Press Releases

Kent Adhesive Products Company (Kapco) CEO Ed Small Retires

Published

7 years ago

April 3, 2017

Kent Adhesive Products Company (Kapco®) (http://www.kapco.com) announced the retirement of Ed Small, CEO. Ed joined the company in February of 1983 as Sales Manager, he was the 14th employee. Over his 34 year tenure he has held various management positions including being named President in 2000 and CEO in 2015.

The company was a custom converter of flexible materials when Ed started and he was the only sales person. Within two months of starting, Kapco launched the Graphic Products division. This was Kapco’s first business unit with proprietary products and allowed Kapco to market to a readily identifiable customer group. Another product of note that Ed was a key contributor was our Easy Cover® book protection product. Ed had multiple customers ask for book covers. He brought the requests back to the office and in a short time, Joe Barnette (founder of Kapco) and Greg Brumbaugh (purchasing agent), invented the new cover. Ed remembered, “We launched Easy Cover and a few other book repair products at a Library tradeshow in Indianapolis. We demonstrated covering books at the trade show and 30 years later, I still remember the response of the librarians. They oohed and awed at the ease of covering a paperback book. I have never in my career seen such a positive response to a product.”

Ed has seen many Kapco equipment additions. In 1987, to support the growing product lines Kapco expanded its capabilities to include adhesive coating. Today Kapco has four coating lines including its flagship 80” coater. Ed comments, “It is truly amazing for a company our size to have that asset along with all of its capabilities.”

Elie Merheb has been named President and CEO of Kapco. He commented that “Ed’s integrity, commitment and dedication to Kapco over the last 34 years have fueled Kapco’s growth. We have big shoes to fill and we are glad Ed will continue to support Kapco as a business development consultant. We wish him and his family all the best of health and happiness in his retirement.”

Ed reflected on his time at Kapco, “It takes everyone, not just one person, to make a company successful; employees, customers and suppliers. I feel the company is in great shape to move forward. Elie is doing a great job of sharing his vision for Kapco and I wish him and everyone at Kapco the best.”

Ed has been a true asset to Kapco and will be missed by all. Between his vast knowledge of Kapco’s capabilities, the industry, and the service to his customers, he has been a great leader. He leaves with this advice, “It’s just business. Go to work, do a good job and help each other.”

About Kent Adhesive Products Company (Kapco®)

Kent Adhesive Products Company (Kapco®) is a custom coater and converter of flexible pressure-sensitive materials. Founded in 1974 in Kent, Ohio, Kapco is an innovative business that continues to define higher standards for adhesive applications. All of the company’s operations are located in a modern 120,000-square-foot facility. Visit Kapco online at www.kapco.com or www.kapcocustom.com and call us at 800.843.5368 to let us source and manufacture the proper PSA for your next application. Custom products created to specification

Let’s Talk About It

Creating a More Diverse and Inclusive Screen Printing Industry

LET’S TALK About It: Part 3 discusses how four screen printers have employed people with disabilities, why you should consider doing the same, the resources that are available, and more. Watch the live webinar, held August 16, moderated by Adrienne Palmer, editor-in-chief, Screen Printing magazine, with panelists Ali Banholzer, Amber Massey, Ryan Moor, and Jed Seifert. The multi-part series is hosted exclusively by ROQ.US and U.N.I.T.E Together. Let’s Talk About It: Part 1 focused on Black, female screen printers and can be watched here; Part 2 focused on the LGBTQ+ community and can be watched here.