Danaher buys Keithley

Ye gads the list of their divisions is like a who's who of US Electronics....

Does Danaher keep them intact or just loot them as technology assets?

More proof of your inane inability to have observed the world around you ... FOR THE LAST FIFTY YEARS!

Who looted your skull cavity?

After taking Tektronix private a few years back, among other things.

There's a lot of oligarch wealth looking for a mattress to stuff. Anything that isn't nailed to US middle class spending, which isn't an area that is doing well right now. Acquisitions are happening left and right, often called a 'mania' in our news, as a place to put cash because interest rates are at rock bottom and it is literally "bad business" to sit on cash considering futures. Many companies are relative bargains and there are a few where the future remains bright despite the bitter situation in the US.

Putting cash there is considered 'smart.'

Tektronix once competed with Keithley and Fluke and gave that up. I still have one of Tek's RMS voltmeters, for example, bought during a time when that competition held prices at very reasonable figures. (I paid about $45 for it.) Then Tek left the market.

Now, if Danaher can just buy Fluke.... Oh oh... cripes... ;)

Jon

Aaliant

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Solutions For All Your Flow Measurement Needs Customer Service: 800-778-9251, snipped-for-privacy@aaliant.com back to top

AB SCIEX

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies AB SCIEX is a global leader in the development of life science analytical technologies that help answer complex scientific challenges. Customer Service: 877-740-2129, snipped-for-privacy@absciex.com back to top

Accu-Sort Systems, Inc.

Part of the strategic platform Product Identification Accu-Sort Systems has been providing engineered solutions to automatic identification challenges since 1971. Today we are the world leader in fixed-position laser and CCD scanners, with more than 80 percent of all parcels shipped in the U.S. passing under our equipment. We serve organizations such as Federal Express, United Parcel Service, FedEx Ground and the U.S. Postal Service. Customer Service: 1-800-BAR-CODE, snipped-for-privacy@accusort.com back to top

Allen

Part of the strategic platform Mechanics' Hand Tools Part of the Armstrong family of tools, Allen is a trusted brandname of the weekend handyman and professional mechanics. Customer Service: 800-688-8949 back to top

ALLTEC

Part of the strategic platform Product Identification Founded in 1985 ALLTEC has developed within a few years into one of the leading manufacturers of laser marking systems worldwide. The success has been achieved by the competence and the commitment of its

110 employees in the headquarters Selmsdorf (near L=C3=BCbeck, Germany), its subsidiaries and representatives worldwide. Customer Service: +49 (0)38823-55 0, snipped-for-privacy@alltec.org back to top

American Sigma

Part of the strategic platform Environmental With more than 15 years of experience and cutting-edge technology, American Sigma is a worldwide leader. Customer Service: 800-635-4567, snipped-for-privacy@americansigma.com back to top

Anderson

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Anderson Instrument Co. designs and manufactures a broad line of sanitary process instrumentation for customers in fluid food & beverage, dairy, and the biopharmaceutical industries. Customer Service: 800-833-0081, snipped-for-privacy@andinst.com back to top

Armstrong Tools

Part of the strategic platform Mechanics' Hand Tools Part of the Danaher Professional Tools division, Armstrong is a leading full line manufacturer of premium quality and performance industrial hand tools. Customer Service: 800-688-8949 back to top

Artus

Part of the focused niche business Aerospace and Defense Artus, a division of Pacific Scientific Safety and Aviation Group, is a leading manufacturer of Aerospace & Defense products:

=E2=96=A0electric motors

=E2=96=A0position sensors (RVDTs, resolvers)

=E2=96=A0electro-mechanical actuator

=E2=96=A0electrical power generation and conversion systems

=E2=96=A0dedicated high power servo drives

With more than 300 employees in France and 450 worldwide, Artus has extensive design and manufaturing capabilities and provide customized solutions to many Aerospace & Defense companies worldwide. Customer Service: +33 241 33 63 40, snipped-for-privacy@psartus.com back to top

Aviation Services

Part of the focused niche business Aerospace and Defense Provides customer focused repair, overhaul, and spares support services for operators of Pacific Scientific''s products and other aircraft safety related equipment. Customer Service: 305-477-4711, snipped-for-privacy@pascimiami.com back to top

Bindicator

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls The Leader in Dry Bulk Level Measurement. Customer Service: 800-778-9242, snipped-for-privacy@bindicator.com back to top

