Typhoon was founded over 60 years ago by Oscar Gugen in 1947 as E.T. Skinner. Oscar Gugen was himself a remarkable man, having escaped as a Prisoner of War several times from the Germans during World War II, he finally came to England and started up in business. He also soon started a club for divers, which became the world famous British Sub Aqua Club, and this grew to be the largest diving club in the world.

E.T. Skinner were the first company in the UK to make wetsuits and became the market leaders in diving and sailing equipment. In the 1970’s the name was changed to Typhoon and a factory was built in Redcar where the company still operates from today. In 1976 Typhoon developed the first lightweight drysuit setting itself on the road to becoming the world leader for drysuits.

In 1996 Typhoon was bought by the Bibby family who invested heavily to modernise the company into the profitable and growing company it is today. Turnover has grown every year since 1996 and Typhoon has become by far the largest manufacturer of drysuits in the world. It employs nearly 100 staff and supplies all the major military markets around the world, commercial customers such as the RNLI, British Waterways, Environment Agency and the major Oil Companies as well as the recreational users in the Diving and Leisure Markets.

Today Typhoon is the World’s largest manufacturer of drysuits and a key player in the Diving and Watersports markets with products specifically designed for all its key leisure markets: diving, sailing, surfing, kayaking, water skiing/boarding and watersports. Where Typhoon does not have the capability to manufacture the products then leading brands are sourced and distributed into the UK and Europe, such as Atomic (Diving), Loose Unit (Water Skiing), Teksport (Kayaking), Swarm (Surfing), Stahlsac (Luggage), Body Glove (Surfing).

The Company’s factory in Redcar, Teesside provides a full after sales service such as servicing and repairs, as well as enabling Typhoon to customise products to individual requirements such as made-to-measure drysuits or adding extras, such as pockets. Typhoon’s technical expertise is also here, carrying out the research and development, which keeps Typhoon at the leading edge of technology and involves designing and testing new fabrics and products to ensure that the end products are fit for purpose, at the right price.