Brand History
The Lec brand celebrated its 70th Birthday in 2012 – there aren’t many medical refrigeration providers that can boast that kind of experience. From humble beginnings, the LEC Medical brand has grown to be a trusted name in medical refrigeration. Read how this happened below.
1940 - 1954
1940
Charles and Frank Purley owned a fresh fish shop. As obtaining ice was expensive, a cheap method of keeping the fish in good condition had to be found.
1942
Together with partner Leslie Jull they purchased a small engineering workshop in Longford Road Bognor Regis and Longford Engineering Company (L.e.c) was born. Through the war years the workshop produced munitions as well as developing a refrigeration system.
1946
They obtained some land from Farmer Munday at Shripney Road Bognor Regis for £125. This was the base from which the factory grew. In the same year their first prototype fridge was made and the company acquired its first airplane, an Ulster, which was used for urgent deliveries and repairs. The plane was also used for transporting executives on business trips in order to save time.
1954
The company was renamed Lec Refrigeration Ltd, thus linking itself more closely to the trade name of Lec by which its products had become known.
1960 - 2012
1960s
Charles Purley said to keep a business successful you have to expand, so in the 1960s a new automatic spray paint plant and a 3 floor building fronting Shripney Road were in construction.
1973
Following Britain’s entry into the Common Market, a modern factory was acquired in Calais.
1994
Sime Darby of Malaysia purchased Lec and invested £34 million into a new factory.
2006
In late 2006, Lec was brought under Glen Dimplex Professional Appliances with Burco.
2012
The Lec brand celebrated its PLATINUM anniversary in 2012 with the launch of a new improved range of medical refrigerators continuing to surpass our own high standards. Click on the products section for details of our new introductions.