Company News
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Bloc to showcase itself to the World
28/02/2012
Bloc Blinds, the Draperstown manufacturer of a range of innovative window blinds, is to exhibit this year at the R&T Show in Stuttgart, Germany. This is the largest show of its kind in the world taking place every three years. The show itself covers more than 100,000 sq meters and expects to atract over 60,000 visitors. With the help of local design agency Triplicate they hope to make as big an impact as they can. Certainly the hard work seems to be paying off with enquiries already coming through from Australia, America and Columbia.
Bloc invests in new equipment
06/10/2011
Bloc Blinds, the Draperstown manufacturer of a range of innovative window blinds, has recenty taken ownership of two new state of the art machines that will enable production at their factory to be both quicker and also much more efficient. The machines are able to handle considerable output enabling the compay plenty of room to grow before more machines will be required.
Bloc expands into new premises
01/05/2011
Bloc Blinds, the Draperstown manufacturer of a range of innovative window blinds, has had to move into a brand new premises as the business continues to grow. The new factory within the same Workspace Units in Draperstown is over 7,000 sq ft. The new unit will enable the company to grow without disrupting any customers in the process.
Bloc plays a blinder in France and Germany
12/11/2010
Bloc Blinds, the Draperstown manufacturer of a range of innovative window blinds, has broken into the French and German markets with support from Invest Northern Ireland.
The company has also seen its workforce more than triple to 15 since taking part in export programme to develop business in the Netherlands, where it was introduced by Invest NI to a Dutch business, who helped Fourds to distribute its blinds.
The partnership led to Fourds launching a Dutch language website and subsequently, the development of websites for France and Germany.
Cormac Diamond, Managing Director of Fourds, commenting on the new business, said: “The websites are now producing orders for the blinds and we are very excited about two new products that we’ve recently launched - a total light control blind for bedrooms and a new insect screen. Homeowners are currently unable to totally control light within their bedrooms whereas our new product blocks out the light 100 per cent. This system also draught proofs the window from cold outside air and reduces heat loss by up to 25 per cent, saving money for the homeowner.
“We are also developing a solar powered electric blind for skylights and standard windows due for launch in January 2011. This system eliminates the need for expensive rewiring within the home as it is powered by sunlight and can be fitted to almost any window. Our objective, supported by Invest NI, is to set ourselves apart from competitors in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe by developing a portfolio of innovative blinds. As a result of this focus, many of our products really are unique.
“Invest NI’s guidance and practical support for our commitment to innovation and European marketing activities are immensely important for our business. For instance, the introduction to our Dutch partner has been a great success and they helped us to grow our European business. We recognise now that sales abroad are currently the best route to profitable growth.”
Des Gartland, Invest NI’s North West Regional Office Manager, welcoming the company’s breakthrough in the French and German markets, said: “Fourds is demonstrating how a smaller company can achieve success abroad by focusing its resources on innovative products for sale outside Northern Ireland. It is making particularly effective use of e-commerce technology to reach a wide audience with its portfolio of window blinds.
“The business it has started to generate from France and Germany, two of the world’s most competitive and quality conscious markets, will give this progressive local company the experience and confidence to target other global markets.
“Our support has been geared to assist Fourds to develop the capability to compete globally by encouraging investment on innovative products and to implement measures, including the harnessing of e-commerce technology that will help it to achieve success. The company clearly recognises that it must export for growth. The success of this strategy is also seen in the 11 new jobs that have been created in Draperstown since it began to explore business in the Netherlands in 2009.”
Copyright: Harrison Photography
Pictured is Cormac Diamond,Managing Director of Bloc Blinds Ltd in Draperstown, with Des Gartland, Manager of Invest NI North West Office,with one of company's window blind products.
http://www.investni.com/about-news.htm?newsid=15143
Social Development Minister Visits Workspace 27/10/10
Social Development Minister Alex Attwood pictured with Brian Murray, Chief Executive, Workspace, and Cormac Diamond, Managing Director, Bloc Blinds, on his visit to Workspace. Bloc Blinds is one of the businesses operating from within the Workspace development, which was set up 1982 to stimulate social and economic regeneration in the Magherafelt area by providing enterprise units and business support services. On his visit the Minister was given a tour of the premises by Managing Director, Cormac Diamond. He was shown the full range of existing Bloc blinds. As well as this, he was given a demonstration of new, innovate products being launched. He was particularly impressed by the new DayNightTM blind which offers total light control for standard windows, and was very interested in its heat saving qualities. The Minister was pleased with the success that Bloc Blinds has had, and that the manufacturing of the Fourds blinds was in Northern Ireland, employing 14 local people, thus stimulating the local economy and helping to create a vibrant area. He was thrilled with how even in the current difficult economic climate Bloc Blinds was still managing to strengthen and grow.
