History

Since 1909, Permatex products have been used in workshops, garages, service stations, and at racetracks around the world. Permatex has produced legendary brands including, Form-A-Gasket and Indian Head which paved the way for the innovative product technologies used today. What remains clear throughout…the Permatex brand has become synonymous with the word “trusted”. From its performance on racetracks to automotive maintenance and repair solutions for today…Made for the Professional^™ and Do-It-Yourselfers alike… the iconic Permatex brand and its enduring legacy continues to stand the test of time to meet the demands of its customers.

1909 The First Permatex Product

In the beginning… Constant A. Benoit Sr., founder of the Permatex Company, developed the first Permatex product, a shellac designed to bond bicycle tires to their rims.

1915 Permatex Enters the Automotive Maintenance Business at the Races

Constant Benoit attended a 24-hour endurance race at the Sheepshead Bay track near his Brooklyn, New York laboratory. He observed that many of the cars were forced to make frequent pit stops to replace blown cylinder head gaskets. The mechanic for driver Ralph DePalma’s car sought Mr. Benoit’s help after DePalma’s car blew its head gasket for the fourth time. Mr. Benoit applied some of his experimental gasket cement and the DePalma car drove the rest of the 24-hour race without any further gasket problems. On that day, Permatex entered the automotive maintenance chemicals business. The Permatex Company became one of the early leaders in using professional auto racing to prove product performance and to promote sales.

1936 Milt Marion wins First Race at Daytona with the Permatex® Form-A-Gasket® Test Car

American stockcar driver/mechanic Bill France, Sr., assembled driver Milt Marion’s racing engine using only Permatex® Form-A-Gasket® products. Marion went on to win the first race at the Daytona Beach Road Course with the Form-A-Gasket® Test Car # 23. For more on Milt Marion’s account of using Form-A-Gasket click here.

1950 – 1962 Permatex Company Moves On…

Constant Benoit died and his son Pete took over the Permatex Company. Pete shifted the company’s manufacturing plant from Brooklyn, New York to Kansas City in 1954 – to take advantage of a more central shipping location. Later, preferring Florida’s sunny climate, Pete moved the company headquarters to West Palm Beach in 1962. Soon the Permatex Company built a 12,000 square foot corporate and international sales office in West Palm Beach.

1972 The Permatex Company has a New Owner

The Permatex Company was sold to Loctite Corporation. The business was moved to Cleveland, Ohio and integrated with the Woodhill Chemical Company. In the late 1970’s, Woodhill Permatex launched Permatex® Blue Silicone which went on to become the largest selling blister carded chemical item in the American auto parts business.

1975 Bobby Allison Runs Chevy 300 Miles with Permatex Products

NASCAR superstar Bobby Allison built a late model Chevrolet sportsman engine entirely with Permatex® products. The car, assembled without a single cut gasket or lock washer, ran a NASCAR Certified average 157.094 mph for 300 miles at Talladega Motor Speedway.

1990 Permatex Enters the Hand Cleaning Business

DL Banite, Inc., America’s oldest manufacturer of waterless hand cleaners, which includes Blue Label™ and Trounce® became part of the Permatex line. Later that year, Permatex launched Fast Orange® citrus hand cleaners, a staple of the Permatex product line and a standard of the emerging citrus hand cleaner industry.

1999 – 2004 Permatex Gains Independence Once Again

Permatex was purchased by a group of private investors in 1999. As a private company in 2000, Permatex introduced an unprecedented fifty new products, acquired the No Touch® tire care line, bought the Loctite Mexican Hardware Business, and purchased the NOS® (Nitrous Oxide Systems) fuel additive and treatment product line. In 2002, Permatex re-entered the industrial market with its broad range of products.

2005 ITW Acquires Permatex

Permatex was acquired by ITW (Illinois Tool Works Inc.), a NYSE listed U.S. based corporation. ITW was founded in 1912 and is a Fortune 200 diversified manufacturing company with more than a 90 year history. ITW’s decentralized business units in 49 countries employ 50,000+ people focused on creating value-added products and innovative customer solutions. Permatex Partners with Jay Blake and Follow A Dream NHRA Racing Team

2005 Permatex Partners with Jay Blake and Follow A Dream NHRA Racing Team

With higher speeds and bigger engines, Crew Chief Jay Blake and his Follow A Dream team rely on Permatex products to keep their 3000 horsepower NHRA Top Alcohol Funny Car together. At the same time, Blake is motivating people around the country through his Follow A Dream foundation.

2008 Permatex Acquires Spray Nine

Permatex acquired Spray Nine Corporation, a privately owned manufacturer of specialty cleaning products. Headquartered in Johnstown, NY, Spray Nine has been developing and manufacturing a variety of premium cleaning products since 1948, and is credited with introducing the industry’s first “spray-on, wipe-off” disinfectant cleaner.

2009 Permatex Marks 100 Year Anniversary

With 100 years in business making ‘chemical tools’, Permatex has over 350 products and produces approximately 1,200 SKUs, providing market-specific formulations and application methods for a variety of industries, including automotive, marine, heavy duty, and off highway. The company is constantly working with automakers, parts suppliers, service parts groups, and other aftermarket companies to develop the next generation of service technology.