Fontana Company's Heavy-Duty Tape Helps it Build International Market
FONTANA - High-strength fabric repair tape has stretched family-owned manufacturing business A& R Tarpaulins Inc. from Fontana to Singapore with the product's recent foray into Southeast Asia.
"It's mainly for the trucking industry, for truck tarps, but also for any vinyl covering," said Lucy Rivera, A&R marketing spokeswoman, about the tape. "It can be used for tents, usually in the party rental industry. So we've been very successful in that industry, selling white SKP (SuperKwikPatch repair tape) to that industry."
A & R Tarpaulins is the parent company of AR Industries and ARTech, which has services and products for flight hardware, ground support to aerospace companies that have satellite launches, architectural services and products for businesses and homes, and transportation industry products.
A & R's vice president, Bud Weisbart, said over the last two years, the company's exports have increased, with last year expanding dramatically.
Rivera, who also handles other duties within the 46-person company, said she saw the increase in October, with the export of 16 rolls of the tape to Singapore. The tape can be used to patch tarp tears for one year, she said.
"We have the material with the glue in the back," Rivera said. "So all they have to do is remove the backing, stick it on there, and they're ready to go. There's no need to carry that can of glue, which is messy, and you can drop it."
Besides Singapore, the company also has connections in Indonesia and Malaysia, Bud Weisbart said.
"We sent them a sample, they loved it and wanted to become a distributor," Bud Weisbart said. "And we arranged to cover all three countries (Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia)."
Rolls of tape, which come in white, blue, red, gray and other colors, cost $225 each.
Rivera said she is looking forward to her company moving into other international markets, including Brazil, in part because of the upcoming Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, and because of the increased sale of tents.
"We know we will be successful because a lot of countries are looking for American-made products," Rivera said.
In addition to Singapore, there have been inquiries about the tape from Canada, Latin America and Australia.
Bud Weisbart said the company's total sales have grown from less than $4 million in 2009 to $5.1 or $5.2 million in 2010.
"So that's just about a 25 percent or a little more increase," Bud Weisbart said.
President Carmen Weisbart, Bud Weisbart's wife of 44 years, operates the Fontana-based manufacturing firm.
"As far as exports, it's first developing a relationship with a potential customer," Carmen Weisbart said, adding their relationship with the 2,000 member not-for-profit trade association Industrial Fabrics Association International has helped their business.
Carmen Weisbart said she and her team, which includes the Weisbarts' son as general manager, were proud of their co-workers in 2009 and are excited for 2011 to get started.
"We are looking forward and happy to have a bright future," Carmen Weisbart said of the company that started 34 years ago as a truck cover company.
"We think we have something pretty special here," Bud Weisbart said. "Particularly with the workers here. Many of them have come to us with minimum skills, and we have helped develop their overall skills. They've stuck with us, and we've stuck with them through thick and thin. It sounds idealistic, but it's an investment we make."
Jessica Foley
Quality Assurance
AR Tech
phone: 909-829-4444 ext. 301
fax: 909-829-0564
e-mail jessica@artech2000.com
