Sellotape

Sellotape is a British adhesive-tape brand best known for transparent, cellulose-based pressure-sensitive tape used for joining, sealing, attaching and repairing lightweight materials. The brand originated in the 1930s in the Acton area of London, where Colin Kinninmonth and George Grey developed and manufactured the product. Its name was derived from Cellophane, with the initial letter changed to create a distinctive trademarkable name. Manufacturing initially took place at a factory in Borehamwood, where Sellotape was produced from approximately 1930 until around 1950. Production then moved to Welwyn Garden City. During the 1950s and 1960s, the brand’s range was considerably broader than the familiar household clear tape associated with it today. Historical products included reinforced banding tape, metallic tapes and specialist tape intended for repairing printed circuit boards. The brand developed within E. S. & A. Robinson, a packaging and paper-products manufacturer. From the 1960s through the 1980s, the Sellotape business formed part of Dickinson Robinson Group, a larger packaging and paper conglomerate. Sellotape Industrial was acquired by Scapa Group plc in 1997, while the principal Sellotape company was acquired by Henkel Consumer Adhesives in 2002. The brand subsequently became part of Henkel’s consumer adhesives activities. Sellotape is primarily associated with household, school, office, gift-wrapping, craft and light repair applications. Typical uses include mending torn paper, attaching paper or card, sealing small packages and supporting modelling projects. On fragile or rough paper surfaces, removal can damage the material or lift its upper layer; on smooth painted surfaces, removal is generally easier, although adhesive residue may remain after prolonged contact. The brand has achieved unusually high recognition in the United Kingdom. “Sellotape” is frequently used informally as a generic term for transparent adhesive tape, in a manner comparable to the use of “Scotch tape” in North America. The name was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 1980, reflecting its established place in British usage. Sellotape products continue to be manufactured in the United Kingdom, including at a factory in Dunstable, while the company associated with the brand has been headquartered in Winsford.

Sellotape emerged in Britain during the 1930s as a transparent, cellulose-based pressure-sensitive adhesive tape. It was developed by Colin Kinninmonth and George Grey and originally manufactured in the Acton area of London. The brand name was formed from the word Cellophane, with its initial “C” changed to an “S” to create a separate name suitable for trademark use. Production was carried out at Borehamwood from approximately 1930 until about 1950. The business then moved manufacturing to Welwyn Garden City. In its earlier decades, Sellotape was not limited to the narrow clear tape format most closely associated with the name today. Its range during the 1950s and 1960s included reinforced banding tape, metallic tapes and a specialist product used in printed circuit-board repair. This broader assortment reflected the connection between the brand and the packaging, paper and industrial-materials sectors. The business originated within E. S. & A. Robinson, whose activities included packaging and paper products. From the 1960s to the 1980s, the Sellotape company was part of Dickinson Robinson Group, a packaging and paper conglomerate. This period placed the brand within a diversified manufacturing group while it continued to build strong recognition among British consumers. A later division occurred between the consumer brand and industrial activities. Sellotape Industrial was acquired by Scapa Group plc in 1997. The main Sellotape company was acquired by Henkel Consumer Adhesives in 2002, making Sellotape part of Henkel’s consumer adhesives portfolio. The brand continued to be associated with British production, with manufacturing reported at a Dunstable factory and the company headquartered in Winsford. Sellotape became particularly prominent in household, office, educational, craft and gift-wrapping contexts. Its tape is used to join paper and card, repair tears, attach lightweight items and support modelling work. Its strong market presence also caused the brand name to become genericized in Britain and in some other markets where it is sold. People often use “Sellotape” to describe transparent adhesive tape regardless of manufacturer. The term was included in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1980. The brand remains active and is chiefly identified with practical, accessible transparent adhesive tape, while its historical portfolio demonstrates a wider presence in industrial and specialist tape applications.

• 2002

  Henkel Consumer Adhesives acquires Sellotape

  [1]Sellotapeen.wikipedia.org

  The principal Sellotape company is acquired by Henkel Consumer Adhesives.

• 1997

  Sellotape Industrial is acquired by Scapa Group

  [1]Sellotapeen.wikipedia.org

  Scapa Group plc acquires the industrial Sellotape business.

