Brady History

W. H. Brady traces its origins to founder W. H. (Will) Brady's early career as a salesman for an Ohio remembrance advertising firm that manufactured calendars, yardsticks, and other promotional items on which advertising messages were printed. In 1914 he founded the W. H. Brady Company in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. His first product was promotional photographic calendars sold to offices and stores, but he soon followed with elaborate color displays for ice cream parlors, printed glass beer signs, point-of-purchase displays, and pre-billboard roadside advertising.

Brady Started in 1914, But it really took off in the 1940's

World War II brought an urgent need for a clear and easy way to identify the ever-more dense masses of wiring being installed in ships, planes, and other military equipment. Prior to the 1940s, electricians relied on primitive methods of identifying wires including marking them with color codes, tie-on tags, or actual notches. W.H. Brady offered a better solution: preprinted, self-adhesive wire markers. These new wire markers adhered whether planes were parked on sweltering 100 plus degree landing strips or flying through frigid subzero temperatures at 37,000 feet. Brady wire markers performed better than any of the old solutions at a time when performance mattered more than it ever had, and continue to be one of the company's leading product lines today.

Time, and Brady, Marches on

1950s: Brady first goes international with new operations and partnerships in Canada, Mexico, and the U.K.

1980s: Brady went public in 1984 when it issued its first-ever shares of common stock, and expands its reach through direct marketing catalogs.

1990s: Brady continues to innovate by creating software that allows customers to create their own labels and printers to print on-site and on-demand. The company begins further global expansion in Asia.

2000s: For Brady, a decade of expansion through acquisitions that brought new customers, new technologies and new geographies to the company's portfolio.

100 Years of Technology-Driven Innovation

Over the years, Brady has received thousands of patents for industry-changing inventions. This 1945 patent application for an adhesive label dispenser was one of the first.

Throughout its history, Brady has developed innovative products built upon its core competencies in slitting, coating, laminating, printing, die-cut, adhesives, print and apply, durable films, printer systems, security technology and software development. Some of Brady's key innovations are listed below.

1940s: Blue Streak Release, making removal of adhesive markers and signs from their backing paper fast as a "blue streak" and setting a new standard in the industry.

1950s: Brady's Markermatic machine that could apply 1000 wire markers an hour brought a new level of automation to the industry.

1960s: Printed Circuit Board Labels with superior adhesion and legibility to withstand extreme manufacturing conditions such as solder baths.

1980s: PermaSleeve and DuraSleeve incorporating advanced innovation for enhancements to Brady's wire marker sleeves.

LabelMark labeling software 1990s: Die-cut components that solve new problems like vibration, sound and heat disbursement in electronics; LabelMark label design software offers features that make creating labels more efficient than ever.

2000s: Brady's first IP Printer with Integrated Cartridge Technology automatically calibrates printer settings to the print material; a new generation of hand-held printers IDPro and TLS 2200, and the GlobalMark desktop printer offer expanded options and the latest conveniences; high-performance labels like Freezerbondz offer never-before-seen performance like adhesion to already frozen items.

2010s: Hassle-free handheld printers like the BMP 21 set a new standard in the industry.