Polyfoam XPS

What Polyfoam XPS does

Polyfoam XPS Ltd (legal entity PolyFoam XPS Ltd) is a UK-based manufacturer of closed-cell, rigid extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation, operating from a manufacturing facility and headquarters at Hunter House Industrial Estate in Hartlepool, England. The company serves the construction industry across England, Scotland, and Wales, supplying thermal insulation for ground floors (below/above slab, suspended), flat roofs (inverted, warm deck, green, blue, car park decks), basements, swimming pool basins, underfloor heating systems, and external walls below the damp-proof course, as well as specialist non-construction applications such as refrigerated vehicles and thermal laminate fabrication. The Polyfoam brand marks 40 years in 2024, though the current corporate structure is that of a privately held limited company with no parent or subsidiaries and no disclosed external investment.

The core technology is XPS insulation produced via a two-stage extrusion process, yielding closed-cell rigid boards with thermal conductivity of approximately 0.033 W/mK, low moisture absorption (0.7% for boards over 100mm), high compressive strength (200-500 kPa grades), and dimensional stability. Products are manufactured with a low-GWP, zero-ODP blowing agent free from CFCs/HCFCs. The portfolio centers on two ranges — Floorboard (Standard, Extra, Super) and Roofboard (Extra, Super) — supplemented by Upstand Board, Slimline Zero Membrane, Laminating Board, UFH Board, RV Board, and Handyboard. The product set is backed by BBA certification, ISO 9001/14001/45001/50001, BES 6001 responsible sourcing, and Environmental Product Declarations.

The business model is product manufacturing and sale, going to market primarily through a UK distributor partner network, complemented by direct trade-account sales via phone and email and an e-commerce parcel-delivery channel for the smaller Handyboard product aimed at domestic use. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; customers contact the customer-service office or distributors for quotes. Demand generation is heavily specification-led: the company targets architects and specifiers through CPD courses, extensive technical documentation (including the Polyfoam Orange Book), U-value support, blog/trade-press content, and a monthly newsletter, converting specifications into distributor and contractor purchases.

Name

Polyfoam XPS

Legal name

PolyFoam XPS Ltd

Website

https://polyfoamxps.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Polyfoam XPS is a UK manufacturer of closed-cell extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation for construction — floor, roof, and specialist applications — serving architects, specifiers, contractors, and domestic users through a UK distributor network and direct trade sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Insulation Materials

NAICS

Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing (326140), Polystyrene Foam Product Manufacturing (32614)

SIC

Plastics Foam Products (3086)

akta.pro primary industry

Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Foam Manufacturing (IMANAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Foam Plastic Insulation (EPS/XPS/PIR/PUR) (IMADAGAD), Roof Insulation & Cover Boards (IMADAFAN), Polymer Foams & Cellular Materials (PU Foams, EPS/XPS, Structural Foams) (IMAEANAL)

Keywords

• Extruded polystyrene insulation
• XPS insulation boards
• Thermal insulation manufacturing
• Floor insulation products
• Roof insulation systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Hartlepool

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. XPS Insulation Product Sales: Manufacture and sale of extruded polystyrene insulation boards through distributor network and direct customer relationships. Products include Floorboard range, Roofboard range, Handyboard, Laminating Board, and specialty products for various construction applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PolyFoam XPS Ltd manufactures closed-cell, rigid extruded polystyrene (XPS) thermal insulation boards from its Hartlepool, UK facility. Products include the Floorboard (Standard, Extra, Super) and Roofboard (Extra, Super) ranges, alongside specialty boards for underfloor heating, refrigerated vehicles, thermal laminates, upstands, and general-purpose domestic use. The boards are sold through UK distributors and direct trade accounts for floor, roof, basement, and specialist construction insulation applications.

Product overview

Polyfoam XPS Ltd is a UK-based manufacturer of closed cell, extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation products serving the construction industry. The product portfolio consists of two main ranges: Floorboard (Standard, Extra, Super) and Roofboard (Extra, Super), plus specialized products including Upstand Board for roof perimeter detailing, Slimline Zero Membrane for inverted roof water flow reduction, Laminating Board for thermal laminate fabrication, UFH Board for underfloor heating applications, RV Board for refrigerated vehicles, and Handyboard for general-purpose domestic use. XPS insulation is characterized by high compressive strength, moisture tolerance, and dimensional stability, making it suitable for ground floors (below slab, above slab, suspended), flat roofs (inverted, warm deck, green, blue, car park), basements, swimming pools, and cavity wall below DPC applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Polyfoam Floorboard Standard

Quantifiable outcome

• Moisture absorption of just 0.7% for boards greater than 100mm thickness
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• URSA Insulation: URSA is a major European manufacturer of XPS and mineral wool insulation with significant UK presence through distributors; competes head-to-head with Polyfoam in floor and roof XPS applications and at comparable price/performance positioning.
• Recticel: Belgian specialty foam group manufacturing rigid polyurethane and XPS insulation boards for construction across Europe; direct comparable in product technology, customer base (contractors/specifiers), and channel mix via distributors.
• Unilin Insulation (Xtratherm): Unilin's Xtratherm brand is one of the closest direct competitors to Polyfoam in the UK and Irish insulation market, manufacturing PIR and XPS boards for floors, roofs, and walls with overlapping distributor channels and similar specification-led GTM targeting architects and contractors.

Broad incumbents

• Knauf Insulation: One of the largest insulation manufacturers globally, with a UK manufacturing footprint and a broad portfolio covering glass mineral wool, rock mineral wool, and XPS-adjacent products; competes for the same UK construction specifications via similar merchant/distributor channels.
• Rockwool: Global stone wool insulation leader and competitor for many of the same UK floor, roof, and façade specifications where Polyfoam's XPS is used; offers a substitute material category rather than identical product, but competes for the same specification slot.
• BASF (Styrodur): BASF's Styrodur is the original extruded polystyrene brand and one of Europe's largest XPS producers; competes on premium-grade applications including 500 kPa and inverted-roof systems where Polyfoam's Super range is positioned.
• Kingspan Group: Global Irish-headquartered insulation and building envelopes group with an XPS product line (Kingspan Styrozone / Kingspan Greenguard) directly competing in the UK market, alongside a much broader portfolio of PIR, stone wool, and structural products; materially larger than Polyfoam with far greater R&D and distribution leverage.
• Saint-Gobain (Isover): Saint-Gobain's Isover brand is a major UK and European insulation manufacturer offering glass wool and rigid foam boards; competes with Polyfoam in commercial roof and floor specification and shares similar distributor-led routes to market.
• Dow Chemical (STYROFOAM): Dow's STYROFOAM / DOW Styrofoam is a global XPS insulation brand with substantial European footprint; a broad incumbent in specialty chemicals and plastics with deep resources to compete in 500 kPa and high-performance XPS segments.

Others

• Soprema: Global waterproofing and roofing systems manufacturer that, like Polyfoam, targets flat-roof and inverted-roof specifications in the UK; not a direct XPS competitor but an ecosystem participant whose system-holder relationships overlap with Polyfoam's waterproofing system holder testimonials.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/polyfoamxps
• Xx.com/polyfoamxps

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Polyfoam XPS