M&I Materials is celebrating a landmark centenary in 2026 as its Apiezon range reaches 100 years, recognising a long legacy of enabling world-changing scientific research and precision engineering across global industries.
Manufactured in Manchester and exported worldwide, Apiezon (pronounced Ap-ee-ay-zon) has played a critical role in some of the world’s most significant scientific and technological breakthroughs since it was first developed in 1926 by British research engineer
Cecil Reginald “Bill” Burch.
Burch, working at Metropolitan Vickers christened his new product “Apiezon” which is Greek for low pressure. Now produced by M&I Materials, the range supports advanced research and industrial applications across aerospace, cryogenics, semiconductor production and other industries.
Over the past century,
Apiezon products have supported pioneering scientific research and advanced engineering applications around the world. The range has been used by organisations including NASA, Boeing, and Honeywell, as well as CERN, home of the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland.
In the 1930s, Apiezon products were used by John Cockcroft and Ernest Walton at the University of Cambridge in experiments that contributed to the first successful splitting of the atom. Cockcroft and Walton were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1951 for this work.
Now exported worldwide through an established network of distributors, Apiezon continues to be manufactured in Manchester, maintaining its heritage while supporting cutting-edge innovation across the globe.
Dr. Neil McSporran, MD of Speciality Products at M&I Materials said: “Reaching 100 years is an extraordinary achievement for any product range. We are immensely proud that Apiezon, developed in Britain in 1926, is still trusted today in some of the most advanced scientific and industrial environments in the world.
“From early atomic research through to modern space exploration and high-energy physics, Apiezon has consistently supported groundbreaking work. That legacy speaks to the quality of the product and to the dedication of our team here in Manchester, who continue to manufacture and supply it to customers across the globe.”
“Celebrating Apiezon’s centenary is a proud moment. It also coincides with a wider milestone for M&I Materials, which has been manufacturing specialist materials for industry and science for 125 years,” said Giles Salt, CEO of M&I Materials.
“Our long heritage underpins our ability to support innovation across many industries, and Apiezon’s 100-year legacy is a perfect example of how our commitment to quality and performance has stood the test of time. We look forward to continuing this journey, helping customers achieve breakthroughs well into the future.”
As part of the centenary celebrations, M&I Materials is inviting customers, researchers and industry partners to share their experiences of working with Apiezon products over the decades. The company hopes to showcase stories of innovation, discovery and technical advancement made possible with the support of the product range.
