ITAC Limited has designed and manufactured high performance adhesives and coatings critical to countless end use applications since 1902.
2022 marks the 120th year since John Marcus founded ITAC Limited. The beginning of Itac started when John discovered that tyre scrapings dissolved in solvent made an excellent rubber adhesive, which when painted onto the outside carcass of a tyre provided an ideal priming coat on which tyre thread could be bonded. He had the full backing of his wife, Miriam, who endured the physical strain of manually transporting the tyres for processing before valiantly returning them to the client once treated! It was this kind of grit and determination that set the tone for ITAC to become one of the UK’s leading producers of high-performance adhesives and coatings despite two world wars, six recessions, and a devastating fire which brought the factory to the ground in 1988.
In 1954 the company expanded, and Polyurethane technologies were introduced to the business. ITAC mixed Polyurethane granules with solvent and manufactured a coating which when applied to fabric and dried, produced a tack free film with waterproof properties. The textile clothing industry in Manchester and surrounding areas at the time was thriving and demand for ITAC’s product was high. Therefore, the business invested in the mixing plant, machinery, R & D, and manpower to grow its performance adhesives and coatings portfolio to include a wide variety of properties. These included heat, UV, and chemical resistance, and varying tack, grab, and peel strengths to name a few. From here onward, ITAC’s value proposition provided manufacturers with the ability to customise their products; something that was, and still is, a key component for market differentiation and competition. This strengthened ITAC’s position and promoted the company’s growth both as an adhesives and coatings manufacturer, and formulation specialist.
In 2020, ITAC was acquired by their parent company HD Sharman, and is still the manufacturing arm of the UK’s market leading commercial roof protective coatings system. However, ITAC’s primary specialism is in the formulation and production of paintable coatings and sealants, spreadable adhesives, specialist fabric coatings, and film coatings within a wide range of sectors. Continuous developments in advanced materials, manufacturing methods, and customer preferences place great emphasis on research & development and continuous improvement. ITAC’s Managing Director, Steve Farnworth comments:
“These are very exciting times for ITAC. Our projects pipeline continues to grow, not only in quantity, but also in breadth of application. This is testimony to our commitment to research and development, the diverse nature of our value proposition, and our ability to align the chemistry with the application. Watch this space over the coming months and years!”
The ITAC team have plans for an on-site summer barbeque later this year to raise a toast to their 120 years heritage, present day successes, and future endeavours. ITAC’s manufacturing plant and offices are located on the border of Bolton and Bury, in Greater Manchester. The company has a regional, national, and international client base. Enquiries can be made by calling 01204 573736, by email at info@itac.uk.com, or on their website https://itacadhesives.co.uk/