FEATURE
A World of Opportunity When George Walter Wilson established Ulster Carpets in 1938, one of the key drivers was to create employment. Over 80 years later, the company remains a major employer and one of Northern Ireland’s leading exporters.
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till owned and run by the Wilson family, Ulster Carpets has grown to become the premier supplier of Axminster and Wilton carpets to the residential, hospitality, marine and casino sectors across the world. While textiles is a traditional industry, for the Portadown-based company innovation has been a key driver towards success. “From the very early days of the company, we have been industry pioneers,” explained Nick Coburn, group managing director and deputy chairman of Ulster Carpets. “We continue to look to the future by developing new technology and finding more sustainable ways to manufacture our premium
carpet but, of course, at the heart of that is having the right people.” This forward-thinking philosophy has been boosted by a strategic investment strategy. In addition to the main production plant in Portadown, Ulster Carpets Group also incorporates technical textile machinery manufacturer, Ulster North East; wool processing and dyeing company, Ulster Yarns; specialist commercial carpet manufacturer, Danfloor; fully sustainable underlay manufacturer, Axfelt; and luxury interiors brands, Roger Oates and Mourne Weavers. Within this comes a range of career opportunities both in the UK and across the world.
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