What Drytac does

Drytac is a privately held manufacturer of adhesive-coated products founded in 1976, headquartered in Bristol, UK, with manufacturing operations in Toronto, Canada and a US sales office. The company specializes in pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) science applied across three core product categories: digital print media (printable films for windows, walls, floors, and vehicle wraps), laminating films (protective overlaminates such as Weathershield, Interlam Pro, and Emerytex), and mounting adhesives (double-sided films for permanent, removable, and repositionable applications). Proprietary technology platforms include ReTac ultra-removable adhesive, Polar Grip high-bond adhesive for low surface energy substrates, SpotOn dot-pattern removable adhesive, ViziPrint optically clear window films, and Weathershield UV-stabilized laminates, with third-party fire certifications (CAN:ULC-S102, EN 13501-1, BS 476, ASTM E-84, Class 0) supporting specification in public-space architectural applications.

The company operates a B2B distribution-led go-to-market model, selling through a global network of over 198 authorized distributors and dealers (including Lindenmeyr Munroe, Hasco Graphics, ND Graphics, and Premier) alongside direct sample and inquiry intake via its website. Customer base spans wide-format print service providers, sign makers, exhibition fabricators, retail and hospitality venues, sports venues, fine art mounters, and industrial tape converters, with named end users including McDonald's, Disney, Adidas, Starbucks, Nike, Walmart, London Underground, Ricoh Europe, and Gas Monkey Garage. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, sold on a unit-pricing basis through distributors with volume tiers. Revenue streams comprise hardware product sales across the three categories plus a custom solutions line offering bespoke adhesive formulations, custom coating, and sheeting services for industrial verticals including medical, renewable energy, transportation, and packaging.

Drytac generates commercial demand through industry trade shows (Sign and Digital UK, PRINTING United Expo, Foam Expo), content marketing (blog, case studies, technical documentation, ICC profiles), social media, and a strategic partnership with the Professional Decal Application Alliance (PDAA) for certified installer training. The company is led by CEO Hayden Kelley, with a senior team spanning sales, product management, and technical sales. Drytac is independently owned with no disclosed private equity, venture capital, or institutional investors, and is approaching its 50th anniversary in the 2024-2026 period.

Name

Drytac

Legal name

Drytac

Website

https://drytac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Drytac is a privately held specialty manufacturer founded in 1976, producing pressure-sensitive adhesive print media, laminating films, and mounting adhesives for sign makers, print service providers, retailers, and industrial converters worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pressure-Sensitive Adhesive Films and Print Media

NAICS

Adhesive Manufacturing (32552), Adhesive Manufacturing (325520)

SIC

Adhesives & Sealants (2891), Commercial Printing (2750)

akta.pro primary industry

Tapes, Labels & Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives (IMAEAGAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Labels & Pressure-Sensitive Materials (labelstock, PSA labels, liners) (IMAMAHAE), Finishing & Post-Press Services (Cutting, Folding, Collating, Laminating, Foil, Emboss) (MPAJALAF)

Keywords

• Print media films
• Laminating films
• Mounting adhesives
• Pressure-sensitive adhesives
• Custom adhesive coating

Headquarters

HQ city

Sandston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Digital Print Media Sales: Sale of printable films for windows, walls, floors, and other surfaces including polymeric PVC films, textured films, and specialty media.
2. Laminating Films: Sale of protective laminating films including gloss and matte polymeric PVC overlaminating films for enhancing durability and weatherability of graphics.
3. Mounting Adhesives: Sale of mounting adhesives (double-sided adhesives) for permanent, removable, or repositionable mounting applications.
4. Custom Solutions: Custom coating, sheeting, and converting services including bespoke adhesive formulations, specialty laminates, and personalized print media options.
5. Industrial Adhesive Products: High-performance tapes, industrial adhesives, and PSA components for manufacturing industries including medical, renewable energy, transportation, and packaging sectors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Drytac manufactures pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) products for the print media, signage, and industrial markets. Its portfolio includes digital print media films for windows, walls, and floors, protective laminating films, and mounting/double-sided adhesives, delivered alongside custom coating and sheeting services for bespoke adhesive formulations. Products are sold globally through a network of authorized distributors and dealers targeting print service providers, sign makers, industrial converters, and picture-framing professionals.

