Founded in 1958, W. L. Gore & Associates is a privately held company that provides electronic products and fiber technologies. The company offers cables, medical implants, electromechanical materials, filtration systems and pharmaceutical tubing products. It provides products under the ELIXIR, GORE, CANMORE, GORE-TEX and PRISTYNE brands. W. L. Gore & Associates also specializes in environmental site assessment, microfiltration, and petroleum and mineral exploration services. The company serves the automotive, aerospace, textile, military, energy, environment, and chemical processing industries. It maintains manufacturing operations in the United States, Germany, Scotland, Japan and China. In addition, the company employs a staff of more than 8,000 individuals in over 45 plants and sales locations worldwide. W. L. Gore & Associates operates W. L. Gore & Associ s France, which has been recognized as one of the best places to work in France by the Great Place to Work Institute.