From “Stranger Things” to the big screen, Lehigh Valley company brings Hollywood monsters to life
MACUNGIE, Pa. — From the creatures of Stranger Things to the post-apocalyptic horrors of The Last of Us, the materials behind some of Hollywood’s most iconic monsters are made in the Lehigh Valley.
Smooth-On Inc., headquartered in Macungie, develops specialty materials used by makeup and special effects artists to create movie monsters, haunted attraction props and other designs. Its products are also used in major franchises including James Bond and Harry Potter, helping artists bring fantastical worlds to life on screen.
Founded in 1895 by Vreeland Tompkins, the company began with a powder compound called Iron Cement, which could be mixed with water to repair cracks and holes in iron pipes and tanks. Over more than a century, Smooth-On has evolved into an international brand known for innovation in chemical manufacturing, particularly room-temperature-cured rubbers and plastics.
The company’s materials include liquid silicones, urethane rubbers, foams and epoxies used across a wide range of industries. Beyond special effects and cosplay, Smooth-On products are used for highway sound barriers, medical simulation tools, sculptures and industrial applications.
Smooth-On is one of nearly 700 manufacturers that contribute to making the Lehigh Valley one of the top 15% of manufacturing markets nationwide, based on Gross Domestic Product. Other products made in the region include Crayola crayons, Mack Trucks, Martin Guitars and Lutron dimmers.
The company’s 400,000-square-foot headquarters and production facility in Macungie has become a local landmark. Visitors are greeted by an elaborate showroom entryway and a dragon sculpture perched on the roof.
Reynolds Advanced Materials — Smooth-On’s public-facing showroom — is open to anyone interested in experimenting with the same materials used by professionals. Shoppers can purchase products for home projects while viewing displays designed to spark creativity.
“The goal of our showrooms is to inspire people for the possibilities,” said Madeline Western, Smooth-On’s vice president of sales and marketing.
Smooth-On has been based in the Lehigh Valley for about a decade and employs roughly 200 people locally, with an additional 100 employees worldwide. Western said the region’s location played a significant role in the company’s decision to move operations there.
Located about 60 minutes from Philadelphia and 90 minutes from New York City, the Lehigh Valley places Smooth-On within a day’s drive of roughly one-third of the U.S. population.
“We’re accessible by our global customer base who comes to visit us all the time,” Western said. “It’s just a very accessible place to live. There’s something for everyone, and it’s big enough to be exciting, but small enough to feel like home.”
