Management Team

2023

• Hynek Jakubicek becomes General Manager of PPE Ltd based in Blackburn, England

2022

• PPE launches range of hygienic gaskets for pipe couplings under the HyClamp™ brand

2021

• PPE International LLC is formed in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

2020

• Ben Green becomes General Manager of PPE Ltd based in Blackburn, England
• San Jose office relocated to Santa Clara
• Joe Zawaki joins the PPE LLC team as General Manager, located in Brenham TX

2019

• Acquired Roplan and Steridose (both headquartered in Tumba, Sweden), as part of IDEX Sealing Solutions
• New Product Development resource increased by 30%

2018

• Perlast Helios material launched, for high temperature semiconductor applications

2017

• Ben Green becomes General Manager of PPE LLC based in Brenham Texas
• Major Semiconductor OEM approvals received for manufacture from PPE LLC Brenham site

2016 

• Neil Thompson joins IDEX Sealing Solutions (ISS) as President
• Dissipative elastomers introduced for critical semiconductor applications
• Low temperature HNBR elastomer (EnDura Z90LT) released for oil and gas applications
• Launch of MicroFORM® - micro sized elastomer parts manufacturing capability
• First low temperature FFKM elastomer released for Oil and Gas applications with Standard Oil and Gas Geometries (Spring Seals, Chevron Stacks, O-rings and T-seals) available in Low Temperature FFKM material with Industry approvals and Super Major approvals

2015

• Acquired Novotema (Villongo, Italy) as part of IDEX Sealing Solutions
• PPE celebrates 40 years in business

2014

• Building work completed on new PPE manufacturing facility in Brenham (TX, USA)
• Official opening and first parts manufactured at Brenham facility

2013

• Opened a sales office and customer training facility in Houston (TX, USA)
• Acquired FTL Technology (Leeds, UK)
• Launched EnDura^® E90SR - high temperature steam resistant EPDM material

2012

• Launched Perlast^® ICE - exceptional perfluoroelastomers for extreme low temperature applications

2011

• Precision Polymer Engineering LLC established in USA, adding sales engineers in Houston, Philadelphia and Chicago
• Achieved NADCAP accreditation for elastomer seal manufacture for aerospace applications

2010

• Precision Polymer Engineering acquired by IDEX Corporation, operating within IDEX's Health and Science Technologies segment
• Revenues 80% outside UK
• Established sales office in Tokyo, Japan
• Applications Engineering & Technical Support team established, providing enhanced seal design and consultancy capability

2009

• Completion of expansion programme with extensive new materials laboratory, 80% increase in production floor space and opening of new administrative and customer training centre at UK headquarters
• Launch of further new Kimura^® material grades, including materials beyond perfluoroelastomers
• Established sales operation in Houston (TX, USA) for the oil and gas sector in the United States

2008

• Acquisition of Aberdeen O-Rings and Seals to expand the company's presence in the UK oil and gas sector
• Commencement of build programme to increase the production facility by 80% and a dedicated administration and customer training centre
• Continued expansion of the material ranges within FKM and FFKM with leading-edge mechanical properties, and additional approvals for materials in the pharmaceutical sector
• Dedicated Asian sales team, operating from Singapore

2007

• Expansion of sales operation in EU countries and in the USA, with increased activities across Asia - particularly Japan
• Endura^® range of materials launched for the oil and gas sector
• Launched Detectaseal^® range of innovative metal-detectable, FDA-compliant material grades for applications in food and pharmaceutical industries
• Continued investment in new plant and machinery to achieve increased capacity and technological advances
• Major enhancements and development of the laboratory and NPD center with leading-edge equipment to progress and support customer projects

2006

• Major investment in new presses with sophisticated process mechanisms to optimize quality and methods
• New material approvals in the defence and life science sectors
• Perlast^® perfluoroelastomers introduced to the semiconductor and pharmaceutical sectors

2005

• Investment in advanced press machines, including a 2-metre wide press with 'clean production' capability
• Extensive outfitting of materials laboratory for research and development, as well as production testing and support purposes
• Opening of office facility in San Jose (CA, USA), offering technical support

2003

• Moved to purpose-built 3,500 sq m (37,600 sq ft) factory with class 10,000 cleanroom facility
• Further development and introduction of nano-filled elastomers on a commercial scale worldwide
• Complete range of pharmaceutical/bioanalytical elastomer grades with diverse approvals and conformities

2001

• First development of nano-filled elastomers for semiconductor and other critical applications

2000

• £4m turnover, 50% export to Europe, USA and Asia
• First prototype orders in Perlast^® perfluoroelastomer materials to US semiconductor sector
• Emphasis on material approvals for a wide range of industries
• Pharmaceutical grade elastomers introduced

1990s

• OEM sales operation commenced
• First manufactured Perlast^® material in 1991

1980s

• £1m turnover and 29 employees, 30% export to mostly Europe
• Moved to larger premises
• Emphasis on large power generation and marine diesel sector

1975

• Company founded by Peter Cummings in Blackburn, UK