Buhler Montec

Part of the strategic platform Environmental B=C3=BChler Montec company designs, manufactures and supplies with wastewater monitoring equipment, consisting of samplers, flow meters and sewer survey instrumentation. They meet the environmental monitoring requirements of water companies, regulatory bodies, and industry. Customer Service: +49 211 5288-0, snipped-for-privacy@drlange.de back to top

Calzoni

Part of the focused niche business Aerospace and Defense Calzoni is one of the leading European Companies for the engineering and manufacturing of high - tech equipment and systems in the fields of electronics, hydraulics and mechanics, with specific reference to Submarine Systems, Surface Naval Systems, Automation and Control Systems, Visual Landing Aids and Special Equipment for the Navy. Customer Service: +39 05141377, snipped-for-privacy@calzoni.com back to top

ChemTreat, Inc.

Part of the strategic platform Environmental ChemTreat, Inc. is the nation's largest independent firm dedicated solely to industrial water treatment. Customer Service: 800-648-4579, cs snipped-for-privacy@chemtreat.com back to top

Delta Consolidated Industries

Part of the focused niche business Delta Consolidated Industries Delta is an innovative, market-leading manufacturer and marketer of tool storage equipment for pickup trucks and other work trucks in North America. Customer Service: 1-800-643-0084, snipped-for-privacy@danahertool.com back to top

DEXIS

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies DEXIS is well-established, stable and highly regarded, with operations around the world. Since its inception in 1993 DEXIS has grown steadily, building significant milestones along the way for others to follow. Customer Service: 1-888-88-DEXIS, snipped-for-privacy@dexis.com back to top

DH Instruments

Part of the strategic platform Test & Measurement DH Instruments provides high end pressure and gas flow calibration standards and services. Customer Service: 602.431.9100, snipped-for-privacy@dhinstruments.com back to top

Dover

Part of the strategic platform Motion Dover Instrument is the world=E2=80=99s leading manufacturer and designer o= f precision air-bearing systems and components. Customer Service: 1-508-475-3400 #3 back to top

DTG Government

Part of the strategic platform Mechanics' Hand Tools Since 1890 Armstrong has been manufacturing reliable MUSA tools. Our focus on industrial and military applications brings us the know-how to deliver innovative, high quality tools and solutions. Customer Service: 800-234-0838 ext. 1 back to top

DTG International

Part of the strategic platform Mechanics' Hand Tools Danaher Tool Group specializes in the manufacturing of Mechanics Hand Tools with brands like: Armstrong, GearWrench, Craftsman, Allen, KD- Tool, SATA, Steelgrip, Jacobs & Holo-Krome. Customer Service: 410-329-7023 back to top

DTG OEM

Part of the strategic platform Mechanics' Hand Tools Our dedicated OEM division is well equipped to handle all of your Custom/OEM, Manufacturing Services, & Premiums needs. Customer Service: 800-688-8949 ext. 1 back to top

Dynapar / Northstar

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Danaher Industrial Controls makes the broadest line of trusted brands in motion feedback control, including Dynapar, and Hengstler brand incremental encoders and absolute rotary encoders, heavy-duty Northstar brand magneto-resistive encoders and high-performance Harowe brand resolvers.

Customer Service: 800-873-8731/800-234-8731, snipped-for-privacy@dancon.com snipped-for-privacy@dancon.com snipped-for-privacy@dancon.com back to top

Eagle-Signal / Veeder-Root

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Danaher Industrial Controls supplies renowned Eagle-Signal and Veeder- Root brand timers and counters for industrial manufacturing applications. Choose from a complete variety of electronic and electromechanical timers =E2=80=93 including preset, elapsed time, reset an= d repeat cycle timers and related accessories from Eagle-Signal =E2=80=93 =E2= =80=9Cthe premier name in timers=E2=80=9D for over 70 years. Customer Service: 800-390-6405, snipped-for-privacy@dancon.com snipped-for-privacy@dancon.com back to top

ELE

Part of the strategic platform Environmental Welcome to ELE International, the world''s leading manufacturer of Construction Materials Testing and Environmental Instrumentation.

