From a small Garage to a Global Leader in Extreme Protection

Pelican Products, a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance protective cases and advanced portable lighting tools, is celebrating its 40th anniversary throughout 2016. Peli Products, based in Barcelona, is the EMEA Headquarters of Pelican Products.

Sensitive equipment requires protection, and since 1976 the answer has been Peli PROTECTOR cases, which are designed rugged and overcome the harshest environments on earth. Against the extreme cold of the arctic or the heat of battle, Peli cases have survived.

In addition, Peli’s lighting tools are used by professionals including firefighters, police, military, aerospace, industrial, as well as consumers for general and outdoor use. Built Peli tough, they offer the brightness, safety and functionality needed in the field or simply at home.

“Pelican has been on an amazing journey from its beginnings in a garage in 1976 to becoming the global power in the design and manufacture of the toughest products in their categories,” Lyndon Faulkner, Pelican’s President and CEO, said. “Our continued success is a testament to the people who have contributed their ideas, vision, enthusiasm and hard work over the years.”

The company offers its evolving and wide-ranging product lines across three distinctive divisions, allowing for focused attention to the individual needs of its diverse customer base. These are:

• Commercial / Government continues to deliver reliable protective case solutions and advanced portable lighting tools to military, fire, law enforcement, aerospace, and industrial professionals worldwide. Their products have been tested and survived on the battlefield, dropped from helicopters and consistently performed in harsh environments.
• Peli’s Consumer Division offers a full line of protective cases for mobile phones and tablets, coolers, luggage and advanced lighting systems for avid outdoorsmen/women, adventurers, techies, and photographers.
• Peli BioThermal provides a wide range of temperature-controlled, thermally-protected packaging and service solutions to the global life sciences industry. The company’s products ensure that delicate biological materials arrive intact and effective, despite exterior environments.

The timeline below provides a quick glance at pivotal developments in the company’s history, including new product launches, strategic acquisitions and international expansion:

1976 – Pelican is founded by Dave Parker in a Torrance, California garage
1978 – The first Pelican PROTECTOR case is created
1981 – The first Pelican SabreLite is introduced
1997 – Peli brand is born for the European market, and EMEA Headquarters set up in Barcelona
2004 – Pelican is purchased by private equity firm Behrman Capital
2006 – Lyndon Faulkner appointed as CEO
2007 – Rapid global expansion in Asia and Europe
2008 – Gen. Peter Pace becomes the Chairman of Pelican board
2008 – The company purchases Bluei UK and their popular Remote Area Lighting System is born
2009 – Pelican purchases Hardigg Industries
2011 – The company purchases noted Australian rotational molded case maker Trimcast
2011 – More global expansion with offices opening in India, Singapore, and South Africa
2012 – Peli consumer products are launched – coolers and backpacks
2013 – Company purchases temperature controlled packaging company Minnesota Thermal Science (MTS)
2014 – Company purchases Cool Logistics in the UK and forms Peli BioThermal after unifying it with MTS
2014 – Peli introduces their smartphone and consumer electronics case line
2015 – Peli’s Commercial/Government, Consumer and BioThermal divisions are created