How did the Adherex Group start?
In 2019, the Adherex Group was formed to build a platform for manufacturers on and around pressure-sensitive tapes and other specialty materials. In other words, Adherex sought to be a converter of pressure-sensitive coated stocks and, in some cases, a wholesale distributor of those items. As the business grew, the leadership team realized that there was an opportunity to expand our portfolio into packaging.
Six months after founding Adherex, COVID-19 struck and upended lives and supply chains across the globe. When the world emerged from the pandemic, Adherex shifted its priorities from maintaining operations to building on the two pillars of our business: packaging and specialty materials. That way, Adherex could offer customized solutions ranging from everyday packaging needs to the high-performance tapes and adhesives necessary for diverse manufacturers.
What companies are now a part of the Adherex Group, and what do they offer?
Over the past five years, Adherex has grown through a series of strategic acquisitions:
- Primetac – (2019, Little Ferry, New Jersey) Primetac is known for its high-quality packaging portfolio and industrial tapes. Primetac’s market position allowed Adherex to start strong and provide national coverage to manufacturers.
- Cutting Edge – (2021, Toledo, Ohio) – Cutting Edge expanded our capabilities in customizing specialty materials for the transportation market and producing protective packaging for high-value goods.
- Spec Bond – (2022, Bensenville, Illinois) SpecBond is a leader in converting pressure-sensitive tape materials for a wide range of industries.
- Concord Tapes – (2022, California) Another valuable acquisition that expanded Adherex’s reach and capacity on the West Coast.
- Stretchtape – (2023, Cleveland, Ohio) Stretchtape specializes in converting and printing stretch films and other specialty packaging films. They are known for being a top provider of customized PE and PP films and offering tailored printing solutions for BOPP packaging films. Adherex was able to expand its tape and packaging divisions as a result of this acquisition.
- Proline Performance LLC – (2023, Sheridan, Colorado) Proline Performance gave Adherex a big lift and a significant advancement in our specialty materials business, particularly for articles like satellites, rockets, and other aerospace applications, across military and commercial aircraft.
ur specialties
Our strategic acquisitions have made us a trusted resource for manufacturers of all sizes and types. Several of our specialties include custom-made specialty materials, tapes, adhesives, and prototyping for the following industries:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Apparel packaging
- Beverage
- Building and Construction
- Carpeting
- Design and Development
- Healthcare
- Printing and Publishing
- Rapid Prototyping
- Retail (Private Label)
- Shipping and Transportation
- Sports Medicine
- Steel
- Warehousing and Distribution
Learn more: Custom Glass Packaging: A Vital Service
The Adherex stocking program
Adherex has historically operated on a made-to-order basis. However, we discovered that many of our customers require more flexibility. In the past two months, we have introduced our high-demand SKUs, which are now available in stock. With this program, we can anticipate our customers’ needs and keep regularly purchased items ready for order. Our aim is to have these items readily available for shipment within two days of order confirmation.
Learn more: Announcing the Adherex Stocking Program for Packaging Materials
Adherex investments in new technology
Over the past year, Adherex has significantly enhanced our production capabilities with strategic investments to increase our operational flexibility and efficiency. Chief among these is the acquisition of the new advanced 8-color flexographic press. This state-of-the-art equipment enables us to easily handle both substantial and minimal order quantities, allowing us to cater to customers requiring less than a full truckload of converted film.
Similarly, Adherex has expanded its ability to provide customized protective packaging solutions by adding a new five-axis water jet cutter. We service clients through both distribution channels and direct engagements with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Further investments include implementing advanced slitter rewinding systems in our Denver and Toledo facilities. These systems enhance our capability to produce high-performance materials, packaging, and industrial tapes, facilitating custom SKU creation and significantly reducing our turnaround times. This strategic enhancement of our production capabilities positions us to drastically decrease lead times, enabling us to collaborate more closely with our clients for mutual growth and success in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
How Adherex is meeting the future
As part of our strategic initiatives, we are streamlining our operations to enhance our performance in the marketplace. We aim to maximize customer value by leveraging our diverse portfolio from various acquisitions. This unified approach allows us to function as a single entity with two distinct operational focuses: our packaging division operates through distribution channels, whereas our specialty materials division engages directly with OEMs. This strategy includes augmenting our capabilities, recruiting skilled professionals, and fostering employee development, which enhances our credibility with existing and prospective clients.
Looking forward, we acknowledge the necessity of refining our operations further. Our ongoing efforts are aimed at simplifying the customer experience, enhancing our digital infrastructure—notably with the upcoming launch of a customer portal for seamless ERP system transactions—and consolidating our talent pool to ensure market responsiveness. To better serve our evolving customer base, we are expanding our sales force and optimizing our distribution centers to improve service offerings, reduce lead times, and transition towards a make-to-stock model for our high-demand SKUs.
Given its custom nature, the specialty materials division presents unique challenges. However, we are applying insights gained from our packaging operations to enhance efficiency. While stocking finished goods may not be feasible for specialty items, maintaining an inventory of essential raw materials will reduce lead times and improve customer service delivery.
In summary, our focus remains on operational excellence and customer satisfaction. Adherex is committed to delivering superior value and building lasting trust within the markets we serve through dedicated efforts in streamlining processes, investing in technology, and focusing on talent development.
Reach out to learn more.