ELE International offers an unrivalled combination of quality, service and experience dedicated to serving the needs of our customers in 150 countries. Customer Service: snipped-for-privacy@eleint.co.uk back to top

Energetic Materials

Part of the focused niche business Aerospace and Defense Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company is the industry leader in the design, development, and production of ordnance, electronics and laser components and systems for the aerospace, defense, and commercial industries. Customer Service: 480-763-3000, snipped-for-privacy@psemc.com back to top

Environmental Test Systems

Part of the strategic platform Environmental Environmental Test Systems is a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer of chemical test systems. Founded in 1985, ETS is best known for our innovative use of reagent test strip technology. Customer Service: +888-387-7874, snipped-for-privacy@hach.com back to top

Fluke

Part of the strategic platform Test & Measurement Fluke is a global leader in the manufacture of compact, professional electronic test tools. Customer Service: 800-44-FLUKE, snipped-for-privacy@fluke.com back to top

Fluke Biomedical

Part of the strategic platform Test & Measurement The premiere, global organization providing test and measurement equipment and services for the healthcare industry. Customer Service: 800-648-7952, snipped-for-privacy@flukebiomedical.com back to top

Fluke Networks

Part of the strategic platform Test & Measurement Fluke Networks is a leading provider of innovative network management solutions for ensuring data communications and Internet uptime. Customer Service: 800-28-FLUKE, snipped-for-privacy@flukenetworks.com back to top

GearWrench

Part of the strategic platform Mechanics' Hand Tools GearWrench=C2=AE is one of the top 5 hand tool brands preferred by American technicians. Customer Service: 888-757-1812, snipped-for-privacy@danahertool.com back to top

Gems Sensors

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls

Gems Sensors has been developing and manufacturing liquid level, flow and pressure sensors for nearly 50 years. Customer Service: 800-378-1600, snipped-for-privacy@gemssensors.com back to top

Gendex

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies Gendex is a leading manufacturer of digital imaging dental products including intra-oral and panoramic x-ray machines, digital radiography systems, intra-oral cameras and film processors. Customer Service: 1-888-275-5286, snipped-for-privacy@kavo.com back to top

Gilbarco

Part of the strategic platform Environmental Gilbarco Inc. is a leading global supplier of retail and commercial fuel dispensing equipment, fully integrated point of sale systems and fuel management services for the global petroleum marketplace. Gilbarco is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina with sales, manufacturing, research, development, and service locations in North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Pacific Rim and Australia. Customer Service: snipped-for-privacy@gilbarco.com back to top

GLI

Part of the strategic platform Environmental GLI manufactures sensors, analyzers and accessories for virtually all liquid quality analysis and process control applications. Customer Service: 800-247-7613, snipped-for-privacy@gliint.com back to top

Guardian Voting Systems

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Proven accurate and secure in over 150,000 elections, the ELECTronic

1242 =C2=AE Voting System is designed to meet election needs into the new millennium. It delivers the highest levels of security, efficiency, and election integrity. As a full service election division of Danaher Corporation, we can be counted on to deliver total solutions and world class support -- today and tomorrow. Customer Service: 800-888-9527 back to top

Hach

Part of the strategic platform Environmental Hach Company products are in use around the world, providing advanced analytical systems and technical support for water quality testing, with solutions for lab, process, and field Customer Service: 800-227-4224, snipped-for-privacy@hach.com back to top

Hach Lange

Part of the strategic platform Environmental Hach Lange manufactures and markets a broad range of analytical systems, consisting of instrumentation and reagents. They are made for laboratory as well as for process purposes and are used primarily to analyze the chemical properties of water for industrial and municipal applications. Customer Service: +49 211 5288-0, snipped-for-privacy@hach-lange.com back to top

Harowe

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Danaher Industrial Controls provides high-Harowe housed and frameless resolvers in sizes 10 to 55 for motor commutation and positioning and heavy duty resolvers for harsh environmental conditions.

Customer Service: snipped-for-privacy@dancon.com back to top

Hart Scientific

Part of the strategic platform Test & Measurement Hart Scientific makes everything you need for calibrating thermometers including SPRTs, PRTs, thermistors, and thermocouples. Customer Service: snipped-for-privacy@hartscientific.com back to top

HECON

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls HECON=C2=AE by HENGSTLER manufactures complete, high-quality printers designed for kiosks, automated teller machines, parking systems, transit/fare collection and a variety of other applications.

We specialize in demanding, heavy-usage applications that others avoid. We also build a wide variety of cutters for automatic cutting of paper, labels, tickets, film, etc. Our extensive expertise allows us to support you in all aspects of integrating our products into your design application.