Product overview

Drytac is a manufacturer of adhesive-coated products founded in 1976, serving the large-format print, signage, and industrial markets globally with offices in the UK, Canada, and US. The product portfolio consists of three core categories: Digital Print Media (printable films for windows, walls, floors including Polar Grip, Polar Premium, ReTac Smooth, ReTac Textures, SpotOn, and ViziPrint product lines), Laminating Films (protective overlaminates including Weathershield, Interlam Pro, and Emerytex products), and Mounting Adhesives (double-sided mounting films for creating custom adhesive-backed materials). The company also offers Custom Solutions including bespoke adhesive formulations, custom coating, and sheeting services. Key adhesive technology brands include ReTac (ultra-removable), SpotOn (dot-pattern removable), and Polar (cold-temperature resistant). Products serve applications including signage, exhibition graphics, vehicle wraps, wall graphics, window displays, floor graphics, and fine art face-mounting. The company focuses on pressure-sensitive adhesive science with applications across wide-format display, picture framing, commercial printing, and industrial markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ReTac Smooth 150 6 mil matte white polymeric PVC film with ReTac ultra-removable adhesive technology for easy installation, removal and repositioning of graphics without leaving residue; compatible with solvent, eco-solvent, Latex and UV printers; 5-year interior/exterior durability with 2-year removability; Class 0 fire rated.
• Polar Grip 3.2 mil premium white polymeric PVC film with grey high-bond acrylic adhesive for low-surface-energy substrates, machine equipment decals, curved products and porous surfaces including brick and concrete; available in matte and gloss finishes; 5-year durability with operating temperature range -45°C to 110°C.
• Polar Grip Air White polymeric self-adhesive vinyl with air-release technology for bubble-free application in the Polar range designed for tough conditions.
• Polar Frost Translucent embossed polymeric film for decorative and functional applications requiring a frosted glass appearance.
• Polar Frost Air Translucent embossed polymeric film with air-release technology for bubble-free frosted-glass installations.
• Polar Premium Clear 3.2 mil phthalate-free printable polymeric solvent self-adhesive PVC film with clear permanent adhesive, compatible with Solvent, Eco-Solvent, UV and Latex technologies; 7-year durability for indoor and outdoor signage, window graphics, exhibitions, POS displays and flat vehicle graphics.
• Polar Smooth 150 Air Matte white polymeric film with air-release bubble-free technology for easy application in the Polar product range.
• SpotOn SynTac Sustainable PVC-free polypropylene window and wall graphic media featuring dot-pattern removable adhesive for easy application and removal.
• SpotOn Duo Clear dot-pattern double-sided mounting adhesive for mounting applications requiring repositionable adhesion.
• ViziPrint Impress Clear Optically clear PET film specifically designed for trouble-free, dry installation of window graphics.
• ReTac WipeErase 6 mil white dry-erase film with scratch- and stain-resistant lacquer and 10-year guarantee, using ReTac permanently peelable adhesive for repositionable application that converts any flat surface into a whiteboard; 2018 SGIA Product of the Year winner.
• WipeErase White 6 mil dry-erase film with permanent adhesive for locations where signage does not need to be moved, offering durability and scratch resistance for whiteboard surface applications.
• Weathershield 3.2 mil clear polymeric gloss or matte PVC laminating films with UV stabilizers; 7-year outdoor durability with minimal shrinkage and multiple fire ratings, providing UV protection for vibrant colored inks and media stability.
• Facemount High-quality optically clear pressure-sensitive permanent mounting adhesive for face-mounting photographs and artwork to acrylic, PETG, Plexiglas and polycarbonate substrates; trusted in the fine art sector for over 30 years.
• ReTac Textures Embossed wallcovering film with ReTac ultra-removable adhesive backing for easy repositioning and removal without residue, suited to business, retail, display and home environments.
• Paper Fleece Air Non-woven wallcovering print media with air-release properties for interior wall graphic applications.
• Digital Print Media product category Printable films for windows, walls, floors and other surfaces, including polymeric and monomeric PVC films, polypropylene, polyester and specialty materials with various adhesive technologies (Polar, ReTac, SpotOn, ViziPrint and Paper Fleece lines).
• Laminating Films product category Protective overlaminate films that enhance durability and protect against moisture and UV damage, including Interlam Pro, Weathershield and Emerytex product lines.
• Mounting Adhesives product category Double-sided mounting films with carrier film and release liner for creating custom adhesive-backed materials, enabling double-sided printing and permanent, removable or repositionable applications (includes SpotOn Duo and Facemount).
• Custom Solutions Bespoke adhesive formulations, specialty laminates, custom sizes and personalized print media options developed in collaboration with customers for unique applications in medical, renewable energy, transportation and other industrial sectors.

