MLA Business Member Spotlight: Softpoint Industries

It’s quickly obvious that Van Macomb likes his job. President of SoftPoint Industries in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Macomb talks enthusiastically about SoftSand, a rubber particle that can be added to any paint to provide a non-skid surface. The particles, about ¼-inch in size, are made using a proprietary process and will work in most urethane, epoxy, and acrylic coatings.

A lobster boat at Pat Feeney's shop with a SoftSand deck. Softpoint Industries photo.

“We used it with Pat Feeney up in Cutler in 2016. He was finding the glued-down mats were just no good and wanted to try something different,” Macomb said. “They have the open transom boats around there and you don’t want to fool around.”

The trick, said Macomb, was making sure that there was good adhesion between the particle and the covering. SoftSand particles can be added to paint before application or sprinkled on afterward. They add a little bit of cushion for the feet and do not chafe and cut as smaller sand particles do. Unlike sand, which abrades with a lot of traffic, SoftSand wears well.

“Pat Feeney has eight years with it now and sure, it will eventually wear out. But it’s easily repairable,” Macomb said.

While attending the Maine Boat Show in Portland some years ago Macomb met a Hamilton Marine sales representative. Soon he was taking a trip with company president Wayne Hamilton to see some of the fishing boats using his product. Hamilton Marine is now the exclusive distributor of SoftSand in Maine.

“I like coming to Maine,” Macomb said. “I’ve been up three times this year. I talk to lobstermen all the time. They are under all sorts of pressure. I think the threat of new regulations related to the right whales is really paralyzing to them. They don’t feel they have a secure future.”

Softpoint Industries

Van Macomb, president

https://www.softsandrubber.com/

sales@softsandsubber.com

484-225-3710