PERSEVERANCE IN THE PLAYGROUND OF ADVERSITY

For Proludic, 2018 is a time to celebrate their milestone 30-year anniversary. A double celebration as it turns out given, after a devastating fire destroyed 70 percent of their main manufacturing plant in France in March 2017, it didn’t look like they’d be popping champagne corks anytime soon. Things were looking grim.

The severity of the fire saw 75 firemen take several hours to finally get it under control. Then, in the wake of the devastation, there was a serious risk that client orders could be significantly delayed.

But adversity often brings out the best in people.

The local community and Proludic’s customers offered extensive encouragement and support, which was just what the team needed to continue delivering their products throughout the recovery period. Many employees worked around the clock to ensure production was back on track by mid-April 2017 – only three weeks after the fire!

HOW PROLUDIC AUSTRALIA WERE AFFECTED

Back in Australia, there was serious concern from some clients about delivery delays. However, the tight-knit team pulled together to ensure most deliveries were made on time.

“We understand the pressure our clients are under; they have project completion deadlines and budgets to meet,” explained Steve Walding, Proludic Australia’s managing director. “So rather than risk late deliveries, we air-freighted our equipment at no extra charge. Luckily, the company’s insurance covered these additional costs, as well as the cost of the factory rebuild.” 

Twelve months on, and millions of euros later, the office and factory has been rebuilt and is now happily operating at full capacity. The company’s 2017 turnover even increased by 20 percent throughout the recovery period! Proludic were overwhelmed with the support they received from clients throughout the ‘catch-up’ period.

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF AWARD-WINNING PLAY AND RECREATION EQUIPMENT DESIGN

Thirty years ago, landscaper Denis Le Poupon made a play structure for his wife’s school. This simple design was the beginning of a lifetime journey for Denis and the start of Proludic.

The company now has a worldwide distribution network, with six subsidiaries, fifty distributors and more than 250 employees. To date, they have built over 80,000 play and sports areas around the globe.

Despite this success, Proludic is still a family-owned company with Denis at the helm!

DESIGN INNOVATION AND A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE

Proludic’s core values of innovation, experience, commitment and involvement are still at the heart of everything they do.

Proludic Australia has been in the business of ‘happiness’ for years, though its senior managers have been involved in providing playgrounds since 1994. The company designs, constructs and installs children’s playspace equipment, fitness equipment, multi-use games areas and outdoor dynamic structures Australia-wide.

“We’re a design-led company,” says Walding. “Our team of landscape architects, designers and construction professionals help bring our clients’ vision to life. Our designs are functional, yet aesthetically pleasing. They’re flexible and modular, and integrate well with the natural environment.

“We’re mindful of creating designs that are inclusive to suit people of all ages and abilities. We’ve also made sure they’re sustainable. They’re made of durable and recyclable materials, and they comply with Australian Standards on safety, so they’re easy to maintain and are built to last.

“We’re looking forward to another 30 years of great design and the chance to inspire kids of all ages with more stimulating, fun playgrounds and outdoor recreational spaces.”

For more information on the full range of outdoor recreational equipment, call Proludic on 02 9485 8700 or visit their website.