Elmer's Products

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Elmer's Products, Inc.
Company type Subsidiary
Industry Adhesives, stationery, craft, hardware
Predecessor Borden 1947–1999
Founded1947;77 years ago (1947)
FounderGail Borden Jr.
Headquarters,
U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Michael V. Warren (president & CEO)
Kelli A. Bray (CFO)
ProductsAdhesives, office supplies, craft supplies, wood filler, sealants, paint markers, foam board, organizational products, cutting tools
Number of employees
250–500
Parent Newell Brands
Website www.elmers.com
Elmer's Cascamite Glue. "Easy to mix, dry powder urea resin glue, for wood, fiberboard, and other porous materials" had to be mixed with water. Elmer's Cascamite glue by Borden's.jpg
Elmer's Cascamite Glue. "Easy to mix, dry powder urea resin glue, for wood, fiberboard, and other porous materials" had to be mixed with water.
Elmer's Glue-All was introduced in 1947; packaging c. 1976. Elmer's Glue-All historic packaging.JPG
Elmer's Glue-All was introduced in 1947; packaging c.1976.
Elmer's School Glue was introduced in 1968; packaging c. 1976. Elmer's School Glue historic packaging.JPG
Elmer's School Glue was introduced in 1968; packaging c.1976.
Elmer's washable, no run, School Glue Norungel0047.JPG
Elmer's washable, no run, School Glue

Elmer's Products, Inc. or simply Elmer's, is an American-based company that has a line of adhesive, craft, home repair, and office supply products. It is best known as the manufacturer of Elmer's Glue-All, a popular PVA-based synthetic glue, in addition to other brands including Krazy Glue, ProBond and CraftBond [1] [2] adhesives, and X-Acto cutting tools.

Contents

Introduced by Borden, it was spun off independently in 1999. The company was acquired in 2003 by Berwind Corporation, a privately held investment firm. On October 5, 2015, Newell Rubbermaid announced a $600 million deal to acquire Elmer's Products. [3]

The logo for the brand was based upon "Elmer the Bull", mate of Borden's advertising mascot Elsie the Cow, during the 20th century. Elmer's image continues to be featured in the company logo. [4]

History

On May 11, 1857, with three employees and one product, Gail Borden founded the company that became Borden, Inc. In 1929, Borden purchased the Casein Company of America, the leading manufacturer of glues made from casein, a byproduct of milk. Borden introduced its first glue product, known as Casecorez Glue, in 1947. [5] Five years later, the company began producing resin adhesives for use in woodworking, such as Cascamite. [6]

Early years

Immediately after World War II, the company expanded into synthetic resin glues and, in 1947, the first multipurpose consumer white glue, known as Elmer's Glue-All, was introduced. [7] The glue was packaged in a glass bottle with a Popsicle stick type wooden applicator attached with a rubber band. Consumer feedback confirmed a need for an easier to use delivery method, which prompted the company to develop easy to squeeze bottles featuring a twistable orange cap, introduced in 1962. This innovation remains in use and is a trademark of Elmer's Products. [8]

Later years

Over the next few decades, Elmer's focused on expansion of adhesive products for school and home, in addition to developing a variety of hardware sealants, compounds, and caulks. In 1968, Elmer's introduced Elmer's School Glue, the first white glue that washed out of clothes. Soon, Elmer's Glue-All and School Glue would contain the same ingredients, but each retained its different packaging. [9]

In the 1970s, Elmer's also began marketing Krazy Glue, a well-known cyanoacrylate adhesive.

In response to teacher requests for an easier-to-use, no-mess bonding method, Elmer's introduced its line of glue sticks in 1983, easing application and reducing mess. [8]

In 1989, Borden, Inc., and Toagosei America entered into a joint venture partnership to manufacture, sell and distribute cyanoacrylate and anaerobic adhesives under the Krazy Glue and Aron Alpha trademarks. [10]

In 1991, Elmer's expanded into the kid's Arts and Crafts category with GluColors, colorful products designed especially for children. [10]

In 1994, Borden was purchased by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, and Elmer's was launched as a separate operating company. [6] The company focused on creating category-leading adhesive and related products for school, crafts, hardware, and home repair use.

