LATICRETE celebrates 60 years

Words: John AbanathyLATICRETE, a global manufacturer of premium installation and finishing systems for the building industry, celebrated its 60th anniversary at the World of Concrete on February 2—5. The theme of the celebration was “60 Years of Building Chemistry,” which recognized the significant products and relationships the company has built over the last 60 years.

Sixty years ago, Dr. Henry M. Rothberg’s pioneering work in the field of chemical engineering revolutionized installation techniques for the setting of ceramic tile and stone by the “adhesive mortar method.” Dr. Rothberg’s research is now the basis for all modern adhesives used today for the installation of ceramic tile and stone.

In addition to celebrating its 60th anniversary, LATICRETE also showcased newly-launched and updated product lines. Outside the convention center, SPARTACOTE® coating systems experts provided live application demonstrations.

During the World of Concrete, LATICRETE launched SPARTACOTE FLEX PURE™ CLINICAL PLUS, a specialty concrete coating system equipped with antimicrobial technology perfect for hospitals, veterinarian facilities, pharmaceutical facilities, research labs, clean rooms, prisons, locker rooms, restrooms and food and beverage processing areas. This low-VOC, fast-curing, two-part polyaspartic aliphatic polyurea sealer/finish coating is designed to inhibit the growth of bacteria and viruses.

Also updated for the World of Concrete, LATICRETE DRYTEK™ Moisture Vapor Barrier is now shipping with pigmented colors. Designed for use in conjunction with LATICRETE SPARTACOTE, the DRYTEK Moisture Vapor Barrier Pigment Base may be mixed with SPARTACOTE Epoxy Pigment and is available in eight different colors.
PPE That Workers Actually Wear: Building Buy-In Through Education and Smart Selection
August 2026

In masonry construction, personal protective equipment (PPE) is often the last line of defense between a worker and an injury. Yet despite its importance, PPE compliance remains one of the most common challenges on jobsites across the country. The realit

Zero Laydown: Navigating the Logistics of Tight Urban Job Sites
August 2026

In modern commercial construction, spatial real estate has become just as valuable as the materials themselves. The industry shift toward high-density, urban projects means that the sprawling job sites of the past have been replaced by tight footprints wh

Why "The Software Can't Track That" Is Finally Going Away
August 2026

For as long as specialty contractors have used field software, most of them have kept a workaround somewhere: a spreadsheet on a foreman's laptop, a whiteboard in the trailer, or a text thread where crew leads send block counts at the end of the day becau

Monadnock Building
August 2026

Chicago’s Monadnock Building doesn’t dominate the skyline the way it once did. Surrounded by steel-and-glass towers, the dark brick structure can seem almost understated. But for anyone in the masonry industry, it remains one of the most important buildin