If you’re sourcing rigid core for distribution or a commercial rollout, you’re not shopping for “nice wood looks.” You’re trying to avoid the kind of call that starts with “the seams are lifting” and ends with a credit note. That’s why many procurement teams begin by qualifying an SPC flooring manufacturer that can talk through joint performance, moisture behavior, and inspection routines in plain terms—not just send photos of a clean showroom.
Shandong Lanhe Import and Export Co., Ltd. produces SPC rigid core in a defined range of specifications—thickness options from 4mm to 8mm, wear layer options from 0.3mm up to 0.70mm, attached underlayment choices such as IXPE, EVA, or cork, and multiple pattern formats including standard planks, chevron, and herringbone. The point of this article is not to “sell you SPC.” It’s to help you write a spec that survives real jobs, reduce edge swelling and joint uplift, and make OEM decisions that still look smart when your second container arrives.
What buyers are actually trying to prevent
Most buyers do not switch to rigid core because they love new product categories. They switch because something went wrong on the last project.
In hospitality, it’s often joint uplift that shows up right outside elevators, where traffic is constant and cleaning is frequent. In multi-family turns, it’s moisture-related deformation that appears in kitchens after repeated wet mopping and tight turnover schedules. In retail, it’s edge swelling or peaking in long aisles where the subfloor wasn’t as flat as the schedule assumed. These aren’t theoretical risks; they are the typical failure photos that travel around purchasing teams.
A good SPC program reduces those failures by making the “small” details non-negotiable: the right build thickness for the subfloor reality, a wear layer that matches how the site is maintained, an attached pad that doesn’t invite excess flex under rolling loads, and a joint profile that stays stable when the building cycles through humidity swings.
Start with the job, then write the specification
The fastest way to end up with claims is to start with a catalog and work backward. A safer approach is to start with the job conditions you’ll actually face, then choose numbers that match those conditions.
Thickness: treat it as a margin of safety, not a marketing line
Lanhe’s SPC thickness range runs from 4mm to 8mm. In practice, that range can serve different channels.
A thinner build can fit price-sensitive programs where the substrate is consistently prepared and the traffic is moderate. But in commercial corridors, storefronts, and renovations over mixed substrates, buyers often prefer the added stability and feel of mid-to-higher thickness builds. Thickness alone will not fix a bad slab, but it gives you more forgiveness when the world is not perfect—which it rarely is.
Think of a small grocery remodel: the schedule is tight, the slab has patches, and the install crew is moving fast. If the build is too thin for that environment, micro-movement at the joints can turn into visible gapping or raised edges. The floor didn’t “fail overnight.” It simply ran out of tolerance.
Wear layer: align it with cleaning habits and traffic patterns
Lanhe offers wear layer options including 0.3mm, 0.5mm, 0.55mm, and 0.70mm. Wear layer decisions should be made with the end user’s routine in mind.
In a boutique office, wear may be driven by chair movement and dry grit at entrances. In a busy café, it’s chair drag, spills, and nightly cleaning. In retail, it’s rolling fixtures and constant footfall in the same lanes. When buyers see “wear,” the cause is often a mismatch between the surface system and the maintenance reality, not a single defect in the material.
If you sell into commercial environments, avoid vague wording like “heavy duty.” Put the wear layer number on your technical sheet, match it to the intended use, and keep the claims in your marketing consistent with that number. Consistency across your datasheet, carton labeling, and website saves you from uncomfortable conversations later.
Attached underlayment: comfort and acoustics, with joint behavior in mind
Lanhe lists attached pad options such as IXPE, EVA, and cork, with common pad thicknesses in the 1.0mm to 2.0mm range. Underlayment is where buyers can accidentally solve one problem and create another.
In apartments and hotels, sound complaints are real. A slightly thicker, appropriate pad can help with footfall perception. But if the pad is too compressible for the traffic type, you may see more movement under rolling loads, and that movement can stress joints over time. A corridor with housekeeping carts is not the same as a guestroom. Even in the same building, the loads differ.
The more accurate way to choose is to identify the dominant risk. If acoustics are the biggest concern, confirm the pad spec that supports that goal. If joint integrity under repeated rolling loads is the bigger concern, choose a pad that doesn’t invite excess flex. Then document the decision clearly so the delivered goods match the approved sample.
