on his elbows acquired from his frequent visits to his neighborhood tavern. So, in 1916, he invented a sanding machine designed for sanding and restoring wood bar tops. Word spread quickly and soon schools were ordering the Clarke Sander to restore wood desks. During the next 60 years, Clarke was purchased and sold by several different companies, one of which purchased the American Floor Surfacing Machine company in 1982. The two brands were merged to form Clarke American Sanders, which was ultimately purchased by Amano Pioneer Eclipse in 2014. The product lines were rebranded to American Sanders in 2015.

Amano Pioneer Eclipse (APEC) has been in the Sparta area for nearly 50 years. “Located in the Appalachian Mountains, along the North Carolina and Virginia border, we employ 130 people in our 110,000 square foot manufacturing facility,” says Adriane Beaver, marketing coordinator for American Sanders. “The American Sanders Training Facility, located in Charlotte, provides hands-on sand and finish schools for all skill levels.” Known for wood floor sanding and finishing equipment, Beaver adds that the company’s signature products are the Super 7R, Legend, and B2. She says they are exhibiting at the NWFA Expo and excited to introduce everyone to the future of floor machines.

I highly recommend the U.S. National Whitewater Center. It has beautiful trails, ziplining, rope courses, yoga, nightly live music, white water rafting, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Adriane Beaver NOTEWORTHY IN NC

86 hardwood floors hardwoodfloorsmag.com