Bloc Blinds Success at Big into Baby Show
18/10/2010 The Big into Baby show bounced into the Odyssey Arena last weekend, for its fifth year, with Fourds Blinds having a successful two days as one of the exhibitors. Bloc created a room setting, with their unique blackout blind system proving to be a big hit with mothers and mothers to be. One mother was “sleep deprived” because of her toddler wakening very early in the morning. She noticed that with this total light control system her toddler would sleep for longer because no light would be streaming through in the morning, thus she could get a longer and better sleep herself. Another big plus for the total light control system was the ease at which the blind could be installed. In a process that takes less than 5 minutes with no need for screws. There are no cords or strings, which makes it extra safe for young children.
Window of Opportunity for Bloc Blinds Spring/Summer 2010
Bloc Blinds is a young company, based in Draperstown, which manufactures of a range of roof window blinds suited to the main brands such as VELUX® and Keylite style windows.
Through going Dutch Bloc Blinds met with window décor and screening component companies supplying blind retailers and interior specialists throughout the Netherlands. As part of a dual strategy Fourds has also recently gone live with the fully translated Dutch language website www.dakraamgordijnen.nl which is proving to be a great success. As they have already developed sales into the Netherlands less than 3 months from the initial visit Cormac Diamond MD can confidently claim. ‘The Going Dutch program offered our company the potential to expand into a market byutilising expert knowledge ofthe market in a cost effectiveand practical way.’
Enterprise Minister Visit to Workspace Coincides with Manufacture of 5,000th Blind 12/08/2009
Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster officially opened the 8,500 square foot Workspace Development today. She brought with her the message that up to 35 jobs could be created in Draperstown and that would help stimulate economic growth in the local area. Fourds blinds is one of the companies operating the new Workspace development, and the Minister’s visit coincided with the manufacture of the 5,000th blind. We started our production in 2008 and secured a contract to supply branded roof window blinds to Keylite Roof Windows in Cookstown. Initially, the production process was slow and capacity stood at 30 blinds per week. We were tied for space and the orders and enquiries were growing. Workspace suggested that we could move into one of their new units and at the time we thought it was over-ambitious to move into larger premises in the recessionary times- not really knowing what the future held. But, the shiny new appearance of the units and the need for more production space meant the move was needed. Since then we have developed an improved production process, increased our staff, secured new customers throughout the UK, Ireland and Mainland Europe and production now stands at 120 units per day. We plan to develop new ranges of roof window blinds including solar and battery operated versions and these too will be manufactured entirely in Draperstown.
Bloc Blinds going Dutch for exports
SIX companies from Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone are seeking to win their first business in the Netherlands from an Invest Northern Ireland export development programme.
The companies - including Bloc Blinds from Draperstown - are taking part next week in Invest NI’s ‘Going Dutch’ programme, which features extensive and highly practical support on-the-ground in the Netherlands that’s tailored to their specific need
The six participants have also taken part in a series of Invest NI organised preparatory briefings on market requirements and procedures as part of the ‘Going Dutch’ scheme. They will take part in a comprehensive briefing on the Dutch market and procedures in Amsterdam before undertaking individual programmes of business meetings throughout the country. Each company will have around six meetings during the four-day visit. Assistance in areas such as lead generation, and with setting up meetings with potential Dutch customers for each participating company, is being provided by Northern Ireland Trade Consultants in Amsterdam. Upwards of 60 companies from most parts of Northern Ireland have taken part in the programme over the past two years and several have won significant business from new customers in the Netherlands. The companies will also take part in follow-up sessions on their return to Northern Ireland. These will help them to harness business opportunities identified during the visit.
Invest NI 'Opens Up' Opportunities For Blinds System
02/04/2009
Bloc Blinds Ltd, a Draperstown engineering business, has launched a new window blind system with help from Invest NI.
The new product is expected to create five new jobs over the next three years. The firm, formed in 2006 by Cormac Diamond, the Managing Director and an experienced engineer, has received Invest NI Product and Process Development (PPD) assistance to develop the black-out window blinds for roof windows and is being helped to market the new product through a range of activities including e-business technology. Mr Diamond said: "Our black-out system features a unique fast fit installation system that we developed in conjunction with Keylite, a major and very successful manufacturer of roof windows. Keylite has been immensely encouraging and supportive.
"Our focus is on offering Keylite and other manufacturers, as well as DIY enthusiasts, a very competitively priced product that they can access quickly from our production operation in Draperstown.
"We've designed the system to be both robust and as easy as possible to install on all brands of roof windows in just a few minutes. Installation can be carried out by a homeowner or installer with the minimum of tools." Des Gartland of Invest NI said: "Bloc Blinds has developed a highly innovative click and fit black-out system in response to a demand from Keylite, the successful Cookstown manufacturer of roof windows. Keylite will be the first to fit the new system to its windows and will thereby provide Bloc with an important and substantial source of ongoing business. "It's another excellent example of market-focused innovation being developed by smaller companies, in particular in key business sectors in the North West such as construction supplies," he added. The project represents a £126,000 investment by Bloc and includes financial assistance of around £31,000 from Invest NI.
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