Performix & Performix Coatings: A History of Innovation
1970s
Performix Coatings started as a small manufacturer of plastisol products including handle grips, chainsaw scabbards, and even popular toy lines such as Gumby® & Pokey®.
Founder Robert Haasl understood the value of an air-dry plastisol and set out to develop his own. His idea sparked a series of innovations which have kept Performix Coatings on the map even today.
1980s
In the 80s Performix Coatings, or PDI as it came to be known, began developing a wider variety of specialty coatings for DIY, industrial, and commercial applications.
Overcoming the challenges, PDI’s developments were put to the test in a variety of applications. Numerous bridges across the country (including the Golden Gate Bridge!), “J” barriers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, swimming pools for Holiday Inn® Hotels, sewage treatment facilities, as well as meat processing plants utilized Performix Coatings products.
In the mid-80s, PDI began to expand in a new direction. Under the leadership of Robert’s son and the head of Industrial Sales, Scott Haasl pursued the development of protective coatings for flexible foams.
Within a few years, PDI was recognized as the industry leader for low VOC water-based coatings for flexible foams. These PDC® coatings protected and even added value to everything from medical positioning equipment used in x-rays and surgeries to everyday pool floats and wrestling mats.
PDI didn’t stop there though and committed to rolling out numerous product innovations. Performix Coatings BRUSH was introduced as the first brushable high performance water-based coating along with HCF® (coil coat) and Vyna Bond (fabric/vinyl-coated fabric repair).
To keep up with its growing product line and widening market, PDI designed and built its first special purpose facility.
1990s
Through the 90s, PDI introduced its eccs® (emission control coatings systems) water-based and low VOC/HAP’s technology.
The 1990 Clean Air Act had changed the game by setting new emission standards for manufacturers. Luckily Performix Coatings International was there to provide many of its customers with the chance to expand and grow their businesses. All thanks to their affordable MURACULON flexible foam coatings which allowed business owners to meet the new emission standards without costly environmental controls.
Industrial products weren’t the only development PDI had up its sleeve though. New DIY products like Liquid Tape were also introduced along with new private label partnerships.
The 90s were a time of rapid growth and change for PDI.
In 1998, Founder & President of Performix Coatings Robert Haasl passed away. His son, Scott Haasl, took over as President and CEO.
After succeeding his father, Scott developed a new umbrella brand which came to be known as Performix®.
A year later PDI, honoring its founding roots, rebranded as Performix Coatings.
2000s
The new millennium brought with it new challenges for Performix Coatings.
In order to keep up with the new Performix brand and distribution opportunities, a new high-efficiency facility was needed. This new state-of-the-art facility set the stage for a new period of growth.
To really kick things off, Performix Coatings launched numerous products including: ReRACK®, Create Your Color Kit, and Liquid Tape Spray for the DIY space.
Meanwhile, Performix was cooking up something new for the manufacturing and automotive markets. Several new water-based and low VOC/HAP’s coatings were developed and launched along with Performix’s in-mold coatings (IMC).
These new products along with new partnerships continued to push Performix and PDI forward through the 2000s as industry leaders.
2010s
Performix Coatings’s growth didn’t stop in the 2000s. Performix Coatings, the line of peelable paints which not only protected but allowed for limitless automotive customization was taking the industry by storm.
While some knockoffs did emerge, Performix’s superior quality left little room for cheap imitations.
Of course, inferior products in the market didn’t stop Performix Coatings’s hunger for growth and quality assurance. To keep up with retailer needs, it worked closely with its aerosol packaging partner to open up a new distribution center.
Over 100,000sq. ft was needed to feed the new demand for Performix Coatings products. New businesses were created by professional Performix Coatings installers to meet demand for Performix Coatings products nationally and around the globe. This surge in demand and influx of new businesses in turn helped to generate thousands of jobs.
To better serve customers, Performix Coatings launched two new websites. The first, plastidip.com launched for home use consumers and DIY’ers while performixcoatings.com focused on industrial markets and manufacturers.
2020s
In 2022 Performix Coatings celebrated its 50th anniversary and continued to strive for new, innovative products.
Today you can find Performix Coatings’s wide range of products available in nearly every automotive, hardware, home center, discounter, and major online retailer.