Schlegel International is a multi-national company based in the United Kingdom that makes seals for windows and doors, and supplies related hardware.
From 2006 Schlegel International, with manufacturing operations in Europe, Australia and Brazil, was a subsidiary of Lupus Capital, now called Tyman plc.
Charles P. Schlegel[a] and Henry A. Schaefer founded a narrow loom weaving business in Rochester, New York, United States, in the late 1880s.
[2] The company at first made hem bindings for women's skirts to protect them when dragging on the ground, then diversified into "surrey fringes" for horse-drawn buggies.
The company moved into supplying textile trimmings to car manufacturers, and became a specialist in automobile door and window weather seals.
[4] During World War II (1939–1945) the company tore down and redesigned its looms so they could make machine gun belts.
[3] As of 1973 Schlegel Manufacturing, based in Rochester, New York, was supplying rigid vinyl strips for weathersealing doors.
Schlegel UK had signed a contract with Rover that required it to make a "sprayed-on slip coat" window seal, and had difficulty with the unfamiliar technology.
[13] In 1993 the UK subsidiary reported that it was upgrading to infrared ovens to bond the low-friction coating to its car window seals, reducing time and energy used in the process.
[14] In July 1995 it was announced that BTR, parent of US-based Schlegel Corporation and manufacturer of automotive component businesses such as Metzeler and Dunlop, was establishing a joint venture in New Delhi, India.
At this time BTR made about 18% of its rubber-related sales in the US, mainly through Schlegel and the Stowe Woodward manufacturer of roll coverings and printing blankets.
[17] In 2001 the banks that had funded the buy-out installed Michael Teacher as chief executive in an effort to turn around the struggling business.
[23] The Schlegel division of Amesbury, located in Rochester, NY, manufactures urethane foam, plastic and textile weatherstripping for windows and doors in buildings, and products for the transportation and copier industries.