What Ariel Plastics does

Ariel Plastics Ltd is a UK national plastics distribution company headquartered in Staveley, Derbyshire, founded in 1970 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Northern Ireland-based Brett Martin Holdings Ltd. The company specializes in distributing roofing sheet, rooflights, and roofing accessories to builders merchants across the United Kingdom, with secondary direct sales to trade contractors and indirect reach into the DIY consumer segment through the merchant channel. Its core product portfolio spans polycarbonate sheets (multiwall, corrugated, flat under the Corotherm brand), PVC corrugated sheets (Vistalux), bituminous sheets (Coroline and Onduline), GRP products, acrylic glazing sheets (Liteglaze), metal tile roofing systems (Corotile), dome and flat-glass rooflights (Mardome, sourced from parent Brett Martin), roof ventilation (Corovent), roof drainage (Corodrain), PVC cladding, and protective sheet (Covershield). The company operates a Cut-to-Size Service for multiwall polycarbonate, flat polycarbonate, acrylic, PETG and foam PVC with 3-5 working day turnaround, effectively converting part of its distribution activity into light custom fabrication.

The business model is B2B distribution with quote-based pricing: revenue is generated through one-time transactional sales of roofing and glazing products to builders merchants, supplemented by direct sales to trade contractors via a national sales team, dedicated customer service, and technical support functions. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled through an enquiry-based system with downloadable product guides and an online Rooflight Configurator tool. Distribution relies on the company's own nationwide logistics operation serving merchants throughout the UK, supported by a dedicated Scottish sales office in Cumbernauld. The company holds six British Board of Agrément (BBA) certifications across its Mardome rooflight and roof drainage product lines. Headcount is 51-100 employees, and the company claims the position of UK market leader for roofing sheet, rooflights and roofing accessories to builders merchants for over 55 years, offering the widest product range in the category.

Customer segments are horizontal: builders merchants (primary), trade contractors (primary), and DIY consumers (secondary), with no disclosed large enterprise customers and no single-customer revenue concentration. The product surface is broad but largely commodity in nature (standard sheet sizes with cut-to-size customization), and the company's value proposition rests on range breadth, nationwide availability, technical support, and brand recognition across its portfolio of proprietary sub-brands. Technology investment is limited to a configurator tool, YouTube installation videos, and a content-rich website — there is no disclosed software platform, AI/ML capability, or proprietary technology stack beyond physical product specification.

Name

Ariel Plastics

Legal name

Ariel Plastics Ltd

Website

https://arielplastics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ariel Plastics is a UK national distributor of roofing sheet, rooflights, and roofing accessories, serving builders merchants, trade contractors, and DIY consumers through its own logistics network and a Cut-to-Size Service. It operates as a subsidiary of Brett Martin Holdings Ltd.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Staveley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Roofing Sheet Distribution: One-time product sales of roofing sheets (polycarbonate, PVC, GRP, bitumen) to builders merchants and end customers. Products sold in standard sizes with cut-to-size services available for bespoke requirements. Revenue generated through transactional sales with volume discounts potentially available.
2. Rooflight and Accessory Sales: Sale of Mardome rooflights, ventilation products, drainage systems, and cladding accessories. Products available through enquiry-based sales process with 48-hour delivery on popular items.
3. Cut-to-Size Services: Custom cutting services for multiwall polycarbonate, flat polycarbonate, acrylic, and other sheet materials delivered within 3-5 working days.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ariel Plastics is a UK national distributor of plastic roofing sheets, rooflights, and roofing accessories to builders merchants. The company supplies own-brand and distributed products including polycarbonate sheets (multiwall, corrugated, flat), PVC sheets, bitumen roofing sheets, GRP products, Mardome rooflights, roof ventilation, drainage, dry fix systems, and cladding. It also offers cut-to-size fabrication services with 3-5 working day delivery.

Product overview

Ariel Plastics is the UK's leading national plastics distribution company offering the widest choice of roofing sheet, rooflights, and roofing accessories for over 55 years. The product portfolio is organized into distinct categories: Cut to Size Services for custom polycarbonate, acrylic, and PVC sheets; Corrugated Roofing Sheets including Vistalux PVC and Corrugated Polycarbonate; Bitumen Roofing under the Coroline and Onduline brands; Glazing Sheets featuring Liteglaze Acrylic and Styrene Polystyrene; Multiwall Polycarbonate under the Corotherm brand with self-supporting and timber-supported systems; Metal Tile Systems with Corotile products; Complete Roof Ventilation solutions under Corovent including vents, ridges, and eaves products; Dry Fix Roofing Systems for hip, ridge, and verge applications; Corodrain Roof Drainage including valley toughs and gutters; Mardome Rooflights in polycarbonate dome and flat glass variants; and PVC Cladding and Protective Sheet products. The company also offers Corotherm Clickfit, a revolutionary click-fit polycarbonate roofing panel system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Corotherm: Multiwall polycarbonate roofing sheet brand
• Vistalux
• Coroline
• Corovent
• Corodrain
• Mardome
• Covershield
• Liteglaze
• Corotile

