Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) held its recent board meeting at the Unilin Insulation premises just outside Navan. The board of HAI were joined by members from surrounding counties for a presentation on the company’s strategy and future plans, followed by a tour of the very impressive Unilin Insulation Discovery Hub facilities and a networking lunch.
On the day Martin Groome, Director of Sales & Marketing at Unilin Insulation gave a comprehensive overview of the company’s ambition and business aspiration to “Be an Insulation Partner for the Construction Industry that delivers best-for-purpose solutions by being customer-centric”.
This, Martin believes, involves Unilin Insulation transforming the company from a volume-driven player in a commodity environment into a customer-focused, value-adding business built on:
– Tailored innovative solutions
– Superior product quality
– Outstanding service levels
Unilin was founded in the 1960s by about forty flax farmers. Since then, it has developed into a world player and is mainly known for its Quick-Step floors. Unilin Group also produces roof panels, insulation panels and furniture panels.
In 1960 several families from south-west Flanders who were active in the flax industry started producing flax chipboards. They called the company ‘Unilin’, short for ‘Union de Lin’. In the 1970s & 1980s the company expanded to produce melamine boards, laminate floors & roofing elements.
Unilin was acquired by Mohawk Industries, a global leader in flooring in 2005 and in 2016 they bought the well-known family business in Navan, Xtratherm. 2021 saw Ballytherm become part of wider group.
Unilin Insulation now manufacture a range of PIR, Phenolic and EPS boards providing a range of solutions to meet current building regulations. They support their customers by offering training, technical and sales support.
The Unilin Group has nine insulation manufacturing sites in Europe – France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Ireland and the UK – currently employing 490 employees.
L to R Martin Groome, Director of Sales & Marketing at Unilin Insulation and Mark Magennis, Technical Manager, Maryanne Quigley, Board Member (HAI) & Purchasing Manager, Wallace’s Homevalue Hardware, Tara Brennan, President Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) & Marketing & Development Director, Chadwicks, Martin Markey, CEO (HAI), Stephen O’Connor, Board Member (HAI) & Manager, Barretts of Maynooth Homevalue, Niall Fay, Vice President, (HAI) & General Manager/Director, Grant Engineering, Paul Candon, Immediate Past President (HAI) & CEO, United Hardware and Pat Moore, Board Member (HAI) & Managing Director of Brooks.
