The continued success of F. Ball and Co. Ltd. is grounded in two things: innovation and quality. But according to Darren Kenyon, managing director at the long-established adhesive and subfloor preparation product manufacturer, there’s a third priority sitting alongside those two values: supporting people to get the most out of its products.
‘It’s difficult to pick one element of why we’re different to our competitors,’ says Darren. ‘We offer the full package. You can have the most innovative products, but if they’re not backed up by technical representation – and we’ve got more of that on the ground than our competitors – it doesn’t matter.”
The company’s technical team is available Monday to Friday by phone, and regional representatives conduct in-person site visits to advise on subfloor prep and installation methods.
The performance and reliability of F. Ball’s products is underscored by the F. Ball guarantee, which Darren sums up clearly: ‘If our products are applied by the book, F. Ball will guarantee the installation won’t fail. That guarantee goes with the product, and we stand by that.’
F. Ball has also made training a cornerstone of its strategy to support the trade.
The F. Ball Centre of Excellence provides instruction on selection and application of a wide range of textile and resilient adhesives. Courses are practical and designed to help flooring contractors understand which adhesive is right for the job, and how to get the best results in real-world situations.
‘Our training facility has been a massive success internally and externally,’ says Darren. ‘Over 1200 people attended courses in 2024 alone. First and foremost, our focus is on quality and innovation, and this is backed-up by comprehensive support, including training and playing our part in addressing the skills shortage. If you don’t have people on the ground to apply your products, it’s all pointless.’
Darren says F. Ball is doing more than most in the industry in terms of training, particularly. ‘It helps people use our products, understand application as well as the characteristics required for ease of installation. It’s about making the job easier and giving people the right tools.’
That commitment extends to the technical and product development side of the business. Darren points to the ever-evolving global flooring market and the complexity of ensuring adhesives perform across a range of conditions and regions.
‘From a technical and development point of view, our job is to formulate products that provide innovation and quality. The floorcovering world has changed compared to 10 or 20 years ago. Floorcoverings are these days manufactured broadly in different regions and across the world.’
This is where the F. Ball Recommended Adhesives Guide (RAG®) comes into its own. The guide matches floorcoverings to specific adhesives. ‘The fact we do our bit with the adhesives guide should give the user the confidence to trust the adhesives we’ve recommended,’ says Darren. ‘It’s based on individually testing that adhesive with a specific floorcovering, which is then endorsed in writing by the manufacturer. We’re the only manufacturer that goes to these lengths.’
Steve Boulton from F. Ball’s Technical Service Department, confirms the approach: ‘Recommendations only go in the adhesives guide when we can be sure the resulting bond will last the full lifetime of the floorcovering installation.’
F. Ball’s offer extends beyond product knowledge. The business has built its reputation on being more than just a supplier.
Sustainability is also a focus. Darren is candid about the practical steps the company is taking.
‘We’re the only floor preparation manufacturer in the UK that has a take-back scheme in terms of used plastic buckets, which provides locations at wholesalers across the country where contractors can deposit F. Ball’s recyclable buckets and bottles for recycling, free of charge.’
F. Ball is committed to sustainability through a comprehensive strategy that includes use of recycled materials in packaging, and significant efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.
The company’s Cheddleton, Staffordshire site uses solar panels generating over 500kw peak, energy-efficient technologies, and electric vehicle charging points. Its facilities are designed to protect the local environment, and ongoing employee consultations guide continuous improvements. F. Ball aims to minimise raw material use, enhance recyclability, and adopt renewable energy to ensure long-term environmental responsibility.
Meanwhile, advancements in adhesive technology keep F. Ball on the top of its game, and have resulted in products such as Styccobond F49 Hybrid PS, the first in a new generation of vinyl adhesives that combines pressure-sensitive and temperature-tolerant properties.
More recently, Styccobond F58 PLUS was launched, a fast-drying, fibre-reinforced adhesive that allows LVTs to be installed from just five minutes. Over 50 years since launch, Styccobond F3 remains the UK’s most widely used adhesive for textile floorcoverings.
F. Ball also supports installers through its Ball Rewards loyalty programme. It’s free to join and gives cashback on all purchases of the company’s products, as well as additional benefits, such as the opportunity to enter monthly competitions to win exclusive prizes, extra cashback on select products and access to F. Ball’s e-newsletter, F-Talk. It has returned over £8.5m to flooring contractors and retailers since its launch. More info and sign-up at www.f-ball.com/rewards.
Darren has been with the company for over 20 years, progressing from business development manager to national sales manager, then sales director in 2019 before becoming managing director in 2024. He has overseen relationships with F Ball’s 130-plus UK distributors and continues to champion innovation, training and support as central to the company’s future.
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