XL North’s journey is a story of innovation, adaptability, and a relentless focus on improving commercial carpet maintenance and flooring solutions. From its early origins in chemical manufacturing to its evolution into a leader in floor care, XL North’s foundation is built on decades of industry expertise, strategic acquisitions, and a commitment to problem-solving for commercial flooring professionals.
The Roots: Chemistry and Manufacturing
By the late 1980s, Mark Terry and his father were running React-Rite, Inc., a company that introduced North America to Akzo’s rubber chemicals. They later built a chemical plant in Alabama that focused on specialty chemical production, including zinc diacrylate, a key component in golf ball manufacturing.
In 1986, Interface Flooring Systems approached the company to bring the manufacture of Intersept®, their proprietary antimicrobial agent, in-house. This led to the formation of Rockland React-Rite (RRR) under Interface, which became a small but highly profitable subsidiary focused on specialized flooring adhesives and maintenance chemistry. Over the years, RRR expanded its offerings to include Grid-Set, a pressure-sensitive adhesive for PVC-backed carpet tiles.
A Shift to Carpet Maintenance and the Birth of XL North
As Interface explored new ways to serve commercial carpet dealers, they formed Re:Source Americas, a dealer network aimed at streamlining procurement and maintenance solutions. Mark Terry recalls his first interaction with the Re:Source Americas team:
“I remember asking enough questions that I eventually got the contact information for Bill Beebe, contacted him, and invited him to visit with us. I remember Bill asking repeatedly if we were sure we were part of Interface since he had never heard of us.” — Mark Terry
Through this partnership, Interface’s dealers gained access to adhesives, but another opportunity soon emerged—carpet maintenance. Many dealers and service providers already offered maintenance solutions but relied on various cleaning techniques and products. The industry lacked a standardized approach, and Interface saw the need for trusted chemistry that could support the longevity of its commercial carpets.
“There were a number of techniques practiced by the dealers and service providers, and they all were absolutely positive that their practices and products used were the absolute best and no one else knew what they were talking about.” — Mark Terry
The XL North brand was officially established when Interface sold its carpet maintenance technology to TRCC, transferring key manufacturing equipment and proprietary formulas. Ed Sisk, who had a background in manufacturing flooring adhesives, took charge of the new company’s direction.
RD Weis and XL North: A Critical Connection
At the same time, Randy Weis was growing RD Weis Companies, originally launched with Milliken’s dry compound carpet cleaning technology. When Milliken transitioned to a franchise model, Weis opted for independence and sought out a new supplier for dry carpet cleaning products.
“The only problem I had was that there were only two firms that made a credible dry carpet cleaning compound—Milliken and Interface. I needed to stick with dry cleaning, so I tracked down a guy in Interface’s R&D group to find out how I could buy their product called GRAB. That’s when I was told Interface had sold it off to a company called XL North.” — Randy Weis
After connecting with Ed Sisk, Weis visited XL North’s facility in Fall River, MA, where Sisk was still setting up production equipment. While some on Weis’ team were skeptical about the operation’s scale, Weis saw the potential and formed a lasting partnership with XL North.
Evolving Chemistry: From Dry Powder to Low Moisture
The introduction of dry compound carpet cleaning (like Interface’s GRAB) was met with curiosity and skepticism in the market. John Engel, who worked with both Milliken’s Capture and Interface’s GRAB, described the state of carpet cleaning at the time:
“Dry cleaning was still a new system to most of the industry. The main process by a huge amount was extraction and bonnet cleaning.” — John Engel
XL North’s mission became pushing the evolution of carpet maintenance by offering alternatives to traditional extraction and bonnet cleaning. As low-moisture encapsulation gained traction, XL North expanded its product line to accommodate faster cleaning times and improved fiber protection.
“The shift to liquid low moisture was concerning to me, but one of the key drivers was the increased productivity you got from low moisture vs dry.” — Randy Weis
As XL North developed new chemistry, they ensured that cleaning results, sustainability, and ease of use remained the driving factors. Engel reflected on how XL North’s product development evolved:
“A massive introduction of auxiliary products came with dry technology—spotters, specialty chemistry, and eventually some new players in the market with different dry chemistry.” — John Engel
XL North Today: A Legacy of Innovation
Through years of research, strategic partnerships, and continuous adaptation to market needs, XL North has cemented itself as a leader in commercial floor care chemistry. The company has been at the forefront of developing encapsulation technology, advanced spotting solutions, along with creating an entire collection of products designed for care of rapidly expanding resilient flooring industry – all aimed at enhancing the lifespan of commercial flooring.
From its beginnings in chemical manufacturing to its role today as an industry authority, XL North’s success is a testament to the vision, expertise, and along with the support of our industry.
As John Engel aptly summarized:
I saw more satisfied end users in my 38 years in the industry who took on a program of low moisture cleaning than any other system.
That commitment to customer success, product innovation, and industry leadership continues to drive XL North forward today.