A FIRM which specialises in fire protection for the construction industry is planning to increase its presence across the country from its Binley base.
Aluflam, founded in Denmark in 1946, was recently licensed to trade in the UK market and its products are already being used in high-rises and commercial premises to make them safer.
Based at the Business Innovation Centre in Binley – part of the University of Warwick Science Park – Aluflam’s main product is a flame-retardant substance inserted in the internal structure of buildings, or in facades.
When a fire causes the temperature to rise, the substance undergoes a chemical reaction and secretes water, cooling aluminium down and enabling it to maintain the building’s structural integrity.
And after the UK tightened up its building regulations after the Grenfell Tower disaster in 2017, Aluflam was in a prime position to provide the safe products needed to deliver construction projects to new standards.
Martin Grove, Aluflam’s UK operations director, said: “After Grenfell, many architect specifiers are now liable for any mistakes around fire safety in the construction of a building, which means they are incredibly careful about the suppliers they choose.
“Aluflam’s history of successfully using our fire solutions in a huge variety of projects in Europe, the USA and Australia meant we had a head-start in the UK market, and can demonstrate compliance with the tightened regulations around safety much more easily.”
He added, after basing itself at the centre in Binley, it set about growing its clients and showcased its products to contractors and architects.
The company is already involved with many different projects in the UK commercial and residential markets and is confident it can grow even further.
“Post-Grenfell, it is vital our buildings are made as safe as they can be and we are proud to be playing a leading role.”
Aluflam’s aluminium is also sourced sustainably – 75 per cent of the aluminium it uses is recycled.
Peter Grove, Aluflam executive director, added: “Being based at the Business Innovation Centre has been a key factor in our success.
“Many of our clients are based in Manchester, Birmingham and London, so we’re in a superb location for all of them.
“And the support we get from the team here is second-to-none. Everything is taken care of for us, meaning we can focus on growing the business.”
The firm’s first goal is to get Aluflam officially registered as a company in the UK before hiring new staff and expanding.
