Shurtape Technologies
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manufacturing |
| Predecessor | Tape division of Shuford Mills |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Shuford family |
| Headquarters | Hickory, North Carolina , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Jim Shuford (CEO), Stephen Shuford (Executive Vice President) |
| Products | Adhesive tapes, consumer products, office supplies |
Number of employees | 1,500 (2017) |
| Parent | STM Industries |
| Website | www |
Shurtape Technologies, LLC is a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in adhesive tapes, consumer products, and office supplies, with well-known brands such as Duck Tape and Frog Tape. Established in 1996, Shurtape began as the tape division of Shuford Mills, a textile company, before becoming an independent entity after its tape segment outperformed the textile operations in revenue. Both companies now function as subsidiaries under STM Industries. The enterprise remains family-run, led by CEO Jim Shuford and Executive Vice President Stephen Shuford.
The company manages 13 production sites worldwide and has a workforce of around 1,500 employees. Its main headquarters are located in Hickory, North Carolina, while its subsidiaries—ShurTech Brands and Engineered Solutions Group—are headquartered in Avon, Ohio and New Hartford, Connecticut, respectively.
History
Shurtape's origins trace back to Shuford Mills, a textile firm founded in Granite Falls, North Carolina in 1880 by Abel Alexander Shuford. In 1955, Shuford Mills established a tape division centered on masking tape, which developed into a standalone manufacturing facility and broadened its product offerings. By 1996, this tape division was separated into Shurtape Technologies, LLC under STM Industries, with the tape business generating nearly double the revenue of the textile operations.
Expansion continued with the opening of a plant in Hudson, North Carolina in 1997 and a 40,000-square-foot enlargement of the Hickory facility completed in 2000, along with the launch of a converting plant in Singapore. A distribution center was inaugurated in Catawba, North Carolina in 2004. Additionally, Shurtape acquired manufacturing sites overseas in China and Mexico during the late 1990s. The same year saw the purchase of Permacel's arts and entertainment division.
During the Great Recession, Shurtape experienced a 20% drop in sales leading to workforce reductions. To secure $75 million worth of business following Henkel’s decision to divest Manco Inc.—its largest client—in 2009, Shurtape acquired Manco along with its brands including Duck Tape, Painter's Mate, Easy Liner, and a manufacturing facility located in Avon, Ohio. These assets were consolidated into the subsidiary ShurTech Brands, LLC, headquartered at the renovated Avon location. The company further expanded by acquiring FrogTape in 2010.
Between 2008 and 2017, Shurtape’s revenue grew from $275 million to $650 million. In 2017, it purchased Syntac Coated Products, LLC and invested in InRoad—a toy manufacturer specializing in adhesive road-themed tape for children. In December 2018, Shurtape announced plans for a $31 million investment to develop a new distribution and manufacturing hub in Catawba.
Despite regional declines in manufacturing employment, the company remains a significant economic contributor within the Hickory metropolitan area and ranks as the sixth-largest manufacturer there.
Business and executives
Shurtape Technologies, LLC’s corporate and industrial headquarters are based in Hickory, North Carolina. Subsidiaries ShurTech Brands and Shurtape Specialty Coating operate out of Avon, Ohio and New Hartford, Connecticut respectively. The firm maintains 13 production facilities across the United States as well as Canada, China, Germany, Mexico, Peru, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. As of 2017, its workforce numbers approximately 1,500 employees. Ownership remains within the Shuford family whose business presence in Hickory dates back to Abel Alexander Shuford’s yarn mill established in 1880.
Products and manufacturing
Shurtape Technologies offers a portfolio exceeding 650 different adhesive tape products, catering to sectors including painting, construction, HVAC, and packaging. In 2016, the company produced 733 million square feet of tape and holds the position of second-largest consumer tape seller after 3M.
Engineered Solutions Group
Within the Engineered Solutions Group are Shurtape Specialty Coating and Shurmed. Shurtape Specialty Coating develops tailor-made adhesive tapes primarily for the construction and electronics industries. Meanwhile, Shurmed provides pressure-sensitive adhesive solutions designed for healthcare and medical device applications. Both entities were formerly part of Syntac Coated Products, LLC before their acquisition by Shurtape.
Kip
Kip, a distributor based in Germany acquired by Shurtape in 2000, functions as a subsidiary specializing in adhesive tapes, painter’s tapes, plastering tapes, construction adhesives, and related construction supplies.
ShurTech Brands
The Duck Brand is widely known for its Duck Tape product line, which features hundreds of colors and patterns aimed at a diverse audience ranging from casual crafters to dedicated DIY enthusiasts. FrogTape and Painter’s Mate concentrate on painter’s tapes; FrogTape distinguishes itself with a unique coating technology that facilitates sharper paint edges. T-Rex tape delivers superior toughness and resistance to weather conditions compared to conventional duct tapes.
The Shurtape Brand primarily serves industries such as HVAC, packaging, and painting. In 2004, Shurtape acquired Permacel’s arts and entertainment division, which was recognized for its gaffer tape brand Permacel P-665 used extensively in Hollywood productions; this brand was subsequently rebranded as Shurtape P-665. Additionally, Shurtape markets the ShurSEAL Solution, a case sealing system designed to create secure packaging seals that can be opened without knives.
Tape University
Shurtape runs Tape University, an educational online resource dedicated to informing users about various tape products and answering frequently asked questions. This platform also oversees the annual Mission: HVAC initiative, which supports education within the HVAC field by selecting three students from trade schools across the United States to complete HVAC-related challenges. Each selected participant receives a $5,000 scholarship to aid their studies. In 2019, the program expanded its scope by awarding two additional trade schools or technical programs with $5,000 each. A comparable program called Mission: Packaging is aimed at students specializing in packaging.
In 2018, Tape University also granted a $2,500 scholarship at the Sachse Construction Academy to benefit high school students in the Metro Detroit region.