Raychem
Raychem is a former American industrial technology company and continuing product brand known for radiation-processed wire, cable, heat-shrink tubing, electrical connection systems, and thermal-management products.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Raychem was an American industrial technology company founded in 1957 in Menlo Park, California, by Paul M. Cook, Robert M. Halperin, James B. Meikle, and Richard W. Muchmore. Its origins lay in research associated with SRI International and in the commercial application of radiation chemistry to polymers. The company initially developed wire and cable products using radiation-cross-linked polymer insulation, particularly for demanding military and aerospace environments. This work helped establish a commercial market for materials whose performance could be altered through irradiation rather than only through conventional chemical processing. The company was originally called RayTherm Wire and Cable. It later established RayClad Tubes and changed its corporate name partly to avoid confusion with Raytheon. One of its early breakthroughs was heat-shrinkable tubing for electronic and electrical applications. When heated, the tubing contracts around a connection, providing insulation, environmental protection, strain relief, and mechanical reinforcement. This technology became one of the most recognizable elements of the Raychem product heritage. Raychem expanded from its initial defense and aerospace focus into a broad portfolio serving aerospace and defense, automotive, telecommunications, energy networks, consumer electronics, and transportation. Its products included wire and cable systems, connector and termination technologies, heat-shrink components, solder sleeves, cable accessories, and circuit-protection devices. The company also developed PolySwitch resettable polymeric positive-temperature-coefficient devices, which protect circuits from overcurrent conditions and can reset after the fault is removed. Through another business lineage, Raychem was associated with Elo TouchSystems and the development of touchscreen products that later became widely used in commercial and industrial equipment. By 1980, Raychem operated in more than 30 countries, had a major branch in Swindon in the United Kingdom, and had entered the Fortune 500. At the time of its acquisition, the company reported sales above $2 billion and operations in more than 60 countries. Its leadership history was unusually concentrated: Paul Cook, Bob Saldich, and Dick Kashnow served as its three chief executives before the sale to Tyco International. Kashnow led the company during the transaction. Raychem ceased to exist as an independent corporation after Tyco International acquired it in 1999, but the brand continued through successor businesses. Tyco was reorganized into several major companies in 2007, including Tyco Electronics, later renamed TE Connectivity, and Covidien. TE Connectivity retained many of the original Raychem product families, including heat-shrink tubing, wire and cable, and SolderSleeve devices. The thermal-controls business changed ownership several times: Tyco International sold Tyco Thermal Controls to Pentair in 2012; the business was later separated as nVent Electric in 2018 and subsequently became associated with Brookfield Asset Management and the Chemelex name. Raychem therefore remains a live industrial brand, although its products are now distributed through different corporate owners and business platforms rather than through the original Raychem Corporation.
History
Raychem emerged from the postwar expansion of materials science and the effort to commercialize radiation chemistry. Founded in Menlo Park in 1957 by Paul M. Cook, Robert M. Halperin, James B. Meikle, and Richard W. Muchmore, the company grew from work connected with SRI International. Its first corporate name, RayTherm Wire and Cable, reflected its initial concentration on electrically insulated wire and cable. The company later formed RayClad Tubes and adopted the Raychem name in part to distinguish itself from Raytheon. The original technical proposition was the use of radiation to cross-link polymer insulation. Irradiation could change the physical behavior of polymers, improving their resistance to heat and other demanding operating conditions. Raychem applied this approach first to military and aerospace wiring, where reliability, weight, compactness, and resistance to harsh environments were important. This was described as the first known commercial use of radiation chemistry for products. The company then extended the technology into heat-shrinkable tubing for electronic assemblies and electrical connections. The tubing could be expanded during manufacture and later shrunk around a connection when heated, creating a protective and insulating seal. Raychem expanded its technology base and market reach during the 1960s and 1970s. Its business broadened from aerospace and defense into automotive systems, telecommunications, energy networks, transportation, and consumer electronics. Products included specialized wire and cable, cable accessories, terminations, connector components, and solder-based connection devices. The company also created PolySwitch resettable circuit-protection components, which used a polymeric positive-temperature-coefficient effect to limit current during an electrical fault. The company was additionally associated with touchscreen development through Elo TouchSystems, a business that later changed ownership. International growth was rapid. By 1980, Raychem had operations in more than 30 countries, including an important United Kingdom presence in Swindon, and had entered the Fortune 500. Its scale and growth rate made it one of the more prominent American technology manufacturers of the period. The company retained a relatively compact chief-executive succession, with Paul Cook, Bob Saldich, and Dick Kashnow identified as its three CEOs before acquisition. Kashnow was the executive responsible for the sale to Tyco International. Tyco's acquisition in 1999 ended Raychem's independent corporate history, but not its technological or commercial legacy. Tyco's later 2007 separation produced successor companies including Tyco Electronics and Covidien. Tyco Electronics, subsequently renamed TE Connectivity, retained and continued selling several Raychem-origin product lines, including heat-shrinkable tubing, wire and cable, and SolderSleeve devices. Other businesses followed separate ownership paths. The thermal-controls operation moved from Tyco to Pentair in 2012, was later separated through the nVent Electric structure in 2018, and subsequently became associated with Brookfield Asset Management and Chemelex. The PolySwitch business was sold to Littelfuse in 2016, while Elo TouchSystems had been sold to private equity ownership earlier. Raychem is consequently both a historical company and a continuing brand. No single present-day corporation represents the whole former Raychem portfolio. Instead, the name survives on specialized products sold by different successor organizations. TE Connectivity remains associated with many electrical and connection products, while the thermal-management heritage is represented separately. The brand's enduring identity rests on radiation-processed polymers, high-reliability cable systems, electrical protection, and technologies intended for demanding infrastructure and electronic applications.
