Gore-Tex inventor dies

The man behind Gore-Tex waterproof technology, Robert W. “Bob” Gore, has died at the age of 83.

The prolific American inventor and chemical engineer is best known among motorcyclists and outdoor enthusiasts for creating Gore-Tex – a waterproof, breathable fabric membrane that repels water while remaining breathable. Gore-Tex doesn’t come cheap, however – mostly due to licence fees to use the proprietary technology – but it does come with a water-tight lifetime warranty.

Apparently, Gore’s terms and conditions include rigorously testing the final product before a clothing company can take it to market.

Invented by Bob Gore in 1969, Gore-Tex is constructed of stretched polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is more commonly known by the generic trademark Teflon (yes, the non-stick surface found in pots and pans). The material is formally known as the generic term expanded PTFE (ePTFE).

W.L. Gore & Associates was founded by Bob’s parents Wilbert (Bill) and Genevieve Gore, of Delaware, US, is one of the largest privately owned companies in the US, with a workforce of more than 11,000 employees and an annual revenue of $US3.7 billion.

The company’s Australian arm, founded in 1981 and based in Sydney, specialises in orthotics and prosthetics as well as chemical manufacturing.

Bob Gore assumed the chairman emeritus role in 2018 after 57 years of service on the Gore board, 30 of those as chairman. Bob also served as president of Gore from 1976 to 2000. He was also a philanthropist, donating funds to science and engineering faculties of several universities and research foundations. Gore was inducted into the American Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006.

The Gore company has a massive product portfolio with its high-tech fabrics division alone catering for several industries and professions including law enforcement, fire and safety, chemical, biological and industrial as well as the specific requirements for Army, Navy, Air Force, Special Ops and NASA to name a few.

Then there are all the other branches: medical, pharmaceutical, electrical and cables, filtration and venting… it goes on.

“We plan to leave a legacy to society and to future generations: infants with surgically reconstructed hearts that live because of our medical products; governments of free societies that are better able to protect themselves because of defense products; communities with cleaner and healthier environments because of our filtration and sealant products; And yes, people that just have more fun in the outdoors because of our Gore-Tex outerwear,” Bob Gore said during his tenure as president.