Mar-Bal Inc.: Driving Innovation through In‑House R&D

Mar‑Bal, Inc. is dedicated to delivering top‑tier quality and service, while investing in its most valuable asset—its employees. By listening closely to customer needs, our team turns insights into products that truly fit the market.

Central to this mission is our Research and Development Center, a hub where cutting‑edge technology empowers our materials and product engineering teams to create reliable, high‑performance solutions.

Materials Engineering

The materials engineering team leads the formulation process, customizing compositions to meet specific customer requirements. Their work covers flame resistance, color stability, and dimensional control, ensuring every batch aligns with stringent performance criteria.

Product Engineering

Our product engineering group provides comprehensive support throughout the design phase. From tooling design and prototyping to mold‑flow analysis, they refine part geometry and performance before production begins.

Operating the R&D Center in-house keeps Mar‑Bal, Inc. a true one‑stop provider. Engineers conduct preliminary tests—otherwise outsourced—while materials specialists perform rigorous quality control to guarantee consistency from raw material to finished product. This internal testing streamlines development, reduces third‑party costs, and accelerates material validation.

Our lab houses a suite of testing equipment: a flame cabinet for UL94 flame‑retardant certification, FT‑IR for chemical analysis, TGA for thermal degradation, and DSC for heat capacity measurements. These tools give our engineers precise insight into material properties, enabling rapid iteration and improvement.

Casey Blabolil, Materials Engineer, highlights the value of new additions: “Our 3D printer lets customers see a physical part before committing to expensive tooling. This tangible prototype boosts confidence and can reveal design tweaks early.”

Product and materials engineers collaborate extensively, ensuring that every component meets the highest standards. “By working closely, we deliver the best possible products,” says Mitch McClung, Insulator Product Engineer.

Innovations from the lab have yielded multiple new product lines. Recently, we pre‑screened the MB3000‑15NY series for UL F1 rating, achieving certification. We are also developing a high‑temperature material that meets UL‑certified RTI of ≥180 °C.

In‑house testing guarantees that our materials and designs exceed customer expectations while keeping costs low. By adhering to industry standards, we deliver reliable, compliant solutions that stand out in the market.