Company Background

Mr. Charles Lee Cook, an invalid since his first year of life, founded C. Lee Cook in 1888. His invention of a floating mechanical packing to reduce steam leakage from the piston rods of steam engines still serves as the basis for a major portion of our product line today.

At the turn of the 20th century, Cook's sealing products and piston rings focused on steam power, as that was the main driver in industry - both land and marine. But with the roaring twenties came the emergence of large internal combustion engines and reciprocating compressors to address the growing natural gas transmission market, and Cook's product changed to meet the demanding needs of this new equipment. Innovations in seal and ring design and material development have always been Cook's focus--resulting in the engineering leadership role it has held for over a century.

With this strong history, Cook's corporate structure took a dramatic turn in the mid-fifties. In 1955, C. Lee Cook along with Rotary Lift, Peerless Manufacturing, and the W. C. Norris Company were merged to form Dover Corporation (so named because it was incorporated in Dover, Delaware). Fred Durham, Cook's owner following Mr. Cook's death in 1928, became Dover's first President and Chairman, and guided Dover's growth until his retirement in 1970. While Dover Corporation has acquired more than a hundred companies since its founding, C. Lee Cook has the distinction of being one of the original companies that make up what is now a $4 billion dollar plus corporation.

While Cook has operated on its present site near downtown Louisville, Kentucky since the late 1800's, various expansions and acquisitions of land and buildings have accrued over the years until the facility now occupies over four acres with 130,000 sq. ft. under roof. In addition, Cook now has manufacturing operations in Houston, Texas, and Service Centers in New Orleans and Los Angeles.

Cook is the leading manufacturer of piston rings, seal rings, and packing for reciprocating compressors and engines used in the natural gas markets, and petrochemical and oil refining industries.

The company was founded in 1888 by Charles Lee Cook to design and manufacture metallic packing rings for steam engines. Cook was one of the businesses consolidated to form Dover Corporation in 1955. Since then, it has grown from new products, new markets, and acquisitions. Cook is now a consolidated group of business units that include primarily: C. Lee Cook, Compressor Components, and Cook Manley.

Most of Cook's business today is from original equipment parts designed and made for compressor manufacturers and for aftermarket replacement and repair of gas compresssors/ engines. The company's products are sold through various sales channels, both in North America and internationally. C. Lee Cook designs, develops, and manufactures rod packing cases and rings, piston rings, and specialty sealing devices for emission control used in gas gathering, transmission and processing markets. Compressor Components manufactures replacement valves, rods, and rings, and services/repairs compressors through service centers and now, with the recent acquisition of American Industrial Components, molds Tfe bushings and manufactures vanes, primarily for the North American gas markets. Manley designs and manufactures specialty valves and injection molded plastic parts for gas markets worldwide.

Few companies have the rich heritage afforded us by our founder, Charles Lee Cook. For more than 100 years, C. Lee Cook has been the leader in meeting industry needs for advanced seal engineering and the highest quality manufacturing.

With proven technology and innovative designs, Cook products can be your answer for all your reciprocating seal needs. And with their wide range of experience, the skilled engineers at
C. Lee Cook are available to evaluate your problem situations and offer real solutions.