We also manufacture the well-known HECON=C2=AE brand of copy control products Customer Service: 732-223-4200, snipped-for-privacy@hecon.com back to top

Hengstler GmbH

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Hengstler is a leading European manufacturer and supplier in the field of industrial counting and control components, e.g. encoders, counters, controllers as well as relays, particularly safety relays. A further focus is on printers and cutters for ticketing, kiosk and banking applications. One of Hengstler's particular strengths is the project management of custom applications. Basis forthis is our wide experience over many years in the fields of electromechanics, mechanics, pneumatics, electronics as mirrored in our product range. Customer Service: +49-7424-89-0, snipped-for-privacy@hengstler.com back to top

Hennessy Industries

Part of the focused niche business Hennessy Industries Hennessy Industries, manufacturer of AMMCO, COATS and BADA equipment and tools, is the largest full line wheel-service equipment manufacturer in North America. Customer Service: 1-800-688-6496, not available back to top

HTL/Kin-Tech

Part of the focused niche business Aerospace and Defense For over half a century, Pacific Scientific HTL/Kin-Tech Division has been an internationally renowned manufacturer of aviation safety equipment. Our products are used over a wide range of applications that support the commercial, business, general aviation, defense and aerospace markets.

Our products include fire protection systems, personnel safety restraints, mechanical and electro-mechanical subsystems, high pressure vessels and valves, and pressure gauges. Customer Service: 800-4PACSCI, snipped-for-privacy@htl.pacsci.com back to top

Hydrolab

Part of the strategic platform Environmental For 40 years, the world leader in multiparameter water monitoring instrumentation. Helping you preserve the world''s water Customer Service: 800-949-3766, snipped-for-privacy@hydrolab.com back to top

Imaging Sciences International

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies Imaging Sciences International provides state-of-the-art imaging systems to dentists and specialists around the globe to enhance the quality of care and increase predictably of treatment outcomes for dental procedures. Customer Service: 800-205-3570, snipped-for-privacy@imagingsciences.com back to top

Instrumentarium Dental

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies Instrumentarium Dental develops, manufactures and markets high-tech systems and solutions for dental and maxillofacial imaging. Customer Service: snipped-for-privacy@instrudental.com back to top

Invetech

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies Developing new products and manufacturing processes for international markets. Customer Service: +61 3 9211 7700, snipped-for-privacy@invetech.com.au back to top

Iseli

Part of the strategic platform Mechanics' Hand Tools ISELI, a precision swiss screw machine shop, was founded in 1946 and has operated continually with major expansions through out the last 50 years. Customer Service: 203-757-9281, snipped-for-privacy@iseli.com, snipped-for-privacy@iseli.com back to top

Jacobs Chuck Manufacturing

Part of the focused niche business Jacobs Chuck Manufacturing The Jacobs=C2=AE Chuck Manufacturing Company was founded in 1902 by A. I. Jacobs, inventor of the first 3 jaw drill chuck. Customer Service: 800-693-5687, not available back to top

Jacobs Vehicle Systems

Part of the focused niche business Jacobs Vehicle Systems Jacobs Vehicle Systems is the world=E2=80=99s leading producer of vehicle retarding and valve actuation technologies. Customer Service: 1-800-876-5253, snipped-for-privacy@jakebrake.com back to top

Joslyn Clark

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Joslyn Clark Controls offers a complete line of diesel and electric fire pump controllers, vacuum contactors, starters and controllers. Customer Service: 800-476-6952, snipped-for-privacy@dancon.com back to top

KaVo

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies With continuous innovations for your daily use, KaVo has contributed substantially to progress in the dental industry. This is shown by more than 2,100 patents which we have filed worldwide for products in dental medicine and dental technology. Customer Service: +49 7351/ 56 - 1599, snipped-for-privacy@kavo.de back to top

K-D Tools

Part of the strategic platform Mechanics' Hand Tools Part of the Armstrong family of tools, K-D is a respected brand name. Customer Service: 800-688-8949 back to top

[ Keithley ]

Kerr

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies Kerr Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sybron Dental Specialties, Inc., is a manufacturer of premiere dental consumables. Advancing esthetic dentistry through education and sustainable solutions based on clinician input, Kerr has become synonymous with integrity for dental professionals worldwide. Customer Service: 800-537-7123 back to top

Kistler Morse

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Measure of Success

Our Mission: To be the number one instrumentation supplier for material storage and process material monitoring systems providing logistics, communications and information solutions. Customer Service: 800-426-9010, snipped-for-privacy@kistlermorse.com back to top

Kollmorgen

Part of the strategic platform Motion Kollmorgen is a leading provider of motion systems and components or original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) around the globe. Customer Service: 1-540-633-3545, snipped-for-privacy@kollmorgen.com back to top

