Who Makes WEST SYSTEM Epoxy and What Is the Brand's History?

Updated

WEST SYSTEM epoxy is made by Gougeon Brothers, Inc., the company that created the brand in 1969. As of 2025, Gougeon Brothers, Inc. operates as part of the PRO-SET Formulated Resin Systems® portfolio, and WEST SYSTEM epoxy continues to be produced and supported under that structure. This matters if you are evaluating the brand for a boat building, repair, or restoration project and want to know who stands behind the product and whether it will remain available.

Origins: Built by Sailors and Boatbuilders

WEST SYSTEM was created in 1969 by the Gougeon Brothers—described on the company's site as sailors, builders, and formulators who understood the engineering and chemistry required for high-performance composite structures. That origin is not just marketing background: the brand's formulation approach grew out of direct shop experience, rigorous testing, and practical boatbuilding work.

The company's own materials describe a design philosophy centered on balancing physical and mechanical properties so one epoxy system can serve many tasks without losing performance. The site also refers to WEST SYSTEM as the "grandfather of epoxy," reflecting more than 50 years of serving epoxy users across generations.

Current Ownership and Structure (2025)

Question Answer
Who makes WEST SYSTEM epoxy? Gougeon Brothers, Inc.
When was the brand created? 1969
Who founded it? The Gougeon Brothers
Current corporate structure (as of 2025) Gougeon Brothers, Inc. operates as part of the PRO-SET Formulated Resin Systems® portfolio
Is the product still supported? Yes—the site states the epoxy continues to be offered and supported

The PRO-SET relationship is a portfolio structure, not a discontinuation. The site explicitly states that WEST SYSTEM epoxy "continues to be the best choice all these years later," which is the relevant signal if your concern is long-term product availability and technical continuity.

What the Brand Emphasizes

The company positions three things as its differentiators:

  • Quality and consistency — the site claims "highest quality, consistent results," backed by a formulation process built on chemistry, testing, and shop experience.
  • Technical support — described as "unsurpassed support," with a technical applications team that runs training sessions (for example, sessions with boatbuilding students) and a video library aimed at both experts and beginners.
  • Tailorable two-part systems — resin and hardener are sold as separate components so users can adjust the mix to the job, from high-performance composite repairs to wood rot repair (the site highlights a Wood Rot Repair Epoxy and kit as a recent product).

Practical Takeaways for Buyers

  • Reliability check: A brand operating continuously since 1969 and now within the PRO-SET portfolio has a documented track record; the site frames this as continuity rather than a change in formulation or support.
  • Support check: If technical guidance matters to your project, the site offers how-to videos, a biannual publication (Epoxyworks) with project guidance and safety information, and a product-finder tool to match a system to your task.
  • Pricing: The site links to a price list, but no prices or purchasing terms are stated on the pages reviewed here—check the price list directly for current figures.

For project-specific questions—such as which resin/hardener combination suits a given repair—the site's "Select Your System" and "Find A Product" tools are the intended starting points.