Company Profile
DAP Products Inc.
Company Overview
At DAP, our associates are our single greatest asset. The “DAP Stars" represent our over 600 associates around the world who support our vision to produce and market America's best home repair products.
With a history dating back over 145 years and a strategic growth plan for the future, DAP is here to stay. We are a leader in the industry of home repair and construction products. In fact, we take top honors in brand familiarity and usage for caulks, sealants, patch and repair, as well as contact cements. You’ll find DAP products in home centers, mass merchants, paint manufacturers, co-op buying groups, lumber yards, distributors and industrial suppliers.
DAP is a leader in the consumer division of its parent organization, RPM International, Inc. RPM’s founder, Frank C. Sullivan, believed in the power of 168, and it’s a philosophy that continues to drive growth and innovation throughout the company today. It was his favorite number because it represents the total hours in a week; thus, it served as a reminder that each of us has a limited amount of time, and a duty to use this gift wisely and productively. At DAP, the value of 168 comes to life through motivated associates who enjoy their work and create the conditions that allow us to continue our heritage of producing reliable, long-lasting home repair products.
Our highly acclaimed products are only surpassed by our “DAP Stars”. Throughout the organization, associates enjoy their jobs and know they can make a difference in what they do every day. They are the foundation of DAP’s success and a partner in our long-term growth strategy. These “DAP Stars” are regularly recognized for their accomplishments and encouraged to embrace the philosophy of innovation with everything that they do.
DAP Named One of Baltimore's Best Places to Work - We put a lot of energy into making our environment fun, challenging and rewarding for our associates. We were recently named one of Baltimore's Best Places to Work for the second time. Our associates would agree, DAP is a great place to work!
Company History
DAP is a leading marketer of home repair and construction products, such as latex caulk, silicone sealants, contact cements, construction adhesives, glues, glazings, spacklings as well as patch and repair products. You'll find DAP products in the hands of professional painters, remodelers, builders and do-it-yourselfers. You'll find DAP products in 60,000 retail outlets ranging from home centers and mass merchandisers to your local hardware and paint stores. You'll find DAP working behind the scenes in your home. It's the glue holding the baseboard to the wall, it's the caulk hiding that imperfection or providing that water tight seal around your tub, it's the spackling that repaired the hole in the wall, or it's the wood filler hiding nail holes in your molding and providing a hard resilient finish. Simply put... "You'll find DAP in all the right places."
DAP traces its roots back to 1865, when Robert H. Dicks and Elmer Wiggim began producing sealing wax for food-canning out of Dicks' garage in Dayton, Ohio. In those days before refrigeration and commercially prepared foods, canning was a widespread practice, and demand for their product was high. In 1906, Dicks bought out Wiggim and joined with George Pontius, incorporating their partnership in 1913 as the Dicks-Pontius Company. When Robert Dicks died, his son John entered the business and expanded it to include putty and caulk manufacturing in bulk form.
The Dicks-Pontius Company revolutionized the home repair products market in the 1940's and 50's through its marketing and product development including moving the industry to marketing caulks and sealants in disposable cartridges. Through the 1950's, the company grew through several acquisitions, including a merger with the Chicago-based Armstrong Company in 1957. The resulting entity was renamed Dicks-Armstrong-Pontius, which was eventually shortened to the brand name DAP.
The company continued its path of innovative growth, introducing new products and expanding its reach. In 1964, DAP pioneered the development of latex caulking compounds followed with acrylic latex technology breakthroughs in 1970 and advanced acrylic latex technology introductions in 1984.
Through innovation and acquisition, the company continued to expand its product line. DAP entered into an exclusive marketing agreement with the worldwide leader in silicone technology in 1980 to market a full line of silicone sealants. In the mid 1980's, Weldwood® branded adhesives came into the fold. Subsequently, the Plastic Wood® brand was intregrated into the DAP portfolio of products in the 90's. Finally, the first decade of the twenty first century led to an exclusive marketing agreement with the worldwide leader in antimicrobial technology, Microban International, as well as the integration of the Phenoseal® brand of adhesive caulk.
Today, DAP continues improving and introducing new products to better meet consumer needs. The DAP family now includes some of the best known brands in home repair including Kwik Seal® Tub and Tile Adhesive Caulk, Alex Plus®Acrylic Latex with Silicone Caulk, 33® Glazing, Weldwood® Contact Cement, Plastic Wood® Filler, Latex Window Glazing, 100% DAP Silicone and Vinyl Spackling. The company continues to innovate, inventing products that make jobs easier for do-it-yourselfers and professionals. Products like Easy Caulk, an aerosol dispensing product which eliminates the need for a caulk gun, DAPtex®Insulating Foam, a latex-based product which is water clean-up, has no odor and will not over expand, Drydex® Spackling, the first spackling that "goes on pink" and turns white as it dries, and the industry's first Titanium® strength silicone. The momentum continues with introductions in anti microbial Kwik Seal Plus® as well as an all weather sealant, SideWinder® Premium Siding and Window Sealant. Its most recent innovation CoVinyl X-9000™ technology makes DAPtex®Plus the best latex foam sealant on the market.
DAP also seeks to help professionals and do-it-yourselfers use their products more effectively by providing information and support for its products. Customers can reach the company through a toll free hotline 1.888.DAP.TIPS or Internet site www.DAP.com and receive tips, product information and instructions.
The DAP "Stars" represent its 700 strong associates around the world which support its vision to produce and market America's best home repair products. DAP's five manufacturing or distribution facilities in the United States of America, Mexico and Canada service North America and the world.
DAP is an operating company of RPM International Inc. RPM owns subsidiaries that serve both the consumer and industrial markets. Consumer brands used by professionals and do-it-yourselfers for home improvement, automotive and boat repair and maintenance, and hobbyist include Zinsser, Rust-Oleum, DAP, Varathane and Testors. The Industrial products include roofing systems, sealants, corrosion control coatings, flooring coatings and specialty chemicals. Industrial brands include Stonhard, Tremco, Carboline, Day-Glo, Euco and Dryvit.
Benefits
At DAP, we want our associates to live happy, healthy lives. We believe our benefits should answer your needs and wishes for the way you want to lead your life at work and outside of it. Here, you'll find benefits that advance your career, strengthen your financial well-being, aid you in health matters and encourage time away from work for self-enrichment.
Take a look at what we have to offer. We think you'll find our benefits will help you make the most of what's important to you: A healthy, balanced life.
Financial Strength
DAP provides an opportunity for great financial standing. We want to make sure that you are well compensated for your efforts. We have a number of programs that can help you reach your fiscal goals now and plan for the future.
•Cash Compensation
•401(k) Plan
•Pension Plan
•Employee Stock Purchase Plan
•Short Term Disability
•Long Term Disability
•Life Insurance
•Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
•Business Travel Accident Insurance
•Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
•Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
•Free Parking
•Tuition Reimbursement
Your Health
We give you the choice of health insurance plans as designed to keep you and your family healthy while managing the costs of care.
•Medical Insurance
•Dental Insurance
•Vision Insurance
•Smoking Cessation Program
•Weight Loss/Control Program
Time Off
You need some time to call your own. We understand that everyone needs a break. Keeping this in mind, DAP offers programs to give the time you want.
•Paid Vacation
•Paid Holidays
•Bereavement Leave
•Jury Duty Leave
Community Support
Sharing our success with the community is important to the DAP team. You will find our associates regularly joining in to give back in both corporate-sponsored and individual efforts. This is just one reason why we say, “You’ll find DAP in all the right places.”
•Charitable Events
•Employee Volunteerism Program