i4F presents “ai4F” – Designed to think!

• i4F shares details of AI strategy

• First conversational ai4F agent debuts on booth B20 via interactive AI pod

• New i4F database to deliver deep analytics for optimal solutions per licensee

• Specialized research partnerships to accelerate composition quantifications

Hall 20, B20, DOMOTEX HANNOVER, GERMANY – i4F®, a group of companies providing patents and technologies to the global flooring industry, today shared details of its new AI strategy, introduced under the name of “ai4F”.  The company also unveiled its first conversational AI agent at its booth (Hall 20, B20) at DOMOTEX, Hannover, making it available for visitors to interact with in three languages. ai4F is designed to progressively introduce AI across i4F’s entire organization to strengthen decision-making, optimize performance, reduce response times and enhance licensee support through data, analytics and digital tools.

This strategy marks the beginning of a long-term journey whereby product performance will be continuously improved through structured scientific analysis. A central focus of the ai4F program is locking and decorative panel composition analysis. i4F is developing a comprehensive digital process that enables optimal profile selection and optimization for each type of licensee product without the need for extensive on- and off-site milling tests.

By systematically analyzing large volumes of data on compositions, locking profiles, and performance, the AI continually learns from an expanding database. This enables it to generate data-driven insights and recommendations, including composition and process adjustments to optimize performances. Additionally, a reporting framework aligned with i4F’s measurement protocol will ensure consistent, comparable results, with data feeding into cloud-based AI models linking composition and mechanical performance. Specialized research partnerships will further accelerate composition quantifications.

For the duration of the 2026 edition of DOMOTEX Hannover, the company’s experience-based exhibition stand will present its technologies in a digitally driven, interactive format and feature an on-site AI pod in the form of a conversational agent available immediately in three languages (English, German and Chinese).

Commenting on this development, John Rietveldt, i4F’s CEO, says, “With our new ai4F strategy, we are laying a strong foundation for how data and analytics will shape future technology developments in the global flooring industry. Already today, live on our booth at DOMOTEX, visitors can talk directly to an ai4F agent for a personalized experience – accessing the commercial and technical information they need, in the way they want to receive it, all while the system continues to learn and evolve. This is just the beginning!”