KBI - The home of Flexipave in the UK

What KBI - The home of Flexipave in the UK does

KBI UK (KB Industries UK Ltd) is a Barnsley-based manufacturer and installer of sustainable porous surfacing systems, founded in 2010 as the UK arm of KBI USA to commercialize the original Flexipave technology in Britain. The company employs 14 staff and serves public and private sector clients across England, Scotland, and Wales, with a customer base spanning local authorities, housing developers, leisure attractions, heritage sites, housing associations, golf courses, and engineering firms.

The company's core product is Flexipave, a flexible porous paving system composed of a 50/50 mix of recycled rubber from vehicle tyres and natural stone aggregate, bound with KBI's proprietary and exclusive binding agent. The portfolio has expanded into a platform-plus-modules architecture: Flexistone for vehicle-accessible surfaces (dry stone only, no rubber), Flexiglo for photo-luminescent pathway markers, Flexifix for pothole repair, Flexidrive for domestic surfacing, and Flexiglass for decorative installations. The technology is positioned as eco-friendly (diverting tyres from incineration), draining, flexible, durable, and accessibility-friendly for wheelchair and pushchair users.

KBI generates revenue through hardware sales and professional installation of its porous surfacing products, distributed via a nationwide network of sales staff and four strategic installer partners, plus a domestic e-commerce channel ("Buy Flexipave Kits"). Customers are acquired through enterprise field sales with project-based contract values; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is provided on a quote basis. Notable customers include Salford City Council (17,447 m² Swinton Greenway), Legoland Windsor, English Heritage at Hadrians Wall, Edinburgh Zoo, Kirklees Council, Gedling Homes, the National Library of Wales, and Murrayfield Golf Club.

Name

KBI - The home of Flexipave in the UK

Legal name

KB Industries UK Ltd

Website

https://kbiuk.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KBI UK is a Barnsley-based manufacturer and installer of sustainable porous surfacing systems — built from recycled vehicle tyres and stone aggregate — supplying local authorities, housing developers, leisure attractions, and heritage sites across the UK.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Barnsley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Porous Surfacing Products and Installation: KBI supplies and installs sustainable porous surfacing products (Flexipave, Flexistone, Flexiglo, Flexifix, Flexiglass) to customers across the UK. Revenue comes from product supply and professional installation services for various applications including cycle routes, footpaths, equestrian access, car parks, tree surrounds, and golf courses.
2. Flexipave Kits: KBI sells Flexipave kits for domestic customers through their Buy Flexipave Kits product line.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KBI UK manufactures and installs flexible porous surfacing products made from recycled vehicle tyre rubber and natural stone aggregate, bound with its proprietary binder. The portfolio includes Flexipave (pedestrian/cycle/bridleway paths), Flexistone (vehicle-access surfaces), Flexiglo (photo-luminescent edge markers), Flexifix (pothole repair), Flexiglass (decorative glass surfaces), and Flexidrive (domestic surfacing). Products are supplied and installed for local authorities, housing developers, leisure operators, engineering firms, utilities, FM providers, architects, and golf courses across the UK, with Flexipave Kits sold online to domestic customers.

Product overview

KBI UK offers a portfolio of sustainable porous surfacing products centred around the flagship Flexipave system. The core product is Flexipave, a flexible porous paving material made from recycled vehicle tyres and natural stone aggregate, suitable for pedestrian paths, cycle routes, and bridleways. Flexistone extends the range for vehicle-accessible areas using stone aggregate without rubber. Additional complementary products include Flexiglo (photo-luminescent pathway markers), Flexifix (pothole repair), Flexidrive (domestic surfacing), and Flexiglass (decorative polished glass surfaces). The portfolio operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture where the core Flexipave system forms the foundation and the other products address specific use cases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Flexipave: The original and best flexible porous paving system using recycled vehicle tyres, a 50/50 mix of recycled rubber derived from vehicle tyres and natural stone aggregate bound using KBI's unique binding agent.
• Flexistone
• Flexiglo

