What Surebonder does

Surebonder (FPC Corporation) is a family-owned American manufacturer of hot melt adhesive products and hand tools, founded in 1968 by Eugene Kamins and now in its third generation of family leadership. The company designs, engineers, and produces its product line from a 45,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Wauconda, Illinois, capable of producing millions of glue sticks per day. Its core portfolio spans hot glue guns (mini to industrial, corded, cordless, and hybrid) with patented features such as Auto Shut-Off Technology, a broad range of glue stick consumables (25+ formulations including all-purpose, fabric, foam, wood, cosplay, glow-in-dark, color/glitter, and industrial hot melt adhesives), hot glue skillets, the TriggerFire staple gun line, and rivet tools.

The company operates a hybrid business model combining hardware sales across consumer-grade ($6.49 entry-level) to professional-grade ($209.99 cordless full-size) price points with recurring consumable revenue from glue sticks. Surebonder goes to market through three primary channels: (1) broad retail distribution across 10,000+ locations including Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Ace Hardware, Menards, and Amazon; (2) direct-to-consumer e-commerce at surebonder.com with free shipping thresholds, subscription/loop integration, and a rewards program; and (3) an industrial distributor network with quote-based pricing for custom hot melt formulations serving packaging, woodworking, carpeting, and specialty manufacturing. The company monetizes its intellectual property through OEM cordless glue gun variants compatible with seven major power tool battery platforms (DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Ryobi, Craftsman, Bosch, Ridgid) and pursues community-led demand generation through influencer collaborations (Lynn Lilly, Grace Monroe Home) and the SBMakerFamily program. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the company has no external institutional funding.

Name

Surebonder

Legal name

Surebonder (FPC Corporation)

Website

https://surebonder.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Surebonder is a family-owned, third-generation American manufacturer of hot melt adhesive tools, glue sticks, and industrial adhesives, founded in 1968 and produced in Wauconda, Illinois. It serves makers, crafters, and industrial buyers through 10,000+ retail doors, OEM battery-platform partnerships, and a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wauconda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Glue Gun Hardware Sales: Primary revenue from selling hot glue guns in various series (Ultra, Plus, Essentials, Specialty, Professional, Industrial) and sizes (mini and full size). Products range from consumer-grade to heavy-duty industrial models.
2. Consumable Glue Sticks: Recurring revenue from hot glue sticks in various formulations (all-purpose, specialty, fabric, wood, foam, glow-in-dark, color/glitter, cosplay) and sizes. Also includes bulk rolls and skillet pellets.
3. Industrial Adhesive Formulas: Custom hot melt adhesive formulas for industrial applications including packaging, woodworking, carpeting, and specialty materials. 25+ formulations available.
4. Accessories: Revenue from glue gun accessories including stands, nozzles, batteries, chargers, adapters, and silicone mats.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Surebonder manufactures and sells hot melt adhesive products and hand tools, including a complete line of hot glue guns (Ultra, Plus, Essentials, Specialty, Professional, and Industrial series in mini and full sizes), hot glue sticks in 25+ formulations for different materials, hot glue skillets, TriggerFire staple guns, rivet tools, and related consumables and accessories. The company serves both consumer DIY/crafters through major retail chains and e-commerce, and industrial/professional buyers through a distributor network with custom adhesive formulations. All products are manufactured at the company's 45,000 sq. ft. facility in Wauconda, Illinois.

Product overview

Surebonder is a manufacturer of hot melt adhesive products and hand tools, founded in 1968 and headquartered in Wauconda, Illinois. The company operates as a family-owned business now in its third generation of leadership. Surebonder's core product portfolio centers on hot melt adhesive solutions including multiple series of hot glue guns (Ultra, Plus, Essentials, Specialty, Professional, and Industrial) available in various wattages from 10W mini guns to 500W+ industrial models, along with comprehensive hot glue stick consumables in various formulations. The product line extends to hot glue skillets for floral and craft applications, staple guns including the unique TriggerFire trigger-activated series, rivet tools, and accessories. Surebonder also produces industrial-grade hot melt adhesives with over 25 custom formulations for professional applications. The company collaborates with influencers like Lynn Lilly and Grace Monroe Home on branded product lines. Surebonder's products are distributed through over 10,000 retail locations including major retailers such as Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and Amazon.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ultra Series: Top-of-the-line hot glue gun series featuring patented Auto Shut-Off Technology, dual temperature capability, side fins, and insulated nozzle covers.
• Plus Series
• Essential Series
• Specialty Series
• Professional Series
• Fabric Stik
• Cool Shot
• Lynn Lilly Collection
• Grace Monroe Home

