What Ball & Young does

Ball & Young Limited is a UK-based manufacturer of carpet underlays and flooring accessories, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Middleton, Manchester. Since 1989 the company has operated as a division of Vita Cellular Foams under the broader Vita Group umbrella, an ownership structure that has anchored its strategy around recycled polyurethane (PU) trim foam processing. The company sells through trade distributors, flooring stockists, and direct account management to flooring retailers, professional contractors, and installers across UK and export markets, with no public pricing disclosure and no consumer-facing e-commerce channel of scale.

The core product architecture is the flagship Cloud 9 sub-brand of PU trim foam-based underlays, organised across six ranges: domestic, premium domestic (Caviar & Crystal, Charleston, Connoisseur), contract (FR4/FR6/FR8 flame retardant, Super Contract, Silver Lining, Radiance, Cast Iron), wood & laminate (Cushion Wood, Silver Woodlay), specialist rubber (Black By: Venice, Roma, Olympic), and Eco-Cushion for artificial grass. Supporting brands include Floorline (metal edgings, profiles, and trims) and Black By. Proprietary technology features include Ultra-Fresh anti-bacterial treatment (launched 2015), Easy Peel appeal technology for contract products (enabling clean release during refitting), and Cloud 9 Eco-Cushion's recycled trim foam formulation (2017), which combines a sustainability differentiator with BS EN 1177:2008 Critical Fall Height certification for play surfaces.

Revenue is generated entirely from hardware sales of these physical underlay and accessory products; there is no software, licensing, subscription, or service revenue disclosed. Pricing is negotiated through account managers and distributor networks rather than publicly listed. Strategic emphasis in recent years has shifted toward ESG positioning rather than aggressive expansion: the company has sourced 100% renewable electricity since March 2021, operates a take-back scheme diverting post-fitting off-cuts from landfill, and joined Carpet Recycling UK in 2021. The combination of a mid-sized employee base (51-100), established trade distribution, multiple industry-standard certifications (BS 5808:1991, BS EN 14499:2015, indoor air quality), and parent-group backing suggests a stable, mature niche manufacturer rather than a high-growth platform.

Name

Ball & Young

Legal name

Ball & Young Limited

Website

https://ballandyoung.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Ball & Young manufactures carpet underlays and flooring accessories under its Cloud 9, Black By, and Floorline brands. Operating as a division of the Vita Group, it serves UK and export flooring retailers, contractors, and installers through trade distribution and direct sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Carpet Underlay and Flooring Accessories

NAICS

Carpet and Rug Mills (31411), Carpet and Rug Mills (314110)

SIC

Carpets & Rugs (2273)

akta.pro primary industry

Carpet Cushion & Underlay Manufacturing (IMAOAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Flooring Installation Materials & Accessories (Adhesives, Grouts, Trims, Transitions) (IMADAJAL), Flooring Adhesives & Underlayments (IMADAOAE)

Keywords

• Carpet underlay manufacturing
• Floor underlay products
• PU foam underlay
• Flooring accessories
• Commercial flooring supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Corby

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Floor Underlay Products: Ball & Young generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of floor underlay products, including Cloud 9 branded domestic, premium domestic, contract, wood & laminate, specialist rubber, and eco-cushion ranges. Products are sold through trade distributors, flooring retailers, and installers in the UK and export markets.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Ball & Young manufactures and sells carpet underlays and flooring accessories, primarily under the Cloud 9 brand. Its product range covers domestic, premium domestic, contract/commercial, wood & laminate, specialist rubber, and eco-cushion underlay lines, plus metal edgings and profiles for flooring installations. The company operates as a division of Vita Cellular Foams within The Vita Group, manufacturing in the UK using recycled PU trim foam.

Product overview

Ball & Young is a UK-based manufacturer of floor underlay products, operating as a division of the Vita Group (Vita Cellular Foams). The product portfolio is organized around the Cloud 9 sub-brand, which includes multiple product lines: Cloud 9 Domestic and Premium Domestic for residential carpet installations; Cloud 9 Contract for commercial and hospitality settings; Cloud 9 Wood & Laminate for hard floor applications; Cloud 9 Eco Cushion for artificial grass; and Specialist Rubber for heavy-duty contract use and underfloor heating. The company also offers Metal Edgings & Accessories for installation finishing. All Cloud 9 products are manufactured in the UK using recycled PU trim foam and feature Ultra-Fresh anti-bacterial treatment, with key standards including BS 5808:1991 and BS EN 14499:2015 compliance. The company operates sustainability initiatives including a take-back scheme for off-cuts and uses 100% renewable electricity since 2021.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cloud 9: Award-winning brand leader for carpet underlay products, made in the UK
• Black By
• Cloud 9 Eco Cushion
• Floorline

