From a Spare Room to Today
This year, PI-KEM celebrates 35 years of supporting scientific research, innovation, and industry.
Back in November 1991, Dr Ian Rouse started the company from a spare room at home, supported by his wife Penny. What began as a small family venture has grown into an international business serving researchers, manufacturers, and innovators around the world, but the values it was built on remain remarkably similar today.
The company name itself came from an early business idea, "Penny and Ian Chemicals", a reminder that family has always been part of the PI-KEM story.
A Journey Built on Relationships
Over the last 35 years, PI-KEM has grown in many ways. New suppliers, new products, new colleagues, and new opportunities have all helped shape the business.
There have been many milestones along the way. Colin Rouse joined the business in 1997, PI-KEM became a Limited company in 2001, and Fiona Rouse joined the team in 2008. Together, alongside many colleagues past and present, they have helped guide PI-KEM through its next chapters.
From supplying specialist materials to supporting emerging technologies and new areas of research, the business has continually evolved alongside the industries it serves.
The People Behind the Business
Anniversaries are often measured in years, but they are really about people.
Many of the relationships that helped PI-KEM grow in its early years are still important to us today. We are fortunate to have customers, suppliers, and team members who have been part of our journey for many years, alongside newer relationships that continue to shape our future.
Thank You
Reaching 35 years is something we are incredibly proud of, but it is not an achievement that belongs to us alone.
To everyone who has been part of the PI-KEM story, thank you for your trust, support, and partnership over the years.
Looking Ahead
While this anniversary gives us a chance to reflect on where we've come from, it is also an opportunity to look ahead.
Research, technology, and industry will continue to evolve, bringing new opportunities for innovation and discovery. As they do, we will continue to invest in the expertise, partnerships, and capabilities that help our customers achieve their objectives, while remaining true to the relationships, values, and people that have shaped PI-KEM over the last 35 years.
As we celebrate this milestone, we'd like to finish with a short message from the person who started it all.
Watch our founder, Dr Ian Rouse, share his congratulations on PI-KEM's 35th Anniversary.
