Adhesive Applications

Adhesive Applications is a family-owned maker of pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes in the United States. It has been in business for more than 50 years. It makes film, foam and transfer tapes for many industries, including aerospace.

The company offers a full line of silicone, rubber, acrylic and hot melt adhesive systems. It pairs them with many carrier materials, such as foam, film, woven and non-woven fabrics, and materials that customers supply themselves. Its engineers and scientists work with customers on short-term jobs and long development projects. Many new tapes start on a customer's shop floor, when an existing product cannot solve a problem.

Coating is the core of the business. The company uses solvent-based, waterborne and hot melt coating, and heat-activated adhesive systems. It can coat one or both sides of a material. It can also make permanent, removable, differential or zone coatings in custom widths. Release liners come in paper, polyethylene-coated paper, polyester and polyolefin film. A newer UV hot melt coater adds to its equipment.

Tapes ship as log rolls up to 61.5 inches wide, slit rolls from 3/16 inch wide, or continuous spools up to 15,000 feet long. Customers can ask for fast samples to test, and each product is pre-qualified in the company's lab.

The on-site lab tests adhesion, shear, tack, SAFT, tensile strength, conductivity, liner, thickness, solvent retention and environmental cycling. Adhesive Applications is ISO 9001 registered. Many of its products are UL recognized and AAMA certified.

The company serves medical, automotive, building and construction, aerospace, electronics, data center, appliance and graphics customers. Its aerospace tapes are aimed at lightweight, demanding uses.

The business began in 1970 with two firms, Dielectric Polymers and STIK-II. It acquired October Companies in 1986 and merged its firms in 2002 to form Adhesive Apps. In 2017 it bought the MHXCo Foam Company, and in 2021 it expanded its plant. A 55,000 square foot warehouse helps with shipping and order fulfillment.

Services

• Pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes
• Film tapes
• Foam tapes
• Transfer tapes
• Custom adhesive coating
• Hot melt adhesive coating
• Product research and development
• Lab testing
• Slitting and converting
• Order fulfillment