_____________________________________________________________________________________________ Schluter-Systems
Investing in innovation
One of Schluter’ s greatest strengths has also become one of its biggest competitive challenges.“ Our success has made us a target,” Dee shares.“ We’ ve been a giant disruptor in the market because of the way we educate and the way we solve problems within the industry. Now a lot of companies are trying to replicate not just our products, but even our route to market.” He adds that products inspired by Schluter’ s systems can now be seen across the sector, from tool manufacturers to chemical suppliers, often competing primarily on price rather than technical support or training.“ We go out and do all the heavy lifting with education and investment,” he explains.“ Then others come in with similar-looking solutions at a lower price point, but without the same level of backing behind them.”
Indeed, Schluter’ s impact on the industry has come from identifying long-standing installation challenges and designing systems that rethink traditional methods. Dee believes this willingness to challenge established practices is what positioned Schluter as an industry disruptor.“ A lot of our products go against traditional installation methods, but they offer a better solution for both the installer and the end consumer,” he says.
Education remains central to driving that shift in mindset. The company now delivers more than 300 seminars annually across the United States and Canada, training over 10,000 attendees each year.“ Changing installation methods means changing mindsets, and education is the biggest part of that.”
Additionally, Schluter continues to invest heavily in manufacturing and infrastructure as demand for its technologies grows across North America, having recently completed its second thin-set and powder production facility in Roanoke, Virginia, one of the most technologically advanced plants of its kind in the industry.“ You really can’ t compare it to a
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