Kollmorgen Electro-Optical

Part of the focused niche business Aerospace and Defense Kollmorgen Corporation is a leading manufacturer of high-performance electronic motion-control systems for commercial, industrial, aerospace, and defense customers worldwide. Customer Service: 413-586-2330, snipped-for-privacy@eo.kollmorgen.com back to top

Lachat Instruments

Part of the strategic platform Environmental Lachat Instruments provides comprehensive solutions for ion analysis requirements based on the technologies of flow injection analysis and ion chromatography. Customer Service: 800-247-7613, snipped-for-privacy@lachatinstruments.com back to top

Leica Microsystems

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies Leica Microsystems is a leading global designer and producer of innovative high-tech precision optics systems for the analysis of microstructures. Customer Service: 847 405 0123, snipped-for-privacy@leica-microsystems.com back to top

Linx Printing Technologies

Part of the strategic platform Product Identification Linx Printing Technologies is a leading global provider of coding and marking solutions for date and batch coding of products and packaging across manufacturing industries. Customer Service: +44 (0) 1480 302 100, snipped-for-privacy@linxglobal.com back to top

Matco Tools

Part of the strategic platform Mechanics' Hand Tools Matco manufactures and markets, through mobile distribution, professional tools for the automotive aftermarket. Customer Service: 866-BUY-TOOL, snipped-for-privacy@matcotools.com back to top

McCrometer

Part of the strategic platform Environmental For over 45 years, McCrometer application engineers, researchers and designers have put their knowledge into developing some of the most accurate, innovative and trusted flowmeters on the market. Customer Service: 951-652-6811, snipped-for-privacy@mccrometer.com back to top

Namco / Dolan Jenner

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Namco / Dolan-Jenner is a leading manufacturer of Snap-Lock=C2=AE Limit Switches, WFI=E2=84=A2 Proximity Sensors, Cylindicator=C2=AE Cylinder Posit= ion Sensors, and SafeScan=C2=AE Safety Light Curtains. Designed for the most demanding application environments, Namco / Dolan-Jenner products are broadly applied in automotive manufacturing, metal fabricating, and power generation industries. Customer Service: 800-626-8324,

back to top

Negele Industrieelektronik GmbH & Co. KG

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Negele designs and markets a wide range of hygienic process sensors and instrumentation for the fluid food & beverage, dairy, brewery and the biopharmaceutical markets. Customer Service: +49 (0)8333 - 92 04 - 0, snipped-for-privacy@negele.net back to top

OECO

Part of the focused niche business Aerospace and Defense OECO focuses on custom design for manufacturing, and environmental testing of electro-magnetic devices, power generation, and power conversion products for defense electronics, commercial aerospace and medical and energy exploration industries. Customer Service: (503) 659-7932, snipped-for-privacy@oeco.com back to top

Ormco

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies In 1998, Ormco and "A" Company, two leaders in the orthodontic industry, merged into a single company dedicated to providing you, the orthodontic specialist, with the highest quality products, the most efficient clinical technologies and the best service in the industry. Customer Service: 800-854-1741,

contactID=3Dcustomercare back to top

Partlow

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Partlow is the world=E2=80=99s leading manufacturer of circular chart recorders, which is complemented by a broad line of temperature controllers and indicators. Customer Service: 800-390-6405 800-866-6659, snipped-for-privacy@dancon.com back to top

Pelton & Crane

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies Innovation and quality are traditions that have kept Pelton & Crane at the forefront of the dental industry for 101 years. Customer Service: 704-588-2126, snipped-for-privacy@pelton.net back to top

PMA

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls PMA=E2=84=A2 - is a respected European brand of digital and electronic proc= ess and multi-function controllers including a complete line of bus and PLC system models used for temperature, pressure, flow and level applications. Customer Service: 800-390-6405/800-866-6659, snipped-for-privacy@dancon.com back to top

Portescap

Part of the strategic platform Motion Portescap is unique among miniature motor manufacturers with our escap=C2=AE brand precision ironless DC and brushless DC motors, and our DMM disc magnet step motors. Our products are used successfully around the world in thousands of applications from medical devices to scientific instruments to factory automation equipment. Let us help ensure the success of your application. Customer Service: 610-235-5499, snipped-for-privacy@portescap.com Europe: snipped-for-privacy@portescap.com

Asia: snipped-for-privacy@portescap.com back to top

Qualitrol Company LLC

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Qualitrol is the world''s leading supplier of instruments, controls and monitoring systems utilized on transmission and distribution equipment in the Electric Utility industry. Customer Service: 585-586-1515 ext.420, snipped-for-privacy@qualitrolcorp.com back to top

