Category Archives: News

GREENER CARPETS FROM ULSTER THANKS TO POWER NI SWITCH

septembre 23, 2021NewsJohn Conlon

Ulster Carpets can create carpet in any colour imaginable but now each one will be a little bit greener thanks to a new agreement with Power NI.

The premier supplier of Axminster and Wilton carpets to the world market have now switched to a new Green Energy contract from Power NI, Northern Ireland’s leading energy provider.

This will now see the Portadown company’s manufacturing and warehouse facilities supplied with green energy generated by local, renewable sources.

Eddie Ruddell, Health, Safety and Environment Manager at Ulster Carpets, said, “We have always been a company with an ethos of sustainability. Founded in 1938, the company has invested in key strategic innovations to maintain local jobs, create a premium product and export globally to some of the most luxurious establishments in hospitality.

“As a manufacturer, we have a responsibility to steward our people and planet well. Our latest strategic move in sustainability has been to partner with Power NI to procure 100% green electricity for our NI operations. This commitment has been forecasted to reduce our carbon footprint by over 950 tonnes per year – a key step in moving to decarbonise our manufacturing operations.”

Power NI supplies around 40,000 businesses across NI with over 150GWh of that electricity provided as Green Energy. Power NI’s parent company, Energia Group, to date has invested over €1 billion in the energy market across NI and ROI focusing on their core segments of Renewables, Flexible Generation and Customer Solutions.

Power NI Ulster Carpets — Pictured L-R are Ulster Carpets’ Adam Stevenson, Procurement Manager, and Eddie Ruddell, Health, Safety and Environment Manager, with Power NI’s Commercial Marketing Manager, Amy Bennington.

Amy Bennington, Commercial Marketing Manager at Power NI, said, “As Northern Ireland’s largest electricity supplier, and as part of the Energia Group, we are committed to transforming how our customers use and generate energy, in a way that has a positive and sustainable impact on the environment. We are delighted to supply Ulster Carpets with Green Energy which would be the equivalent of powering over 1,000 average homes in Northern Ireland for a year.

“As a Climate Champion and signatory of Business in the Community’s Climate Action Pledge, we’re working collaboratively with organisations across Northern Ireland to address the climate emergency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

The energy switch with Power NI is the latest move in Ulster’s long-term commitment to sustainability and they encourage other local businesses to see what they can do to act on climate change.

CDPB FELLOWSHIP LAUNCH

septembre 16, 2021Newsulster-edits-546

SUPPORTING PEACE AND DEMOCRACY

Ulster Carpets is supporting a prestigious new Fellowship programme by the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building.

Our Managing Director, Nick Coburn, is on the Fellowship’s Advisory Board and he recently joined business, political and civic leaders at Stormont to launch the new programme. Nick was also part of a panel discussion exploring the Spirit of Possibility along with Belfast Lord Mayor, Kate Nicholl, UN Youth Delegate, Tara Grace Connolly, and FinTru CEO Darragh McCarthy.

The aim of the fellowship programme is to support, develop and build the capacity of 24 mid-career leaders in civic society, business, and politics in Northern Ireland.

“Ulster Carpets was established to create jobs towards the end of the 1930’s Depression and this is another step in that journey,” explained Nick. “We don’t see Ulster Carpets as just a business but part of the fabric of our community.

Nick Coburn Ulster Carpets — Nick Coburn, our Managing Director, speaks at the Fellowship launch.

“That ethos has led us to developing links within the community and supporting local ventures. Through this, we have seen the positive impact this has had and, by supporting the work of the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building we believe we can create more optimism and hope for the future.”

The leadership symposium at Stormont is the first step in the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building’s ambitious plans.

The programme aims to strengthen democratic institutions and ensure that current and future political and civic leaders in Northern Ireland are best placed to lead us into the next decade.

The Fellowship is delivered by the Centre for Democracy and Peace Building (CDPB), working with key stakeholders and facilitators from the business sector and leading academic institutions. As well as Ulster Carpets, the programme is supported by Allstate NI, Devenish, FinTrU, Fujitsu NI, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

For more information on their work, visit https://democracyandpeace.org/

You can also keep up to date with all things Ulster by signing up for our newsletter here.

