STR was founded in 1944 when two of the world's most prominent polymer scientists, John DeBell and Henry Richardson, started the first dedicated plastics research and development firm in the United States. The company rapidly gained a reputation for innovation of engineered compounds and technical service for the growing plastics industry. Over the years, STR has expanded and evolved in order to focus on encapsulation technology for the photovoltaic industry. STR's Solar Encapsulants Manufacturing business is one of the world's leading providers of high quality, superior performance solar encapsulants - marketed under the trade name PhotoCap® since 1979 - for the photovoltaic module industry. With over 80 customers around the world, including many of the top names in the solar module business, STR has developed many of the major innovations in the industry.