The History of Belgium’s Aramith
Aramith started as a chemical company called Saluc in 1923. In 1950, the company switched to producing billiard balls, and it continues to supply a worldwide consumer base. Saluc used its prowess in creating tannery chemicals to create the special resin that makes their pool supplies unique.
In 2012, Aramith merged with Iwan Simonis, another Belgian company that produces cloth for pool tables. Together they continue to create high-quality billiard supplies for both professionals and amateurs everywhere.
What Makes Aramith Unique?
Today, Aramith is Belgium’s only producer of billiard balls, and the company is responsible for 80% of the world’s supply. The key point of interest in the business’s production process is the integration of phenolic resin.
What are the perks of balls made of phenolic resin? First, they are durable, resisting chips and scratches easily. Any well-loved pool ball is prone to dents and scuffs, but Aramith supplies stay immaculate for longer. Phenolic resin products last up to five times as long as their cheaper polyester counterparts.
Secondly, phenolic resin allows a billiard ball to maintain its alluring polish and stay smooth. As a result, the pool table cloth is protected from wear that frictive balls cause. A vitrification layer further enhances their aesthetic qualities.
Because of its history as a chemical manufacturer, Aramith has an upstream integration strategy that many competitors do not. Owning a chemical plant, the workers do not have to outsource the necessary materials for their craft. That is why Aramith has a market share of over 85% worldwide.
Aramith’s product catalog includes not only billiard balls but supplies for carom and snooker as well.
Aramith Products Overview
Let’s briefly discuss Aramith’s product offerings. You can find more information about each of them on the official company site.
Billiards
Aramith’s primary product of interest is pool balls. You can buy them in sets, each containing all 15 numbered units plus the cue.
There are several different sets, each with some advantages or prestige. While some have tournament use or professional endorsement, the BLACK set has brighter colors to increase visibility on TV.
Similarly, Aramith’s catalog has training sets that help newcomers learn beginner and expert pocketing techniques. Each package comes with a manual, a cue ball, and two practice balls. Many of these training kits have endorsements from pro players like Mike Massey.
For more casual games, Aramith also creates fun sets with gimmicks like glowing in the dark or stone-like textures.
Snooker
Aramith creates balls for snooker, which come in sets of 22. The World Snooker Association endorses their materials. The Aramith Tournament Champion SuperPro 16 Snooker Ball Set has low weight tolerance for effortless gliding.
Aramith produces other sets, including an American variety with some numbered units. Their store also features a snooker training ball and guide by award-winning coach Nic Barrow.
Carom & Other Games
Carom is another billiard game played with either three or five balls. Aramith makes and sells an array of pro, tournament, and amateur sets. The five-ball set accommodates a new version of carom that the Dutch Billiard Federation created to bring pool games to the next generation.
Aramith sells durable, Belgian materials for many other billiard games, including yotsudama, bocetta, Russian pyramid, and more. The scope of games the company supplies spans from the Far East to America, servicing every major development in the history of pool.
Accessories and Tools
Finally, Aramith’s catalog includes the tools any pro or amateur needs to keep their equipment lustrous, durable, and high-performance. Ball cleaner, polishing cloths, and wooden organizing tools comprise the bulk of Aramith’s accessory kits.
Each kit also includes four cues, repair kits, chalk, table brushes, and an official rule book. Even the standard package contains everything a beginner needs to learn the preparation and gameplay of billiards.
For easy transportation with a sleek appeal, Aramith creates custom carrying cases. Some models leave room for several cues and all 16 balls, and others focus on toting each phenolic resin unit safely and fashionably. There’s even a miniature case for carrying a single ball such as a cue.
Conclusion
Now you know the key information about Aramith, the Belgian phenolic resin billiard ball company. By partnering with others and sponsoring tournaments and athletes, Aramith is why Belgium is the world’s largest exporter of pool balls and equipment.