ROLE MODEL OLIVIA AIMS TO INSPIRE

août 10, 2021NewsCommunity, Golf, Sport, Ulster Carpetsulster-edits-546

Inspiring more girls to take up golf and attracting more women into sport is hugely important to Olivia Mehaffey.

The recently turned professional was back at Tandragee Golf Club this week to spend time with some junior club members and to help them in the same way she was when she was younger.

“I have been receiving messages from younger girls saying they have started playing golf and have been watching how I play. That is very special for me to hear, and I hope I can be a strong role model for them.”

Before the visit to Tandragee, Olivia had swapped lush greens for luxury carpets during a tour of Ulster Carpets, one of her sponsors. During the visit around the state-of-the-art facilities in Portadown, Olivia also learned about Ulster’s significant support to youth sport which the company provides on a fully inclusive and wide basis throughout the whole community.

Nick Coburn, Managing Director of Ulster Carpets, commented, “We have been eagerly following Olivia’s progress since she turned professional and are very proud to support her.

“We have a long-established tradition of backing initiatives that encourage young people to participate in active sport and we are fully supportive of Olivia’s drive to encourage more girls and women into golf. The importance of developing talented individuals is also very much in line with our own ethos.”

After completing tournaments in the US and in Europe, Olivia now heads to Q-School with the aim of gaining full status on the LPGA Tour.

MINISTERIAL VISIT FOCUSES ON SUSTAINABILITY

août 4, 2021NewsPaul Scully MP, sustainabilityulster-edits-546

Ulster Carpets have reaffirmed their commitment to sustainability during a visit by UK Government Business Minister Paul Scully MP to our Portadown headquarters.

Ulster are the premier supplier of Axminster and Wilton carpets to the world market and the focus of the visit was our ongoing sustainability initiatives that have targeted areas such as water reduction, resource efficiency, waste management and energy usage.

Nick Coburn, Managing Director of Ulster Carpets, commented, “The Minister’s visit is a great opportunity to outline our continuing commitment to protecting the planet.

“Through innovative thinking and a long-term investment strategy we have developed efficient and sustainable processes without compromising on performance and luxury. We have made great strides forward in recent years and through further targeted investment we plan to cut our carbon footprint even further.”

UK Government Business Minister Paul Scully, added, “The UK Government’s on a mission to build back better and greener from the pandemic and sustainable businesses like Ulster Carpets are at the heart of this. I look forward to seeing where their next innovation takes them.”

UK Government Business Minister Paul Scully MP tours the innovative Dyehouse and Energy Centre at Ulster Carpets.

During his visit, the Minister learned more about the sustainable processes at Ulster Carpets, ranging from the use of wool, which is a rapidly renewable material, in their carpets through to the manufacture of Axfelt, a luxury underlay made from 100% waste materials.

Plans are now in place to build on the success of Ulster’s Recycling Hub and to power the company’s manufacturing facilities using green energy.

Read more about our sustainability commitments HERE

SPONSORSHIP DEAL WITH OLIVIA MEHAFFEY

mai 26, 2021Newsulster-edits-546

Ulster Carpets have become sponsors of leading Northern Ireland golfer, Olivia Mehaffey.

Following a highly successful amateur career, the 23-year-old made her professional debut at Symetra Tour’s Mission Inn Resort and Club Championship in Orlando at the end of May.

Olivia made it clear that a connection to home was a necessity when it came to her sponsors and she is proud to be representing Ulster Carpets whose headquarters are less than 10 miles from her family home in Northern Ireland.

Nick Coburn, Managing Director of Ulster Carpets, commented, “Olivia has shown real dedication in building a successful amateur career and has become such a positive ambassador for Irish golf. As she moves onto the professional stage, we are delighted to become one of her sponsors and to support Olivia in her ambitions of inspiring more girls to take up golf and to attract more women to sport.”

Olivia has also announced her signing with Dublin based sports management company Sigmoid Sports, which was co-founded by high performance coach, David Kearney alongside Rob Browne. Sigmoid Sports offers a slightly different approach to sports management where the performance and overall care of the athlete is the absolute number one priority.

In addition to Ulster Carpets, Olivia will also be sponsored by the globally diversified industrial company, Carlisle Companies, New York headquartered entertainment venue, Five Iron Golf, Dublin and Belfast based IT recruitment experts, Realtime, and Belfast’s Aktivora.

