Pipelife’s parent company Wienerberger, has acquired FloPlast and Cork Plastics, as it accelerates its plans to transform into a full-range system provider and enhances its portfolio of building and piping solutions.
As Ireland’s leading designer and supplier of thousands of Home Heating Solutions each year, Pipelife will be complemented by the addition of both businesses, which immediately broadens its product portfolio to include rainwater, roofline and drainage products and allows it to become a full system provider for managed grey and storm water solutions in the residential sector.
Smart managed stormwater solutions
This move also signals Wienerberger’s strong commitment to investing in water management as part of its ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy, by integrating and combining technologies that enable smart managed stormwater solutions.
With more than 50 years proudly manufacturing and serving the Irish plumbing and heating industry, Pipelife sees a number of synergies which will benefit its customers, as both FloPlast and Cork Plastics’ combined workforce of 370 employees will contribute their expertise as full-range providers of “rain to drain”(rainwater and wastewater systems).
These complementary products and capabilities further strengthen Pipelife’s position in Ireland providing a strong platform for future growth.
Heimo Scheuch, chairman of the managing board of Wienerberger AG, said: “FloPlast and Cork Plastics are excellent businesses that have a strong focus and experience in the RMI segment. They have a great product portfolio and highly experienced colleagues who will make sure to further grow our market position in the UK and Ireland.
"While we see ample opportunity in the RMI segment, we are confident that our strong and established client relationships with the UK home builders will help us to unlock additional growth potential in the new build segment.”
By acquiring FloPlast and Cork Plastics, Wienerberger has succeeded in combining the Group’s complementary portfolio of building and piping solutions, thus increasing the value through providing a unique platform for system integration and the development of all-in solutions, which in turn promotes sustainable growth at group level through improved market penetration and synergy effects.
Wienerberger is thus reacting to changing customer requirements for convenient, innovative and prefabricated design solutions. In particular, Wienerberger is in a position to provide smart inhouse water solutions and roof systems complemented by rainwater collection, drainage and soil as well as wastewater applications. These systems are well designed, sustainable, affordable, and last for generations.
About Cork Plastics and FloPlast
Cork Plastics was established in 1969 and is headquartered in Cork, Ireland. Cork Plastics is a diversified manufacturer and supplier of plastic rainwater, drainage and plumbing products for the residential construction, agricultural and utilities sectors. Its product range is supplied throughout Ireland and the UK, and the company has also expanded its customer base into Europe, notably France and Germany.
FloPlast was established in 1991 and is headquartered in Sittingbourne, UK. FloPlast is a specialist manufacturer and supplier of plastic rainwater, drainage and plumbing systems primarily focused on the RMI sector.
The company specialises in roofline products with an extensive range of rainwater systems and PVC-UE cellular foam fascia, soffit & cladding systems that provide maintenance-free solutions to domestic and commercial buildings.
In addition, FloPlast has developed a range of waste, soil, underground drainage and hot and& cold plumbing systems. The company sells its product portfolio to a broad range of leading merchants and retailers, with whom it has strong longstanding relationships. FloPlast operates as the main distribution channel for Cork Plastics extruded products in the UK.
