Porelon History
Porelon was founded in 1959 by Sam Johnson as a division of the SC Johnson Company. Sam named the division by blending the
words "porous" and "nylon," which represented important characteristics and materials of its products. Johnson's original
intent was to create micro-porous applicators for the health & beauty industry and also to support several of the SC
Johnson Company's other product lines. Sam Johnson also recognized that the same technology was ideally suited for the
application of ink to a variety of surfaces. Over time, the opportunity in the marking business eclipsed the original
direction of the business and Porelon's chemists and product development group focused on creating new ways to deliver
ink across a diverse range of industries spanning everything from checks, ATMs, receipts and stock exchange tickets
to ink jet, laser printers, tires and construction materials. Today, as part of the Cookeville, Tennessee-based Identity
Group, Porelon continues to build upon its rich heritage by manufacturing innovative inks, gels, foams, rollers and pads
used by the world's leading companies.