Joint profile: where many failures begin
Many SPC complaints start at the joint, even when the product looks fine in the box. Joint uplift, gapping, and corner damage often trace back to one of four realities: an uneven substrate, insufficient perimeter expansion space, debris during installation, or joint damage caused by forcing planks together.
From a buyer’s perspective, the joint is not a decorative seam. It is a mechanical connection that lives under repeated micro-stress. You want a joint profile that is stable and a supplier that can hold milling tolerances consistently across production.
This is also where a good inspection routine matters. A factory can ship a product that meets the specification on paper, but if corner protection is weak or packaging allows movement, the joint can arrive compromised before the first plank is installed.
Sizes and formats: don’t underestimate pattern complexity
Lanhe’s SPC offerings include common plank sizes as well as chevron and herringbone formats. That matters because patterned floors change labor, waste, and risk.
Chevron and herringbone can sell beautifully, especially for boutique retail and feature spaces. They can also raise cutting loss and installation complexity. For a distribution program, it’s often wise to build volume first with repeatable plank SKUs, then add patterns once your quality feedback loop is stable and your installers are comfortable with the format.
Compliance and quality control: what a buyer should be able to verify
Buyers do not need a supplier to say “we have strict QC.” They need to know what that looks like when the container is opened.
Lanhe’s published quality approach describes a workflow that includes raw material selection, precision manufacturing, environmental testing, durability testing, surface inspection, and packaging integrity checks. Their SPC documentation also references VOC emissions testing and certifications such as FloorScore and CE where applicable. For procurement teams, this matters because it affects how you qualify the product for specific markets, and how you defend yourself if a jobsite problem turns into a dispute.
The practical buying move is to ask for the documents you actually use: technical data, compliance reports relevant to your destination market, and a clear statement of what is available per SKU. If you sell to multiple regions, keep your documentation set organized so your sales team can respond quickly and consistently.
Pre-shipment inspection points that reduce expensive surprises
A pre-shipment inspection only pays off if it focuses on the parts that tend to fail in the field. If your team is doing third-party inspection, or even if you’re doing remote checks, the following areas are where experience says you’ll catch the issues that become claims.
Joint integrity under real handling
Ask for photos and short videos that show the joint engaging cleanly, with no chipping at the lips and no unusual resistance. A joint that “feels tight” is not automatically good; a joint that chips easily is a future complaint waiting to happen. If you can, request inspection on cartons from different pallets, not just one convenient stack.
Flatness and dimensional stability signals
Warp and bow are hard to see in staged product photos. On arrival, they turn into slow installation and alignment headaches. A practical method is to request evidence of flatness checks and to validate that cartons remain stable after typical warehouse handling. The goal is not perfection; the goal is staying within the tolerances that keep the job moving.
Surface and edge consistency
Micro-bevels, embossing, and surface sheen need to be consistent across lots, especially for repeat orders. Buyers often get complaints that “the reorder doesn’t match,” even when the pattern is similar. You can reduce that risk by documenting the approved finish level and confirming that production follows the same surface treatment.
Packaging integrity and corner protection
Lanhe describes packaging as carton packing with protective materials and palletization. Packaging is not a logistics detail; it is a product protection system. Corner protection, carton strength, and pallet wrap discipline affect how much joint damage you see on arrival. If you’ve had past problems with corner crush or scuffed faces, insist on packaging evidence from a finished pallet and request photos from multiple angles.
When this issue happens: a claims photo checklist that protects both sides
Even with good specs, problems can occur on site. When they do, the worst outcome is a blurry photo and a heated argument. A better outcome is a clean record that helps determine whether the root cause is installation, site condition, or product.
If you see edge swelling, joint uplift, or moisture-related deformation, ask your field team to capture a consistent set of evidence. Start with wide shots that show the pattern of the issue across the room, then move to close-ups of the joint line. Include at least one photo that shows the perimeter expansion space (or lack of it). If possible, capture the subfloor condition in the affected zone, especially if there is visible unevenness or patching.
Also capture the environment. A simple record of indoor temperature and humidity, and whether wet cleaning is routine, often explains why one room shows symptoms while another does not. The goal is not to blame. The goal is to diagnose.
This approach protects you as a buyer, and it also protects your customer. It turns a vague complaint into something that can be solved—or prevented on the next job.
Ordering reality: lead time, payment, packaging, and warranty expectations
A B2B program lives or dies on predictability. Lanhe’s published guidance indicates typical delivery around 30–35 days after receiving a 30% deposit, with payment terms such as T/T, L/C, or negotiable arrangements depending on the order. For many buyers, this is less about finance and more about inventory math: how you time reorder points, how you manage seasonal demand, and how you avoid stocking gaps.
