Fifty years ago, in 1975, a vision was born: to manufacture high-performance sealing materials for the most demanding applications in the most critical industries. Today, Precision Polymer Engineering (PPE) proudly celebrates its 50th anniversary. It marks a remarkable journey of innovation, dedication, and impactful contributions to diverse industry sectors across the world. This milestone reflects a legacy built on a steadfast commitment to excellence and investment in people.
Founded by Peter Cummings in a garage in Blackburn, the business has grown to over 300 people working across cutting-edge manufacturing facilities in Blackburn, Brenham, TX, and Saudi Arabia. These five decades have seen Precision Polymer Engineering navigate significant industry shifts and economic challenges, including COVID-19 and Brexit, consistently adapting and evolving to meet the needs of its customers and the global market.
Carlos Uribe, President of Precision Polymer Engineering, said:
“Reaching our 50th year of operation is an incredible achievement, and it’s all thanks to the hard work and dedication of employees past and present, as well as the loyalty and trust of our valued customers and partners around the world.
We’re proud of the impact we’ve made and continue to make while providing high-performance sealing solutions, bringing reliability and safety for our customers, and also in fostering sustainable practices to enrich the communities in which we work and live.
We’re all excited to continue this legacy while walking our transformational path of innovation and write the next chapter of PPE’s journey.”
Eric Ashleman, CEO and President of IDEX Corporation, said:
“Today we celebrate an incredible milestone—50 years of Precision Polymer Engineering. Like many great companies, the PPE story didn’t begin in a boardroom. It all started in a small garage shop in Blackburn, England, where Peter Cummings had a vision and the determination to bring it to life. What started as a modest operation has grown into a global leader in high-performance sealing solutions.
From those early days of experimentation and grit, PPE evolved into a trusted name in sealing across aerospace, semiconductors, energy, and life sciences. We’ve pioneered materials like Perlast®, earned industry certifications, and expanded our reach across continents. But this celebration isn’t just about our achievements—it’s about our people. The engineers, technicians, partners, and customers who’ve believed in our mission and helped shape our legacy. You are the heartbeat of PPE.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to innovation, sustainability, and empowering the next generation of problem-solvers. The next 50 years will be even more exciting—and I’m honoured to be part of this journey with all of you.
Thank you for your dedication, your passion, and your belief in what we do. Here’s to the second half-century for PPE!”
What’s next for Precision Polymer Engineering?
As Precision Polymer Engineering begins its next chapter, the company remains committed to identifying new ways to impact the sealing landscape in energy, life sciences, semiconductor manufacturing, and industrial applications. The team will also continue to be at the forefront of material innovation, improving performance and supporting our customers with reaching their sustainability goals as part of a more environmentally responsible future.
Precision Polymer Engineering will commemorate its 50th anniversary with a 50th Birthday Family Festival at Brockholes Nature Reserve in Preston, UK. This celebratory gathering is an opportunity for people from PPE’s past and present, and their families, to get together and enjoy a day of food and festivities.
About Precision Polymer Engineering
Established in 1975, Precision Polymer Engineering is a leading provider of high-performance sealing solutions to critical industries around the world. Our teams are driven by a commitment to material innovation, expert engineering support, and customer obsession.
Precision Polymer Engineering is a business unit of IDEX Corporation.