Page 90 - History-of-flooringLR

A brief history of

Quantum Flooring

Quantum Flooring Solutions is one of the brand In 1992 the first aluminium stair nosings were these markets by reducing stock of finished goods
names for Quantum Profile Systems Ltd (QPSL). produced by the company. Quantum’s Quality and moving to a Lean make-to-order model. These
Manufactured products from all brands are based Management System was accredited to BS 5750 (the actions combined allowed the business to reduce its
around the extrusion of PVC and uPVC on-site at equivalent of ISO9001) that year, declaring its lead times and therefore grow its potential.
the QPSL factory in Royton near Oldham. The four commitment to supplying an ever-increasing
QPSL brands are: quality of products and services to its customers. In 2002, the decision was made to pursue the
In 1994, Newman Tonks bought the company, with Quantum Flooring route to market via distributors,
• Quantum Flooring Solutions, which provides the name changing to NT Quantum. The company with a move away from direct sales to contractors.
stair nosings and flooring accessories to the was bought by Edgbaston Group in 1996, and In 2006 the Q-Lean Solutions route to market was
Contract Flooring market amalgamated with Radway Building Products. developed, and in 2008 Qwood profiles were sold
• Dacatie Green Building Solutions, which Manufacturing was moved to Salmon Fields in for the first time.
provides insulated cavity closer products to Royton, where QPSL remains to this day.
the Building and Construction market The company’s Environmental Management System
• Qwood, which provides timber composite In the year 2000, there was a management buy-out was developed from 2010, and in 2013 it was
solutions for windows and doors to the by eight directors of the company and the internal accredited to ISO14001. In 2014, QPSL’s strategy
Joinery market toolmaking facility was introduced. The company’s jigsaw was devised. This jigsaw forms an integral
• Q-Lean, which provides bespoke extruded lean journey started, and the model of ‘giving part of the modern company’s ethos, outlining the
products to the Offsite Construction market customers what they want, when they want it’ was effective behaviours and values that employees
the catalyst to move away from traditional long should constantly strive to maintain. In 2015 EDM
The story of QPSL began in 1970, with a company runs, make-to-stock and long lead times. wire erosion capability was introduced, and sales
called Extruda Profiles making the first hospital turnover exceeded £10 million for the first time.
coving from a factory in Whitefield. In 1980, the At this time, the company made the decision to
company was moved to Littleborough in focus on the core brand markets of Quantum In 2018, there was a management buy-out by Clive
Lancashire, and the name was changed to Quantum. Flooring Solutions (contract flooring market) and Bowen, the managing director, Steve Kean, sales
The products made at this stage were PVC Dacatie Green Building Solutions (building and director and Simon Crossley, operations director.
accessories, toy accessories and trade extrusions. construction market). QPSL managed to grow in Today, in 2022, Simon is the MD, Steve is sales and

90 The History of Flooring