Ellsworth Adhesives

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.

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

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

• Industrial adhesives distribution
• Specialty chemicals supply
• Dispensing equipment supplies
• Custom adhesive formulation
• Converting and die cutting services

Headquarters

HQ city

Germantown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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
2. Custom Services: Value-added services including custom formulation, custom packaging, custom labeling, low pressure molding services, inventory management (ePlus), and converting services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Surrey NanoSystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 29 January 2026Ellsworth 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.
• 3McoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor3M 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.
• DowcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDow is recognized as a leading manufacturer partner in silicone materials serving battery, defense, consumer products, lighting, general industry, power, and transportation industries.
• Henkel LoctitecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHenkel Loctite is a premier supplier of adhesives, conformal coatings, sealants, encapsulants, lubricants, soldering materials, and other specialty products distributed through Ellsworth Adhesives.
• DymaxminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDymax UV light-curable adhesives, coatings, and encapsulants for electronics and industrial applications distributed through Ellsworth Adhesives.
• Parker LORDminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParker LORD adhesives and specialty materials for transportation, industrial, and aerospace applications distributed through Ellsworth Adhesives.
• HumiSealminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHumiSeal conformal coatings and manufacturing chemicals for electronics protection distributed through Ellsworth Adhesives.
• BostikminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBostik industrial adhesives including Thermogrip hot melt adhesives distributed through Ellsworth Adhesives.
• Glue Dots InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlue Dots International, acquired by Ellsworth Corporation in 1999, is a manufacturer of dots, squares, and custom patterns of pressure sensitive adhesives.
• SikaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSika sealants and adhesive products for construction and industrial applications distributed through Ellsworth Adhesives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/thegluedoctor
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/EllsworthAdhesives
• Facebookfacebook.com/ellsworth-adhesives-107060482648061
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/28305

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries9 records

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 Ellsworth Adhesives