L. S. Starrett Company: Difference between revisions
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Between 1941 and 1945, Starrett increased its production by 800% {{Citation needed}} and won the [[Army-Navy_"E"_Award | Army- Navy “E” Award ]]. {{Citation needed}} At the same time, more than 400 employees went into the US armed forces. The post-war period was a time of overseas expansion, with Starrett opening a factory in [[São Paulo]], Brazil, in 1956. In the early 1960s, the Brazilian factory was moved to a new location in the city of [[Itu, Brazil|Itu]], 100 km from São Paulo. |
Between 1941 and 1945, Starrett increased its production by 800% {{Citation needed}} and won the [[Army-Navy_"E"_Award | Army- Navy “E” Award ]]. {{Citation needed}} At the same time, more than 400 employees went into the US armed forces. The post-war period was a time of overseas expansion, with Starrett opening a factory in [[São Paulo]], Brazil, in 1956. In the early 1960s, the Brazilian factory was moved to a new location in the city of [[Itu, Brazil|Itu]], 100 km from São Paulo. |
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In 1958, a plant was opened in [[Scotland]] and this plant currently makes |
In 1958, a plant was opened in [[Scotland]] and this plant currently makes products for the European and Asian markets. In 1962, Starrett acquired the Webber Gage Company, adding gage blocks to the Starrett product line. In 1970, Starrett took over the Herman Stone Co., a granite product maker, and in 1985 it relocated production to a new plant in [[Mount Airy, North Carolina|Mount Airy]], NC. This plant also makes saws and measuring equipment. |
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In 1986, Starrett took over the Evans Rule Company, the world's largest tape measure manufacturer, and in 1990 the company bought Sigma Optical, a British manufacturer of optical profile projectors. In 1998, Starrett expanded into China, opening a new plant in [[Suzhou]].<ref>Synthenet Corporation (2006), Starrett.[online]. Available at:http://www.starrett.com.br/empresa_tempo.html (Accessed 9 April 2010).</ref> |
In 1986, Starrett took over the Evans Rule Company, the world's largest tape measure manufacturer, and in 1990 the company bought Sigma Optical, a British manufacturer of optical profile projectors. In 1998, Starrett expanded into China, opening a new plant in [[Suzhou]].<ref>Synthenet Corporation (2006), Starrett.[online]. Available at:http://www.starrett.com.br/empresa_tempo.html (Accessed 9 April 2010).</ref> |
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Revision as of 07:39, 5 August 2015
L. S. Starrett Company (NYSE: SCX) is an American manufacturer of tools and instruments. Its products are well known among machinists and tool and die makers. The company was founded when businessman and inventor Laroy Sunderland Starrett (1836–1922), who was born in China, Maine, bought the Athol Machine Company in 1905. The company patented such items as the sliding combination square, bench vises, and a shoe hook fastener. They make precision steel rules and tapes, calipers, micrometers, and dial indicators, among many other things.
Starrett employs about 2,000 people worldwide and the company claims to be the last remaining full-line precision tool company to be manufacturing their products within the United States.[1] However, much of the firm's manufacturing takes place at facilities in the People's Republic of China, Brazil, Germany, and the UK, with 28% of Starret's worldwide sales being in Brazil in 2013.[2][3]
History
The history of Starrett has been one of continuous expansion through the patenting of products and takeovers of other manufacturers. In 1878 Laroy S. Starrett invented and patented the combination square [citation needed] and in 1880 he founded the L.S. Starrett Company in Athol, MA in order to produce the combination square and other precision tools. In 1882, Starrett traveled to London and Paris to appoint sales representatives, thereby starting up the international marketing of his products. [citation needed] In 1887, Starrett acquired further patents.
In 1890, L.S. Starrett patented a micrometer with other improvements, transforming the rough version of this tool into a modern micrometer.[4] During the same year Starrett began making and refining saw blades, and continues to be a major manufacturer as of 2015.[citation needed] In 1895 Starrett patented the divider with trammel.[5] In 1920, the company added its first gage to the product line and quickly became the world’s largest innovator and maker of precision calibrators.
