CPAC Equipment history

In 1970 the company installed its first silver-recovering system, and four years later was credited with developing the industry’s first electrolytic silver recovery equipment for bleach fix, a photochemical solution used in many color processes.

The real breakthrough in sleep apnea treatment didn’t occur until June 1980, when Doctor Colin Sullivan and his team tested the use of positive air pressure in treating the sleep disorder.

CPAC went public in March 1981, raising $2.67 million, just as silver prices began to drop.

In fiscal 1982 (the year ending on March 31) the company lost $439,000 on sales of $2.8 million.

In 1984 it used stock to acquire Trebla Chemical Company, a St Louis maker of color photographic chemicals, CPAC’s first involvement in the specialty chemicals field.

By this point, a little over 100 people were attempting sleep apnea treatment at home, with Doctor Sullivan and his team still closely involved in tracking the therapy outcomes of the majority of these individuals. It wasn’t until 1985 that the first commercial CPAP machines were introduced by Respironics (now known as Philips Respironics) — a brand that continues to be well-known in the CPAP market today.

Next, in 1988, CPAC expanded into other imaging markets by paying about $3.4 million for Chicago-based Allied Photo Products, maker of equipment and chemicals used to process medical and dental X-ray films.

Also in 1989 CPAC teamed up with N.V. Ampaco S.A. to form CPAC Europe and allow CPAC to become a global player.

Though, it did take until 1990 for the first self-sealing mask—called "the bubble mask"—was produced by Philips Respironics to increase the wearer's comfort.

In 1992, Respironics patented “bi-level technology” — a noteworthy CPAP improvement that led to the introduction of BiPAP machines.

In 1994 a CPAC shareholder suggested that the company look into the Fuller Brush Company, a struggling business that had ventured into specialty chemicals and owned a massive underused plant in Great Bend, Kansas, which likely had space to lease.

In July 1997 Fuller Brands added to its portfolio by acquiring IVAX Industries, Inc., an Ohio-based maker of commercial cleaning chemicals.

Overall, CPAC posted revenues of more than $108.7 million in fiscal 1998.

Revenues totaled $115.4 million in fiscal 1999 but dipped to $112.1 million the following year, much of the decline due to bad publicity for sweepstakes, which adversely affected Publishers Clearing House.

Sales fell below $98 million by fiscal 2002 and net income below $3 million.

On the Fuller Brand side of the business, Stanley began importing the Arcancil line of French cosmetics, and Fuller Brush returned to the QVC studios in 2003 and enjoyed much greater success than it had in its earlier appearance on the television shopping channel.

In an April 2020 survey of home medical-equipment suppliers, more than half reported supply-chain interruptions for CPAP machines, and 62 percent reported up to a 60-day delay.