Isa Reps, North Aurora, IL 60542, US

MAPEI's culture of innovation and excellence is rooted in the company history. Founded in Milan, Italy, by Rodolfo Squinzi in 1937, MAPEI evolved from a small wall-paint producer into a specialist in adhesives and sealants for building during the 1950s. Under Squinzi's leadership, the company developed its first adhesives for ceramic tile in the 1960s. Called Materiali Ausiliari Per l'Edilizia e l'Industria (Auxiliary Materials for Construction and Industry) by Squinzi, the company is still referred to by its original acronym, MAPEI. Strong from its success in Italy, MAPEI began expanding across Europe in 1967 and into North America in the 1970s. Since 1989, MAPEI has rapidly created subsidiaries around the globe.