Ellsworth Adhesives
Ellsworth Adhesives is a privately held global distributor of adhesives, specialty chemicals, and dispensing equipment serving industrial manufacturers across medical, aerospace, defense, battery, and transportation verticals in 21 countries, with integrated custom formulation, packaging, and converting services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersGermantown, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ellsworth Adhesives does
Ellsworth Adhesives is a privately held global distributor of adhesives, specialty chemicals, and dispensing equipment, founded in 1974 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and now headquartered in Germantown, Wisconsin. The company distributes products from more than 50 manufacturers, including 3M, Dow, Henkel Loctite, Dymax, Parker LORD, HumiSeal, and Bostik, and operates in 21 countries with a workforce reported between 1,000 and 1,300 people. Its service portfolio spans custom formulation (ResinLab), custom packaging (KitPackers), converting services, low pressure molding (MoldMan Systems), meter/mix dispensing equipment (Fluid Research, Fisnar), and a web-based inventory management program called ePlus.
The business sells across multiple industrial verticals including medical device manufacturing, aerospace and defense, battery and electrification, transportation, power, and general industry, supported by an "Engineering Sales Representatives as Glue Doctors" technical consultation model. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 and AS9120B certifications for its converting operations and offers ISO 10993-compliant products for medical device applications. Go-to-market combines a direct field sales force, an e-commerce storefront with EDI integration, and a global distribution network with manufacturing operations in the U.S., U.K., and Sparks, Nevada.
Revenue is generated primarily through product distribution with unit pricing, volume discounts, and quote-based custom formulation, complemented by recurring service revenue from custom packaging, inventory management, and converting. The firm has no disclosed external funding and remains under founder-family ownership following more than five decades of operation, having executed seven acquisitions between 1984 and 2016 and added a subsidiary consolidation in 2020.
Ellsworth Adhesives firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ellsworth Adhesives
- Legal name
- Ellsworth Adhesives
- Website
- https://ellsworth.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Ellsworth Adhesives is a privately held global distributor of adhesives, specialty chemicals, and dispensing equipment serving industrial manufacturers across medical, aerospace, defense, battery, and transportation verticals in 21 countries, with integrated custom formulation, packaging, and converting services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ellsworth Adhesives industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Chemical Distribution
- NAICS
- Adhesive Manufacturing (32552), Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing (3255)
- SIC
- Adhesives & Sealants (2891), Wholesale-Durable Goods, Nec (5099)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Adhesives (Structural & Assembly) (IMAEAGAH)
Keywords
Where Ellsworth Adhesives is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Germantown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Ellsworth Adhesives business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Distribution: Distribution of adhesives, specialty chemicals, sealants, encapsulants, conformal coatings, tapes, and dispensing equipment from over 50 manufacturers including 3M, Dow, Henkel Loctite, Dymax, and Parker LORD
- Custom Services: Value-added services including custom formulation, custom packaging, custom labeling, low pressure molding services, inventory management (ePlus), and converting services
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual product pricing with volume discounts available |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Ellsworth Adhesives product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ellsworth Adhesives is a global distributor of industrial adhesives, sealants, conformal coatings, encapsulants, tapes, specialty chemicals, and dispensing equipment, sourcing products from over 50 manufacturers including 3M, Dow, Henkel Loctite, Dymax, and Parker LORD. The company supplements product distribution with value-added services such as custom formulation, custom packaging, converting (die cutting, laser cutting, laminating), low pressure molding, and web-based inventory management (ePlus), supported by Engineering Sales Representatives acting as technical "Glue Doctors."
Product overview
Ellsworth Adhesives is a global distributor of adhesives, specialty chemicals, and dispensing equipment offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for industrial manufacturing. The core product offerings include various adhesive chemistries (acrylic, anaerobic, cyanoacrylate, epoxy, hot melt, polyurethane, silicone, UV curable), conformal coatings, encapsulants, sealants, tapes, thermally conductive materials, and dispensing equipment. The company distributes products from over 50 manufacturers including 3M, Dow, Henkel Loctite, Dymax, Parker LORD, and HumiSeal. Complementary services include custom formulation through ResinLab, converting services (die cutting, laser cutting, lamination), low pressure molding through MoldMan Systems, inventory management (ePlus), electronic data interchange (EDI), and custom packaging through KitPackers. The company also recently launched distribution of Vantablack® 310 ultra-black coatings for aerospace and optics applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Glue Doctor: Unique technical support service featuring Engineering Sales Representatives and Technical Service personnel who assist customers with product selection and application processes.
