There is probably not a cast polymer manufacturer around whose business isn’t suffering right now. Is it the result of our direct association with the construction industry and its downward spiral due to the sub-prime mortgage fiasco… or is it due to something even more insidious?

In addition to the reduction in housing starts from almost 2 million units in 2006 to a projected 1 million units in 2008, we need to take a hard look at our industry. Someone is getting what business is out there… Why isn’t it the cast polymer industry?

The answer may just be in our inability to make available products and materials that appeal to the remaining marketplace. In many market areas, cultured products have been relegated to the secondary bath, losing placement in the master bath to competing materials such as tile and real stone. Many of our members have experienced the same loss of business in the kitchen with their solid surface products.

This loss of market share, combined with the reduction of the market in general, has tremendously impacted both our revenue and profitability. What can be done to change this picture?

We need to aggressively pursue the recovery of our market share. Accomplishing this will position us more favorably, reaping big dividends when the market size begins to improve (housing starts increase).

As an industry, we must explore the concept of change and show your customers “what’s new.” We also need to look at other market segments outside of the “tract house,” projects we at Gruber Systems attempted to demonstrate at Polycon ’07. The need to “break the mold” (I apologize for the pun!) and show new and contemporary products and applications was the focus of our presentation. I need to thank George Gruber of Six Eleven and Finishing Touch for partnering with us in creating our displays. In this and coming issues of our newsletter, we will be introducing new products, processes, and techniques. In our endeavor to partner with you in the “what’s new” arena, if we can assist you with your “vision” of “what’s new,” we ask that you give us an opportunity. You might be surprised!

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