Company History
In December, 2004, Bostik, Inc. became the official name replacing the former name Bostik Findley, Inc. The earlier merger of Bostik and Ato Findley brought together two organizations rich with history. From it’s beginning, Bostik built its success on innovative adhesive technologies for manufacturing. Founded in the late 19th Century as the Boston Blacking Company, renamed as B.B. Chemical in 1950 and formally becoming Bostik in 1972, the company was a pioneer in the development of adhesives for the emerging footwear industry. Throughout the nineteen hundreds Bostik’s product line grew and became more diversified under the ownership of various organizations including USM Corporation, Emhart, Black & Decker, and ORKEM. In 1990 Bostik was purchased by TOTAL, a petroleum oil company based in Paris, France. Later that decade TOTAL purchased Belgium based PetroFina forming TotalFina in 1999.
Ato Findley came forth with a similar background. Founded in 1911 when Frank G. Findley purchased the Wisconsin Paste Company, a manufacturer of wallpaper and billboard paste. In 1917, the company became known as F.G. Findley Co. and later Findley Adhesives, Inc. Through the years, in an effort to grow sales, their technologies became more sophisticated and they began to serve new and different markets. Being a customer-focused supplier and a technological leader led to global expansion through new manufacturing sites and joint-venture liaisons. In 1996, they were bought by Elf Atochem a subsidiary of Elf Acquitaine thus the formation of Ato Findley.
In 2000, TotalFina purchased Elf Aquitaine and their two U.S. adhesive companies, Bostik and Ato Findley became one. Together, we are better than ever. The focus continues to be on speed and flexibility and core Values and Operating Principles that are dedicated to serving all our stakeholders. Our commitment to technology development, product innovation and market coverage has broadened and enriched our diverse product lines making Bostik Findley, Inc. a global leader in the manufacture of adhesives and sealants for a multitude of applications in a host of industries.
Today, Bostik, Inc., (formerly Bostik Findley, Inc.) is a unit of TotalFinaElf, a $93-billion multinational company with extensive worldwide interests in oil exploration, petroleum refining and the formulation of specialty chemicals. Bostik is among the world's largest adhesives and sealants manufacturers with production facilities (many of which are ISO-9001 & QS-9000 Certified) and sales operations in 41 nations across five continents. Bostik produces and supplies customized adhesives, sealants and coatings for automotive and aircraft interiors, MRO applications, the marine and transportation markets, industrial and product manufacturing, packaging, disposable nonwovens/ hygiene, residential and commercial construction markets, as well as a comprehensive line of flooring installation products serving the entire flooring industry.