A former player at Tandragee Golf Club, in recent years Olivia has been based at Arizona State University where she is only the third, four-time All American in ASU history. Her representative honours include numerous appearances for Ireland as well as two Curtis Cup and Palmer Cup team selections.

Olivia intends to play tournaments in both the US and in Europe through sponsor invites until she heads to Q-School in August with the aim of gaining full status on the LPGA Tour.

NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

mars 22, 2021Newsexport, Nick Coburn, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, Patronsulster-edits-546

Ulster Carpets have become a Patron of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NI Chamber).

As a new NI Chamber Patron, we join a select group of leading businesses who lend their support to the development of the region’s economy and business community. The partnership offers mutual benefit and will see Ulster Carpets now benefit from increased brand exposure among the business community and close association with a leading membership organisation.

Announcing the Patronage, Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, NI Chamber said:

“Ulster Carpets has a strong relationship with NI Chamber and has lent its support to our Learn Grow Excel business support programme for a number of years. Off the back of this success, I am delighted to announce that the company has decided to strengthen this association further, by coming on board as one of our Patrons.

“Ulster Carpets is a significant employer and one of Northern Ireland’s best-known export success stories. We really value its support and look forward to continuing to work with the team as we support businesses across the region to reach their full potential.”

Nick Coburn, Group Managing Director and Deputy Chairman at Ulster Carpets, and Board Member and Past President of Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, added:

“Ulster Carpets are delighted to become a Patron of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce. We have supported the Chamber for many years and have first-hand experience of how the essential work they undertake on behalf of businesses across Northern Ireland positively impacts on the local economy.

“Ulster’s global outlook is balanced by a focus on supporting our local community and the Northern Ireland economy and these are attributes that we share with the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry.”

Ulster Carpets joins a list of NI Chamber Patrons which also includes Caterpillar, Danske Bank, DSV, fonaCAB, Investec, Moy Park, Pinsent Masons, Power NI, Randox, Queen’s University, Ulster Bank and Ulster University Business School.

ULSTER DEMONSTRATES COMMITMENT TO MIDDLE EAST MARKET

février 25, 2021NewsAl Abraj Street, B2b Tower, Bespoke Carpet, Business Bay, Custom Carpets, Dubai, Hotel carpet, Middle East, Widad Neiroukhulster-edits-546

Ulster Carpets have strengthened their position in the Middle East market by appointing a new Head of Design for the region.

“Our customers in the Middle East appreciate the unique design capabilities that we can offer and the high levels of quality we deliver,” commented Elaine Patterson, Contract Sales Director for Europe and the Middle East at Ulster Carpets. “Having a dedicated and knowledgeable sales team in the Middle East has been integral to our success in this important market and this latest announcement further demonstrates our commitment to the region.

“We are currently working on a number of exciting projects in the Middle East and, as the hospitality sector continues to reopen, we are confident of adding to this.”

In a move that will promote further growth, relocating to the B2B Tower at Al Abraj Street, in association with local on-shore company, Al Ghetaa Trading LLC, places Ulster at the heart of the important Business Bay and Design District in Downtown Dubai.

Ulster has also boosted an already successful team with the appointment of Widad Neiroukh as Head of Design in the Middle East. Widad has extensive experience in the carpet industry and she has worked on a range of high-profile projects across the world.

“Ulster’s reputation for innovative design and the highest quality carpets attracted me to the company,” said Widad. “I also share their philosophy of building successful relationships and I am excited to be working with such a forward-thinking company.”

Widad joins Ulster’s dedicated Middle East team that includes Sam Khodr, General Manager Middle East Office, Isaac McElroy, Regional Sales Manager, and Marilou Pantila, Sales Administrator.

Sam is well respected in the industry for his knowledge of the Middle East market while Isaac has global sales expertise, having worked in the Middle East, Central Asia and Russia before joining Ulster Carpets. They are backed up by Marilou, in our sales administration department, who ensures the highest levels of customer service.

The Middle East team is supported by design, planning and manufacturing expertise at Ulster’s head office in Northern Ireland.

