Franklin International through the decades

By Franklin International.

Take a step through time with us as we look at Franklin International’s history.

Today, Franklin International is known as one of the largest privately held polymer, adhesive and sealant manufacturers in the U.S. It is because of Franklin’s dedication to excellence and innovation that we have been able reach that level. Now, as an industry leader, Franklin continues to push forward, solving technical problems, improving product quality and pioneering new developments.  

Looking back on the history that has led us here makes us very proud. Our story holds over 90 years of high-quality wood adhesives and solutions, starting in 1935.

1935

We opened our doors as The Franklin Glue Company, launching the first ready-to-use liquid hide glue for fine furniture manufacturing. This unique formula required no heating or mixing, and could be applied at room temperature, unlike traditional technologies. It streamlined the gluing process and revolutionized the craftsmanship of wood-to-wood bonding.

1951

The Franklin Glue Company developed the first water-based, aliphatic resin glue, another proprietary formula that would change the woodworking landscape forever. From this development, the Titebond® brand was born and quickly became the preferred choice of wood furniture manufacturers and woodworking professionals alike.

1953

On Chestnut Street in the heart of downtown Columbus, Ohio, Franklin’s first polymer was developed. It was in this location that our Polymers Production Facility, specifically our Duracet® and Covinax® product lines, began manufacturing innovative base polymers. This core competency is an important part of our vertical integration and remains an essential part of our operations today.

1954

To accommodate significant growth and innovation, The Franklin Glue Company relocated just south of the city to 2020 Bruck Street. At this location, we would continue to expand our product development, production and packaging capabilities and where our corporate headquarters still resides today.

1960s

During this time, we developed proprietary pressure sensitive adhesive technology specifically for tapes, labels and various types of graphic applications. 

In an effort to support new business opportunities, a new production plant was opened on-site with a focus on manufacturing wood glues, adhesives and sealants.

1970s

We entered the wood flooring market with revolutionary, solvent-based wood flooring adhesives, with a focus on Franklin 711. This formula provided superior adhesion and easy installation, allowing it to quickly become the industry standard in glue down wood flooring.‍

In 1971, to be exact, Franklin International developed the first construction adhesive to pass the American Plywood Association’s AFG-01 (ASTM D 3498) performance standard for subfloor installations. AFG-01 requires that adhesives applied at the jobsite be strong, durable, resistant to extreme weather and able to permanently fill material gaps. Franklin continues to be very heavily involved with the APA in furthering the testing, quality and performance of construction adhesives.

1991

Franklin developed and was first to market a one-part wood glue that passed the ANSI/HPVA Type II specification for water resistance. This launched our Titebond® II Premium Wood Glue to the retail market and inspired the Multibond® 2000 series of Industrial wood glues. We also launched a series of two-part Advantage® glues, providing additional performance for specific wood manufacturing applications.

2004

Committed to progressing the industry, Franklin developed the first one-part wood glue to pass the more stringent ANSI/HPVA Type I specification for water resistance.

Titebond® III Ultimate Wood Glue was born, and this water-resistant formula created a new category of exterior woodworking. Today, Titebond® III continues to be the preferred choice for professionals in the industry.

2007

Franklin launched the first water-based construction adhesive program designed for construction, remodeling and repair projects. Utilizing internal polymer development and proprietary manufacturing processes, we were able to produce high-performance, solvent-free alternatives to the traditional solvent-based programs.

2021

A new manufacturing facility in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, expanded Franklin’s caulk and sealant capabilities to support the increased demand of water-based formulations. Our team members offer years of high-level expertise, and the plant provides flexibility and streamlined operations, all of which has been a significant asset to Franklin.

2024

For over four decades, Franklin International supplied polymers to support Hexion’s PVA and EPI business. We're thrilled about the expansion of our operations into the Pacific Northwest regions of the United States and Canada, thanks to the acquisition of the Portland, Oregon facility and the innovative technology Hexion has developed. We look forward to the opportunity to provide more value with the addition of Hexion’s PVA and EPI Emulsion technology to our distinguished portfolio of adhesives for wood assembly. Read the official press release here.

You can learn more about Franklin International on their website or on LinkedIn!

Original article and photo source: Franklin International