Permaban was founded in 1983 by the current Chairman, Rodney Arnold.
Rodney 's company at the time, R M Arnold, undertook general contracting work, including laying concrete floors. On certain contracts they received requests to provide special smooth finishes for floors, and with the growth of the supermarkets and the logistics industry in the early 1980's, these requests became more frequent.
At this point, R M Arnold began importing formwork from Sweden, to help with its own contracting work. This early formwork was made of solid concrete - so it was heavy and cumbersome, and expensive to ship. Yet the opportunities for increasing efficiency during a concrete pour were clear, and the market potential was huge.
And so, with expertise now in both concrete floor construction and finishes, Rodney established Permaban Projects in 1983. The company was set up at Lee Mill in Devon to manufacture concrete formwork in the UK. It operates from the same building today.
developing steel formwork and armoured joints
Concrete formwork continued to be used by the industry until the late 1990s. But clearly there were product limitations, and the introduction of the laserscreed system was also changing the way floors were being laid. So Rodney, a mechanial engineer by trade, began to develop steel formwork systems, culminating in the launch of the company's flagship product, AlphaJoint, in 2002.
growth and international reach
Since the launch of AlphaJoint the company has grown - expanding into international markets, increasing its UK production capacity, and adding new members to the team.
Achieving ISO9001 certification for quality management, including the product design process, has been an important milestone for the company, proud of its ability to bring new and unique products to market.
Managing Director Andrew Keen took the helm in 2010. With a background in concrete flooring, particularly the machinery side, Andrew brings a depth of industry knowledge and practical experience of working with flooring contractors. Establishing and developing a strong management team, he brings a vision to lead the company into its next exciting phase.
The latest chapter in the company's story has been its acquisition in 2011 by RCR Industrial Flooring, giving the company further scope for international growth.
And the name Permaban...?
This comes from the name of the original concrete formwork, imported from Sweden. Literally, it translates as a "permanent bar".
We realise, of course, that the word 'permaban' has gained other connotations recently, particularly in the world of online gaming. So we'll try to resist the obvious puns about 'permabanning' your concrete floor problems...!
