Page 84 - History-of-flooringLR

The Polyflor business was originally founded in 1915 as a weaving 1974 saw the launch of Polyflor XL, the first single layer
operation by James Halstead who had previously been a weaving homogenous flooring product to be made available in 2-metre
shed manager for another Manchester company. Incorporated widths. This at the time was to be a very significant move, with
as James Halstead Ltd, the original product line was woven the product rapidly becoming one of the most
cotton textiles, which were both dyed and waterproofed. Later successful in the portfolio.
this was to turn to the production of rubberised fabric used
in the manufacture of mackintoshes. James Halstead Ltd was Also in 1974, John Halstead’s son Geoffrey took control of the
established at Crow Oak Works, Radcliffe, on a site that the business, having been with the company since 1947. This heralded
business was to operate from continuously, right up to the present a new period of significant growth with Geoffrey at the head of a
day, over 100 years later. dynamic team of professional managers.

The family business developed rapidly with the founder’s sons In 1983 the company launched its first Polysafe slip-resistant The launch of the Recofloor Recycling Scheme in 2009 was
Herbert and John investing in technical developments that would flooring containing aggregate particles to reduce the risk of a major milestone in Polyflor’s sustainability journey. Having
innovate new products and it was they, in 1934, who expanded the slipping in wet areas. Exponential growth in sales was to follow originally commenced recycling back in the 1950’s, the Recofloor
manufacturing capabilities to include flooring products. and the Polysafe brand was to become a world leader in the scheme formalised a structure for logistics and enabled the return
safety flooring market. of post-consumer waste vinyl flooring. Polyflor is a proud co-
The production of rubberised fabric continued alongside the founder of Recofloor which has gone on to become the industry’s
flooring operations and in 1948 James Halstead acquired its Polyflor Hong Kong was established in 1992 to help support leading post-consumer waste vinyl flooring recycling scheme.
main customer, the Staffordshire company Belstaff Ltd who were and build upon Polyflor’s successful business in the emerging
producing waterproof outdoor and motorcycle clothing. Belstaff Asian markets. Also in 1992 Polyflor purchased the company In 2010 the new warehouse in Royton, Oldham became fully In 2015 Polyflor was proud to celebrate 100 years of
remained part of the group until 2004, when the Group chose to responsible for the distribution of Polyflor in Australia. Since then operational, offering greatly enhanced capacity. Customised with manufacturing in the UK, having operated continuously from
focus 100% of its resources into the flooring market. the business has been further strengthened to include a presence the latest stock control systems, onsite samples department and the original manufacturing location in Whitefield, Manchester.
in all Australian States and warehousing in Queensland, New South modern showroom facilities the new building enabled Polyflor to The pioneering dynamism and innovative values that saw the
The combined company floated on the stock exchange on 30 April Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. The group’s further enhance customer service levels. The Sales, Marketing, establishment of the business in 1915 are still at its
1948, issuing 10,000 ordinary shares of ten shillings each. expansion across the world continued throughout the 1990s Customer Services and Distribution departments relocated heart to the present day.
and early 2000s, including the establishment of a sales office in to the new building.
The group continued to invest heavily in flooring and as demand Ireland along with acquisitions in Germany and New Zealand.
rapidly grew throughout the 1950s and 60s, Polyflor developed Polyflor was the first flooring manufacturer to achieve the
manufacturing and sales capability overseas by establishing or The launch of Polyflor’s first heterogeneous sheet vinyl flooring BES6001 Responsible Sourcing Certification in 2013 with a
acquiring companies in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. product came in 2004 with the launch of Forest FX and ‘very good’ rating for its LVT product ranges. BES6001 provides
featured authentically replicated wood designs. The growth a framework for responsible sourcing and continual improvement
in heterogeneous sheet sales that followed was rapid and in in the areas of corporate social responsibility and financial
2009 Polyflor acquired the Riverside Flooring manufacturing and environmental sustainability.
operation in Stockton-on-Tees. After considerable investment
and customisation, the plant began the production of Polyflor
Heterogeneous and Polysafe flooring ranges.

In 2006 James Halstead was presented with its first Queen’s
Award for Enterprise in the category of International Trade. This
was to be followed by further Queen’s Awards, in 2007 in the
continuous product innovation and development category for 0161 767 1111
the Polysafe family of products and in 2011 another Queen’s info@polyflor.com
award for International Trade. www.polyflor.com

84 The History of Flooring

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