Products and services

• KBI Flexipave Original flexible porous paving system composed of a 50/50 mix of recycled rubber from vehicle tyres and natural stone aggregate, bound with KBI's proprietary binding agent. Used for footpaths, bridleways, cycle routes, tree surrounds, and nature trails. Can be installed on compacted stone, cell-web no-dig systems, or as overlay on existing hard surfaces.
• KBI Flexistone Vehicle-grade porous surfacing derived from the Flexipave binder but using dry stone aggregate only (no rubber), creating highly porous, hard-wearing decorative surfaces for car parks and vehicular access routes. Available in a wide range of colours.
• KBI Flexiglo Photo-luminescent disc markers using 'igloo' technology that absorb natural light during the day and glow at night to mark pathway edges without electricity. Designed for footpaths, cycle routes, and tree surrounds.
• KBI Flexifix Easy-to-install, long-lasting pothole repair solution using KBI's proprietary binder technology. Targeted at FM providers, local authorities, and utilities needing durable maintenance fixes.
• KBI Flexiglass Decorative polished glass surfacing using KBI's unique binder technology to create visually distinctive designs for high-end public realm and architectural projects.
• KBI Flexidrive Domestic driveway and home surfacing product line using KBI's porous technology to transform residential properties with sustainable, low-maintenance surfaces.
• KBI Flexipave Kits Retail-sized Flexipave kits sold directly to domestic customers through the KBI UK website, enabling homeowners to install porous surfacing on small projects such as gardens, paths, and driveways.

Quantifiable outcome

• Carbon offset: Several hundred thousand kg CO2 saved when compared to tyres being burned
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Strategic Installer Partners (4 companies)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2021Four new strategic installer partners joined KBI in early 2021 to help satisfy the current demand for sustainable porous paving solutions across the UK. These partners complement the company's nationwide network of sales staff.
• Casey ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWorked with Casey Construction and Salford City Council on the Swinton Greenway project, installing 17,447 sqm of Flexipave for cycling and walking route improvements.
• Bullock ConstructionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerKBI UK partnered with Bullock Construction to help regenerate 51 properties owned by Gedling Homes in Newstead Village, Nottinghamshire.
• B&E ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKBI was contacted by B&E Services to explore design options for Legoland Windsor's MYTHICA area, a brand-new themed area with three new rides.
• KBI USAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKBI UK was established in 2010 to supply the UK market with the class-leading Flexipave surfacing that had been developed by KBI USA. This represents the original technology source and licensing relationship.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Addagrip Terraco: UK supplier of resin-bound and porous surfacing systems for driveways, paths, and commercial landscapes. Competitor in the same permeable-surfacing category with overlapping customer base.
• SureSet Resin Systems: UK resin-bound paving specialist offering permeable, decorative surfaces for commercial and residential applications. Direct competitor in the porous surfacing category.
• Rosehill Group: UK manufacturer of rubber-based surfacing products, including wet-pour and recycled rubber solutions for play areas, walkways, and infrastructure. Most directly comparable to KBI given shared recycled-rubber heritage and surfacing focus.

Emerging players

• RubberBond: UK recycled-rubber surfacing supplier focused on equestrian, leisure, and landscaping applications. Smaller niche competitor with material overlap in recycled tyre-derived surfaces.

Broad incumbents

• Forterra: UK manufacturer of clay and concrete building products including paving and lintels. Competes for public-sector and developer surfacing specifications at scale.
• Aggregate Industries: Major UK construction materials supplier (subsidiary of Holcim) producing aggregates, asphalt, and concrete products. Competes in surfacing tenders at scale with established supply chains.
• CEMEX UK: Global building materials group with UK operations producing aggregates, ready-mix concrete, and paving solutions. Sets competitive floor on price and procurement frameworks.
• Tarmac: UK's largest construction materials company (part of CRH) supplying aggregates, asphalt, and concrete surfacing. Sets the benchmark competitive context for surfacing bids nationwide.
• Marshalls: UK-listed manufacturer of paving, kerbs, and landscaping products serving public realm and construction. Broader portfolio but overlapping in the public-sector surfacing procurement KBI competes in.

Regional players

• Hanover Paving: US-based porous paving and stormwater management surfacing supplier. Comparable proprietary porous technology but operates primarily in North America rather than the UK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Flexipave
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdJ6FlNS1zRgw8nkqGcFwJA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kbiflexipave

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 KBI - The home of Flexipave in the UK