130 Years of Pioneering Spirit: tesa Turns Technical Adhesive Tapes into a Key Technology

• Global presence: 5,400 employees and a presence in more than 100 countries—close to customers and markets.
• Innovation at the forefront: Around 600 scientists, engineers, and product developers work on solutions for the technologies of tomorrow.
• Technology that connects: From reversible adhesive bonds to holographic films for automotive applications—solutions tailored to the requirements of modern industries.

Hamburg, September 4, 2026 – tesa, an international manufacturer of innovative adhesive tapes and self-adhesive product solutions, is celebrating 130 years of technical adhesive tape. Yet this milestone is not an occasion for the company to look back, but rather to look ahead at what 130 years of experience mean for the applications of tomorrow: customer proximity, innovative strength, and technologies that set new standards.

From adhesive plaster to global technology company

In 1896, a plaster laid the foundation for tesa’s history: Although the “Cito sports plaster” was unsuitable for use on skin, its strong adhesion opened up new possibilities for technical applications. As the first technical adhesive product for “horse riders, cyclists, and tourists,” it marked the beginning of a development that transformed tesa from a practical everyday solution into a global technology company—with more than 5,400 employees today, operations in over 100 countries, and production sites and Customer Solution Centers worldwide. The drive to continuously advance adhesive solutions and create new applications remains embedded in tesa’s DNA to this day.

“When we look back on 130 years of adhesive tape technology, we see more than a succession of products, expertise, and patents. We see a mindset: curiosity, inventiveness, and the ambition to create genuine added value for our customers. That is the strength of tesa: yesterday, today, and tomorrow,” says Dr. Kourosh Bahrami, CEO of tesa SE.

tesa as a systems partner for industry

As automation increases across industry, so do the demands placed on adhesive solutions. The focus is no longer solely on the bonding application itself, but on the entire process involved in implementing it. That is why tesa develops adhesive solutions and machinery as an integrated system. What began with the hand-held dispenser for tesafilm—which is itself celebrating its 90th anniversary this year—has evolved into precision applicators, automated dispensers, and robotic systems. These systems make it possible to implement adhesive processes in production in a scalable, reliable, and consistently precise manner.

Today, tesa therefore develops adhesive solutions for a wide range of requirements and applications. The technology is found in numerous products and processes—often invisible, but essential. Adhesive tapes bond components, absorb vibrations, dissipate heat, and enable lighter designs. This applies across key industries: More than 130 adhesive tape applications are used in the automotive industry—particularly in electric vehicles—and up to 70 in smartphones. tesa also serves the electronics industry, mechanical and plant engineering, aerospace, and the printing and packaging industries. The company also contributes its application and materials expertise in the field of holography: As part of a QuadAlliance, tesa is working with several partners to develop the windshield of tomorrow and enable new holographic applications for the future of mobility.

Experience as the foundation for future innovation

During its anniversary year, tesa is looking resolutely to the future. As production environments become increasingly automated, reliable and efficient adhesive solutions are becoming even more important. One key topic for the future is debonding on demand: bonds that hold securely yet can be released selectively when needed—for repair, recycling, and the circular economy. In this way, tesa makes a tangible contribution to its customers’ sustainability strategies: Products can be repaired more easily, materials can be separated by type, and raw materials can remain in circulation.

At the same time, tesa is investing around €300 million by 2030 in the sustainable transformation of its business, including renewable energy, modern heating technologies, and the expansion of solvent-free production. Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly important role—not as a short-term technology trend, but as a tool that accelerates innovation processes and enables new, more sustainable solutions for customers.

130 years of adhesive technology give tesa a unique foundation: deep application expertise, global experience, and a commitment to continuously rethinking adhesive solutions. This foundation is the starting point for the specialized and innovative solutions that the industries of tomorrow need.