Cork-based manufacturer of cellular PVC-UE building products, Freefoam Plastics Ltd was founded in 1990 exclusively to service the Irish market. In the decade since its foundation, Freefoam has experienced rapid expansion and development. Freefoam Plastics is now the Irish market leader in cellular PVC-UE and is successfully taking on much bigger players in the UK market. Freefoam's growth phase is far from over as it continues to develop its place in the cellular foam market through commitment to quality, customer service and continuous innovation.

Freefoam has come a long way from its early days. During the past ten years the company has grown from a single extrusion line operation, producing two products, to become one of the leading suppliers of a range of cellular PVC-UE fascia, soffit, cladding and rainwater products to the specialist installer and stockist markets in Ireland and the UK. The company now operates eleven extrusion lines at their 70,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Cork. Two of these were added only last year at a cost of £700,000 to cope with increased production of its now broad product range.

State of the art technology is nothing however without quality of product and customer service. Freefoam is a company strongly committed to both having ISO 9002, Irish Agrément Board certification for its roofline and cladding systems and BBA approval in the UK.

“The company is in the midst of a sustained growth phase, and therefore quality is an even higher priority now then ever before,” explains Tony Walsh, Managing Director. “Quality Control measures implemented at base and at factory floor are reflected in our customers' perceptions of our products and service. We review our operations and procedures on a regular basis to ensure we continue to meet our customers' requirements, so building their confidence and loyalty.”

Building on the confidence and loyalty of their existing customer base in the UK has been facilitated in recent times by the establishment of a distribution base in Northampton. Freefoam's UK customers now enjoy greater flexibility in delivery lead times and reduced minimum order quantities. In Ireland also, plans are in place to improve distribution with the opening of a new trade outlet in Dublin.

13 Million Pins sold at Interbuild

Through this type of quality and customer-focused philosophy, Freefoam built success in a less than favourable economic climate in the early nineties and are now gaining the benefits of the current boom. The so-called 'Celtic Tiger' has benefited everyone in the construction industry with the unprecedented surge in new-build in recent years. The market for roofline replacement is also buoyant as people have more disposable income and a greater capacity to borrow to renovate their homes. However, Freefoam do not intend to become complacent in the current environment, which would be all too easy to do. If anything, it's a time for greater vigilance as paradoxically the increased business has been accompanied by greater competition. A strong brand and solid market position will be more important than ever when the economic boom peters out.

“Five years from now, independent analysts say there will be just a handful of large roofline manufacturers in the UK and Ireland. They will be strongly branded, customer focused and profitable. Freefoam Plastics will be one of them,” asserts Managing Director, Tony Walsh.