Robert Ahrens was a certified welder by trade and traveled extensively working throughout South and Central America. Upon returning to the states, he began a business, Dock-Right Dock Co., building boat docks at the Lake of the Ozarks in Camdenton, Missouri. Not happy with the quality of the foam available, he began to manufacture his own product. He was so successful that the foam business became his full-time job. He used the profits from welding to build a manufacturing plant and established his company, Imperial Foam, in 1973. In 1979, he semi-retired and moved to Florida. He soon began to sell foam to local vendors and construction companies in Florida and established a second plant in Ormond Beach. He was dedicated to his work and looked to employ anyone with his work ethic, integrity and honesty.