W L Gore & Associates

What W L Gore & Associates does

W. L. Gore & Associates is a privately held materials science company founded in 1958 in Newark, Delaware, employing between 5,001 and 10,000 people globally. The company is best known as the inventor and licensor of the GORE-TEX brand, built on expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane technology discovered by Bob Gore in 1969. Gore operates as an ingredient brand, selling proprietary laminates, membranes, and fabric technologies exclusively to certified brand partners — including Arc'teryx, Patagonia, The North Face, Burton, HOKA, Nike, and Adidas — who manufacture finished apparel, footwear, and accessories for consumer sale. Gore does not sell directly to end consumers under the apparel business model.

Gore's technology portfolio spans multiple verticals beyond outdoor fabrics. The Fabrics division produces the flagship GORE-TEX waterproof/windproof/breathable product line, WINDSTOPPER windproof products (now under GORE-TEX LABS), and a next-generation ePE membrane that is PFAS-free with a lower carbon footprint. The Medical Products division manufactures surgical meshes including GORE SYNECOR Preperitoneal Biomaterial for hernia repair. The Aerospace division produces GORE SKYFLEX sealants for aircraft structures, and the Bioprocessing division offers membrane chromatography devices for cell, gene, and antibody therapy manufacturing. Gore licenses technology and sells laminates/hardware across these divisions, with revenue derived from technology licensing/royalties and hardware sales.

The company operates six global manufacturing facilities across the US, Germany, and China, with sales and support offices across 13+ countries in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Gore's corporate strategy is increasingly oriented around sustainability (100% renewable electricity in manufacturing as of 2024, 60-80% Scope 1 & 2 emissions reduction, PFAS-free product transitions) and diversification into higher-margin industrial verticals such as aerospace, defense, and bioprocessing. Notable recent moves include a venture investment in South 8 Technologies for aerospace/defense batteries, the launch of ready-to-use aerospace sealants, and the European rollout of next-generation surgical biomaterials.

Name

W L Gore & Associates

Legal name

W. L. Gore & Associates

Website

https://gore-tex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

W. L. Gore & Associates is a privately held materials science company that licenses its proprietary ePTFE membrane technology to certified brand partners across apparel, medical, aerospace, and bioprocessing verticals, with the GORE-TEX brand as its flagship ingredient franchise.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performance Materials / Technical Textiles

NAICS

Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (31599), Adhesive Manufacturing (32552), Unlaminated Plastics Film and Sheet (except Packaging) Manufacturing (326113)

SIC

Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Adhesives & Sealants (2891), Plastic Materials, Synth Resins & Nonvulcan Elastomers (2821)

akta.pro primary industry

Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adhesives, Tapes & Bonding for Apparel (Seam Tape/Hot-Melt Films/Heat-Seal Tapes/Trim Attachment Adhesives) (IMAOALAJ), Adhesives (Structural & Assembly) (IMAEAGAH), Chemical-Resistant & Hazardous Materials Protective Clothing (CRAAALAI), Compression, Base Layers & Thermals (CRAAAEAH)

Keywords

• Waterproof breathable fabrics
• EPTFE membrane technology
• Technical textile licensing
• Outdoor apparel materials
• Fluoropolymer industrial products

Headquarters

HQ city

Newark

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Fabric Technology Licensing: Licenses GORE-TEX membrane technology and laminates to brand partners who manufacture and sell finished products. Revenue derived from technology licensing fees and laminate sales to certified manufacturing partners.
2. Medical Device Products: Surgical mesh products including GORE SYNECOR for hernia repair and other biomedical applications
3. Aerospace Materials: GORE SKYFLEX Aerospace Materials including PX1 Series dry sealant technology for aircraft structures
4. Bioprocessing Products: Membrane chromatography devices for cell and gene therapies and antibody-based treatments

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

W. L. Gore & Associates is an ingredient-brand materials company that develops and supplies proprietary waterproof, windproof, and breathable fabric technologies (ePTFE and ePE membranes, DWR treatments, seam tapes) to certified brand-partner manufacturers for incorporation into outdoor apparel, footwear, gloves, and accessories. Beyond fabrics, Gore manufactures surgical mesh medical devices under its Medical Products division, aerospace sealants under GORE SKYFLEX, and affinity membrane chromatography devices for biotherapeutic manufacturing.

