Sermatech has a legacy of solving customer problems with unique surface solutions.  Sermatech began by solving high temperature lubrication problems on the control cables in early turbine engines in the 1960s.  From this humble beginning as part of Teleflex Aerospace, a myriad of applications on turbine materials in compressors and in hot section applications evolved.  Sermatech has developed coating processes for virtually every turbine engine manufacturer in the world.

The history of Sermatech International can be traced back to Mrs. Charlotte Allen, who developed a graphite-filled dry-film lubricant for use in a nuclear reactor. She developed a binder that would bond practically any filler material that could be reduced to the right particle size and would survive 615°F for 15 minutes.

Teleflex needed a binder system that could solve problems on J79 engine controls.

Teleflex eventually purchased rights to Mrs. Allen's formulations.

A small laboratory was set up in North Wales, Pennsylvania where numerous coatings were formulated and tested for use on high temperature engine controls. These coatings essentially embodied lead oxide, graphite, and molybdenum disulfide. Some metallic and metallic-oxide coatings were also tried. During this period, 1960-1962, the company was awarded a development contract from Lockheed, Sunnyvale, to prepare about 50 different coatings on beryllium and stainless steel substrates for emissivity evaluation for the space program.

Also during this period, the company began incorporating these coatings (called SW coatings for "Slick Willie") on Teleflex aerospace controls. Applications included the throttle and torque box for the F4 Phantom Aircraft.

During the early 1960s, it was discovered that the binder with aluminum made a coating which gave corrosion protection in salt spray environments and the coating would become conductive when burnished or heated to an elevated temperature. It was also discovered that the conductive coatings were sacrificial and gave good corrosion protection on carbon steel. Patents were awarded and the SermeTel product line was launched.

In the late 60s, General Electric began coating compressor cases, discs, spacers, blades, vanes, and other turbine engine parts with SermeTel W.

As the 70s began, the SermeTel Company was setup as a subsidiary of Teleflex and other high technology coatings processing facilities were set up around the world. Though small in size, they provided the capability for servicing the needs of the world's jet engine market.

Along the way, many SermeTel coating formulations were tried in over 1,000 applications for many industries. While modest success was achieved with these projects, SermeTel W - the coating material used in Process 5375 - became the primary thrust and the PWA JT80 engine the primary market.

Over the next several years, the use of SermeTel 5375 and its derivatives spread to virtually every turbine engine manufactured around the world.

On February 28, 2005 Sermatech International was acquired from Teleflex by Arsenal Capital.  With Arsenal's support, Sermatech's growth will be accelerated by strengthening partnerships with existing customers and making sound investments in high-value product development and new market applications.  In 2006, John Tucker joined Sermatech as Chairman of the Board & CEO.  Later that year, Sermatech initiated a shop in shop agreement with Goodrich in Oakville, Canada.