Kent Construction Expo 2025: A Big Moment for FLEX and the Future of Resin Bound flooring

It was great to exhibit at the Kent Construction Expo 2025 in October. It gave FLEX a straightforward way to show the new brand, meet current and future clients, and talk about how our systems behave on real projects. As specialists in epoxy and polyurethane based seamless floors, Resin Bound flooring and rubber safety surfaces, we spent the day with contractors, architects, designers, councils and asset owners who wanted clear, practical answers on which system suits each area.

The timing also worked for us. We recently launched the new FLEX brand and marketing, and we wanted to put it in front of the people who specify and install floors across the region. Kent Construction Expo brought that audience into one place, including teams working under tight programmes and looking to avoid delays or surface failures, and it gave us the chance to talk through projects in detail, including where a resin based surface adds value and which other systems give a better result.

Why did Kent Construction Expo make sense for our new brand launch?

In recent years we have focused on projects, delivery and product development, refining systems, building new supplier relationships and updating our approach to resin-based surfaces, rubber wet-pour and industrial resin floors. With the new FLEX identity ready, we wanted an event with a strong regional pull and a practical audience.

Kent Construction Expo fits that brief well. It attracts local and national contractors, architects, designers and public sector clients who manage schemes in Kent, London and the South East and need reliable partners for surfacing, pools and changing rooms flooring, resin bound surfacing and heavy-duty industrial floors.

For the event we produced a new A4 brochure covering all our systems, alongside a compact mini-brochure for quick stand conversations. Those conversations helped visitors see how wide the range is, rather than stopping at resin bound on its own.

Bringing the stand to life with real Resin Bound and rubber systems

A stand only works if visitors can see and feel the systems. On the day, many people instinctively reached for the samples as soon as they arrived at the stand. For Kent Construction Expo we designed a new FLEX stand that showed the updated branding and also built two of our most popular systems into the tabletop itself.

One section of the tabletop used our Vuba Resin Bound stone system, laid in the same way we install external Resin Bound flooring on driveways and paths. Visitors could see the aggregate size and colour consistency from close range, and we could explain how the UV-stable binder and permeable build help schemes meet SuDS expectations. They could also run a hand over the surface and feel the balance between a smooth finish and the micro-texture that supports slip resistance.

Another section of the tabletop used RubbaFlex® FG, our fine-grade rubber wet-pour system. Many visitors work on pools, splash pads and play areas, so this display helped them compare the feel of our rubber systems against the stone system in a single place. The fine 0.5 and 1.5mm granules create a smoother, more compressed surface that still feels soft underfoot, and we could talk through how the porous build copes with water and regular cleaning. Once people had felt both surfaces, they naturally started asking about comfort, drainage, cleaning and long-term performance.

Throughout the day, the stand team answered questions about curing times, installation sequences and the preparation needed for a quality finish. Many visitors said they rarely get clear guidance at an early stage, so being able to talk through risks, preparation and system fit helped them plan with more confidence. Those conversations highlighted an important point: Resin Bound RubbaFlex® FG, quartz screeds and industrial epoxy coatings all perform well when the system matches the use case and the preparation matches the specification.

Who we spoke to and the projects they brought

On the day we saw a broad mix of the industry. Across the day we met:

• Local and national building contractors
• Architects and interior designers
• Council teams and public-sector clients
• Developers and asset managers

Many of them already manage or plan schemes that could suit resin bound surfacing, rubber playground surfacing or industrial resin floors. Some had live projects in design, others wanted to sense-check ideas for 2025 tender pipelines.

The same topics came up again and again: SuDS-compliant external schemes, pools and changing rooms flooring, warehouse floors for busy logistics operations, and school or public play spaces with clear compliance routes. Because this mirrors the kind of work we do week in, week out, the team could talk through real projects in detail rather than stay at a high level. That practical focus suited the people on the stand and the visitors who prefer direct, technical answers.

What information do we need to provide accurate ballpark costs?

