Planar Systems
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| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Headquarters | Hillsboro, Oregon, USA 45°31′41″N 122°53′00″W / 45.52794°N 122.88345°WCoordinates: 45°31′41″N 122°53′00″W / 45.52794°N 122.88345°W |
| Key people |
Gerald K. Perkel, President and CEO Scott Hildebrandt, VP and CFO |
| Products | Monitors, Display Screen & Projectors |
| Revenue | $175.7 million USD[1] |
| Operating income |  $5.7 million USD[2] |
| Net income | $2.1 million USD[2] |
| Employees | 456 (2010) |
| Website | www.planar.com |
Planar Systems, Inc. NASDAQ: PLNR is a U.S. digital display manufacturing corporation based in Hillsboro, Oregon. Founded in 1983 as a spin-off from Tektronix, it was the first U.S. manufacturer of electroluminescent (EL) digital displays. Planar also makes a variety of other specialty displays. The company, with $175.7 million in revenue, is headed by chief executive officer and president Gerald K. Perkel.
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[edit] History
[edit] 1980s
Planar was founded in 1983 by Jim Hurd, Chris King, John Laney and others as a spin-off from the Solid State Research and Development Group of the Beaverton, Oregon, based Tektronix.[3] In 1986, a division spun off from Planar to work on projection technology, InFocus.[4]
[edit] 1990s
In 1991, FinLux, a competitor in Espoo, Finland was purchased and is now the company's European headquarters.[5] Planar's executives took the company public in 1993, listing the stock on the NASDAQ boards [6] Planar acquired Tektronix's avionics display business, creating the short-lived Planar Advance in 1994.[7] Standish Industries, a manufacturer of flat panel LCDs in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, was sold to Planar in 1997.[8] This plant was closed in 2002 as worldwide LCD manufacturing shifted to East Asian countries.
[edit] 2000s
On April 23, 2002, DOME Imaging Systems was purchased by Planar and became the company's medical business unit.[9] Planar acquired Clarity Visual Systems (founded by former InFocus employees) on September 12, 2006, now referred to as the Control Room and Signage business unit.[10] On May 23, 2007, Planar acquired Runco International, a leading brand in the high-end, custom home theater market.[11] On August 6, 2008, Planar sold its medical business unit to NDS Surgical Imaging.[12]
[edit] Operations
Planar currently assembles and services videowalls, projectors, and other displays in Hillsboro. Planar's EL manufacturing operations were consolidated into Planar's Espoo, Finland facility in 2002.[13] Additional large-format displays are assembled and integrated in Albi, France.[14]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Planar Announces Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Financial Results". Planar Systems. November 9, 2010. http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/722392/000119312510254224/dex991.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-09.
- ^ a b "Planar Financial Reports/Transcripts". Planar Systems. November 2011. http://investor.planar.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=111133&p=irol-reports. Retrieved 2011-11-29.
- ^ A History of Electroluminescent Displays J. A. Hart, Indiana University; S.A. Lenway, and T. Murtha, University of Minnesota September 1999
- ^ InFocus through the years The Oregonian/OregonLive Silicon Forest Blog April 13, 2009
- ^ U.S. Project Hobbled by Japan's Lead New York Times, December 18, 1990 Section D page 1
- ^ "Planar Systems gets in step with area trend to go public". The Oregonian, October 30, 1993
- ^ "Planar Inc. maps deal, set to soar". The Oregonian, July 15, 1994
- ^ "Standish of Lake Mills Sold to LCD Competitor". The Capital Times, August 27, 1997
- ^ Planar Systems Acquires DOME Imaging Systems Photonics.com May 1, 2002
- ^ Planar buys Clarity for $46M Portland Business Journal July 19, 2006
- ^ Planar’s Acquisition of Runco: No End to the Party CEPro, May 24, 2007
- ^ NDS Surgical Imaging buys Dome Imaging Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal, August 6, 2008
- ^ Planar consolidation means 55 layoffs Portland Business Journal, August 16, 2002
- ^ 2008 10-K Filing 2008 10-K filing with SEC
[edit] External links
- Google Finance: PLNR
- Hoover's Profile of Planar Systems
- International Directory of Company Histories, Volume 61 (1990) via Answers.com
- Planar Systems topic at New York Times
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