Quantifiable outcome

• ReTac WipeErase guaranteed for up to ten years without ink staining or ghosting
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Ricoh EuropeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 December 2025Ricoh Europe used Drytac's Polar Grip polymeric self-adhesive vinyl to wrap two digital presses at its European Customer Experience Centre in Telford, England, demonstrating product quality for their equipment.
• Professional Decal Application Alliance (PDAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDrytac partners with PDAA to ensure their products are integral to training and certification programs for architectural films covering windows, walls, and floors. PDAA certified installers demonstrate industry knowledge, required installation skills, and proficiency with necessary tools to install architectural film in retail and commercial settings.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• 3M: Global industrial conglomerate with a major pressure-sensitive adhesives, tapes, and films division. Comparable because 3M competes directly with Drytac's PSA films and laminates across commercial and industrial channels, though as part of a much broader product portfolio.
• Avery Dennison: Leading global manufacturer of pressure-sensitive label materials and adhesive products. Comparable to Drytac in PSA technology and labelstock/film products, though Avery operates at significantly larger scale across packaging and graphics end markets.

Direct peers

• Sihl Group: European coating specialist producing printable media, laminates, and adhesive-coated films for graphics, photo, and industrial markets. Comparable to Drytac in coated-film technology and serving adjacent print/photo/industrial channels.
• Hexis: French manufacturer of self-adhesive vinyl films for vehicle wrapping, signage, and architectural decoration. Comparable to Drytac's Polar and ReTac product lines for printable films and laminates used in vehicle and architectural graphics.
• Arlon Graphics: Manufacturer of pressure-sensitive cast and calendered vinyl films, laminates, and digital print media for vehicle wraps, signage, and architectural applications. Direct peer to Drytac's digital print media and laminating film lines serving sign makers and wrap shops.
• General Formulations: US-based producer of pressure-sensitive laminating films and printable media for digital print and sign markets. Directly competes with Drytac in overlaminates and print media for wide-format graphics customers.
• Mactac (Lintec Corporation): Specialty manufacturer of pressure-sensitive adhesive films and laminates for graphics, labeling, and industrial applications. Closely aligned with Drytac in product type (printable vinyls, laminates, mounting adhesives) and customer base (sign makers, print service providers).
• Orafol: European-based manufacturer of self-adhesive films, reflective materials, and laminating films for graphics and industrial use. Directly comparable to Drytac in printable vinyls, overlaminates, and sign-making media with similar European manufacturing footprint.

Emerging players

• Grafityp: Belgian manufacturer of self-adhesive films for signage, vehicle graphics, and decoration. Smaller specialist with overlapping product categories to Drytac, particularly in printable vinyls and laminates for the European sign-making market.
• Continental Grafix: Manufacturer of printable and laminating films for window graphics, architectural, and sign applications. Smaller specialty peer with product overlap in self-adhesive films and laminates similar to Drytac's architectural/SpotOn lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/drytac
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DRYTAC999
• Facebookfacebook.com/drytac
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/drytac-corporation
• Instagraminstagram.com/drytac

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Drytac