In 2000, Elmer's acquired Ross Products, an expansion that helped accelerate product development beyond adhesives and into the world of creative arts and crafts. Two years later, Elmer's was purchased by another private equity firm and merged with Hunt Corporation, known for development of adult arts and crafts, and office products, including the X-Acto and Boston brands. In addition, Painters paint markers and other arts and crafts brands were added to the family. [8]

In 2013, [11] Elmer's introduced "Elmer's School Glue Naturals", made primarily from plants, such as corn. [12]

Let's Bond program

In 2013, Elmer's partnered with researcher Richard Rende, Ph.D., to explore the benefits arts and crafts can offer children in the early years of growth and development. His research revealed that creative interaction between parents and young children engaging in activities like arts and crafts not only provides immediate and lasting cognitive benefits, but also creates a unique bonding experience. [13]

Elmer the Bull

Although Elmer the Bull did not become the marketing symbol for Borden's adhesive line until 1951, he had been a familiar household name since the 1940s. Elmer was designed in 1940 by David William Reid. Reid was part of the advertising team that developed Elsie the Cow, the well-known bovine marketing symbol for the dairy division. [14] Elmer was a huge hit with the public and was frequently seen alongside Elsie and their children (Beulah and Beauregard created in 1948, and twins Larabee and Lobelia in 1957 [15] ) in most promotional and advertising campaigns. [8]

In 1951, Elmer the Bull was officially chosen to be the marketing symbol for all adhesives in the Borden line, and his portrait has appeared on Elmer's packaging ever since. [16]

When first introduced in 1947 as Cascorez Glue, Elmer's glue contained casein from dairy milk. [5] However over the second half of the 20th century, synthetic glue has become less expensive, more consistent from bottle to bottle, and lasts longer. [17] Elmer's does not currently use animals, animal parts, or milk to make glue. [18]

Products

The company manufactures a wide range of glues, wood fillers, display boards, and paint markers, varying in strength and use.

Other brands

Krazy Glue, a super-strong, fast-drying instant adhesive, was introduced to the North American market in 1973. It is based on ethyl cyanoacrylate and has properties similar to other cyanoacrylate adhesives (commonly sold as "Crazy Glue" or "Super Glue").

X-Acto is the brand name for a variety of cutting tools and office products. Cutting tools include hobby and utility knives, saws, carving tools, and many small-scale precision knives used for crafts and other applications.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adhesive</span> Non-metallic material used to bond various materials together

Adhesive, also known as glue, cement, mucilage, or paste, is any non-metallic substance applied to one or both surfaces of two separate items that binds them together and resists their separation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyanoacrylate</span> Type of fast-acting adhesive

Cyanoacrylates are a family of strong fast-acting adhesives with industrial, medical, and household uses. They are derived from ethyl cyanoacrylate and related esters. The cyanoacrylate group in the monomer rapidly polymerizes in the presence of water to form long, strong chains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casein</span> Family of proteins found in milk

Casein is a family of related phosphoproteins that are commonly found in mammalian milk, comprising about 80% of the proteins in cow's milk and between 20% and 60% of the proteins in human milk. Sheep and cow milk have a higher casein content than other types of milk with human milk having a particularly low casein content.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polyvinyl acetate</span> Chemical compound

Polyvinyl acetate (PVA, PVAc, poly(ethenyl ethanoate)), commonly known as wood glue, PVA glue, white glue, carpenter's glue, school glue, or Elmer's Glue in the US, is a widely available adhesive used for porous materials like wood, paper, and cloth. An aliphatic rubbery synthetic polymer with the formula (C4H6O2)n, it belongs to the polyvinyl ester family, with the general formula −[RCOOCHCH2]−. It is a type of thermoplastic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Testor Corporation</span> American paint and tools manufacturer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyvek</span> Brand of synthetic polyethylene fiber

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scotch Tape</span> American brand of pressure sensitive tapes

Scotch Tape is a brand name used for pressure-sensitive tapes developed by 3M. It was first introduced by Richard Drew, who created the initial masking tape under the Scotch brand. The invention of Scotch-brand cellulose tape expanded its applications, making it suitable for sealing packages and conducting item repairs. Over time, Scotch Tape has been utilized in various industries and households for its diverse adhesive solutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newell Brands</span> American consumer products company

Newell Brands Inc. is an American manufacturer, marketer and distributor of consumer and commercial products. The company's brands and products include Rubbermaid storage and trash containers; home organization and reusable container products; Contigo and Bubba water bottles; Coleman outdoor products; writing instruments glue ; children's products ; cookware and small appliances and fragrance products.