Between 1941 and 1945, Starrett increased its production by 800% [citation needed] and won the Army- Navy “E” Award . [citation needed] At the same time, more than 400 employees went into the US armed forces. The post-war period was a time of overseas expansion, with Starrett opening a factory in São Paulo, Brazil, in 1956. In the early 1960s, the Brazilian factory was moved to a new location in the city of Itu, 100 km from São Paulo.
In 1958, a plant was opened in Scotland and this plant currently makes products for the European and Asian markets. In 1962, Starrett acquired the Webber Gage Company, adding gage blocks to the Starrett product line. In 1970, Starrett took over the Herman Stone Co., a granite product maker, and in 1985 it relocated production to a new plant in Mount Airy, NC. This plant also makes saws and measuring equipment.
In 1986, Starrett took over the Evans Rule Company, the world's largest tape measure manufacturer, and in 1990 the company bought Sigma Optical, a British manufacturer of optical profile projectors. In 1998, Starrett expanded into China, opening a new plant in Suzhou.[6]
In 2006, L.S. Starrett Co. purchased Tru-Stone Technologies Inc. in Waite Park, Minn., a Minnesota maker of custom-engineered granite machine bases, for $19.8 million in cash.[7]
Currently
Starrett remains a conservative, family-run company which claims to support free markets and ‘small government’ but treads a careful line between taking advantage of low-cost manufacturing bases outside the US and opposing ‘dumping’ in the US.[citation needed] In the late 1980s, Douglas Starrett praised Thatcherite economic policy and compared US government policy unfavorably to that of the Iron Lady in the UK while at the same time admitting that he was troubled by potential low-wage rivals from China, Taiwan and South Korea, subsidized production overseas and product dumping in US markets.[8] The current President and CEO of the company is Douglas A Starrett.
Business conduct and ethics
In 2002, a former Starrett subcontractor alerted US Defense Department investigators to an alleged fraud issue with a measuring device called Rapid Check, which Starrett had to replace free-of-charge to customers because of a fault. Federal agents raided Starrett's North Carolina plant looking for evidence of fraud and Starrett's share price plummeted as a result while the company sought to prevent documents related to the allegations from being released publicly. The federal investigation yielded nothing damaging, and it was terminated in December 2003 with no charges filed.[9]
References
- ^ Synthenet Corporation (2008), Starrett.[online]. Available at:http://www.starrett.com/ (Accessed 3 July 2010).
- ^ McLaughlin, M., "The Tales of Two Survivors," New England Business, September 21, 1987, pp. 11, 13, 15-16, in Hoover’s Profiles. [Online] Available at: http://www.answers.com/topic/the-l-s-starrett-company
- ^ Dubner, D.,(2006)A empresa Starrett abriu as portas para na última quinta-feira, Itu,Itu.com.br Available at: www.itu.com.br/img/conteudo/5005/5005_1.jpg (Accessed 4 July 2010)
- ^ "Micrometer gage patent". Google Patents. US Patent and Trademark Office. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ^ "Calipers and Dividers". Google Patents. USPTO. Retrieved 5 August 2015.
- ^ Synthenet Corporation (2006), Starrett.[online]. Available at:http://www.starrett.com.br/empresa_tempo.html (Accessed 9 April 2010).
- ^ "L.S. Starrett acquires Minn. firm".
- ^ McLaughlin, M., "The Tales of Two Survivors," New England Business, September 21, 1987, pp. 11, 13, 15-16, in Hoover’s Profiles. [Online] Available at: http://www.answers.com/topic/the-l-s-starrett-company
- ^ Hoover’s Profiles, The L.S. Starrett Company. [Online]. Available at: http://www.answers.com/topic/the-l-s-starrett-company (Accessed 4 July 2010)