- ePlus
Products and services
- Adhesives Comprehensive range of industrial adhesives including acrylic, anaerobic, cyanoacrylate, epoxy, hot melt, polyurethane, silicone, and UV curable chemistries for bonding substrates in industrial manufacturing, sourced from 50+ manufacturers.
- Conformal Coatings Protective coatings applied to printed circuit boards to safeguard against moisture, dust, chemicals, and thermal cycling, available in acrylic, polyurethane, silicone, and UV curable chemistries.
- Encapsulants and Potting Compounds Potting compounds and encapsulating materials providing environmental and mechanical protection for electronic components and assemblies, available in silicone and other chemistries with varied cure profiles.
- Sealants Industrial sealing solutions including acrylic, polysulfide, polyurethane, and silicone chemistries for applications requiring weather resistance, flexibility, and durability.
- Dispensing Equipment and Supplies Industrial dispensing systems and supplies including pneumatic caulk tube dispensers, handheld applicators, and meter/mix/dispensing equipment for one- and two-component materials.
- UV Curing Equipment Ultraviolet light curing systems including UV curing lamps and associated dispensing automation for rapid curing of adhesives, coatings, and encapsulants in production cycles.
- Tapes Industrial tape products including double-coated tapes, VHB tapes, packaging tapes, masking tapes, and specialty tapes for bonding, sealing, and surface protection applications.
- Thermally Conductive Materials Thermal interface materials designed to transfer heat in electronic and industrial assemblies, used for heat dissipation in electronic components.
- Specialty Chemicals Specialty chemical products including silicone rubber systems, lubricants, and other formulated chemical products for industrial manufacturing.
- Vantablack 310 Ultra-Black Coatings Ultra-black coating developed by Surrey NanoSystems and distributed globally by Ellsworth Adhesives, offering superior optical and mechanical properties for aerospace and optics applications, with durability, low outgassing, and environmental compliance applicable via standard spray techniques.
- Custom Formulation Service Custom formulation services through ResinLab for developing specialized adhesive, encapsulant, and coating products tailored to specific application requirements and substrates.
- Converting Services Material conversion services including rotary die cutting, flatbed die cutting, laser cutting, plotter cutting, prototyping, slitting, laminating, and assembly, ISO 9001:2015 and AS9120B certified with ISO 10993 biocompatible product capabilities.
- Low Pressure Molding Services Low pressure injection molding contract services through MoldMan Systems for environmental sealing and protection of electronic components and assemblies.
- ePlus Inventory Solutions Web-based inventory management program utilizing multiple label types (including RFID-enabled labels) for automatic inventory tracking with full lot traceability, available to industrial customers as a managed service.
- Custom Packaging Custom packaging of adhesives, sealants, coatings, lubricants, and specialty chemicals through KitPackers for tailored pack sizes, kitting, and private-label requirements.
- Meter, Mix, and Dispensing Equipment Engineered meter, mix, and dispensing equipment for single and multi-component materials through Fluid Research, designed for integration into industrial production lines.
Quantifiable outcome
- 800+ years combined adhesive, specialty chemical, and dispensing expertise across workforce
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Ellsworth Adhesives
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Ellsworth Adhesives technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Ellsworth Adhesives partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Surrey NanoSystemscoreEllsworth Adhesives and Surrey NanoSystems announced a collaboration to distribute Vantablack 310 and other ultra-black coatings globally. The product offers high-performance optical and mechanical properties suitable for aerospace and optics applications, featuring durability, low outgassing, and environmental compliance with application via standard spray techniques.
- 3Mcore3M is a featured manufacturer and preferred adhesives distributor partner, with products including VHB tapes, packaging tapes, industrial tapes, and safety products distributed through Ellsworth Adhesives.
- DowcoreDow is recognized as a leading manufacturer partner in silicone materials serving battery, defense, consumer products, lighting, general industry, power, and transportation industries.
- Henkel LoctitecoreHenkel Loctite is a premier supplier of adhesives, conformal coatings, sealants, encapsulants, lubricants, soldering materials, and other specialty products distributed through Ellsworth Adhesives.
- DymaxminorDymax UV light-curable adhesives, coatings, and encapsulants for electronics and industrial applications distributed through Ellsworth Adhesives.
