May 09, 2016 Henkel Adhesive Technologies’ Electronics business today announced a new distribution partnership with plastic film and adhesives solutions provider, Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Tekra will deliver sales, technical consultation and post-sale service for Henkel’s full line of electronic ink materials in support of customers throughout North America.
“Tekra brings a level of technical expertise not often available from traditional distribution providers,” comments Todd Williams, Henkel Director of Global Product Management for Inks and Coatings. “As a film coating and converting company with decades of experience, Tekra’s understanding of printed electronics processes, chemistry and substrate compatibility, and root cause analysis is superb. This, along with Henkel’s established electronics assembly materials distribution partnership with Tekra’s parent company, EIS, Inc., made the relationship a natural fit.”
The Henkel portfolio of electronic ink solutions includes fine-line conductive inks, thermoformable products, force sensing materials, PTC formulations for heating elements and transparent coatings, among others. Markets such as consumer goods, appliance, industrial controls, displays, wearables, medical, automotive and RFID all utilize conductive inks to facilitate product function and reliability, and Henkel has delivered advanced materials for various applications within these sectors for more than 25 years.
“Henkel’s commitment to excellence, demonstrated through a broad range of specialized and cross-functional ink formulations for printed electronics, made our decision matter of course,” says Kevin Suino, Market Development Manager, Tekra. “Consumers and printed electronics specialists recognize and value the Loctite® brand of enabling materials. We are confident that our strategic alliance with Henkel will benefit current and new customers through a complementary supply of electronic products, backed by decades of market expertise and product innovation.”
Prior to its agreement with suburban Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based Tekra, Henkel relied on direct sales channels for its electronic ink products, primarily due to the stringent storage requirements which precluded the use of standard distribution processes. With inventory stocking and storage capability at three North American facilities, Tekra can accommodate controlled warehousing, logistics and immediate JIT shipments to meet customer demand, which resolves any concerns regarding storage and transport.
“Henkel believes the strategic relationship with Tekra ticks all of the boxes for our customers – from sales to technical and process expertise, to service and time-sensitive delivery,” says Williams in conclusion. “The printed electronics market is exploding and this agreement provides excellent product and sales accessibility for our customers, while enabling growth opportunities for Henkel and Tekra.”
For more information about Henkel’s electronic ink solutions, visit www.henkel-adhesives.com/electronics. Details regarding Tekra’s products and services can be found on www.tekra.com.
Henkel in North America
Henkel markets a wide range of well-known consumer and industrial brands in North America, including Dial® soaps, Purex® laundry detergents, Right Guard® antiperspirants, got2b® hair gels, and Loctite® adhesives. Visit www.henkel-northamerica.com for more information.
Henkel operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in three business areas: Laundry & Home Care, Beauty Care and Adhesive Technologies. Founded in 1876, Henkel holds globally leading market positions both in the consumer and industrial businesses with well-known brands such as Persil, Schwarzkopf and Loctite. Henkel employs almost 50,000 people and reported sales of $20.1 billion and adjusted operating profit of $3.2 billion in fiscal 2015. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX.
Tekra, A Division of EIS, Inc., has provided plastic film and adhesive solutions to the printing industry for over 40 years and to the digital films industry for over 15 years. Tekra offers proprietary coating technologies, converting services, and, through special supplier relationships, a full line of plastic substrates. Tekra is the North American authorized distributor and exclusive distributor to the North American medical diagnostic market for DuPont Teijin Films™, the authorized distributor for the polycarbonate film products of SABIC Innovative Plastics in the United States and Canada, a Master Converter and Distributor for 3M adhesives, and the North American distributor for Henkel’s line of electronic inks used for multiple applications in various markets.