Products and services

• Hot Glue Guns (Full Line) Surebonder's flagship hot glue gun line spanning mini and full sizes with wattages from 10W to 500W+, offered in corded, cordless, and hybrid models with features such as auto shut-off, dual temperature, and detail tips. Targeted at crafters, DIYers, and professional users.
• Ultra Series Glue Guns Top-of-the-line hot glue guns featuring patented Auto Shut-Off Technology (shuts off after 30 minutes of non-use), dual temperature capability, side fins for safe laying, and insulated nozzle covers. Targeted at premium consumer and prosumer users.
• Plus Series Glue Guns Mid-range safety-focused glue guns with redesigned body allowing safe laying during use, equipped with safety fuse and insulated nozzle for burn protection. Available in mini and full size.
• Essentials Series Glue Guns Basic model glue guns with safety fuse and insulated nozzle, available in mini and full size with high, low, or dual temperature options. Entry-level pricing for casual users.
• Specialty Series Glue Guns Specialty glue guns offering added features such as detail tips, battery-powered models, and motorized options for specific use cases.
• Professional Series Glue Guns High-wattage hot glue guns (80W-500W) designed for professional use, including heavy-duty adjustable temperature models and cordless versions compatible with major power tool battery platforms (DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Craftsman, Bosch, Ridgid).
• Industrial Series Glue Guns Heavy-duty industrial-grade hot melt glue guns designed for manufacturing and high-volume applications.
• Cordless Glue Guns Battery-operated hot glue guns providing freedom to work anywhere without cords, including models compatible with 18V/20V power tool battery platforms from DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, Ryobi, Craftsman, Bosch, and Ridgid.
• Cool Shot Mini Glue Gun Ultra low temperature mini glue gun designed for safer bonding on delicate materials like balloons, featuring super low temp operation. Won NAPA Award recognition in 2025.
• Hot Glue Sticks Hot melt adhesive sticks available in mini (5/16") and full size (7/16"), various lengths (4" and 10"), and multiple formulations for different applications and temperatures.
• Fabric Stik Specialty hot glue sticks formulated specifically for fabric crafts, washable and designed for textile bonding applications.
• Foam Stik Low temperature hot glue sticks specifically formulated for delicate foam projects and foam crafts.
• Cosplay Stik Colored and specialty hot glue sticks designed for cosplay applications, available in amber, silver, and black colors.
• Hot Glue Skillets Electric hot glue skillets (basins) for melting and dipping applications, particularly popular for floral design and crafting, featuring adjustable temperature controls.
• Industrial Hot Melt Adhesive Formulas Custom hot melt adhesive formulations for industrial applications including Formula 725 (General Purpose All-Temp), Formula 711 (Fast Set Packaging), and specialty formulations for specific substrates. 25+ formulations available including EVAs, polyamides, APAOs, metalacines, and acrylics.
• TriggerFire Staple Guns Trigger-activated staple guns that set staples with the pull of a trigger for precision and accuracy, representing a unique ergonomic design in the staple gun category. Includes pneumatic staplers, cable tackers, and hand staplers.
• Staples (Consumable) Heavy-duty galvanized steel staples available in various leg lengths (3/8", 1/2") for different stapling applications.
• Rivet Tools Hand tools for installing rivets and Rivnuts (threaded inserts), part of Surebonder's fastener product family.
• Glue Gun Kits Curated kits combining glue guns with complementary glue sticks and accessories for comprehensive crafting solutions.
• Lynn Lilly Collaboration Products Special edition glue guns and kits designed in collaboration with craft influencer Lynn Lilly, featuring cordless/corded options and distinctive pink aesthetic.
• Grace Monroe Home Collaboration Products Special edition glue skillets and products designed in collaboration with Grace Monroe Home, featuring distinctive hot pink color and floral design accessories.
• Motorized Glue Guns Motor-powered hot glue guns (MGG series) designed for continuous glue dispensing and demanding applications without manual trigger pressing.
• Battery Adapters & Chargers Battery adapters and chargers for cordless glue guns, enabling compatibility with major power tool battery platforms.
• Glue Gun Accessories Accessories including stands, nozzles, glue pads, and other add-on components for glue guns.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 retail locations nationwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Spilled Milk Social ClubminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 10 November 2025Partnership supporting young makers through event sponsorship and community support for the Spilled Milk Social Club organization.
• Lynn LillycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with craft influencer Lynn Lilly featuring branded product line including cordless/corded mini and full-size glue gun kits. Lynn Lilly collection includes special edition products designed in collaboration with the maker community leader.
• Grace Monroe HomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Grace Monroe Home featuring special edition glue skillet in hot pink color with matching accessories. Products featured on WGN-TV Daytime Chicago demonstrating the partnership's visibility.
• MOTHER Mag + Crate & KidsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCreative partnership for back-to-school content featuring projects and inspiration in collaboration with MOTHER Magazine and Crate & Kids.
• DeWaltcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerOEM version of PRO2-60 and PRO2-200 cordless glue guns compatible with DeWalt 20V MAX battery platform. Battery and adapter sold separately.
• MilwaukeecoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerOEM version of PRO2-60 and PRO2-200 cordless glue guns compatible with Milwaukee M18 battery platform.
• MakitacoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerOEM version of PRO2-60 and PRO2-200 cordless glue guns compatible with Makita 18V LXT battery platform.
• RyobicoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerOEM kit version of PRO2-60 cordless glue gun with Ryobi 18V lithium-ion battery and charger included.
• CraftsmancoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerOEM versions of PRO2-60 and PRO2-200 cordless glue guns compatible with Craftsman 20V battery platform.
• BoschcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerOEM version of PRO2-200 cordless glue gun compatible with Bosch 18V battery platform.
• RidgidcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerOEM version of PRO2-200 cordless glue gun compatible with Ridgid 18V battery platform.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bostik: Adhesives manufacturer with significant hot melt and packaging adhesive business. Overlaps with Surebonder's industrial hot melt line, particularly in packaging and woodworking applications.
• 3M: Diversified industrial manufacturer with a substantial adhesives and tapes portfolio (including hot melt products) serving packaging, woodworking, and consumer markets. Competes with Surebonder's industrial formulations and overlaps in retail-channel adhesives.
• Henkel: Global adhesives leader (Loctite, Pattex, Technomelt hot melts) serving industrial packaging, automotive, and consumer crafts. Competes most directly with Surebonder's industrial hot melt formulations and broad adhesive offerings.
• Adhesive Technologies (Henkel Loctite consumer): Consumer and prosumer adhesives brand offering glues and applicators in major retail. Competes with Surebonder's consumer glue guns and sticks in the same retail shelf sets.