- Parker LORDminorParker LORD adhesives and specialty materials for transportation, industrial, and aerospace applications distributed through Ellsworth Adhesives.
- HumiSealminorHumiSeal conformal coatings and manufacturing chemicals for electronics protection distributed through Ellsworth Adhesives.
- BostikminorBostik industrial adhesives including Thermogrip hot melt adhesives distributed through Ellsworth Adhesives.
- Glue Dots InternationalcoreGlue Dots International, acquired by Ellsworth Corporation in 1999, is a manufacturer of dots, squares, and custom patterns of pressure sensitive adhesives.
- SikaminorSika sealants and adhesive products for construction and industrial applications distributed through Ellsworth Adhesives.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ellsworth Adhesives competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Techsil: UK-based adhesives and sealants distributor with technical support and converting services targeting industrial OEMs — closely comparable in product mix and technical-sales-led model.
- Krayden: Specialty distributor of adhesives, sealants, and coatings serving aerospace, electronics, and industrial OEMs with technical sales engineering — same niche value-added distribution playbook.
- Hisco: US-based specialty chemicals and adhesives distributor serving industrial customers with converting, custom packaging, and technical sales support — directly comparable in model and customer mix to Ellsworth Adhesives.
- Würth Industry North America: Division of the Würth Group distributing industrial assembly materials (adhesives, fasteners, tools) with value-added services like vendor-managed inventory — directly overlaps Ellsworth's ePlus and converting offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Grainger Industrial: Large-scale industrial MRO and specialty chemicals distributor serving similar plant/procurement buyers — broader catalog but overlaps with Ellsworth on adhesives, sealants, and dispensing supplies sold through its e-commerce channel.
- H.B. Fuller: Global manufacturer of industrial adhesives, sealants, and coatings with its own direct sales and distribution — competes and overlaps with Ellsworth's product lines on a much larger scale.
- Sika AG: Global specialty chemicals company producing sealants, adhesives, and waterproofing systems used in construction, automotive, and industrial markets — competes with Ellsworth as both supplier-adjacent and channel rival.
- Bostik (Arkema): Global adhesives manufacturer (Arkema subsidiary) including hot melts and pressure-sensitive products that Ellsworth distributes — vertical overlap makes it both a supplier and a competitive threat.
- 3M Industrial Adhesives & Tapes: Major manufacturer of industrial tapes, VHB bonding systems, and adhesives — both a flagship supplier to Ellsworth and a direct competitor through its own industrial channel.
- Henkel (Loctite): Global leader in industrial adhesives and sealants (Loctite brand) — Ellsworth's largest strategic supplier and a direct competitor when Henkel serves customers via direct account teams.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ellsworth Adhesives social profiles
Digital presenceEllsworth Adhesives compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Ellsworth Adhesives financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ellsworth Adhesives leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Ellsworth Adhesives subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries9 records
Ellsworth Adhesives funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ellsworth Adhesives M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ellsworth Adhesives
What does Ellsworth Adhesives do?
Ellsworth Adhesives is a global distributor of industrial adhesives, sealants, conformal coatings, encapsulants, tapes, specialty chemicals, and dispensing equipment, sourcing products from over 50 manufacturers including 3M, Dow, Henkel Loctite, Dymax, and Parker LORD. The company supplements product distribution with value-added services such as custom formulation, custom packaging, converting (die cutting, laser cutting, laminating), low pressure molding, and web-based inventory management (ePlus), supported by Engineering Sales Representatives acting as technical "Glue Doctors."
Is Ellsworth Adhesives a public or private company?
Ellsworth Adhesives is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Ellsworth Adhesives founded?
Ellsworth Adhesives was founded in 1974. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Ellsworth Adhesives based?
Ellsworth Adhesives is headquartered in Germantown, United States, in the North America region.
How does Ellsworth Adhesives make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Distribution is the primary driver. The others are custom Services.
Who are Ellsworth Adhesives's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Techsil, Krayden, Hisco and Würth Industry North America. Broad incumbents are Grainger Industrial, H.B. Fuller, Sika AG, Bostik (Arkema), 3M Industrial Adhesives & Tapes and Henkel (Loctite).
Does Ellsworth Adhesives have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ellsworth Adhesives.
What industry is Ellsworth Adhesives in?
Ellsworth Adhesives's product category is Specialty Chemical Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAGAH, Adhesives (Structural & Assembly). Its NAICS code is 32552 and its SIC code is 2891.