As the premier supplier of Axminster and Wilton carpets to the hospitality sector across the world, Ulster have worked on a wide range of projects for all the leading hotel brands right across the Middle East, including in Oman, Qatar, Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

To contact the Middle East team CLICK HERE or for a closer look at some of our Middle East projects, CLICK HERE

ULSTER NAMED BEST LUXURY COMMERCIAL CARPET MANUFACTURER

janvier 27, 2021NewsBest Luxury Commercial Contract Manufacturer, Hospitality Awards 2020, LUXlife Magazineulster-edits-546

The judges at the 2020 Hospitality Awards have named Ulster Carpets as the Best Luxury Commercial Carpet Manufacturer 2020.

Established by LUXlife Magazine, the Hospitality Awards are designed to reward and recognise the firms, and the individuals behind them, that have worked tirelessly over the past 12 months to achieve industry leading success, client satisfaction and market growth.

Ulster’s submission to the awards was judged alongside information collated by an independent research panel. To receive an award, there had to be evidence of expertise within our industry, a dedication to customer service and client satisfaction, and an ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation.

Recognising our success in the hospitality industry across the world, the award once again demonstrates our unique combination of design, quality and service.

Take a closer look at some of our projects – www.ulstercarpets.com/contract/projects

ULSTER’S NEW RUG INVESTMENT

janvier 26, 2021NewsCarpet, News, Rugsulster-edits-546

We have the edge on our competition thanks to new investment in rug edging technology at our headquarters in Northern Ireland.

With the growing demand for a rug service from both our residential and contract customers, we have added two new machines to provide the perfect finish to our beautiful rugs.

This latest investment provides a range of productivity and environmental benefits while further enhancing our high levels of quality control.

To read more about our commitment to the environment, visit our Environment page.

Ulster completes National Trust restoration project

août 27, 2020Newscrnll-adm-7354

Cliveden’s story has been described as « 300 years of power, politics and parties. A house built for entertaining ». Now a National Trust owned property and leased to the Livingstone brothers as a 5 star luxury hotel, Cliveden House’s story continues. Set amid a vast 376 acres of National Trust managed Grade I listed formal gardens and woodlands, Cliveden has been delicately restored to its former glory so anyone can enjoy its opulence.

It was therefore paramount that every element of restoration to this grand property was executed perfectly to truly capture its huge personality and history. Our experienced designers teamed with our innovative PSYLO™ technology allowed us to deliver breathtaking carpets befitting of this magnificent stately home.

Cliveden's Main Hall — Fit for a King, Cliveden’s stunning main hall

Working closely with designers London & Regional Property (LRP) and 3 interiors, a Northern Irish refurbishment specialist team who had previously worked with us on Claridges Hotel, Ulster provided over 3000sq ft of bespoke woven axminster carpet for the project.

Cliveden House Hotel - Westminster Deluxe Suite — Cliveden House Hotel – Westminster Deluxe Suite

Ulster’s role was to help weave a story through carpet design. Once the designers understood the huge design flexibility they had, the project came to life. All of the rooms are completely individual, each of them donning a name of a key figure from Cliveden’s history such as the « Lady Astor » room.

Keen to respect the original Georgian architecture and traditional interiors, it was crucial that our designers worked closely with the rest of the restoration team to protect aspects of the rooms and reflect the period it was built. It is this choice of style however, that sets this restoration project apart from other projects Ulster have done before such as Avebury Manor, where each of its rooms was restored to reflect four different historic periods – Tudor, Georgian, Victorian and 20th Century.

Ulster’s unique PSYLO™ weaving technology offers total design freedom with no restraints on pattern repeat or scale of design from a palette of up to 25 colours, making Cliveden the perfect PSYLO™ project. Ulster are proud to have worked on such a prestigious National Trust heritage site. Collectively the carpet designs have created a look of opulence and quality, befitting of this 5 star hotel’s enduring reputation.

Menu ×

Inspiring more girls to take up golf and attracting more women into sport is hugely important to Olivia Mehaffey.

The judges at the 2020 Hospitality Awards have named Ulster Carpets as the Best Luxury Commercial Carpet Manufacturer 2020.

We have the edge on our competition thanks to new investment in rug edging technology at our headquarters in Northern Ireland.

Cookies