Emerging players

• DeWalt: Cordless power tool OEM partner (20V MAX) and potential adjacent competitor. Overlaps with Surebonder's professional cordless strategy through both partnership and competitive risk in jobsite adhesive applications.
• Milwaukee Tool: Major cordless power tool OEM partner of Surebonder (M18 platform). Comparable in that Milwaukee could expand its own branded adhesive tools; represents both an OEM customer and an adjacent competitor in the professional cordless category.

Direct peers

• Gorilla Glue: Consumer adhesives brand with strong retail presence in glues, tapes, and epoxy. Competes directly with Surebonder's consumer glue sticks and craft adhesive products on the same retail shelves.
• Bostitch (Stanley Black & Decker): Long-standing manufacturer of staplers, nailers, and fastening tools serving construction, industrial, and DIY markets. Competes with Surebonder's TriggerFire staple guns and industrial fastening offerings across overlapping retail channels.
• Arrow Fastener Company: Manufacturer of staple guns, rivet tools, and related hand fastening tools sold through retail and industrial channels. Closely overlaps Surebonder's TriggerFire staple gun and rivet tool lines in product, customer (DIY/professional), and channel mix.

Regional players

• Dremel: Rotary and specialty hand tool brand serving maker and DIY segments. Adjacent competitor in the maker/craft ecosystem that Surebonder targets, with comparable retail distribution and consumer brand positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/surebonder
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Surebonder
• Facebookfacebook.com/surebonder
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fpc-corporation
• Instagraminstagram.com/surebonder
• TikToktiktok.com/@surebonder
• Pinterestpinterest.com/SurebonderFPC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Surebonder