Bostik
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Adhesives and sealants |
| Predecessor | Boston Blacking Company |
| Founded | 1889 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, United States |
Area served | Worldwide (over 45 countries) |
| Products | Adhesives and sealants for construction, industrial, and consumer sectors; brands include Bostik, Blu Tack, Prestik, Sader, Quelyd, Simson, Evo-Stik |
| Owner | Arkema |
Number of employees | Over 7,000 (2024) |
| Parent | Arkema |
| Website | www |
Bostik is an international producer and supplier of adhesives and sealants, catering to the construction, industrial, and consumer sectors. In 2024, the company achieved sales amounting to €2.7 billion, employs a workforce exceeding 7,000 individuals, and maintains operations across more than 45 nations. Bostik functions as a subsidiary within the French chemical conglomerate Arkema.
History
Established in 1889 under the name Boston Blacking Company in Chelsea, Massachusetts, the enterprise originally specialized in manufacturing leather dyes and colorants. It evolved into the chemical division of United Shoe Machinery Corporation (USMC) and expanded its global footprint through mergers, acquisitions, and organic development.
By the end of the 1920s, Boston Blacking had established operations in a dozen countries and employed over 1,000 chemists and technical staff. The Bostik brand was introduced during the 1940s, with the company officially adopting this name in the 1960s.
In 1980, Emhart Corporation from Connecticut acquired Bostik; subsequently, Emhart was bought by Black & Decker in 1989. Black & Decker later divested its chemical and mechanical divisions, resulting in Bostik becoming an independent entity.
Bostik was purchased by TotalEnergies in 1990, which consolidated its adhesive subsidiaries under one umbrella. After the merger of Totalfina and Elf Aquitaine into TotalFinaElf (later renamed Total) in 2000, their adhesives branches—Bostik and Atofindley—were combined to create Bostik Findley; this was rebranded simply as Bostik in 2004.
In 2013, Bostik underwent a rebranding initiative featuring the tagline "smart adhesives" alongside a gecko emblem representing innovation. Arkema’s acquisition of Bostik in 2015 strengthened its specialty chemicals division. In 2019, Bostik earned the Adhesives and Sealants Council Innovation Award for its "Brilliance" adhesive—a high-performance olefin elastic attachment solution.
Headquarters building
The Boston Blacking Company erected a Streamline Moderne style headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1937, prominently inscribed with "B B CHEMICAL." This building served as their base until 1966 and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982.
Products
Ranked among the top four worldwide manufacturers of adhesives and sealants, Bostik employs over 5,000 personnel across 50 countries spanning five continents.
Its industrial market offerings are organized into divisions such as Industrial/Nonwovens, Construction and Distribution, and High-performance polymers. The company’s brand portfolio includes names like Bostik, Blu Tack, Prestik, Sader, Quelyd, Simson, Evo-Stik, among others.
Bostik’s adhesive solutions find applications in industries including aerospace, home appliances, automotive manufacturing, transportation infrastructure, and construction. They also hold significant presence within packaging sectors—both standard and advanced—assembly processes, and disposable hygiene products.
For everyday consumers, Bostik provides a variety of preparation materials, assembly aids, repair products, adhesives, glues, stationery items, and craft supplies tailored for DIY projects and hobbies (notably including Blu Tack).
Awards
Two of Bostik’s products have received notable accolades from both industry experts and end-users:
- Brilliance: recognized as the first high-performance olefin adhesive designed specifically for elastic attachment with a patented formula. In 2018, it earned the Adhesives and Sealant Council (ASC) Innovation Award.
- Fix & Flash: an LED-activated curing adhesive technology that won "Product of the Year 2019" in the repair glue category.