Strategy

  • Leadership through larger volumes and innovation.
  • Growth of Comfort mainly in Central and Eastern Europe.
  • Growth of technical foams.
  • Development of new applications for rebound foam (agglomerated trim foam) in order to become less dependent on the highly volatile market prices for trim foam.
  • Consolidation of the European flexible foam market

The comfort segment manufactures flexible polyurethane foam, which is converted into filling for all kinds of seating and mattresses.

Long slabstock is made during the production process, which is then cut into smaller, transportable pieces. These pieces are then cut and finished in Recticel’s own workshops or are delivered directly to customers in the seating and mattress industry.

In some cases, especially for large standard series, certain components for the seating industry are produced in moulds so that subsequent cutting is unnecessary. Generally speaking, the present comfort market rarely asks for major production series in view of the breadth of the product range and extensive customisation.

The technical foams segment, on the other hand, specialises mainly in the manufacture of specific types of foams intended for smaller niche markets,  for the most part with advanced technical applications and the accompanying strict product specifications. Technical foams are used in a very wide range of applications, including sponges, scourers, filters, paint rollers, airtight and watertight seals, packaging, sound insulation, rechargeable batteries, cosmetics, extremely fire-resistant foam types for high-risk clothing, light-resistant foam types for clothing applications, outdoor applications (Dryfeel®), etc …

Although technical foams are manufactured and cut in a comparable fashion to comfort foam, there is a major difference between them. Technical foams are post-treated in specific cases to obtain the required properties. The very specific applications and the strict requirements these types of foam must often meet underline the importance of foam technology and chemical know-how. Extra post-treatments, such as reticulation, impregnation, etc., are necessary to adapt the physical or chemical properties precisely to the requirements of the application.

A large amount of trim foam is left over after the conversion of flexible foam. Composite foams, a separate segment, converts the trim foam into new products. Although in recent years the emphasis has been placed increasingly on limiting the quantity of unavoidable offcuts, Recticel tries to discover ever more new applications for these residues. The offcuts from the conversion process are cut into small flakes which are mixed with a binder and amalgamated into slabstock. These blocks are in turn cut into rolls or specific components. Typical applications include sound insulation for the construction industry, the shoe industry, energy and shock absorption, sports facilities and the outdoor market. These products are sold as Recmat® (sound insulation for use under floor coverings), Recfoam® (sound insulation in cars, reinforcement for seating, packaging material, etc.), Animate® (cattle mats) or Re-bounce® (underlay for sports fields with artificial grass).

The trim foam which Recticel cannot convert itself is mainly sold on the open market. There is a substantial market for polyurethane trim foam in the United States, where this trim foam is mainly converted into underlay for fitted carpet.

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