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Boston Blacking Company: el gran comienzo

En 1889, Boston Blacking Company, fabricante de colorantes y tintes para cueros para la industria del calzado, se fundó en Chelsea, Massachusetts. La compañía creció en varios países a través de fusiones, adquisiciones y crecimiento orgánico. A finales de la década de 1920, Boston Blacking Company se había establecido en 12 países en tres continentes y empleaba a más de 1000 químicos y técnicos. En la década de 1940 se había lanzado una serie de productos bajo la marca Bostik y la compañía adoptó el nombre Bostik en la década de 1960.

Crecimiento a través de adquisiciones

En 1980, Bostik fue adquirida por el grupo de Connecticut Emhart Corporation, que nueve años después fue adquirido por Black & Decker. Black & Decker dividió las actividades mecánicas y químicas del grupo, y dejó a Bostik como una compañía independiente.

En 1990, el grupo francés de petróleo y gas Total adquirió Bostik y la fusionó con sus propias afiliadas de adhesivos.

Totalfina y Elf Aquitaine se fusionaron para formar TotalFinaElf, posteriormente renombrada Total. Sus respectivas divisiones de adhesivos, Bostik y Atofindley, se unieron para formar Bostik Findley SA, nombre que en 2004 se cambió a Bostik SA.

En 2013, Bostik hizo cambios en su identidad de marca y añadió la nueva frase característica “adhesivos inteligentes” (“smart adhesives”) y la imagen de un geco tomada de la inspiración en la naturaleza, pero relacionada científicamente con el negocio de adhesivos de Bostik.

+130 years of innovation

1913

1917

1922

1950's

1954

1960's

1970

1975

2001

2003

2019

1913

Method of filling shoe bottom cavities

Patented September 2, 1913

“Be it known that I, Winthrop D. Baker, […] have invented new and useful improvement in methods of filling shoe-bottom cavities […]. This invention relates to the provision of shoe bottoms with filling materials between the outer and inner soles in order to give the shoe pliability.”

1917

Shoes sealing and waterproof boots

During World War I, United Shoe Machinery (USM) provided shoe machines and operator instructions entirely new in shoemaking. In 1917, they turned over a shoe repair caravan that could go anywhere, including the front lines. This experience led USM to produce resistant waterproof boots for soldiers.

1922

Quelyd

In 1922, Quellhyd introduced potato starch-based wallpaper paste onto the French market. The Doittau firm formulated their chemistry in Germany and drew inspiration from German to create the brand name (“Quellen”, to expand whilst cold and “Hyd”, using water). Wallpaper paste expanded with the addition of water to the powder, forming a thick texture. Quellhyd, renamed Quelyd in the 1960’s, has continued to be highly successful.

1950’s

Sealing and bonding solutions for automotive and aircraft

Bostik adhesive, sealing and glazing products were developed to be water and heat resistant, able to withstand temperatures ranging from -30 to 100° C. Some of these, were used in the construction of the Airspeed Ambassador in the early 50’s. During the same period, Bostik began producing innovative solutions for the automotive industry.

1954

First Neoprene based contact glue

Boston Blacking Company formulated rubber-based contact adhesives in 1954 to stick floor and decorative coverings to various surfaces that provided excellent resistance to vibrations. Its initial viscous composition is today more liquid, for easier and faster application.

1960's

Dispensing hot melts

In the 1960’s, USM developed a novel application technique for hot melts used in the footwear industry. The polyamide-based (and, later on, polyester-based) hot melt adhesive is delivered in bobbins and melted down as a continuous bead, facilitating automation of the bonding process.

1970

Blu Tack^®

British consumers are all familiar with Bostik’s synthetic putty product Blu Tack®, launched in the early 1970’s. As a strong but removable and reusable adhesive putty, Blu Tack® can be used everywhere and for several uses. Today, Blu Tack® is a mainstay of Bostik’s stationery and craft ranges, which are used all over the world.

1975

First elastic attachment adhesive for disposable diapers

“In 1975 in Milwaukee, we had clients who were trying to stick a rubber band to a polyethylene (plastic) film. The customer was developing the first diaper that had an elastic leg feature. It took us 20 attempts to get it right and we successfully produced the first elastic attachment adhesive for diapers ever made!”

Mark Alper, Bostik Inc.
Technical Manager, R&D Laboratory, Wauwatosa USA.

2001

First Silyl modified polymer-based elastic adhesives

In 2001, Bostik was the first to launch SMP’s: silyl modified polymer-based elastic adhesives. They are highly elastic, waterproof and adhere to all types of surfaces, indoors and outdoors and in all types of weather. They stick to everything, everywhere, from coat hooks to railway windshields to rivets on airplane wings. Nails, screws and bolts are becoming a thing of the past!

2003

First patented pressure sensitive adhesive for resealable food packaging

Bostik was the first to patent extrudable reseal adhesives and we continue to transform food packaging materials with this smart technology. The reseal adhesives provide a less wasteful, more environmentally-friendly and easier to use alternative to conventional non-resealable containers.

2019

Fix & Flash

In 2019, Bostik launches Fix & Flash, a professional technology that bonds on demand and on any material (even opaque) thanks to its drying UV system.