A Tradition of Innovation
In 1966, we developed the nation's first electronic stadium scoreboard and soon after revolutionized the elevator industry by creating a microprocessor-controlled elevator. Throughout the 1960s, we gained worldwide recognition for our geodetic SECOR satellite surveying system, the first product to offer a coast-to-coast measurement of the United States. This solid-state system was introduced long before the advent of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.
By 1968, we had introduced more than 60 products and services, generating annual sales in excess of $28 million. By far our major profit generator was our Electrotape Distance Measuring Instrument, the world's first commercial distance surveying system that provided centimeter accuracy from 100 meters to 50 kilometers. The instrument modernized land surveying for mapping, subdivisions, land development and engineering construction, providing users with a major cost savings tool.
We followed-up the Electrotape with the Autotape, the first two-range, high-accuracy positioning system for the petroleum and offshore construction industry. Autotape was employed before the advent of GPS technology and was used for major pipe-laying and off-shore construction projects throughout the world, revolutionizing the oil industry as it allowed for precise offshore oil exploration. Next came our ARGO offshore positioning system, a long-range ship positioning system that quickly became a standard tool for U.S. and Australian hydrographic fleets.
