Watch Video About Learn how a small family-owned metal parts company founded in 1945 evolved into a life safety company recognized today around the world. VIEW THE FAMILY STORY FIKE TIMELINE 75 Years of Innovation 1945-1959 Laying the Foundation 1945 – Fike is Founded Lester Fike Sr. and Rose Fike open L.L. Fike Metal Products in the basement of their Independence, Mo. home. The “Triple Topper” jar opener becomes their first flagship product. 1955 – Rupture Disc Patent Fike Sr. learns his previous company’s rupture disc patents were set to expire. To fulfill an industry need for corrosive-resistant rupture discs, he files his first rupture disc patent for high-pressure vessels. 1957 – Fike HQ Ground breaks in Blue Springs, Mo. for what would become Fike Corporation’s World Headquarters. 1960-1979 Fire and Explosion Protection Development 1965 – Explosion Vents Patent Fike enters explosion protection industry by applying rupture disc technology into deflagration vents. 1973 – Fire Suppression Patent Fike enters the fire protection industry as the first to patent a remotely actuatable fire suppression apparatus. 1974 – Les Fike Jr. In 1980 Fike Jr. is also named Chairman of the Board and prepares to lead his father’s company into international expansion. 1980-1989 New Name, Same Dedication 1980 – Fike’s First International Office – Japan A partnership with Takashi Shimura to establish Fike Japan is validated with nothing more than a handshake—a deal that stood for more than 30 years up to his retirement in 2015. 1980 – Hygienic Rupture Discs Fike patents low-pressure, corrosive-resistant rupture disc assemblies, ideal for hygienic industries including food and beverage and pharmaceutical. In 1989 this technology would be implemented into Fike’s hygienic deflagration vents. 1981 – Fire Detection and Control Fike manufacturers its first fire protection panel in support of the company’s blossoming fire suppression capabilities. 1986 – 1m3 Vessel Built and Installed Fike expands the capabilities of its testing facilities building and installing the first in the US 1m3 vessel 1990-1999 Products, Capabilities Evolve 1993 – International Explosion Protection Fike explosion protection launches into global markets by participating in testing program with CIBA authority. 1994 – Halon Replacement Fike manufacturers first UL-listed and FM-approved Halon replacement fire protection system. 1995 – Large-Scale Testing Facility State-of-the-art explosion testing facility established just outside of Fike Headquarters to support new product and application development under real-world conditions. 1997 – Max Jewell – President and CEO Jewell continues the legacy left on Fike by the late Gary Batz. 2000-2009 A New Millennium of Safety 2001 – Flameless Venting Fike offers first US-manufactured flameless explosion venting devices 2001 – Flow Lab Fike Flow Lab conducts its first test and is granted ASME Certificate of Acceptance. 2002 – G2 Manufacturing – Axius and Atlas Fike engineers, manufactures and distributes Axius and Atlas pre-engineered, reverse-acting rupture discs, representing the most reliable and multi-use rupture discs on the market to this day. 2003 – ATEX-Certification Fike becomes the first explosion protection manufacturer to receive ATEX certification of its explosion vents. 2007 – Philadelphia Museum of Art Fike ECARO-25 and Cheetah XI fire protection systems are installed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. 2010-Present The Future of Industrial Safety Solutions 2010 – Deepwater Horizon Fike engineers solutions to assist in the Deepwater Horizon leak in the Gulf of Mexico 2010 – Chuck Kopolous – President and CEO Taking over for the late Max Jewell, Chuck Kopolous is named president and CEO. 2015 – Fike Academy Europe An extension of the Fike Europe headquarters in Belgium, Fike Academy opens in March of 2015. 2015 – Fike Turkey Opens 2016 – Brad Batz – President and CEO Taking over for Chuck Kopolous’ retirement, Brad Batz is named president and CEO. More than 400 Patents Worldwide Over the past 65 years, Fike has employed some of the world’s brightest, most passionate people in industrial safety. Their dedication has resulted in Fike owning numerous patents within pressure relief, explosion protection and fire protection, each of which are used to improve our capabilities and the reliability of our solutions. Our People LEADERSHIP All Leadership To continue to be recognized globally as the most trusted risk-mitigation partner, we must continue to develop ourselves and our capabilities. Brad Batz PRESIDENT & CEO Fike Corporation – Global Headquarters 704 SW 10th Street Blue Springs, MO 64015 Telephone: +1-816-229-3405 Fike Europe BVBA Headquarters Toekomstlaan 52, 2200 Herentals, Belgium Telephone: +32-14210031 INFORMATION Certifications & Approvals Data Sheets Frequently Asked Questions Industries Products Services Solutions Careers US Employee Store Legal Notices, Terms & Conditions Sitemap Training Customer Feedback ©2021 Fike Corporation GET HELP NOW – CONTACT US » We use necessary cookies to make our site work. We'd also like to set optional analytics cookies to help us improve it. We won't set optional cookies unless you enable them. Using this tool will set a cookie on your device to remember your preferences. For more detailed information about the cookies we use, see our Policies page Necessary cookies Necessary cookies enable core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility. 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