Product overview

W. L. Gore & Associates operates through its GORE-TEX Brand as an ingredient/fabrics technology company, not a direct consumer product manufacturer. The core offering consists of proprietary fabric technologies sold to brand partners (manufacturers like Arc'teryx, Patagonia, The North Face, Burton, HOKA, etc.) who incorporate GORE-TEX membranes and laminates into their finished products. The flagship GORE-TEX Products line provides durably waterproof, windproof, and breathable protection via ePTFE membranes, with the GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY promise covering products through the original owner. The newer Next-Gen GORE-TEX Products feature ePE (expanded polyethylene) membranes that are PFAS-free with reduced carbon footprint. The WINDSTOPPER Products by GORE-TEX LABS line offers windproof, breathable protection without waterproof guarantees. Beyond consumer fabrics, Gore operates across medical, aerospace, and bioprocessing sectors with products including surgical meshes, aerospace sealants (GORE SKYFLEX), and membrane chromatography devices. Gore does not sell directly to consumers; its ingredient brand model means finished products are manufactured and sold exclusively through certified brand partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GORE-TEX Products: Best-in-class waterproof, windproof, and breathable protection products with GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY promise
• WINDSTOPPER Products by GORE-TEX LABS
• GORE-TEX PRO
• GORE-TEX PACLITE
• GORE-TEX INVISIBLE FIT