- 2018
Thermal business becomes associated with nVent Electric
[1]The thermal-management operation was spun off as nVent Electric before later ownership changes and association with Chemelex.
- 2016
PolySwitch business is sold to Littelfuse
[1]Littelfuse acquired the circuit-protection business associated with Raychem's PolySwitch devices.
- 2012
Thermal-controls business moves to Pentair
[1]Tyco International sold Tyco Thermal Controls, including Raychem thermal products, to Pentair.
- 2007
Tyco businesses are separated
[1]Tyco's reorganization placed Raychem-origin activities among successor companies including Tyco Electronics and Covidien.
- 1999
Acquisition by Tyco International
[1]Tyco International acquired Raychem after the company had reached more than $2 billion in sales and operated in over 60 countries.
- 1980
Raychem reaches international and Fortune 500 scale
[1]By this year the company operated in more than 30 countries, had a major Swindon branch, and had joined the Fortune 500.
- 1957
Raychem is founded in Menlo Park
[1]Paul M. Cook, Robert M. Halperin, James B. Meikle, and Richard W. Muchmore founded the company in California, initially under the RayTherm Wire and Cable name.
Radiation-cross-linked wire and cable are commercialized
[1]Raychem applied radiation chemistry to polymer insulation for military and aerospace wire and cable, establishing the technical foundation of the business.
Heat-shrinkable tubing is introduced
[1]The company developed heat-shrinkable tubing for electronic and electrical applications, a product family that became central to the Raychem brand.
Products and positioning
Raychem is positioned around high-reliability materials engineering and connection technology for electrically, mechanically, and environmentally demanding applications. Its heritage is especially associated with radiation-processed polymers, compact cable protection, field-installable electrical accessories, and products designed for aerospace, defense, automotive, telecommunications, energy, transportation, and industrial infrastructure.
Electrical insulation and cable protection
Raychem heat-shrinkable tubing
Heat-shrinkable tubing contracts around wires, joints, terminals, and other components when heated. Raychem's early commercialization of this technology made it a defining product of the brand. It is used for insulation, sealing, strain relief, abrasion resistance, and protection from moisture or contamination in electrical and electronic assemblies.
Wire and cable · 1957
Raychem wire and cable systems
Raychem originated with wire and cable using radiation-cross-linked polymer insulation. These products were developed for military and aerospace applications and later served automotive, transportation, telecommunications, energy, and industrial markets where compact construction and resistance to demanding conditions are important.
Electrical connection devices
Raychem SolderSleeve devices
SolderSleeve devices combine solder, sealing elements, and heat-shrink materials in a controlled connection component. They are used to join or terminate wires and cable shields while providing electrical insulation and environmental protection. The product family is among the Raychem-origin lines continued by TE Connectivity.
Circuit protection
PolySwitch devices
PolySwitch devices are resettable polymeric positive-temperature-coefficient circuit protectors. During an overcurrent event, the device's resistance rises and limits current; after the fault is removed and the device cools, it can return toward its normal operating state. The business was later sold to Littelfuse.
Thermal management and trace heating
Raychem thermal-management systems
Raychem thermal products include electric trace-heating and related thermal-management systems for industrial, commercial, and residential applications. The business passed through Tyco, Pentair, and nVent-related ownership structures and was later associated with the Chemelex name while retaining Raychem-branded offerings.
Touchscreen technology
Elo TouchSystems products
Raychem developed touchscreen technology that became widely known through the Elo TouchSystems business. The touchscreen operation was later sold and is no longer part of a unified Raychem corporate portfolio.
Brand decisions
2016
Sale of the PolySwitch circuit-protection businessM&ABackground
PolySwitch resettable circuit protectors were one of Raychem's notable technology platforms, but the business was held within the post-acquisition successor structure.
Action taken
The circuit-protection business was sold to Littelfuse.
Aftermath
PolySwitch products became part of Littelfuse's circuit-protection portfolio rather than the TE Connectivity Raychem product group.
2012
Sale of Tyco Thermal Controls to PentairM&ABackground
Tyco's post-acquisition portfolio included the thermal-controls business selling Raychem thermal products.
Action taken
Tyco International sold Tyco Thermal Controls to Pentair.
Aftermath
The thermal business later moved through the nVent Electric structure and subsequently became associated with Chemelex.
1999
Raychem accepts acquisition by Tyco InternationalM&ABackground
Raychem had grown into a global technology manufacturer with more than $2 billion in sales and operations in over 60 countries. Chief executive Dick Kashnow was associated with the transaction.
Action taken
Tyco International acquired Raychem, ending the company's independent corporate existence and integrating its businesses into the Tyco group.
Aftermath
The Raychem name survived across successor businesses, with major product lines later distributed through TE Connectivity and other owners.
Recent events
- 2016
Raychem circuit-protection business sold to Littelfuse[1]
M&A
The PolySwitch circuit-protection business was sold to Littelfuse, separating another important Raychem-origin product line from the other successor businesses.
- 2012
Tyco sells Tyco Thermal Controls to Pentair[1]
M&A
The thermal-controls business associated with the Raychem brand was sold to Pentair and subsequently developed into a separate thermal-management business.
- 2011
Tyco Electronics becomes TE Connectivity[1]
Other
The Tyco Electronics successor organization adopted the TE Connectivity name while continuing to market multiple Raychem-origin electrical and connection products.
- 1999
Tyco International acquires Raychem[1]
M&A
Raychem was acquired by Tyco International, ending its existence as an independent public company and transferring its product businesses into the Tyco portfolio.
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