Products and services

• Cloud 9 Underlay Brand Flagship premium underlay brand of Ball & Young, made in the UK, featuring PU trim foam technology and Ultra-Fresh anti-bacterial treatment. Sold through trade distributors, flooring retailers, and direct to flooring contractors in the UK and export markets.
• Cloud 9 Domestic Underlay General domestic carpet underlay for everyday household use, providing comfort underfoot, heat and sound insulation, and extended flooring lifespan for residential living rooms, bedrooms, and stairs.
• Cloud 9 Premium Domestic Underlay Premium residential carpet underlay offering superior comfort and durability for high-end domestic installations. Includes sub-products such as Caviar & Crystal 9/11, Charleston 9/11, and Connoisseur 8/10.
• Cloud 9 Contract Underlay Heavy-duty underlay suitable for commercial and contract installations including hotels, conference rooms, and cruise liners. Features Easy Peel Appeal Technology for quick clean release and minimum sub-floor contamination during refitting. Includes sub-products such as Super Contract, Contract, Silver Lining, Radiance, and Cast Iron.
• Cloud 9 Flame Retardant Range Flame retardant underlays suitable for heavy contract use, marine applications, and domestic settings requiring fire safety compliance. Includes FR4, FR6, and FR8 variants.
• Cloud 9 Wood & Laminate Underlay Specialized underlay for solid and laminate wood floors providing a more comfortable feel underfoot while allowing passage of water. Conforms to BS 5808:1991 and BS EN 14499:2015 standards. Includes Cushion Wood and Silver Woodlay sub-products.
• Specialist Rubber Underlay (Black By) High-density rubber underlay for light domestic, general domestic, and contract installations. Some products suitable for underfloor heating with low tog ratings. Includes Venice, Roma, Olympic 6.5, and Olympic 5 sub-products.
• Cloud 9 Eco Cushion Underlay Eco-friendly underlay made from repurposed PU trim foam for artificial grass applications including gardens, children's play areas, patios, decking, schools, roof gardens, balconies, boat decks, conservatories, pet runs, and exhibitions. Achieves Critical Fall Height rating of 1.2m per BS EN 1177:2008.
• Floorline Metal Edgings & Accessories Accessories including aluminium and Simbrass profiles for carpet and vinyl installation: Nap Edge, Nap Trim, Dual Edge, Carpet Cover Strip, Vinyl Edge, Vinyl Cover Strip, Matwell, Angle Edge, Tile Edge, Zig Zag, and Parquet Edge Trim. Sold under the Floorline brand for flooring contractors and installers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 25mm Cloud 9 Eco Cushion with artificial landscaping turf attains Critical Fall Height (hic) of 1.2 metres when tested to BS EN 1177:2008
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• The Vita GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1989Ball & Young was purchased by The Vita Group in 1989 to develop the use of recycled PU trim foam in underlay manufacture. Ball & Young operates as a division of Vita Cellular Foams under the Vita Group umbrella, sharing ESG commitments, sustainability infrastructure, and operational standards.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MP Global Products: MP Global Products manufactures flooring underlayments, including recycled-fiber and foam-based products for carpet, laminate, and LVT applications. It is a comparable specialist underlay manufacturer competing for similar trade and specification customers.
• Interfloor: Interfloor is the largest UK manufacturer of carpet underlay and flooring accessories, producing Duralay and Tredaire branded underlays. It directly competes with Ball & Young in domestic, contract, and wood/laminate underlay categories through the same UK trade and retail channels.

Others

• Vita Group: Vita Group is the parent conglomerate of Ball & Young and a major European producer of flexible polyurethane foam, including recycled foam. While not a direct competitor, it provides shared technology, feedstock, and ESG infrastructure that shape Ball & Young's competitive position.

Broad incumbents

• Unilin (Mohawk Industries): Unilin, part of Mohawk Industries, manufactures laminate and engineered flooring along with associated underlay technologies. Comparable to Ball & Young in the wood/laminate underlay category and European flooring distribution channels.
• Carpenter Co. Carpenter Co. is a global polyurethane foam manufacturer producing carpet cushion/underlay as part of a broader portfolio of comfort and bedding foams. It competes with Ball & Young in commercial and residential underlay, with the scale of a diversified global foam incumbent.
• Forbo Flooring Systems: Forbo Flooring Systems is a European manufacturer of resilient and textile floor coverings sold through flooring trade channels. Comparable to Ball & Young in the UK and European contract flooring distribution channels, though Forbo sells finished floor coverings rather than underlay.
• Leggett & Platt: Leggett & Platt's Flooring Products segment manufactures carpet cushion and carpet pad as part of a large diversified industrial portfolio. Comparable to Ball & Young as a major North American/globally distributed underlay producer, though from a much broader platform.
• Desso (Tarkett): Desso, a Tarkett brand, manufactures commercial carpet and carpet tiles, with associated underlay/cushion systems used in contract flooring. Comparable to Ball & Young in the contract/commercial flooring specification market, though Tarkett is a much larger full-portfolio flooring incumbent.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ballandyoung
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ball-young
• Instagraminstagram.com/ballandyoung

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Ball & Young