Products and services

• Cut to Size Service Custom cutting service for Multiwall Polycarbonate, Flat Polycarbonate, and Acrylic sheets, delivered within 3-5 working days for builders merchants and trade customers.
• Vistalux PVC Sheet and Accessories Corrugated PVC roofing sheet range with accessories including eaves fillers, fixings, wall flashing, adjustable ridge, and sealing strip for roofing and cladding applications.
• Corotherm Multiwall Polycarbonate Multiwall polycarbonate sheets in twinwall, triplewall, and 7Xwall configurations (4mm, 6mm, 10mm, 16mm, 25mm) for roofing and glazing. Includes self-supporting and timber-supported roofing systems, with co-extruded UV protection on select products.
• Coroline Bitumen Sheet and Accessories Bituminous roofing sheet with a complete range of accessories including fixings, PVC sheets, eaves fillers, verge, ridge, apron flashing, ventilator strip, batten cloaking piece, and eaves tray.
• Onduline Bitumen Sheet and Accessories Onduline-brand bitumen roofing sheet with full range of accessories including fixings, PVC sheets, eaves fillers, verge, ridge, apron flashing, ventilator strip, batten cloaking piece, and eaves tray.
• Liteglaze Acrylic Sheet Acrylic glazing sheets for both internal and external use, available in 2mm, 4mm, and 6mm thicknesses, with associated glazing strip.
• Corotile Metal Tile System Metal roofing tile system comprising Corotile roof panels, ridges, end caps, screws and washers, and barge covers for pitched roof applications including sheds, outbuildings, and residential roofing.
• Corovent Roof Ventilation Complete roof ventilation range including tile and slate roofline vents, cowl vents, ridgeline vents, eaves ventilation, rafter trays, soffit vents, and ventilation accessories for residential roofing.
• Corodrain Roof Drainage Roof drainage solutions including valley troughs (Types A, B, D, E), dry fix valleys, secret gutters, dry fix joining gutters, and roof gutters (BBA certified).
• Dry Fix Roofing Systems Dry fix hip, ridge, and verge systems including Corovent Universal Ridge System, Corovent Dry Hip System, and Coroverge Universal Dry Verge System.
• Covershield Protective Sheet Temporary protection sheet for surfaces during building projects, available in fire retardant and economy versions.
• PVC Cladding PVC cladding products with accessories for internal and external panelling applications, including fascia, soffit, and wall cladding.
• Corotherm Clickfit Click-fit polycarbonate roofing panel system that requires no glazing bars or specialist tools, suitable for patios, lean-tos, carports, and DIY roofing installations. 16mm polycarbonate panel with co-extruded UV protection on one side; 10-year guarantee.
• Roofing Membranes Vapour permeable and non-permeable roofing underlays including Harcon VPU products, used beneath roofing sheets to manage moisture and condensation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cut-to-size service delivered within 3-5 working days
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Brett Martin Holdings LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAriel Plastics Ltd is a subsidiary of Brett Martin Holdings Ltd. Brett Martin Holdings, based at 24 Roughfort Road, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, is the data controller for GDPR purposes. Ariel Plastics distributes Brett Martin products including Mardome rooflights. Brett Martin manufactures the flat glass rooflights and other products sold through Ariel Plastics distribution network.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Eurocell plc: UK-listed PVC building products manufacturer and merchant with a national branch network selling roofline, cladding and rainwater products. Competes with Ariel Plastics' PVC cladding and roofline accessories at scale and offers merchant vertical integration that could threaten channel relationships.
• IKO PLC: UK manufacturer of roofing membranes, bitumen systems and related roofing products sold via merchants. Adjacent competitor in the roofing systems category where Ariel also distributes membranes and bitumen roofing sheets.
• VELUX Group: Global market leader in roof windows and skylights, including flat-roof rooflights sold via UK builders merchants and direct. Competes with Ariel's Mardome dome and flat glass rooflights but operates at much larger scale with a broader residential and commercial product portfolio.

Direct peers

• Freefoam Plastics: UK and Ireland PVC building products manufacturer supplying fascia, soffit, cladding and roofline products through a merchant network. Overlaps with Ariel's PVC cladding, fascia and soffit lines and competes for the same builder merchant shelf space.
• Keylite Roof Windows: UK and Ireland roof window and rooflight manufacturer selling through builders merchants. Competes with Ariel's Mardome rooflight range in the pitched roof daylighting segment, with similar trade-channel GTM.
• Clear Amber: UK-based plastics distributor with a comparable portfolio of polycarbonate sheets, roofing products, and glazing materials sold to trade and DIY customers. Closest direct peer by business model (specialist plastics distribution to UK trade and DIY channels).
• Swish Building Products: UK PVC building products manufacturer of fascias, soffits, cladding and roofline systems sold via builders merchants. Direct competitor in the PVC cladding and roofline category that Ariel Plastics distributes.

Others

• Onduline: International manufacturer of bitumen roofing sheets that Ariel Plastics itself distributes under the Onduline brand. Sits upstream in the value chain rather than competing head-to-head, but is the brand owner of one of Ariel's core ranges.
• Brett Martin Ltd: Parent-group operating entity within Brett Martin Holdings that manufactures the Mardome rooflights and other plastic products Ariel distributes. Functions as the upstream supplier rather than a market competitor.

Emerging players

• Quinn Plastics: Polycarbonate and solid plastic sheet manufacturer supplying European building, fabrication and glazing markets. An upstream supplier to distributors like Ariel and a potential alternative supply source for Ariel's merchant customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=UGoKN2Uvu0k
• Xx.com/ariel_plastics

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Ariel Plastics