About US Silicones

Present-day US Silicones opened its doors in 2008 thanks to Tom Lapsley III, but the history behind the company goes much deeper. Tom III was introduced to Silicone Polymers by his father, Tom Lapsley II (1929-2015), over 40 years ago. Tom II was working as a foreman in the ICI Silicones Division in Stevenston, Scotland. Intrigued by the business, Tom III joined the ICI Silicones Division as a Laboratory Technician in 1973.

Tom III continued his silicone journey with a move to ICI Blackley, in Manchester, England in 1976. The Polymer Division was sold in 1978, so Tom III moved with the business to J-Sil UK in Worsley. In 1981, Tom III took a position as Plant Manager in a sister company, J-Sil Midwest, located in Kendallville, Indiana.

Tom III teamed up with friend Jack Cochrane in 1989. Together they created a specialized Customer Compounding company, American Silicones in Garrett, Indiana, that strived to do anything and everything for its customers. Tom III and Jack reshaped the idea of Customer Compounding and customer-first attitude within the market. In 2003, Tom III stepped away to explore other markets, but the pull of Custom Compounding was too strong.

In 2008, Tom III got back in the game of Custom Compounding and continued the tradition of the Lapsley family in the compounding market. His son, Tom Lapsley IV, joined the team to learn the ropes. Since then, Tom III and Tom IV have brought back the customer-first attitude that made American Silicones so successful.