From humble beginnings

Freefoam Building Products celebrates 30 years of trading in 2020.

In 1990, founding managing director Tony Walsh set up an extrusion plant in Cork, Ireland, with one co-extrusion line. With a vision to provide the growing home improvement market with high quality PVCU fascia and soffit to replace traditional timber products, the business grew into a leading manufacturer in Ireland.

Freefoam has since become a broad pan-European business, with manufacturing operations in Ireland and the UK, together with distribution in continental Europe.

Tony Walsh, now chairman, said: “This is an incredible milestone for any company. Freefoam has achieved this success through a combination of factors. First and foremost, the hard work, passion, and exemplary commitment by our team members, whose cooperative spirit throughout the company is at the heart of our business.

“The development and continued improvements to our product range and our innovation to create best-in-class building products has also proved to be a winning formula.

“Throughout 2020, we will be looking back at where we started, what we have achieved, and what our plans are for the future.”

Today, Freefoam Building Products employs over 300 team members across three locations.

Manufacturing facilities consist of 30 extrusion lines in Ireland and the UK, producing PVCU and PVCUE fascia, soffit, gutter and cladding.

Aidan Harte, managing director, said: “Our strategy of continued investment into plant and facilities has created robust and sustainable processing and manufacturing operations that are equipped to produce volume and quality on a consistent basis. We are looking forward to the future, with further expansion planned for our site in Northampton this year, ongoing investment in training and development for our team members, and growth strategies in place for our European markets.”