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November 2005 Industry Leader:

Robert Cain: Pioneer in the Resin Flooring Industry

Robert Cain, President of Key Resin Company located on the outskirts of Cincinnati, Ohio, has spent the better part of the last 40 years advancing the concrete flooring industry—taking it from a product expected to either fail or deteriorate (or both), to a decorative element that's seen just about everywhere these days. After attending Ohio University, where Cain received his chemical degree, as well as a minor in marketing, his first industry job was with a major chemical corporation. Cain has been in the epoxy flooring business for over four decades now. He was one of the founders of General Polymers Corporation in 1966, running it until it was sold in 1986. His next venture was KRC Associates Consulting Company, which he helmed until he launched Key Resin Company in 1993. (KRC Associates is also still active.) "In the beginning, we were pioneering the industry," Cain recalls. "Back then, the resin flooring industry was in its infancy."

"It's a fantastic market, small yet huge," he explains. "There are numerous applications and flooring materials available."

But what drew Cain in was the need for clean floors in all sorts of environments, as well as the opportunity to protect and beautify concrete while dispelling the expectations that all concrete floors fail or deteriorate.

As President of Key Resin, Cain spends much of his time on the road, talking to clients and sales staff, promoting the industry in general, giving presentations and seminars, and attending various industry-related meetings.

In fact, Cain is such a dynamic speaker that for the past 15 years he's been giving at least one seminar (and often two) at the World of Concrete.

"There are lots of meetings to attend and presentations to give," Cain laughs.

After over 40 years, some people might get bored, but not Cain. "It's very rare for a guy to get up every morning for 40 years and go to a job he loves," he says. "I like the challenges—really not knowing what the day will present...I never know what's going to happen."

One of the many issues Cain (and everyone else in the industry) has been grappling with is that of moisture transmission in concrete.

"It's been a big problem over the last 10 years that we're only now able to put our arms around," he says. "We're only now learning how to confront and treat it...we see the light at the end of the tunnel."

One recent issue that's surfaced involves petroleum. "There's pressure from a cost standpoint, with the rising cost of petroleum," says Cain. "We've been hit very hard with the price escalation, and it's difficult to maintain the market with that cost rising...We can price ourselves so high people can find alternatives."

Yet another hot-button issue that takes educational precedence is that of preparation prior to installation of resinous floors.

"The preparation aspect is the most important step," explains Cain. "Seventy-five percent of failures are due to poor preparation."

Cain also recommends familiarity of performance issues of products and applications used. "All types of resinous materials have certain issues, so knowing what to use when is key," he adds.

"The industry is so much different today than it was when we started," Cain explains. "From the products, to the techniques, to improved materials...It's challenging to keep up."

One of the ways Cain does keep up is by constantly brainstorming new products and ideas for a product that has already transformed from basic resin to a finished system.

He also gets inspiration from the people he surrounds himself with, including his peers in the industry and his great team at Key Resin.

"It's a close-knit community, everybody knows everybody," he says.

Not only does Cain say his company is growing by leaps and bounds, but also he sees the same future for the industry as a whole.

"I'm a very optimistic guy, so I see nothing but good for the future of the industry," he explains. "The industry changes so fast, and it's a constantly changing market. But it's been improving, and that's what makes it exciting."

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