| Type | Private, Family-Owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | Tile and Stone Installation Systems Manufacturer |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Headquarters | Bethany, Connecticut, United States |
| Key people | Dr. Henry M. Rothberg, Founder; David Rothberg, CEO/Chairman; Henry B. Rothberg, Co-Owner/Senior Vice President |
| Products | Laticrete, LATAPOXY, SpectraLOCK |
| Website | http://www.laticrete.com |
Laticrete International, Inc. is a family-owned, global manufacturer of products for the installation of tile and stone. Laticrete products are marketed worldwide under the Laticrete, LATAPOXY, and SpectraLOCK brands. With headquarters in Bethany, Connecticut, Laticrete manufactures on six different continents, specializing in the development of latex-fortified Portland cement-based mortars, adhesives and grouts for the installation of tile, glass, and natural stone materials. The Laticrete product line also includes waterproofing, anti-fracture, and sound deadening membranes. In recent years, the company has developed a Laticrete branded radiant electric floor warming system.
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Laticrete was founded in 1956 by Dr. Henry M. Rothberg, a chemical engineer. Realizing that the installation methods used for tile and stone were outdated, Dr. Rothberg began a research and development program in partnership with Uniroyal Chemical in Naugatuck, Connecticut. The program led to the introduction of latex to traditional Portland cement-based mortar, resulting in a lighter, more flexible system for installing tile and stone products. This research became the foundation for the “thin-bed” method of installing tile and stone. The thin-bed method involves the application of thin-set adhesive mortars, a product of the research, with a notched trowel.[1] At the time, this was a new alternative to the thick, heavy mortar beds traditionally used by flooring contractors.[2]
Laticrete globally manufactures dry mortars, latex and epoxy products, which include tile and stone adhesives, grouts, latex additives, flooring underlayments, as well as waterproofing, anti-fracture, and sound deadening membranes. Internationally, Laticrete products are marketed and sold in 70 countries, serviced by manufacturing facilities in India, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Singapore, and China. Laticrete (Shanghai) Building Material Co. Ltd in the Songjiang District of Shanghai represents the first wholly owned Laticrete manufacturing facility outside the United States.
Laticrete has additional facilities in Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, Italy and Ireland.
In the United States, Laticrete manufactures at seven locations in Connecticut, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Indiana, California and Oregon.[3]
Laticrete has developed several new advancements of late, including the use of post-consumer recycled content in select products. In addition, the company has introduced Kevlar[4], rubber fillers and reinforcing fibers to a traditional adhesive to promote better living and office spaces by helping to reduce sound transmission from flooring. Of note, the company has also developed a liquid applied waterproofing membrane product with the ability to directly bond to PVC and plumbing fixtures to reduce the time it takes end-users to complete building projects incorporating the use of tile and stone materials in wet areas. The company has developed epoxy adhesives for the spot-bonding of tile or natural stone products as the façade of new or existing buildings. This is an alternative to the more traditional method of mechanically anchoring tile and stone as the exterior façade. To address the importance of clean indoor air for building occupants, Laticrete has implemented Microban[5] antimicrobial protection to most products to help reduce mold, mildew and bacteria in new or existing buildings.
In the early days, Laticrete was managed by Dr. Henry M. Rothberg and his wife Lillian. Dr. Rothberg has since passed on ownership and management responsibilities to two of his sons. As co-owners, David Rothberg, Chairman/CEO, and Henry B. Rothberg, Senior Vice President of Training, oversee the day-to-day operations.
On June 24, 2008, Laticrete announced the grand opening of a new $24 million corporate campus in Bethany, CT, where the company has been headquartered for over 30 years. The campus features a new 32,000-square-foot (3,000 m2) office and training facility, as well as a 2,000-square-foot (190 m2) fitness facility for employees.