Artificial hair integrations, more commonly known as hair extensions, hair weaves, and fake hair add length and fullness to human hair. Hair extensions are usually clipped, glued, or sewn on natural hair by incorporating additional human or synthetic hair. These methods include tape-in extensions, clip-in or clip-on extensions, micro/nano rings, fusion method, weaving method, and wigs.

X-Acto is a brand name for a variety of cutting tools and office products owned by Elmer's Products, Inc. These include hobby and utility knives, saws, carving tools and many small-scale precision knives used for crafts and other applications. An X-Acto knife may be called an Exacto knife, utility knife, precision knife, or hobby knife.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gorilla Glue</span> Polyurethane adhesive

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borden Dairy</span> American dairy processor and distributor

Borden Dairy Company is an American dairy processor and distributor headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Established in 2009, the company is a successor to the original Borden Company established in 1857 by Gail Borden. The company is a former subsidiary of Dean Foods.

Wood glue is an adhesive used to tightly bond pieces of wood together. Many substances have been used as glues. Traditionally animal proteins like casein from milk or collagen from animal hides and bones were boiled down to make early glues. They worked by solidifying as they dried. Later, glues were made from plant starches like flour or potato starch. When combined with water and heated, the starch gelatinizes and forms a sticky paste as it dries. Plant-based glues were common for books and paper products, though they can break down more easily over time compared to animal-based glues. Examples of modern wood glues include polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and epoxy resins. Some resins used in producing composite wood products may contain formaldehyde. As of 2021, “the wood panel industry uses almost 95% of synthetic petroleum-derived thermosetting adhesives, mainly based on urea, phenol, and melamine, among others”.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borden (company)</span> Disbanded American producer of food products

Borden, Inc., was an American producer of food and beverage products, consumer products, and industrial products. At one time, the company was the largest U.S. producer of dairy and pasta products. Its food division, Borden Foods, was based in Columbus, Ohio, and focused primarily on pasta and pasta sauces, bakery products, snacks, processed cheese, jams and jellies, and ice cream. It was best known for its Borden Ice Cream, Meadow Gold milk, Creamette pasta, and Borden Condensed Milk brands. Its consumer products and industrial segment marketed wallpaper, adhesives, plastics and resins. By 1993, sales of food products accounted for 67 percent of its revenue. It was also known for its Elmer's and Krazy Glue brands.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surgical suture</span> Medical device used to hold body tissues together

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wound closure strip</span> Porous surgical tape used for closing small wounds

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References

  1. "Crafting Glue & Adhesives". Elmer's. Archived from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022. Elmer's CraftBond Tacky Glue has ...
  2. "Mark: CRAFTBOND; US Serial Number: 85058478". Trademark Status & Document Retrieval. United States Patent and Trademark Office . Retrieved July 29, 2022. Owner Name: SANFORD, L.P.
  3. "Newell Rubbermaid to Buy Maker of Elmer's Glue for $600 Million". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  4. Eliott, Stuart (April 5, 2010). "New Glue for You? True". The New York Times. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Elmer's Glue: The Surprising Story". October 20, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "History of Borden, Inc. – FundingUniverse". www.fundinguniverse.com.
  7. "Locally Made".
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Elmers" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2015.
  9. "Elmers Turns 50, Isn't Just Sticking to Glue". Los Angeles Times . September 19, 1997.
  10. 1 2 "Elmer's: Glue, Slime, & Squishies".
  11. "Elmer's® Introduces First School Glue Made from Natural Ingredients" (Press release).
  12. "The Story of Corn". Elmer's. September 19, 2016. Archived from the original on August 23, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  13. "Discover the Lasting Benefits of Arts and Crafts". May 15, 2014.
  14. "David Reid -- Creator of Elsie the Cow". December 19, 2003.
  15. "History". Borden Dairy. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  16. "Joey Green's Wacky Uses". www.wackyuses.com.
  17. Wickman, Forrest (February 15, 2012). "Bonding With Horses: Why are horses good for making glue?". Slate.
  18. "Elmer's: Glue, Slime, & Squishies".