Chemence
Chemence is a British specialty-chemicals and medical-device manufacturer focused on adhesives, sealants, photopolymer systems and cyanoacrylate-based products.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Chemence is a privately held British specialty-chemicals and medical-device business established in London in 1983 by Hugh V. Cooke. The company began as Lockshield Ltd. and adopted the Chemence name in 1985. Its early activities centered on industrial adhesives and sealants, particularly anaerobic formulations used to secure, seal and maintain engineered joints. A notable early application involved the sealing of cast-iron gas joints for British Gas under live operating conditions. That work helped Chemence develop broader product families for thread locking, retaining, gasketing and pipe sealing. The company expanded its manufacturing base in the 1980s. In 1986 it acquired the assets of Alembic Chemicals, a cyanoacrylate producer in Dublin, and in 1988 moved the operation to Corby in England. The Corby facility broadened Chemence’s manufacturing and development capabilities across anaerobic adhesives, cyanoacrylates, ultraviolet-curing products and consumer as well as industrial formulations. Chemence also produced private-label adhesive products for large retailers and adhesive companies, including Bostik, ASDA, Tesco and B&Q. Its business model consequently combined proprietary products with contract and private-label manufacturing. Chemence established a US distribution presence in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1989. Chemence Inc. moved to Alpharetta, Georgia, in 1993, where it became a significant US manufacturing and development base for cyanoacrylate adhesives and sealants. The group’s medical activities grew from work commissioned by Cordis to develop a liquid embolic material for treating arteriovenous malformations. Chemence Medical was formed in 1994 to specialize in cyanoacrylate-based medical devices and subsequently supplied dental, topical tissue and veterinary adhesive technologies. Products and technologies associated with this business included the TruFill liquid embolic and later wound-closure, skin-protection and tissue-adhesive products. Beginning in 2000, Chemence expanded into photopolymer and resin manufacturing for the corrugated-board, flexographic-printing and packaging industries. Its flexographic activities later developed into a broader graphics and platemaking business. In 2014, Chemence’s US flexographic division introduced the Genesys Platemaking System, while acquisitions in Great Britain and Spain were combined under Chemence Graphics. The graphics operation subsequently expanded its European footprint, including facilities or activities in France and Germany, and developed proprietary printing plates for customers such as Smurfit Kappa. Chemence has also used licensing, divestment and brand repositioning to manage its industrial-adhesives portfolio. In 2007, it negotiated the sale of intellectual-property rights connected with the RITE-LOK range to 3M. 3M later rebranded that range as Scotch-Weld. Chemence relaunched its own industrial adhesive and sealant offering under the Krylex brand in 2012 and began manufacturing its own Krylex formulations in 2015. Krylex KS775, an anaerobic gas-pipe sealant, received DVGW accreditation in 2016 for use by municipal gas and water-service providers across Europe. Chemence’s present identity therefore spans several related fields: industrial and consumer adhesives, gas and pipe sealants, medical and veterinary cyanoacrylate devices, photopolymer resins, flexographic platemaking and private-label chemical products. Its portfolio includes cyanoacrylate adhesives, anaerobic adhesives, impregnation sealants, adhesive activators, epoxy resins, ultraviolet-curing adhesives, photopolymer resins, gas-pipe sealants and soak-off nail polishes. The group has also been associated with commercial printing systems and custom printer-ink cartridges. Its patent portfolio covers chemical compositions, manufacturing processes and packaging devices.
History
Chemence was founded in London in 1983 by Hugh V. Cooke under the name Lockshield Ltd. The business changed its name to Chemence Ltd. in 1985 and initially concentrated on industrial adhesives and sealants. Its early technical work included an anaerobic method for sealing cast-iron gas joints under live conditions for British Gas. This application supported the company’s subsequent development of anaerobic products for industrial assembly, maintenance and infrastructure. In 1986, Chemence acquired the assets of Alembic Chemicals, a cyanoacrylate manufacturer based in Dublin. The operation was moved to Corby, England, in 1988. From that base, Chemence expanded into cyanoacrylate adhesives, thread lockers, retaining compounds, gasket makers, pipe sealants and ultraviolet-curing products. It also manufactured private-label consumer adhesives for businesses including Bostik, ASDA, Tesco and B&Q. The company entered the United States in 1989 by opening a distribution office in Cleveland, Ohio. Chemence Inc. relocated to Alpharetta, Georgia, in 1993 and developed US manufacturing capabilities for cyanoacrylate adhesives and sealants. Medical-device activities followed work commissioned by Cordis to develop a liquid embolic for arteriovenous malformations. Chemence Medical was established in 1994 and focused on cyanoacrylate-based medical devices. Its early work included the TruFill liquid embolic, while later activities covered dental, topical tissue and veterinary adhesives. In 2001, Chemence Medical developed a liquid bandage for 3M’s Nexcare brand. From 2005, it manufactured its own FDA-registered or CE-marked medical-device products, including Liquid Skin, Derma+Flex, Salon Safe, Sure Close, Gluture, Exofin and related skin-closure systems. In 2000, Chemence Ltd. and Chemence Inc. began producing photopolymers and resins for international corrugated, printing and packaging markets. The flexographic division later developed the Genesys Platemaking System, introduced in 2014 as a liquid-platemaking process intended to improve production speed and cost efficiency. During the same year, Chemence acquired printing and platemaking businesses in Great Britain and Spain and organized them as Chemence Graphics. The graphics business expanded into France and Germany and created a proprietary plate for Smurfit Kappa in 2015. Chemence’s industrial-adhesive portfolio underwent a significant intellectual-property transition in the late 2000s. In 2007, the company negotiated the sale of intellectual-property rights for its RITE-LOK adhesives and sealants to 3M. 3M subsequently rebranded the range as Scotch-Weld. Chemence returned to the market with its own Krylex industrial-adhesive and sealant range in 2012 and began manufacturing its own formulation based on the former RITE-LOK technology in 2015. In 2016, the German Association for Gas and Water, commonly known as DVGW, accredited Chemence’s Krylex KS775 anaerobic gas-pipe sealant. The accreditation supported its use by municipalities and gas and water-service providers across Europe. Chemence’s documented activities consequently cover specialty chemicals, infrastructure sealants, private-label consumer products, medical devices, veterinary products, photopolymer materials and commercial printing services.
