Mar-Ball, Lattice Composites merge to extend epoxy capabilities

Mar-Bal, Inc. (Chagrin Falls, Ohio, U.S.) has recently merged its AltraSet Composite Technologies company with Lattice Composites (Riverside, Calif., U.S.). The integrated merger will reportedly expand Mar-Bal’s composite technologies to now include Lattice’s customized epoxy chemistry systems, providing an expanded materials portfolio of polyester and epoxy resin compounds. 

According to Mar-Ball, the merge with Lattice will also create new opportunities for epoxy-based products and material solutions for the composites industry. The list of advanced epoxy technologies and products will include (but are not limited to):

• SMC/BMC composite materials (carbon fiber- and glass fiber-reinforced) 
• Filament winding resins
• Prepreg resin
• Bulk and film adhesives
• Custom materials and process solutions

Combining resources, Lattice will be moving its advanced manufacturing equipment and technical staff to Mar-Bal’s state-of-the-art AltraSet Materials Division compounding facility located in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Joining Mar-Bal’s VP of Materials Engineering, Larry Landis, will be Lattice founder and CEO, Ruchir Shanbhag, Director of Operations, Zach Melrose and Process Engineer, Steve Stine.

“This merger has created the world’s leading provider of composite materials solutions,” contends Scott Balogh, president and CEO of Mar-Bal, Inc. “We have the ability to custom design, formulate and manufacture a wide variety of composite materials to fit most any product application or manufacturing process. Our cultural alignment, common vision, values and customer-centric approach makes us a valued partner in the epoxy resin-based materials world.”

Established in 2015 by Ruchir Shanbhag, Lattice Composites was created with the goal of changing the traditional paradigms of epoxy use when compared to other epoxy manufacturers — molecularly via Lattice’s qualified and experienced formulators. With a focus on basic resin packages, Lattice’s epoxy resin systems are also highly customizable.

“This is a “no brainer” merger, as the companies have been working collaboratively for many years,” says Shanbhag, who is also a joint owner of the merged entity. “We needed to grow, and Mar-Bal’s cutting-edge manufacturing and composite material capabilities aligned with our epoxy performance expertise. We are now positioned as the only company in the industry that has both the materials and technology to bring unparalleled epoxy advantages to the equation for end-users including lower cost structure, higher performance and ease-of-processing.”

Balogh, concludes that, “The Lattice merger’s value proposition is more than just an epoxy value proposition. It’s about the people and the culture that we embody collectively via our “Total Value Commitment” philosophy. Ultimately, the ability to custom formulate to give the customer “speed-to-market” is what this team brings, as we are a highly competent and motivated group that thrives on solving problems for customers with the most economic solutions possible.”