Founder Carol Magee's first business venture was a retail gift shop she set up in 1985 in the Powerscourt Centre in Dublin.

There she noticed the market for picture frames - a relatively simple product - which was dominated by imports. Carol, joined at this stage by her son Michael, set about producing a range of framed products in several materials for the public as well as for architects, art galleries, engineers, fine art exhibitors, framers and interior designers.

The company moved into a 20,000sq ft new premises in Ashbourne in 1999 where the workforce increased to 50 people.

Framanc Ltd won an award in 1987, the Forbairt Company of the month award for May of that year, due to its success in replacing imports in the Irish market as well as breaking new ground in the UK.