Our History

The Avery Dennison story begins in 1935, with just a few spare parts, one very bright idea and a $100 loan.

Ray Stanton (“Stan”) Avery invented the world’s first self-adhesive label as a way to merchandise objects. In 1935, he founded Avery Adhesives in downtown Los Angeles and, in 1990, the company merged with Dennison Manufacturing to form Avery Dennison.

Over the past 80+ years, we have grown from one bright idea into a global Fortune 500® corporation that continues to advance quality and innovation in materials science.

1935

The first Avery labels were simple, round price stickers. Stan Avery chose Kum Kleen Products as his original company name to advertise the ability of a self-adhesive label to be removed without leaving a mark.

1940

Stan Avery and his 19 employees stand in front of the Fourth Street location to which the company moved in 1940. Today, our operations are in more than 50 countries and more than 30,000 employees worldwide.

1948

Avery builds its first-owned factory in Monrovia, California. The new 17,000 sq.ft. plant allowed Avery to consolidate manufacturing and shipping in one place.

1953-1954

Avery built a plant for the new base materials division in Painesville, Ohio. The division was originally named the Avery Paper Company. In 1954, it was incorporated as Fasson.

1955

Avery goes international. Also, one of our earliest known Avery trade show exhibits.

1958

The company name was changed to Avery Adhesive Products, after Avery’s board dissolved the separate Fasson Company and integrated it into the parent corporation.

1964

Avery Adhesive Products changes its name to Avery Products Corporation to account for its entry into new, nonadhesive areas.

1969

Avery obtained listing on the New York Stock Exchange. In the photo, Stan Avery, Russ Smith and the president of the New York Stock Exchange watch as the company's symbol appears on the electronic board of the NYSE for the first time.

1976

Avery constructed an entirely solvent-free plant at Peachtree City, Georgia.

1976

With annual sales at $300 million, Avery Products was recognized in 1974 by its inclusion on the Fortune list of the 500 largest U.S. industrial corporations. The company was renamed Avery International in 1976.

1990

Avery Dennison was created by the strategic merger of Avery International and Dennison Manufacturing.

Expansion

2016

Avery Dennison completes acquisition of European business of Mactac from Platinum Equity.

Avery Dennison Acquires Ink Mill Corporation, New Hamshire-based business, combining Ink Mill's digital ink capabilities and technology with Avery Dennison's reflective media portfolio.

Avery Dennison makes a strategic investment in PragmatIC, a world leader in flexible electronics, to accelerate the mass deployment of intelligent packaging.

2017

Avery Dennison acquires Finesse Medical, an Irish-based company that brings new products, manufacturing capabilities in high-value healthcare materials business.

Avery Dennison completes the acquisition of Yongle Tape Company Ltd., a manufacturer of specialty tapes and related products.

Avery Dennison completes acquisition of Hanita Coatings, a pressure-sensitive materials manufacturer of specialty films and laminates.

Avery Dennison makes capital investment in liquid crystal specialty film developer Gauzy.

Avery Dennison spurs growth of Wrapify with capital investment, to open an opportunity to expand the wrap industry and create a new revenue stream for installers.

2018

Avery Dennison provides Series A round financing for VeriSolutions, an Atlanta-based Internet of Things (IoT) enabled software startup company.

2019

Avery Dennison joins Wiliot’s original investor group for a $30 Million Series B funding round, anticipating a future where paper thin battery-free Bluetooth sensors connect people with packaging and products.

Avery Dennison collaborates with Everledger to bring authenticated provenance Tracking on blockchain to wine industry.

2020

Avery Dennison completes acquisition of Smartrac's RFID transponder business.

2021

Avery Dennison acquires ACPO Ltd.