Our Story

It all began in 1976 with a hundred feet of twine around a hockey stick handle and a metal weight to serve as a mini anchor. Fashioned by scuba enthusiast Dave Parker in his garage in Torrance, CA, this innovative safety tool was designed to bob on the water’s surface to mark locations for divers. Dave dubbed his brainchild the “Pelican Float.” He devised this gadget because he knew it had the potential to save lives. He was right.

Eager to expand upon his vision, Dave was soon hard at work designing his next product: a superior first-aid kit for divers. The cases were rugged, durable, and built to keep the contents stored inside safely protected from water and dust. The product was a hit with divers and others who tossed out the first-aid supplies and used the case to protect other valuables.

From this humble beginning sprang a company that ultimately became the global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance protective cases, temperature controlled packaging and advanced portable lighting systems. All along the way, Pelican has stayed true to Dave’s commitment to quality and his vision: Protecting All That You Value. We take great pride in the products we’ve created over the years for police, firefighters, military personnel, photographers and others who have counted on Pelican products to protect their gear and their lives.

Over the years, stories of survival and heroic efforts have rolled in. Getting roughed up, scuffed up, run over, kicked, thrown, submersed, and dropped is all in a day’s work for a Pelican product. We have expanded into many new areas over the years, but we evaluate our success only one way: it either does its job, or it doesn’t bear the Pelican name.

Still located in Torrance with 200,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space, Pelican has grown into a global enterprise with six manufacturing facilities, 23 international sales offices, and multiple advanced case centers, network stations, and service centers around the world. Global expansion along with smart acquisitions and new product introductions have all added to the success Pelican realizes today.

We wholeheartedly embrace the calling and the duty that we’ve lived up to for more than 40 years. It’s true that we build the best in the world. But it’s our customers who have built the Pelican name. We know the most valuable thing you’ll ever put in a Pelican product is trust. If it’s made by Pelican, it’s built to protect.