- 2016
Krylex KS775 received DVGW accreditation
[1]DVGW accredited the Krylex KS775 anaerobic gas-pipe sealant for relevant European municipal gas and water applications.
- 2014
Genesys and Chemence Graphics expansion
[1]The flexographic division developed the Genesys Platemaking System, while acquisitions in Britain and Spain formed Chemence Graphics.
- 2012
Krylex industrial range relaunched
[1]Chemence relaunched its own industrial adhesives and sealants under the Krylex brand.
- 2007
RITE-LOK intellectual property transferred to 3M
[1]Chemence negotiated the sale of intellectual-property rights connected with its RITE-LOK industrial adhesive and sealant range to 3M.
- 2000
Entry into photopolymer and resin manufacturing
[1]The company began manufacturing photopolymers and resins for corrugated, printing and packaging customers.
- 1994
Chemence Medical established
[1]The medical-device business was formed to develop and supply cyanoacrylate-based medical technologies.
- 1989
US distribution office opened
[1]Chemence opened a distribution office in Cleveland, Ohio.
- 1988
Manufacturing moved to Corby
[1]The cyanoacrylate operation moved to Corby, England, and the product-development and manufacturing range broadened.
- 1986
Acquisition of Alembic Chemicals assets
[1]Chemence acquired the assets of the Dublin-based cyanoacrylate manufacturer Alembic Chemicals.
- 1985
Adoption of the Chemence name
[1]Lockshield Ltd. changed its name to Chemence Ltd.
Products and positioning
A technical B2B and private-label manufacturer combining specialty adhesive chemistry, regulated cyanoacrylate medical devices and photopolymer technologies for industrial, infrastructure, healthcare, packaging and consumer applications.
Industrial adhesives and sealants · 2012
Krylex
Chemence’s industrial adhesive and sealant range, relaunched after the transfer of RITE-LOK intellectual-property rights to 3M. The portfolio includes anaerobic formulations for thread locking, retaining, gasketing and pipe sealing.
Gas-pipe sealant
Krylex KS775
An anaerobic gas-pipe sealant accredited by DVGW in 2016. The accreditation supported its use by municipal gas and water-service organizations in Europe.
Flexographic printing technology · 2014
Genesys Platemaking System
A liquid-platemaking process developed by Chemence’s flexographic division for corrugated, printing and packaging applications. The system was designed to reduce production time and improve cost efficiency.
Medical and veterinary adhesives · 2005
Chemence Medical products
A portfolio of cyanoacrylate-based medical-device products and related technologies, including liquid bandages, skin protectants, tissue adhesives, wound-closure systems and veterinary adhesives. Documented product names include Liquid Skin, Derma+Flex, Salon Safe, Sure Close, Gluture and Exofin.
Medical device technology · 1994
TruFill liquid embolic
A liquid embolic technology developed for Cordis for treatment applications involving arteriovenous malformations. Its development helped establish Chemence Medical as a cyanoacrylate-based medical-device business.
Printing and packaging materials · 2000
Photopolymer and resin systems
Photopolymer and resin materials supplied to corrugated-board, flexographic-printing and packaging industries. These materials form part of Chemence’s broader technical-chemicals and graphics activities.
Brand decisions
2016
DVGW accreditation for Krylex KS775OtherBackground
Chemence sought recognition for an anaerobic sealant used in gas-pipe applications.
Action taken
DVGW accredited Krylex KS775 for relevant gas and water-service applications.
Aftermath
The accreditation supported use of the product by municipalities and utilities across Europe.
2014
Development of the Genesys Platemaking SystemProduct launchBackground
Chemence was expanding its photopolymer and flexographic activities for commercial printing, corrugated and packaging customers.
Action taken
The flexographic division developed a liquid-platemaking process intended to make plate production faster and more cost-efficient.
Aftermath
The system became part of Chemence’s graphics and platemaking offering as the company expanded its European printing-services activities.
2012
Relaunch of proprietary industrial adhesives under KrylexStrategyBackground
Following the transfer of RITE-LOK intellectual-property rights to 3M, Chemence needed a branded platform for its continuing industrial adhesive and sealant activities.
Action taken
Chemence relaunched its own industrial adhesives and sealants under the Krylex brand.
Aftermath
The company continued building the Krylex portfolio, including the KS775 gas-pipe sealant.
2007
Transfer of RITE-LOK intellectual-property rights to 3MM&ABackground
Chemence’s industrial adhesive and sealant portfolio included the RITE-LOK range, while 3M was positioned to take over the associated intellectual property.
Action taken
Chemence negotiated the sale of the relevant intellectual-property rights to 3M.
Aftermath
3M later rebranded the RITE-LOK range as Scotch-Weld. Chemence subsequently developed and relaunched its own industrial range under the Krylex name.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/chemence · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled