In the early 1940's Swiss inventor George de Mestral was walking with his dog through the woods when he saw that his pants were covered in cockleburs. Noticing that his canine's coat was also full of the burrs, de Mestral became curious about their ability to attach to both material and fur, so he took some of the burrs to examine under his microscope.

It was then that he discovered their hook-like shape and thus began his quest to produce a unique two-sided fastener -- one side with stiff "hooks", similar to the burrs; the other side with soft "loops," resembling fabric. The two-sided fastener became known as VELCRO^® brand hook and loop, named for the French words, "velour" and "crochet."

Today, the Velcro companies are a technically-driven, global organization and the industry leader in hook and loop fasteners. The company, through its worldwide subsidiaries, offers hundreds of different hook and loop products and fastening systems.


The Velcro companies Innovation & Technology Center, the pioneer and leader in hook and loop fastener technology is the original patent holder of U.S. Patent 2,717,437 filed on October 15, 1952. Striving to be the dominant innovator in fastening technology through efficient and creative solutions, VELCRO^® Brand Fasteners offer an extensive assortment of standard products to meet all types of fastening needs.

VELCRO^® Brand products are rigorously engineered and tested to quality levels unmatched in the hook and loop industry. As the industry leader, VELCRO^® Brand Fasteners have proven themselves in a diverse market for over 50 years.

The Velcro companies integrate market driven product development that meets the demands of the global market place and bring new products to market quickly in industries such as automotive, medical device, space exploration, textile development, continuous plastic molding and solvent-free coatings.

Today the Velcro companies have over 160 active United States Patents, keeping the company at the forefront in hook and loop touch fastener technology and are a recognized worldwide supplier of hook and loop and other fastener tapes that make life easier.


For over five decades, Velcro USA Inc. and her sister companies worldwide have led the industry in development and application of the highest quality, technically-driven fastening systems. Quality is the focus in every phase of production from account management and customer relations to engineering, design, order fulfillment and delivery.

VELCRO^® Brand Fasteners and systems meet and exceed expectations and are ISO-9001 and QS9000 certified. VELCRO^® Brand quality adds value and performance to products. You can trust the technology and manufacturing excellence.
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