A small Australian firm is riding a wave of business opportunity caused by the crash of Clark Foam, a California maker of rigid polyurethane foam surfboard blanks.
Shapers Australia Pty. Ltd., based in Currumbin, is adding production capacity after it was inundated with requests for foam blanks when surfboard-industry icon Grubby Clark decided to close his Laguna Niguel shop. Clark cited liability concerns and bureaucratic red tape as reasons for his decision.
Len Holloway, Shapers director, would not divulge details but said the company is seeking ways to boost production, including hiring more staff and adding manufacturing equipment.
He would not say what equipment or how many workers are needed.
Market demand caused Shapers to post a statement on its Web site expressing sympathy for people affected by Clark Foam's closure and noting that it will be unable to fill new orders until after March.
``We have been overwhelmed by immediate requests for blanks. Unfortunately we cannot service any further container loads of blanks within the next three months,'' the notice said.
Holloway said the delay is because Shapers' priority is to ``maintain commitment to quality and not promise what we cannot not deliver.''
Shapers Australia supplies mainly Australian surfboard shapers, but the firm also exports to clients in the United States and worldwide.
