WHEN it comes to creating safe, hygienic and welcoming healthcare spaces, Altro has built its reputation on one simple truth: safety and style don’t have to be mutually exclusive. For more than a century, the family-owned manufacturer has been pioneering materials that protect people and enhance wellbeing, all while maintaining the design flexibility that architects and clients need.
Rhian Davidson, Specification Consultant, explains: ‘Altro is a third-generation, family-owned firm. We invented safety flooring, developed hygienic wall cladding, and since our inception we’ve been at the forefront of material development for the built environment. We’ve been innovating for more than 100 years, and that’s something we’re very proud of.’
Comply without compromise
Ben Boothroyd, Key Account Manager – healthcare and education, says the healthcare sector remains one of Altro’s most important focus areas. ‘Healthcare has always been one of our biggest interests. We work closely with the NHS and with specifiers on healthcare projects. Many of our products are built around reliability in harsh environments. That’s why Altro has become synonymous with healthcare design.’
For specifiers, the challenge has always been balancing compliance, performance and aesthetics. With the Altro portfolio, that juggling act is made far easier.
‘When you use our specification guide for the NHS,’ says Rhian, ‘we’ve already done the hard work for you. The guesswork has been removed; we’ve taken care of the compliance side so you can focus on design.’
Designed for every healthcare setting
Healthcare design covers a huge range, from major hospitals and mental health facilities to supported living and community care environments. Altro works across them all.
‘We target different sectors, each with their own needs,’ says Rhian. ‘In mental health especially, we engage with clinical staff, FM teams, people with lived experience and other manufacturers to develop truly effective solutions for places like seclusion rooms and places of safety.’
Ben adds: ‘Our ability to offer a turnkey solution is a huge strength. We can support walls, floors and even doorsets. We don’t just sell square metres of product; we support installation, detailing and long-term maintenance.’
Safety without sacrifice
Altro has refined safety flooring to the point where it delivers uncompromising performance and design freedom.
‘We invented safety flooring,’ says Rhian. ‘Often people refer to other products as an “Altro floor”, which shows how established we are. Because we created the system, we’ve perfected it. We meet client, slip-resistance and safety requirements without the drawbacks that used to come with older flooring types. Long-term maintenance and aesthetics are equally important.’
Ben agrees: ‘All our new safety flooring ranges are design-led. You get high performance without compromise. You don’t have to choose between safety and style.’
For specifiers, products like Altro Suprema exemplify that balance.
‘It’s suitable for all functional risk areas within hospitals,’ says Rhian. ‘It’s a key product because you can put it forward across multiple area types.’
Sustainable by design
Sustainability runs through everything Altro does, but the company prefers action over hype. ‘We co-founded Recofloor to improve recycling and reduce landfill,’ says Rhian. ‘We also invented adhesive-free safety flooring, and the beauty of that is it’s truly recyclable because it isn’t contaminated with adhesive. We achieved zero waste to landfill in the UK back in 2014, and we’re proud of that.’
Ben adds: ‘We invented adhesive-free safety flooring to improve product circularity, installation timeframes and reduce disruption to patients and staff’. In hospitals, downtime is a huge issue, so being able to looselay materials without disruption is a massive benefit.’
Supporting the NHS every step of the way
With decades of experience in healthcare, Altro understands the sector’s challenges.
‘Many NHS estates are ageing, and infection control can condemn areas for a split weld,’ says Rhian. ‘We see Trusts resort to temporary fixes like duct tape, and that’s a real challenge when funding delays projects. But our systems are designed to minimise disruption and keep spaces safe and operational. We’ve worked with the NHS for so long it feels like we’re part of it. We understand what they’re up against.’
That partnership mindset is at the core of how Altro develops products.
‘Through our ‘Voice of the Customer’ programme, we bring end-users into Altro to share what we should be doing as a manufacturer,’ says Ben. ‘Their feedback directly shapes new product innovation.’
The ‘Voice of the Customer’ programme, running since 2008, allows clients to play a direct role in shaping Altro’s products, services, and support. More than 2,000 visits and more than 4,800 participants have contributed insights, including 357 delegates from 87 companies across 11 countries in 2024 alone, helping drive innovation and continuous improvement.
Visitors to Altro’s UK and Germany sites can tour factories and laboratories, meet directors and the new product innovation team, explore the possibilities studio, experience live product demonstrations, and learn about sustainability and customer care initiatives. Each visit is coordinated to be engaging and tailored to participants’ needs. According to Ian Windsor, Managing Director of 360 Degree Flooring, the programme highlights Altro’s attention to detail, collaborative culture, and family-run ethos while inspiring future partnerships. Clients are encouraged to arrange a visit and contribute to shaping the future of Altro.
Future-proofing design
As newbuilds place more emphasis on adaptability, Altro’s solutions are built to evolve.
‘Future-proofing is key,’ says Rhian. ‘Buildings need to be ready for change of use, something the pandemic really highlighted. Altro products tick all compliance boxes, so as spaces change, the materials continue to perform.’
That spirit of innovation is reflected in the company’s new possibilities studio, created to showcase good design in mental health and wellbeing settings. ‘Once real facilities open, you can’t bring people in,’ says Ben. ‘So we built dedicated pods at our head office to demonstrate how spaces can be both robust and homely.’
The Altro possibilities studio in Letchworth Garden City provides a practical, research-driven environment for designing mental health spaces that meet the diverse needs and behaviours of service users.
The studio is composed of nine separate bays, each featuring a unique combination of interior finishes and detailing tailored to the specific challenges of high-security mental health units. Altro continually undertakes research to identify best practices and develop full-room solutions that reduce stress and enhance safety for both service users and staff.
Visits to the studio are available through local Altro consultants, offering first-hand insight into the solutions on display. For those unable to visit in person, Customer Engagement Specialist Ron Austin provides a video guided tour, explaining the development of the studio and the purpose of each bay.
Looking ahead
Altro’s innovation pipeline remains strong. ‘We are always innovating and developing new products – so keep your eyes peeled for an exciting new launch next year,’ says Ben.
People behind the progress
Both Rhian and Ben bring unique perspectives to their roles. ‘I studied materials science and worked in textiles before moving into construction,’ says Rhian. ‘I was a domestic cleaner at an acute hospital whilst studying, so I’ve been in the shoes of the people maintaining our products. That perspective shapes how I approach my work, and Altro’s commitment to listening to its customers is something I massively respect.’
Ben’s journey is just as grounded. ‘I’ve worked across construction manufacturing and specification for eight years, and I’ve always been drawn to healthcare. At Altro, that passion has grown. It’s rewarding to see how much of an impact we can make.’
Safe but stylish. Reliable yet innovative. Practical yet personal. Altro continues to prove that in healthcare design, you really can comply without compromise and create environments that truly care for the people who use them.
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