Products and services

• GORE-TEX Products (Waterproof, Windproof, Breathable Fabric Technology) Flagship family of fabric technologies providing durably waterproof, windproof, and breathable protection for outerwear, footwear, gloves, and accessories. Laminates are sold to certified brand partners (Arc'teryx, Patagonia, The North Face, Burton, HOKA, etc.) and carry the GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY promise introduced in 1989.
• GORE-TEX PRO Garments Most rugged variant of GORE-TEX fabric technology with durable waterproof, windproof, breathable protection for extreme conditions. Next-gen versions feature the PFAS-free ePE membrane.
• WINDSTOPPER Products by GORE-TEX LABS Totally windproof and reliably breathable fabric technology for drier weather conditions, sold to brand partners as laminates for garments, gloves, and stretch-fit gloves without the durably waterproof promise of GORE-TEX.
• GORE-TEX Invisible Fit Footwear Technology Footwear construction technology that integrates GORE-TEX membranes directly into shoe uppers to maintain fit, feel, and flexibility of regular shoes while providing guaranteed waterproof protection.
• Next-Gen GORE-TEX Products with ePE Membrane Latest-generation GORE-TEX fabric technology using an expanded polyethylene (ePE) membrane. PFAS-free, lightweight, thin, and strong, with a lower carbon footprint than previous fluoropolymer-based membranes.
• GORE SKYFLEX Aerospace Materials PX1 Series Ready-to-use dry sealant tape for permanent aircraft structures that eliminates the need for mixing, curing, or clean-up, reducing labor hours, rework, and material waste. Validated for a -55°C to +120°C temperature range by leading aerospace OEMs and defense customers.
• GORE SYNECOR Preperitoneal Biomaterial Next-generation composite surgical mesh biomaterial designed for tension-free, minimally invasive hernia repairs, combining Gore's fluoropolymer expertise with biocompatible implantable engineering.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 carbon emissions achieved 5 years ahead of schedule
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ligand Technology PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2026Collaborations with ligand technology partners to develop new affinity membrane devices for biotherapeutic manufacturing purification. Expands Gore's membrane chromatography beyond existing Protein A technologies.
• Mid Sweden University (Sports Tech Research Centre)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2025Research collaboration to develop common method for evaluating durability of waterproof breathable jackets. Research led independently by university with EU funding. Includes 45+ organizations including brands like Patagonia, Arc'teryx.
• Advanced ConversioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2025Partnership to produce high temperature film capacitors capable of operating up to 200°C for aerospace and defense applications. Includes transfer of production know-how and quality assurance.
• Bionic (Materials Engineering Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create GORE-TEX products made from recycled ocean plastic. 50% of raw materials sourced from coastal plastic waste, supporting local coastal community cleanup efforts.
• Outdoor Industry Association (OIA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimate Action Corps membership for industry-wide decarbonization efforts and supply chain sustainability initiatives.
• Apparel Impact Institute (Aii)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on decarbonization roadmap for textile manufacturing and supply chain carbon reduction.
• European Outdoor Group (EOG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean industry collaboration on sustainability and decarbonization initiatives.
• Brand Partners (Patagonia, The North Face, Arc'teryx, Fjällräven)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor45+ organizations participating in durability research collaboration, representing major outdoor brands that license GORE-TEX technology.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• DuPont: DuPont is a specialty chemicals leader with advanced materials businesses (Tyvek, Nomex, Kevlar) and PTFE polymer production that overlap with Gore's ePTFE technology base. DuPont's scale in fluoropolymers and protective materials makes it a key broad incumbent peer.
• Eastman Chemical Company: Eastman produces specialty plastics, fibers, and performance chemicals used in textiles, filtration, and packaging. Its Naia cellulosic fiber and specialty polymers compete with Gore's materials in adjacent performance apparel and industrial applications.
• 3M: 3M is a diversified industrial conglomerate with materials science capabilities including adhesives, films, and filtration membranes that overlap with Gore's aerospace sealants, bioprocessing, and industrial fabrics businesses. It serves similar OEM and enterprise customers across multiple verticals.
• Teijin Limited: Teijin is a Japanese diversified materials company producing aramid fibers, carbon fibers, and performance textiles. Its materials serve aerospace, automotive, and apparel markets that overlap with Gore's aerospace, protective, and fabrics businesses.
• Toray Industries: Toray is a global specialty chemicals and advanced materials conglomerate that produces membranes, fibers, and films. While much larger and more diversified than Gore, Toray's Entrant and Dermizax membranes compete with GORE-TEX, and its scale in specialty textiles and chemicals makes it a broad incumbent comparable.

Direct peers

• Sympatex Technologies: Sympatex produces polyester-based waterproof breathable membranes sold through an ingredient-brand model very similar to Gore's. It targets the same outdoor, footwear, and workwear end markets, positioning it as a direct competitor especially in Europe where PFAS-free positioning matters.
• Pertex (Mitsui & Co.): Pertex manufactures lightweight waterproof and windproof fabrics (Pertex Shield, Quantum) primarily for outdoor apparel and sleeping bags. It competes with GORE-TEX in the premium outdoor fabric category and sells through a similar brand-partner model.
• Polartec: Polartec manufactures performance fabrics including NeoShell, a competing waterproof breathable membrane technology. It directly competes with GORE-TEX in outdoor apparel and is sold through similar brand partners, making it the closest direct comparable in fabric technology and licensing model.

Emerging players

• Hyosung TNC: Hyosung TNC is a Korean specialty textile manufacturer producing performance fibers and fabrics including recycled and functional yarns. It supplies comparable outdoor and athletic apparel brands and represents an emerging competitor in high-performance technical fabrics.

Regional players

• Sealund Enterprises (event fabrics / laminators): Sealund is a Taiwan-based supplier of functional fabrics and laminates for outdoor and sportswear brands. While smaller and regionally focused, it competes with Gore's laminates in Asia-based OEM supply chains for global apparel brands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/goretexnews
• Facebookfacebook.com/GORETEXna
• Instagraminstagram.com/goretexbrand
• Xx.com/GORETEXna

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about W L Gore & Associates