Technology

Technologically, polyurethane forms the leitmotiv for the Group’s highly diverse activities and wide range of products. Polyurethane technology, in both manufacturing and conversion, means that the technological competence within Recticel forms the perfect basis for new, sustainable, innovative applications and for improving the quality of existing products.

Purchasing power

There is a centralised purchasing policy for chemical raw materials (mainly polyols and isocyanates). This has enabled Recticel to acquire an important position as buyer of these raw materials. All plants, including the joint ventures, benefit from this. The Group has also taken steps to ensure that purchases of other strategic raw materials are far more cost-efficient. For instance, initiatives have been taken in the Bedding business line to ensure optimum combination of purchases of latex, textiles and metal components.

Complementarity

Although the Group’s joint activities have been divided into four different business lines, it is sometimes difficult to draw firm lines between them and to mark off all the applications strictly.

A large number of products of the technical foams division, for example, are used in the automotive industry and polyurethane mattress centres for the Bedding business line are supplied by the Flexible foams division. These, and other examples, clearly show that there is overlapping between the various business lines which in a large number of cases can therefore be considered as complementary.

In this way, certain business lines derive benefit from the possibilities offered by others, which is a clear illustration of the economies of scale which this complementarity entails.

Marketing

Given the nature of the various markets in which the Group operates, it is necessary to devise marketing strategies tailored to the individual markets. Nevertheless, there are also parallels. For instance, the major advertising campaign for Literie Bultex^® (Bedding business line) also paved the way for the brand name Comfort Bultex^®. Comfort Bultex^® has grown in the Flexible Foams business line since 1995 to become the only filling material able to gain a competitive advantage from its brand name and visibility.

Recycling

Offcuts of foam from the slabstock conversion process are recycled. In this way, the trim foam from various activities is manufactured into new rebond foam which in turn can be used for applications in the various business lines.