Adhesives Research, Inc.

Many years ago, (1984 and 1991) YCEDC helped to coordinate PIDA loans for Adhesives Research to help fund selected expansions at the company’s corporate headquarters and U.S. manufacturing site in Glen Rock, PA.

These expansions were just the beginning for this international developer and manufacturer of high-performance, custom pressure-sensitive adhesive tapes, films, laminates and coated products. Adhesives Research has had organic growth, since the mid-1990’s which has been funded, to a large extent, from retained earnings. In fact its growth has gone way beyond Glen Rock, into Europe and Asia as well.

This growth has included a new R&D Center, Quality Control facilities, as well as a new 26,600 square foot plant to produce dissolvable films for consumer and oral care products. There have also been expansions of existing plant facilities. The company also broke ground on another new adhesive systems and dissolvable films plant for the pharmaceutical, OTC and nutraceuticals. in 2003. This 15,000 square-foot plant, opened the first quarter of 2004, manufactures custom adhesive systems and dissolvable films for the delivery of active ingredients found in pharmaceutical prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) products, and is compliant to all pharmaceutical regulations as required by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Adhesives Research has also experienced much growth overseas, including the building of a new manufacturing plant in Limerick Ireland in 1999 to service the European Market and the establishment of new sales and marketing offices in the UK and Germany. It also opened a sales and marketing office in Singapore to accommodate a growing market for its products in Asia. A new technical center opened November 2003 at the Singapore site. Today, Adhesives Research employs just over 400 people at its Glen Rock Global headquarters and nearly 500 globally.

Adhesives Research, Inc. is one of the world's leading independent developers and manufacturers of high-performance, specialty pressure-sensitive adhesive-coated products. Adhesives Research’s pressure-sensitive adhesives are used around the world in medical diagnostics and devices, wound care, pharmaceuticals/transdermals and consumer products, as well as other diverse markets such as the electronics, industrial and pulp and paper industries.

Adhesives Research, Inc. also operates manufacturing facilities in Ireland, Australia and Colombia, has sales and marketing offices in Great Britain, Germany and Singapore, and sales representation in Taiwan and Japan.

*In 2006, Adhesives Research announced it will build a new pharmaceutical plant on the grounds of its headquarters. The 50,000-square-foot plant will serve the company’s new ARx division, which makes drug-delivery systems for pharmaceutical clients. The facility will house about 60 current employees, said George E. Cramer Jr., an Adhesives Research vice president. Adhesives Research also expects to hire new workers, but it is not yet clear how many. The plant will make films that deliver drugs by dissolving in the mouth. The films allow for precise dosages and help patients who cannot swallow. Adhesives Research expects rapid growth in its ARx division. Cramer said ARx needs a dedicated building because of the sensitive nature of the manufacturing, which is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The company will break ground at the plant on Jan. 27 and hopes to have the facility ready within a year. A construction cost estimate was not available. - David Dagan, Central Penn Business Journal Daily, 1/5/06