In 2012 Balcas forecast that pre-finished, fit-and-forget products would be an increasingly significant force in the mouldings market and underlined its confidence by spending £2m on a new coating technology system.
A year on that belief is proving well founded and the investment, money well spent. After climbing steadily at the outset, demand for its pre-finished KOTA products, unveiled at Timber Expo 2012 and officially launched last January, is accelerating. And Balcas is celebrating its first anniversary with the biggest deal for the brand so far – being picked up by B&Q for sale through its branches nationwide.
Balcas makes KOTA using Cerfis coating technology from Eastman Chemical Company of the US. In fact it was signed up as the system’s exclusive European licensee and its Cerfis production line was only the second in the world.
The precise make-up of the coating is undisclosed, but Balcas says it uses zero VOC, high solid environmentally-sound resins, which are accredited to the Greenguard standard, and gives an ultra uniform finish on any profile.
The company saw the key attractions of the product as its capacity to save builders time on site, combined with the durability of the coating and its resistance to handling damage.
KOTA sales have recently been building sharply through the merchant sector, where distributors include Arnold Laver and AW Champion.
"There was a mini boom in the autumn and customers are very optimistic for a substantial increase in business in 2014," said Balcas sales director Gary Sowerby.
The B&Q contract is a further significant boost. The DIY giant has initially taken 18x69cm and 18x119cm ogee, torus, R1e and C&R mouldings.
"We’re very pleased with the relationship and B&Q’s commitment to the brand," said Mr Sowerby. "It’s a full roll-out to 212 stores, without a trial and the launch focuses on the innovation of a fully-finished moulding system."
The agreement also involves evolution of the range. "We’ll be developing new KOTA products in collaboration with B&Q," he said. Further new departures are also in the pipeline for the wider market. Some are still under wraps, but Balcas reveals that they include doorset products.
"They’re still in development, but will be on the market from January," said Mr Sowerby. "Initial reaction has been extremely positive, from merchant distributors, doorset customers and B&Q."
Balcas also sees KOTA enhancing its overall product profile and ability to offer the complete package.
"We now have a range to suit most eventualities," said Mr Sowerby, "from high-quality primed and veneered mouldings and doorset products, to fully-finished, painted KOTA."
