At just 23, Kenneth Mallia employs 11 people and has ambitious plans for his company.
Market research has revealed encouraging demand in Tunisia
Seamless Solid Surface Solutions, the maker of flawless acrylic tops for kitchens and bathrooms, is four years old and is soon to move to a factory in Corradino. It will be three times the size of the factory it currently occupies in Qormi.
Mr Mallia’s dream to go into business began when he was 19 as he was training in plumbing and electricity at the Malta College for Arts Sciences and Technology.
A relative produced seamless kitchen tops part-time and Mr Mallia saw greater potential for this product locally. He applied for a Malta Enterprise start-up scheme in 2008 and was granted €30,000 to start his own business.
The company has gone from strength to strength and is now predominantly export-oriented. Seamless Solid Surface Solutions has established itself in Libya where Mr Mallia has a Libyan partner and two Maltese and two Libyan employees.
Mr Mallia is now looking into expanding his business to Tunisia where initial market research has already revealed encouraging demand for the product.
Locally, Mr Mallia is looking forward to moving to the new 600 square-metre plant in Corradino as the garage Seamless Solid Surface Solutions occupies within Qormi industrial estate is hindering the business’ growth.
Seamless Solid Surface Solutions could be a testimonial for practically all the business funding schemes offered by Malta Enterprise and the EU – Mr Mallia has tapped as many as he could to fund his business’ expansion.
As a start-up, Seamless Solid Surface Solutions was partly funded by the European Regional and Development Fund. Mr Mallia later took out a MicroCredit loan with a subsidised interest rate to acquire additional machinery, and received tax credits under the MicroInvest scheme.
Acrylic solid surfaces with inconspicuous seams can be manufactured and installed in almost any residential and commercial setting. For humid environments like kitchens or bathrooms, wooden frames are covered with acrylic for flawless finishes.
The tops are highly durable – Mr Mallia says they are “even stronger than stone” – will not lose their colour, are resistant to heat, mould and bacteria, and are difficult to stain and scratch.