Adhesive Science

Fifty Years of
Innovation.

Built on innovation and driven by performance, Drytac has spent 50 years evolving from finished goods into a global manufacturer engineering high-performance materials through adhesive science.

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50
Years of Innovation
10+
Acquisitions Worldwide
80+
Countries Served
1
Vision Since 1976

The material
behind the work.

Fifty years ago, Drytac began with a simple realization: the material behind the work could be just as important as the work itself.

Richard Kelley was making table mats, coasters, and plaques when a local picture framer asked to buy a roll of the dry mounting tissue he was using. One roll became two — and the numbers spoke for themselves. The future wasn't in table mats. It was in helping others mount, finish, and protect their graphics.

That pivot defined the business. Today, Drytac is a global manufacturer, engineering its own products and delivering reliable, high-performance solutions through adhesive science.

Drytac founder Richard Kelley with a dry mounting press
1976 Founded
Early Drytac TacI machine with the original hand-drawn logo

A name born from the craft.

Before Drytac, the business operated as Lisle Industries — a one-person operation producing table mats and plaques.

As demand for dry mounting tissue grew, it became clear the future wasn't in finished products, but in supplying the materials behind them.

The name reflects that foundation:

Dry
"Dry" from dry mounting
+
Tac
"Tac" from the tacking process
=
Drytac

Registered the next day, Drytac marked the beginning of a brand built on materials, performance, and long-term growth.

Logos Through
The Years.

A mark evolves — but the craft stays the same. Trace the Drytac identity from its first hand-drawn logotype to the modern global brand.

Original Drytac logo
Era I
The Original
Hand-drawn letterforms rooted in the craft of mounting and framing.
Drytac — The Fine Art of Finishing
Era II
The Fine Art of Finishing
A refined identity as Drytac establishes its reputation for quality and precision finishing.
Drytac Adhesive Coating Experts logo
Era III
Adhesive Coating Experts
A bold, unified red wordmark as Drytac expands into coating at scale.
Drytac Adhesive Science logo
Today
Adhesive Science
A modern identity reflecting the science and engineering behind every high-performance product.

Moments in Time.

Trade shows, early machines, the craft in motion — snapshots from Drytac's first chapters.

Drytac founder with a dry mounting press
1970s

The Craft in Motion

A mounted print lifts from the press — the work that started it all.

Drytac trade show booth crowd
Early Days

A Growing Audience

Trade show attendees gather around the Drytac booth to see the latest finishing technology.

Early Drytac TacI machine with original retro logo
TacI

The First Machines

An early Drytac TacI press — wearing the original hand-drawn logo that started the brand.

Drytac Division of Beckgrey Ltd booth
Beckgrey Era

Going International

"Drytac (Division of Beckgrey Ltd)" — the brand expanding beyond North America.

Drytac product demonstration at trade show
Demo Days

Hands-On Demonstrations

Customers examining Drytac materials up close — the relationship-first approach from day one.

Drytac team at early trade show booth
The Team

The People Behind the Brand

The early Drytac team — one booth, and a product they believed in.

Drytac live machine demo at trade show
In Action

Seeing Is Believing

Customers gathered around a live machine demo — the Drytac way of selling from the very beginning.

Drytac trade show hockey puck campaign
Trade Show

Who Gives a Puck?

A cheeky trade show campaign — Drytac-branded hockey pucks and a tagline that stuck.

Drytac Today.

Global trade shows, a world-class team, and the craft still in full motion — Drytac at 50.

Drytac full team gathered in the warehouse
The Team

50 Years of People

Gathered in the warehouse that keeps the world supplied. Every face, every role, one mission.

Drytac installation partners at work
The Installation Partners

The Work Behind the Walls, Windows, and Floors

The installers, wrappers, and graphics professionals bringing Drytac materials to life in real-world applications every day.

The UK Drytac team
The Team

Part of the People Behind Drytac

A small part of the UK team that helps keep Drytac moving — supporting production, operations, and innovation every day.

Drytac global distribution partners
Global Distribution Partners

The Reach Behind the Brand

Trusted partners around the world helping bring Drytac solutions to customers across every market we serve.

Drytac window film being applied
The Craft

Materials in Action

Drytac window film being applied — the product performing exactly as designed in real-world use.

Drytac coating line in operation
Manufacturing

Made by Drytac

On the coating line — where adhesive science becomes a finished product, built to perform.

"
Drytac has been built on more than products — it's been built on people and principles.

These values continue to guide how we innovate, operate, and deliver for our customers around the world.

Creativity

Finding new solutions and pushing the boundaries of what materials can do.

Adaptability

Evolving with the market, from finished goods to high-performance materials.

Collaboration

Working together across teams, regions, and customer partnerships.

Ambition

Driving growth, innovation, and global leadership in adhesive science.

Respect

For our people, our customers, and the craft behind every product we make.

Building a Global Legacy

From a single operation in Canada to a global manufacturing business, Drytac has grown through innovation, strategic expansion, and a clear focus on performance. Today, we design, coat, and convert our own materials — bringing adhesive science to applications across windows, walls, floors, and beyond.

1976
Founded

Drytac Canada Inc.

Richard Kelley incorporates Drytac in Canada. The name born at a kitchen table.

1998
Acquisition

Drytac Europe Limited

Acquires the Rexham Coating facility in Bristol, UK — establishing a strong European presence.

2001
Acquisition

Interlam USA

Expands US market foothold with the acquisition of Interlam USA.

2002
Acquisition

Interlam Canada

Strengthens the Canadian operation by acquiring Interlam Canada.

2003
Acquisition

Hot Press USA

Further US expansion with the acquisition of Hot Press USA.

2004
Acquisition

Hot Press

Acquires Hot Press, deepening UK capabilities.

2005
Achievement

ISO 9001 Certification

Drytac Europe Limited awarded ISO9001 Quality Certificate — a milestone in manufacturing excellence.

2008
Acquisition ×2

Advanced Finishing Solutions & Durotech Inc.

Two strategic acquisitions in a single year, accelerating product and technology capabilities.

2009
Acquisition

AMTI — Advanced Material Technology Inc.

Brings advanced material technology expertise into the Drytac portfolio.

2011
Acquisition

Teneka-Folien GmbH

Expands into the German market with Teneka-Folien GmbH, extending European reach.

2013
Acquisition

Multi-Tac Inc.

Acquisition of Multi-Tac Inc. further broadens the adhesive product range.

2014
Innovation

SpotOn® Adhesive Technology

Drytac develops its unique dot-pattern adhesive, enabling fast, bubble-free, tool-free installation for short-term graphics across windows, walls, and floors.

2014
Innovation

ReTac® Adhesive Technology

Drytac introduces its permanently peelable, ultra-removable adhesive, allowing graphics to be repositioned and removed cleanly without damage.

2014
Innovation

Polar® Cold Temperature Adhesive Technology

Drytac engineers a high-performance adhesive designed for extreme conditions, with application down to -4°F (-20°C). Today, this technology is used across a wide range of products and remains a benchmark for cold-weather performance in the industry.

2026
Milestone

50 Years of Innovation

Drytac celebrates half a century of craft, growth, and global leadership in adhesive-coated products.

From Canada to the World

Growth at Drytac has never been about scale alone.

It's about building capability, maintaining consistency, and delivering materials that perform in real-world environments — every time.

Purpose & Direction

Delivering solutions through adhesive science

To be the fastest growing and most innovative coating company in the world