1940
Charles and Frank Purley owned a fresh fish shop, as obtaining
ice was expensive; a cheap method of keeping the fish in good
condition had to be found.
1942
Together with partner Leslie Jull they purchased a small
engineering workshop in Longford Road Bognor Regis and Longford
Engineering Company (L.e.c) was born. Through the war years the
workshop produced munitions as well as developing a refrigeration
system.
1946
They obtained some land from Farmer Munday at Shripney Road
Bognor Regis for £125. This was the base from which the factory
grew. In the same year their first prototype fridge was made, and
the company acquired its first airplane an Ulster, which was used
for urgent deliveries and repairs. The plane was also used for
transporting executives on business trips in order to save
time.
1947
By 1947 the factory at Shripney Road was in full
production and about 200 workers were employed. During the 1940s
Lec concentrated on their foreign export market, due to the fact
that steel was in short supply, and available only for the overseas
trade. As a result of this 90% of all fridges Britain exported to
Canada in 1948 were made by Lec, and at times 80% of all Lec
fridges were for export.
1954
The company was renamed Lec Refrigeration Ltd, thus
linking itself more closely to the trade name of Lec by which its
products had become known.
1955
Lec established its showroom in Regent Street in
1955, providing the opportunity to display its products, and
a convenient venue to meet clients from abroad.
1956
The company's special product division was formed and started to
produce low temperature environment cabinets for hospitals,
aircraft and atomic research.
1960s
Charles Purley said to keep a business successful you have to
expand so in the 1960s a new automatic spray paint plant, and a 3
floor building fronting Shripney Road were in construction.
1964
Lec was floated on the stock market successfully. In the same
year Lec expanded to Burnley, Oldham and Northern Ireland. This
indicated that the biggest factory in Bognor Regis had arrived on
both a national and international stage.
1973
Following Britain's entry in the common market a modern factory
was acquired in Calais.
1991
In October 1991 at the age of 81 Charles Purley
gave up the Chairmanship of the board, he became life president but
sadly died in December 1991.
1994
Sime Darby of Malaysia purchased Lec and invested £34 million
into a new factory.
1997
Lec expanded its Special product division and renamed it
''Technical products''.
2001
Lec launched ''Elan'' a range of CFC, HCFC and HFC free domestic
refrigeration products.
2003
December 2003 saw Lec officially close their old
factory with a ceremony held for employees. Long service awards
were given to those employees who had worked at the company for
over 20 years.
2004
April 2004 saw Lec move into new modern offices
which sit next to the state of art factory. Later in the year these
offices were named ''New Era House'' setting the mood for the
coming years.
2005
March 2005 Lec is acquired by Glen Dimplex a major
group with market leading brands that include Morphy Richards
(small domestic appliances), Stoves, Belling and New World
(cooking), Glen and Dimplex (heating), and Roberts Radios.
2006
In late 2006, Lec was brought under Glen Dimplex Professional
Appliances with Burco.