Profile of W L Gore: a leader in performance outerwear fabrics

10 pages, published in Issue 14, 3rd Quarter 2005   Report price: Euro 275.00; US$ 365.00

W L Gore & Associates uses its expertise in working with the polymer polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and its applications to develop and manufacture a diverse range of around 1,000 products. These products fall into four main categories: fabrics; medical; industrial; and electronics. Applications range from dental floss to guitar strings, and vacuum cleaner bags to performance wear fabrics.

The company is best known for Gore-Tex, its breathable, waterproof material. Gore-Tex was first discovered in 1969, and the first commercial order for Gore-Tex fabric was placed in 1976. The material is made from expanded PTFE and has changed the standard of performance outerwear.

Gore-Tex has now grown into a family of performance wear fabrics worn by soldiers, hikers, firefighters, golfers and many others. The range includes Gore-Tex’s anti-static workwear which was launched in 2002.

W L Gore has almost 7,000 employees spread throughout 24 countries. Its annual sales are close to US$2 bn. Continual innovation in fluoropolymers for performance outerwear fabrics has generated a large proportion of the company’s sales.

In its 50-year history, W L Gore has taken advantage of its first-mover advantages in Gore-Tex and built a reputation for good quality and innovative products. As competition intensifies, W L Gore will need to play to these strengths more than ever.

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