History
Since 1909, Permatex adhesives have been used in the automotive industry worldwide.
The first Permatex product was shellac, which bonded rubber to automobile wheels. Constant A. Benoit, the founder of Permatex, enjoyed attending car races in his free time. In 1915, he participated in the 24-hour race at the Sheepshead Bay racetrack near his laboratory in Brooklyn. He noticed that many race cars frequently stopped in garages to replace damaged head gaskets.
The mechanic for driver Ralph DePalma, after continuous stops, asked Mr. Benoit for help, who used an experimental cement adhesive on his engine. DePalma finished the race without further interruptions. This made Permatex one of the first professional maintenance products in the automotive industry.
In 1936, renowned American stock car driver Bill France built a racing engine using only Permatex Form-A-Gasket products. Later, Milt Marison won the Daytona Beach race with car number 23. In 1970, Bobby Allison, one of the NASCAR champions, assembled a Chevrolet sports engine using only Permatex products for securing bolts. The car, assembled without traditional gaskets and locking washers, completed the 300-mile Talladega highway (at record speed).
Constant Benoit passed away in 1950, and his son Peter took over the company. In 1954, he relocated the production from Brooklyn to Kansas City. In 1963, he received the prestigious Automotive Man of the Year award. The Permatex line expanded and became increasingly successful. In 1972, Permatex was acquired by Loctite Corporation. The factory moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and merged with Woodhill Chemical Company. In 1970, Woodhill introduced Permatex Blue silicone, which became the best-selling product in the automotive industry. By 1980, the company had expanded and employed over 100 people. In 1990, DL. Banite, America’s oldest hand cleaner manufacturer, was integrated into Permatex. The following year, Permatex introduced the Fast Orange brand. In 1999, a group of private investors purchased the Permatex brand. The following year, Permatex launched 50 new products in the No Touch (sealants) line and NOS fuel additives. They also acquired the Loctite factory in Mexico. In 2001, Permatex bought the final share of Permatex International Business from Loctite Corporation, and the following year re-entered the industrial market with a wide range of products, including proprietary items such as cleaners, sealing silicones, anaerobic adhesives, epoxy adhesives, lubricants, and other specialty chemicals. As part of ITW’s Performance Polymers Group, Permatex continues the tradition as a leading manufacturer of adhesives and sealants in the automotive industry.