November 1, 2023 Detectable Warning Systems Targeted Tactile Expansion

Targeted Tactile Expansion: facility and production capacity increase marks composites growth of detectable warning systems’ safety line.

Chagrin Falls, OH−

Part of the proprietary product family of Mar-Bal, Inc. (Mar-Bal / ISO 9001: 2015) since 2018, Detectable Warning Systems™ (DWS) has been providing quality ADA and DOT compliant detectable warning products for over 28 years.

With one of the industry’s most complete line of tactile warning products for visually impaired pedestrians, the company continues to expand its growth trajectory into this growing market by increasing the production capacity of their manufacturing plant in Dublin, VA. In addition to installing two new large compression presses, their warehouse at the Pulaski, VA location was also expanded to approximately 2X (72k sq.ft.) its previous size.

The Dublin, VA plant, one of Mar-Bal’s three manufacturing facilities in the US, produces all of the DWS composite panels. The DWS panels highlight Mar-Bal’s vertical integration which includes the molding of panels in VA from its own compound (produced in Ohio) and then the assembly, storage and shipping also out of its facilities.

Continuing this market expansion presence, DWS also has two offices at the Virginia Tech (VT: Blacksburg, VA) Corporate Research Center (CRC). The public university, via state funding, recently continued its main campus expansion of ADA accessible ramps using DWS panels.

Since the acquisition, and coming out of the COVID-19 crisis, DWS has doubled sales as their proprietary molded panel products are on the rise. With a core commitment to sales expansion in North America, states like VA, and bordering territorial states, are key target sectors for growth. The DWS portfolio of products, which includes composite, cast iron, and polyurethane materials, addresses each region’s specific product profile needs−meeting their unique ADA and weather-related requirements. For example, VA specifies and leans toward the use of cast-in-place detectable warning products (DWS’s AlertCast®) for new concrete applications over DWS’s AlertTile® which is used for existing concrete applications.

AlertCast® Profile: Considered “The industry’s best replaceable detectable warning”, it is a premium glass-reinforced thermoset, cast-in-place, rigid composite engineered for superior impact resistance, slip resistance, wear resistance, and long-term durability. Its exclusive lightweight design incorporates a slip-resistant surface and truncated domes designed to comply with ADA standards. Should the need arise, these panels are also replaceable.

AlertTile® Profile: A glass-reinforced thermoset composite engineered for superior impact resistance, slip resistance, wear resistance, and long-term durability for retrofit applications. The exclusive design of AlertTile incorporates a thin, slightly flexible profile with a perimeter beveled edge to provide a safe pedestrian transition.

TARGETED TACTILE GROWTH:

Currently, DWS services the North American market with a combination of full-time employees and experienced industry representatives. With its parent company located in Ohio, the state is also primed as a key growth territory for DWS. To advance this regional progression, DWS partnered with the construction-focused rep firm Blak Kat Group, LLC (Chagrin Falls, OH) to service its Ohio and Michigan customers. Headed by managing partners Kyle Torres and Brian Zak, they promote the line’s value-added innovation engineered for visually impaired pedestrians.

Additionally, to expand its presence and service into the Canadian marketplace, DWS entered into an exclusive distribution and project management agreement with one of the Greater Toronto Area’s (GTA) leading construction material providers–Cityscape Supply Group (CSG). CSG spearheads the product line’s comprehensive compliance with Canada’s AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) requirements coast-to-coast.

DWS EXPANSION / CONCLUSION: The increase of production capacity, warehousing, and sales/service force will allow DWS to penetrate deeper into the concrete, asphalt, and paving-focused entities at a competitive cost. Market applications include: Public Rights of Way, Parking Structures, Health Care-Disability (including senior and assisted living facilities), Rail Transport, Architecture, Infrastructure, Commercial Shopping Centers, Apartment Communities, etc.

Noting the increased manufacturing capacity, Mar-Bal’s Plant Manager Eric Stump stated, “The presses are busy as we’ve recently added two Erie presses−a 500 ton and 1K ton. In addition to this, we’ve added two more molds to the DWS family of molds. It is exciting to see where we started with the DWS business and where we are now. It’s even more exciting to see where the business is headed. The bottom line is we have the capacity to meet increased industry demand seamlessly with plenty of inventory and availability of product.”

Mar-Bal’s Sr. Director of Proprietary Products, Anthony Lignetta, also noted, “The entire VA team has embraced the DWS business from the molding of the very first panel. The expansion secures our ability to grow the business which, in turn, provides employment opportunities−not only for the VA plant, but also our OH plant.”

In conjunction with its expanded presence at the Virginia Tech (VT: Blacksburg, VA) Corporate Research Center (CRC), DWS’s AlertCast detectable warning panels are now part of the universities’ new multi-modal transit facility. The facility is a hub for its all-electric buses and ensuing commuter traffic and the panels are strategically placed around the curves surrounding the bus parking, charging, and commuter areas.

The installation was done by woman-and-family owned ACCᾹD Corporation (ACCᾹD: Ivydale, WV)−which has a deep-rooted tradition and a family history in the West Virginia construction market. According to ACCᾹD Superintendent, Cam Dunmire, “We used over 300 DWS panels on the project and the installation was seamless as they are light weight, easy to cut, and hold up great−with no chipping, etc. Out of all the panels we’ve installed over the years, DWS’s detectable panel line is the most durable and easiest to use by far.”

For a video demonstration of DWS’s Virginia Tech transit ACCᾹD installation visit:

DWS offers rigid, cast iron, and flexible materials for either cast-in-place or surface applied applications including the following brands:

For more information on Mar-Bal’s line of DWS products please visit: www.detectable-warning.com

Or contact us at: (866-999-7452)

Corporate Profile: Detectable Warning Systems is part of the Mar-Bal, Inc. proprietary family of products. Headquartered in Chagrin Falls, OH, Mar-Bal, Inc. has been an innovative leader in the custom composite, molding and material manufacturing industry since its founding in 1970. For over three decades Mar-Bal, Inc. has manufactured and engineered quality, customized parts and materials while delivering unmatched client cost-effectiveness through superior customer service and the Total Value Commitment. Mar-Bal, Inc. operates manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Virginia and Missouri.

©2023 MAR-BAL, INC. ### All rights reserved.

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