HISTORY OF CARLISLE

While The Beatles were making their inaugural steps onto U.S. soil and changing the music industry, Carlisle was introducing single-ply membranes to the roofing industry. They say it was a Revolution. And when the country's second youngest presidential candidate was courting the public (John Kennedy), the new single-ply membranes were wooing conventional hot roofing system contractors. From inner tubes to water retention linings for various applications, single-ply membranes were changing the world. A brief blurb in Carlisle's 1963 Annual Report summarized the progress. Sure-Seal EPDM, a relatively new construction material, is winning wide acceptance because of its outstanding qualities.

By the middle of the decade, Carlisle roofing membranes were being specified on applications in some of the newest and largest buildings in the nation. Glamorous applications of Carlisle Sure-Seal are found on such structures as the Equitable Building in Chicago and the Manhattan Towers, New York City (as reported in Carlisle's 50-year Anniversary program, 1967).

1960s - The restaurant at O’Hare International Airport was one of Carlisle’s earliest membrane roofing system installations. This 1961 application was simply the appetizer for today’s Fully-Adhered system.

The U.S. staggered awkwardly when Richard Nixon resigned after The Watergate hearings. In front of an estimated viewing audience of 40 million, tennis champion Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in what was publicized as the Battle of the Sexes. And, an energy crisis in the late 1970s was the turning point for single-ply's victory in the market. Asphalt roofing products shot up in price and quality went down. And the positioning for EPDM membrane roofing systems couldn't have been better. In the mid-1970s, Carlisle's Construction Materials Division grew by 80%. Business jumped to $140 million in 1975. Contractors were standing in line to obtain the product. Carlisles then sole manufacturing facility in Carlisle, PA published an EPDM price list with special attention to its 26-week lead time for shipments. From the Corporation's 1977 Annual Report, The company' custom-designed Sure-Seal® roofing systems, utilizing elastomeric membranes, have become one of the fastest growing lines. The company has developed an extensive network of approved roofers and is marketing the line in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Because Carlisle roofing systems offer a number of advantages over conventional systems, they are expected to continue to capture an increasing share of the roofing market.

· The 1980s

Addressing supply and demand in the 1980s the Carlisle, PA production facility underwent a substantial expansion and a second manufacturing plant was constructed in Greenville, Illinois. In 1982 and 1983, Carlisle built a research and development facility solely dedicated to single-ply membranes, products and systems. In 1986, Carlisle's then President reported, with the amount of roofing we've installed, we could cover more than 12,000 football fields.

The 1980s explosion was partly due to roofing contractors recognizing the value added benefits of EPDM membranes. According to SPRI (Single-Ply Roofing Institute), the reasons for the overwhelming reception included material-, design-and installation- benefits, and manufacturer/supplier support and stability. The architects and owners unanimously state that There is No Equalm which becomes Carlisle's slogan.

EPDM membrane roofing systems were an easy fit for most every slope and climatic condition. During this decade, Carlisle introduced the first polyester-reinforced membranes for added system strength, durability, puncture-and tear-resistance and design options.

The 1990s marked exponential Internet growth and O.J. Simpson's infamous L.A. freeway drive had Americans glued to their televisions. At Carlisle, seaming glues were being replaced with splice tapes on talc-free membranes to improve performance and reduce the installed cost of EPDM roofing systems. In addition, life-cycle costs of the EPDM roofing systems were determined to be 35% less than the asphalt BUR systems.

Again in the 1990s Carlisle markets its new FleeceBACK non-penetrating roofing systems, designed, based on the polyurethane lining with a second adhesive function: to adhere both the insulation to the deck and the membrane to the installation.

The other Cralisle’s roofing system - Sure-Weld TPO - use heat welding technology and meets the ENERGY STAR performance guidelines

These product and system introductions, born in the 90s, are even stronger in the New Millennium.

As each decade can be symbolized by an event, milestone or trend in our country's pop culture, technology, leadership, sports or music, Carlisle is proud to be both a pioneer and a part of the roofing industry revolution that began more than 4 decades ago. By introducing innovative and revolutionary products and systems, the roofing industry has changed forever. Now Carlisle celebrates the completion of more than 200,000 projects involving more than 9 billion square feet. And the future is still to come.

Choosing Carlisle for your next roofing insulation project in fact you choose 40 years of Experience in the are of roofing installations, you choose innovation, reliability and secure future.