On the packaging side, Lanhe describes carton packing with protective materials and pallet loading. On warranty, their SPC documentation references coverage that can extend up to 20 years for residential use and 10 years for commercial use, depending on the product and terms agreed. Those numbers should be treated as part of your sales discipline: don’t promise what you can’t document, and keep warranty language aligned across all channels.
Accurate pricing usually starts with the destination market and whether the purchase is for a distributor program, a private-label line, or a single project. A realistic quantity in square meters, a target shipment window, and the preferred trade term help align production and freight assumptions from the beginning. On the product side, the quotation is driven by the exact build: overall thickness, wear layer thickness, surface texture, edge style, and whether the format is a standard plank or a pattern such as herringbone or chevron. If an attached pad is required, the pad material and thickness should be stated upfront, because those choices affect both performance and cost. Documentation expectations matter as well; many buyers need VOC-related test reports or other compliance files aligned with the destination market. Packaging should be clarified early, since neutral cartons and private-label cartons can involve different printing, labeling, and lead-time steps. For repeatable SKU programs, the number of designs in the first batch should be specified, because sampling and approvals can shape the initial schedule.
If requested, an RFQ checklist can be sent by email.
About Shandong Lanhe Import and Export Co., Ltd.
Shandong Lanhe Import and Export Co., Ltd. operates with a production-and-export model designed for international buyers who need stable output and consistent documentation. The company emphasizes automated manufacturing capability, a defined quality management approach, and export experience across multiple overseas regions, including North America, Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia.
For distributors and project buyers, that combination matters in everyday ways. It affects whether the approved sample matches the production lot, whether your paperwork is ready when customs asks for it, and whether your reorder can stay consistent across seasons. It also affects communication speed. When a technical question comes in—about a pad option, a wear layer choice, or a packaging requirement—you want answers that read like engineering, not guesses.
Conclusion
A successful rigid core program is not built on a single claim like “waterproof.” It’s built on decisions that reduce risk where risk tends to appear: joints, edges, subfloor conditions, and maintenance routines. When you write a spec from the job backward, verify the parts that tend to fail, and use an RFQ that forces clarity, you get a floor that stays quiet after installation—quiet in the hallway, quiet in your inbox, and quiet in your claims report.
If you’re building an OEM program, consistency is the real product. The planks matter, of course. But what you’re really buying is repeatability—lot after lot, container after container.
FAQs
What information helps an SPC flooring manufacturer quote accurately for OEM or wholesale?
The fastest path to a reliable quote is a complete build definition: thickness, wear layer, surface finish, edge style, plank format, and attached pad type and thickness. Add your destination market and the documents you need for import and sales. When those details are missing, quotes often drift later, and that’s when misunderstandings turn into delays.
How should I choose between 0.5mm and 0.7mm wear layer for commercial use?
Start with traffic and cleaning, not the sales pitch. If the site has heavy footfall, rolling loads, and frequent cleaning, a thicker wear layer often reduces visible scuffing and helps the surface keep its appearance longer. If the environment is lighter—boutique office areas, for example—the higher wear layer may be unnecessary. Match the number to the job, then document it so your customer knows what they’re getting.
Why do edge swelling and joint uplift show up even when the product is described as waterproof?
Most of the time, the core material is not the only factor. This type of failure is commonly tied to site conditions such as moisture coming through the slab, uneven subfloors, tight perimeter gaps, or joint damage during installation. Moisture-related deformation can also be triggered by repeated wet cleaning in areas that were never meant to be saturated. Prevention usually starts with subfloor verification and correct expansion space, then moves to installation discipline.
What should I request during pre-shipment inspection to reduce claims?
Focus on joint integrity, flatness signals, surface consistency, and packaging protection. Ask for evidence across multiple pallets, not just one carton. If your past issues involved corner damage or chipped joints, packaging and handling proof is worth its weight in gold, because joint damage that happens in transit often looks like a manufacturing defect once it reaches the jobsite.
How long is the typical lead time for production and shipment planning?
For many orders, Lanhe indicates a production timeline around 30–35 days after a 30% deposit, with payment by common international methods. Your actual planning window should include sampling approval time for first orders, plus buffer for peak season logistics. The safest approach is to plan reorder cycles based on what you can repeat consistently, not what you can rush once.