One of the most useful parts of the day involved us explaining what we need to quote properly. Many visitors brought early-stage ideas and wanted a sense of what Resin Bound flooring or other systems might cost. Instead of giving vague ranges, we talked through the key details that allow us to price with confidence.

For any system, including Resin Bound flooring, we ask for:

• Approximate size in square metres so we can calculate material quantities and installation time.
• Location and postcode so we can plan travel, waste removal and logistics.
• The system you are interested in for example Resin Bound RubbaFlex® FG, quartz screed or an epoxy coating.
• Existing surface and proposed sub-base because preparation drives both performance and cost.
• Photos of the area where possible so we can assess access, edges, falls and visible defects.

We explained that if we have this information up front, we can move quickly from an initial enquiry to a ballpark figure that actually means something. For Resin Bound flooring, photos and base details help us see if we can work with the existing structure or if we need to recommend changes. For rubber and industrial systems, the same information guides preparation, joint details and curing plans. On the stand, several visitors pulled out phone photos of plant rooms, service yards and pool surrounds so we could point out likely preparation issues there and then.

For some visitors it was the first time a supplier had broken down the numbers in a way that felt straightforward and linked to what they see on site, and a short discussion on the stand often gave them the confidence to send through drawings, photos and dimensions after the event.

What trends and technologies stood out at Kent Construction Expo 2025?

SuDS, drainage and runoff management came up repeatedly, particularly on mixed-use schemes across Kent and the wider South East. That matched our own experience on Resin Bound projects, where surface design, base build-up and edge details matter as much as the stone blend. Permeable systems sit within a broader drainage strategy, and many design teams now recognise that link.

We also heard more interest in pools and changing rooms flooring than in previous years. Pool operators, gym owners and leisure contractors want systems that combine slip resistance, hygiene, ease of cleaning and a consistent appearance. That puts quartz screeds, RubbaFlex® FG and other resin systems that cope with water, bare feet and regular cleaning firmly on the table.

On the industrial side, visitors spoke about duty ratings, cleaning schedules and the reality of live environments. Many of them need resin floors that can handle forklift traffic and pallet trucks in zones that also need regular wash-downs while keeping downtime to a minimum. Those requirements point towards heavy-duty epoxy and PU screeds, and they show how much difference early planning with a specialist installer makes.

Across all those discussions, one consistent theme stood out. People want clarity on which system suits each zone. Some schemes need Resin Bound flooring for external approaches, rubber for play areas and quartz or epoxy systems indoors. A single supplier who understands all of those options can simplify specification and help clients manage performance across the site.

A full-team effort and a strong response after the event

Kent Construction Expo also gave our own team a rare chance to work together on the stand for a full day. Matt, Simon, Katie, Lauren and Tom all attended and spent the day sharing experience from different parts of the business. That mix of project, technical and commercial knowledge created varied conversations and made it easier to answer detailed questions on the spot.

Since the show, we have followed up with everyone who left details on the stand, and the same themes now sit behind the enquiries on our desks, particularly around base build-ups, surface preparation and realistic timeframes. Many visitors have already sent through drawings and photos for Resin Bound flooring, playground surfaces, pool surrounds and industrial floors, and we have started to price those projects and support design development where needed.

Feedback from clients on recent projects mirrors the conversations we had at the show. One contracts maintenance manager at a public leisure centre described our installers as highly professional and considerate of the public and the environment around them and thanked the team for delivering a splash pad that looks great and works safely once in service.

Talk to FLEX about your next Resin Bound flooring project

Kent Construction Expo 2025 showed how much demand there is for clear, practical advice on Resin Bound flooring and other seamless systems. It also underlined how useful it is to put systems in front of the people who specify and install them.

If you plan a project that could suit Resin Bound flooring, pools and changing rooms flooring, rubber play surfacing or industrial resin systems, talk to FLEX about your next scheme. Our team can help you choose the right system, gather the information needed for accurate pricing and plan an installation that fits your programme and performance requirements.

And if you are in Kent on 1^st October, come along to the Kent Construction Expo 2026, as we will be exhibiting again next year!

You can register for the event here: Kent Construction EXPO – 1 October 2026