• 1980

  Brand name enters the Oxford English Dictionary

  [1]Sellotapeen.wikipedia.org

  The widespread use of Sellotape as a generic term for transparent adhesive tape is recognized by its inclusion in the Oxford English Dictionary.

• 1960

  Sellotape operates within Dickinson Robinson Group

  [1]Sellotapeen.wikipedia.org

  The Sellotape company forms part of Dickinson Robinson Group, a packaging and paper conglomerate.

• 1950

  Production moves to Welwyn Garden City

  [1]Sellotapeen.wikipedia.org

  Manufacturing relocates from Borehamwood to Welwyn Garden City around 1950.

• 1950

  Product range expands beyond transparent household tape

  [1]Sellotapeen.wikipedia.org

  Historical offerings include reinforced banding tape, metallic tapes and tape for printed circuit-board repair.

• 1930

  Sellotape is developed and introduced

  [1]Sellotapeen.wikipedia.org

  Colin Kinninmonth and George Grey develop the British transparent adhesive-tape brand, with early manufacturing associated with the Acton area of London.

• 1930

  Manufacturing takes place at Borehamwood

  [1]Sellotapeen.wikipedia.org

  The product is manufactured at a Borehamwood factory until approximately 1950.

A familiar, practical and mass-market adhesive-tape brand associated especially with everyday household, office, school, gift-wrapping and craft use in the United Kingdom.

• Household adhesive tape

  Sellotape Transparent Tape

  The brand’s core offering is transparent, cellulose-based pressure-sensitive tape for everyday joining, sealing, attaching and light repair. It is commonly used on paper, card and other lightweight materials in homes, schools, offices, craft settings and gift wrapping. The tape is designed for convenient manual application rather than permanent structural bonding. Its strong visibility in British retail and household use has made the brand name widely associated with clear adhesive tape generally.

• Industrial adhesive tape

  Sellotape Reinforced Banding Tape

  Reinforced banding tape was among the specialist products historically included in the Sellotape range during the 1950s and 1960s. It represented the brand’s earlier involvement in packaging and industrial applications beyond consumer stationery and household repair. Current availability under the Sellotape brand is not established by the supplied references.

• Specialty adhesive tape

  Sellotape Metallic Tape

  Metallic tape was another historical product category associated with Sellotape’s expanded mid-century range. The product illustrates the breadth of the brand’s former assortment, which covered decorative and specialist formats as well as ordinary transparent tape. The supplied references do not establish whether this product remains available.

• Technical adhesive tape

  Sellotape Printed Circuit-Board Repair Tape

  Sellotape historically offered a tape intended for printed circuit-board repair. This specialist product demonstrates that the brand once served technical and industrial users in addition to household consumers. No current product status or detailed technical specification is established in the supplied references.

• 2002

  Acquisition by Henkel Consumer AdhesivesM&A

  Background

  Sellotape was an established British consumer adhesive brand with broad household recognition and a history in packaging-related manufacturing.

  Action taken

  Henkel Consumer Adhesives acquired the Sellotape company.

  Aftermath

  Sellotape became part of Henkel’s consumer adhesives activities and continued as an active brand associated with transparent adhesive tape.

  Source

• 1997

  Sale of Sellotape Industrial to Scapa GroupM&A

  Background

  Sellotape had developed both consumer and industrial adhesive-tape activities within a broader packaging and paper-products heritage.

  Action taken

  Scapa Group plc acquired Sellotape Industrial.

  Aftermath

  The industrial business became associated with Scapa Group, while the principal consumer Sellotape company remained separate until its later acquisition by Henkel Consumer Adhesives.

  Source

• 2002

  Sellotape company acquired by Henkel Consumer Adhesives[1]Sellotapeen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Henkel Consumer Adhesives acquired the Sellotape company, bringing the established British tape brand into Henkel’s consumer adhesives activities.

• 1997

  Sellotape Industrial acquired by Scapa Group[1]Sellotapeen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Scapa Group plc acquired the Sellotape Industrial business, separating that industrial activity from the principal consumer Sellotape business.

• 1980

  Sellotape recognized in the Oxford English Dictionary[1]Sellotapeen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The word “Sellotape” entered the Oxford English Dictionary, reflecting the brand’s widespread use as a colloquial term for transparent adhesive tape.

1. 1Sellotapeen.wikipedia.org