Article Summary
Swiss floor sanding professional Alexander Vallant traveled across the United States in 2025 to learn American wood floor techniques and machinery, visiting industry experts and historic factories that shaped modern floor sanding technology.
- Alexander Vallant, a Swiss floor sanding expert since 1998, became fascinated with American 12-inch drum sanders after watching a viral video in 2022
- Vallant visited key locations including Grand Rapids (EMack Manufacturing), Toledo (historic American Floor Surfacing Machine factory), and Sparta, North Carolina (current American Sanders factory)
- He met legendary floor professionals including Paul Nelson, Eric Downing, Keith Graff, Wayne Lee, and Joe Boone Sr. to learn techniques and industry history
- The trip inspired Vallant to change his 20-year-old edge grinding methods and plan return visits to continue learning from American floor sanding pioneers
- His journey connects European and American floor sanding expertise, bridging continents through shared passion for wood floor craftsmanship
Alexander Vallant of Parkett Schleif (“Parquet Sanding”) Service in Langnau im Emmental, Switzerland, has been sanding floors since 1998, and until 2022, he thought he’d handled all the best of the best floor sanders. Then a video of an American Sanders 12-inch drum sander—a unicorn in Europe—popped up on his phone. “I watched the video over and over again, trying to understand everything,” he remembers.
This video set Vallant off on a mission to track down any and all American 12s in Switzerland. He eventually procured two machines, enough for a Ryder Cart setup for large-scale projects. Testing went well, but it became clear he needed guidance before real-world application. So in the summer of 2024, Vallant made his first trip to the U.S. to learn everything he could about American 12 Ryder setups from Paul Nelson of Clinton, Mont.-based Western Sport Floors. “Paul, his wife, and the whole team were so incredibly friendly that as soon as I got home, I wanted to go back to the U.S.,” Vallant says.
During his 2024 visit to the U.S., Vallant joined Paul Nelson (of Western Sport Floors) on a job to learn more about the Ryder Cart system and American Sanders machines. This visit inspired Vallant to return in 2025.All images courtesy of Alexander Vallant
On top of that, Vallant wanted to meet more of the American wood floor pros he’d connected with on social media, as well as see the site of the original American Floor Surfacing Machine Co. factory. “It was clear I had to go back and learn everything first-hand from people with experience.”
Vallant flew to Chicago and rented a car to drive to his first destination: Grand Rapids, Mich., to meet Eric Downing of EMack Manufacturing, the makers of the Ryder Cart. “I met Eric Downing at the workshop where the gym Ryders are built,” Vallant says. “Eric gave me a great insight into what he builds for gym floor workers.”
On his 2025 visit to the U.S., Vallant first stopped at EMack Manufacturing in the Grand Rapids, Mich., area to see where the Ryder Cart systems are made. Here he is (at right) with EMack Vice President Eric Downing.
The next stop was Toledo, Ohio, where parts of the old American Floor Surfacing Machine factory stand. “In these buildings, or the parts that still stand, the first floor sanding machines were designed and built around 1906,” Vallant says. “Around 1928, Harry L. Myers was one of the designers at the factory. In my opinion, he put the most important inventions for the drum sander on paper.”
Vallant made a pilgrimage to the original factory where the American Sanders machine was first produced, in Toledo, Ohio.
Harry L. Myers, one of the inventors of the American Floor Surfacing Machine, is buried near the original factory.
Then, Vallant was off to Fenton, Mo., to meet Keith Graff, the owner of Graff Floor Sanding LLC. Graff showed him his extensive wood floor antiques collection and brought him to a jobsite, where he picked up a few tips and tricks.
Vallant (at right) visited Keith Graff (of Graff Floor Sanding LLC) in Fenton, Mo.
Graff showed Vallant his extensive collection of wood flooring antique tools, including these three vintage machines.
Vallant then stopped in Burns, Tenn., to meet the man who inspired him to change his “20-year-old patterns in edge grinding,” Wayne Lee of Middle Tennessee Lumber. Next, Vallant met Roy Cox at the current American Sanders factory in Sparta, N.C., then drove to the Savannah, Ga., area to join All American Floor Sanding and Installation owner Patrick Russell on a job.
Wayne Lee (at left) of Middle Tennessee Lumber, inspired Vallant to change his longstanding edge grinding technique.
Roy Cox (at left), the global product manager for American Sanders, met Vallant at the current factory in Sparta, N.C.
Vallant (at right) visited American Floor Sanding and Refinishing Owner Patrick Russell on a job near Savannah, Ga.
The last stop in Vallant’s tour was the Boone home in Jacksonville, Fla., where Tina Boone showed him the workshop of her father and Boone Flooring founder, Joe Boone Sr. “There were many beautiful old things and machines,” Vallant says.
Tina Boone showed Vallant the workshop of her father and Boone Flooring founder, Joe Boone Sr.
One of Joe Boone Sr.'s antique sanding machines.
Now back in Switzerland, Vallant is planning his next trip to the U.S. in September. “I’ll start from Fenton with Keith,” he says. “I’d like to finish in Sacramento—I hope Dave Boberg has some time for me. He doesn’t know about it yet.”—E.K.
