The Soprema Group has been around for more than 100 years, and during that time it has developed and brought to market a number of groundbreaking products.
The group’s founder, Charles Geisen, for instance, invented the Mammoth Membrane, the forerunner of BS747 felts. In 1933, his son Pierre Geisen, invented metal-faced membranes.
It is no surprise, therefore, that Flag-Soprema has become a world leader in the development and manufacture of waterproofing products, roof lights, smoke extractors and roofing ancillaries, with its unrivalled quality and fast, friendly customer service helping Flag-Soprema UK to expand impressively over the last two years.
It was in 2007 that Soprema acquired the single ply manufacturer Flag SpA, making the new entity one of the largest independent manufacturers in the world. In the UK, this resulted in the creation of a new company, Flag-Soprema UK, which, thanks to hard work and a portfolio of products that is unrivalled in the marketplace, has enjoyed tremendous success, expanding its workforce by 50% since 2009.
Flag-Soprema UK’s growth – it is 37% up on budget in the first quarter of 2011 – is being fuelled by a nationwide sales team that has grown in number from three to ten highly trained and knowledgeable professionals. This has helped the company to not only better serve its long-term clients, but also pick up a significant degree of new business.
Flag-Soprema UK is a pioneer in its field and offers a wide range of systems to comply with increasingly demanding legislation. The foremost function of all the company’s systems is to ensure reliable protection against the weather, while also meeting challenging architectural criteria.
At the £29.7 million North Liverpool Academy, for example, Flag-Soprema Silver Art® PVC and Flagon TPO single ply membranes were used to waterproof the roof. Silver Art was used on the predominantly curved roof to provide the aesthetic benefits of traditional metal roofing at seriously reduced cost. Aluminium particles are incorporated in the manufacturing process to give the membrane long-term colour stability while avoiding problems such as cold bridging, corrosion or water ingress at penetrations and details.
Flagon TPO AP/PR-F PVC membrane was fully adhered to the flat roof areas. With its BRE Green Guide A+ Rating, it retains exceptional flexibility and resistance to puncturing while remaining highly adaptable to structural movements. Being completely inert, Flagon TPO is non-toxic and has a life expectancy in excess of 30 years.
There is no doubt that Flag-Soprema UK enjoys a challenge, underlined on a self-build project in Suffolk that quite literally rolled back the barriers of roof design and product specification. Dubbed ‘The Sliding House’, it received the Grand Designs ‘Best Home’ and ‘Best New Build’ awards. Key criteria for the judges were use of innovative thinking and inventive use of materials, so the combination of sliding design and use of Flag-Soprema’s red Flagon SV Single Ply Membrane really stood out. Combining aesthetics and sustainability, the project showed that single ply membranes provide flexibility way beyond waterproofing flat roofs and the occasional waveform and barrel vault profiles.
Through continuous innovation and commitment to superior quality, value and professionalism, Flag-Soprema UK will maintain and enhance its reputation as a leader in the industry, while consistently striving to exceed its clients’ expectations. . In fact, it is positioned to endure for many generations to come; with its stability providing its clients with the peace of mind of knowing that it is there to meet their needs both today and tomorrow. You can find out more at