Radiometer

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies Radiometer is a leading provider of in-vitro diagnostic equipment focused on critical care applications for the measurement of blood gases in both a hospital's central lab as well as point-of-care locations Customer Service: +45 38 27 38 27, snipped-for-privacy@radiometer.dk back to top

Radiometer Analytical

Part of the strategic platform Environmental Radiometer Analytical develops, manufactures and distributes an extensive range of electrochemical and titration systems dedicated for routine testing, research and teaching in the laboratory and on the plant. By supplying instruments, software, sensors and calibration standards Radiometer Analytical masters the complete measuring chain. Customer Service: +33 (0) 478 03 38 38, snipped-for-privacy@nalytical.com back to top

Raytek

Part of the strategic platform Test & Measurement Raytek designs, manufactures, markets and services a complete line of infrared, noncontact temperature measurement instruments for industrial, process control and maintenance applications. Customer Service: (831) 458-3998, snipped-for-privacy@raytek.com back to top

Red Jacket

Part of the strategic platform Environmental Veeder-Root manufactures Red Jacket brand submersible petroleum pumps. Its fluid management systems includes mechanical and electronic leak detection and a PC-based multiple remote site monitoring system. Customer Service: 800-873-3313 back to top

Robin Electronics

Part of the strategic platform Test & Measurement Innovators in testing technology. Customer Service: 01302 739990, snipped-for-privacy@robinelectronics.co.uk back to top

Sata

Part of the strategic platform Mechanics' Hand Tools As the first hand tool brand in China to offer a lifetime warranty on its entire product line, Sata is committed to providing high quality tools at competitive prices. Customer Service: 8621 5080 6680, snipped-for-privacy@satatools.com back to top

Securaplane Technologies

Part of the focused niche business Aerospace and Defense Securaplane Technologies is a leading supplier of avionics products for commercial, military and executive aircraft. Customer Service: 520-297-0844, snipped-for-privacy@securaplane.com back to top

Setra

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Setra will exceed customer expectations through technical innovation and superior delivery of high quality, value-added sensing products and services. Customer Service: 800-257-3872, snipped-for-privacy@setra.com back to top

Sonix

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls Sonix is a leading manufacturer of scanning acoustic microscopes (SAM) and non-destructive testing equipment. Customer Service: 703-440-0222, snipped-for-privacy@sonix.com back to top

SOREDEX

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies SOREDEX develops, manufactures and markets dental X-ray imaging systems which are reliable, easy to use and provide the finest images available. Customer Service: snipped-for-privacy@soredex.com back to top

Spline Gauges

Part of the strategic platform Mechanics' Hand Tools Spline Gauges is the World's largest producer of spline gauges and master gears - a position of authority based on absolute specialisation and supreme quality. Customer Service: not available, not available back to top

Sunbank

Part of the focused niche business Aerospace and Defense Joslyn Sunbank manufactures high reliability interconnect products for the Military, Aerospace, and Industrial markets. Customer Service: 805-238-2840, snipped-for-privacy@tcsn.net back to top

SybronEndo

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies Formed in 2002 to consolidate the industry-renowned product lines of KerrEndo and Analytic Technology, SybronEndo now assumes total responsibility for all Sybron Dental Specialties endodontic products. SybronEndo offers the most comprehensive portfolio of endodontic products on the market today, backed by the dedicated R&D expertise necessary to chart the course for the future and pave the way for post- endodontic restorative success. Customer Service: 800-346-3636 back to top

Tektronix

Part of the strategic platform Test & Measurement Enabling the next generation of innovation Customer Service: 800-833-9200 back to top

Thomson

Part of the strategic platform Motion Part of the strategic platform Motion Customer Service: 1-540-633-3549, snipped-for-privacy@danahermotion.com back to top

Thomson Aerospace & Defense

Part of the focused niche business Aerospace and Defense For more than 50 years, Thomson has supplied ball screws for the aerospace and defense industries. We deliver innovation solutions that optimize your results and reduce associated risks. Customer Service: 1-540-633-3549, snipped-for-privacy@danahermotion.com back to top

Trojan Technologies

Part of the strategic platform Environmental Trojan Technologies is a leading water treatment technology company with the largest installed base of ultraviolet water treatment systems in operation around the world. Customer Service: 519.457.3400, snipped-for-privacy@trojanuv.com back to top

Veeder-Root

Part of the strategic platform Environmental The Veeder-Root Company is a leading global supplier of automatic tank gauging and fuel management systems, including the Red Jacket brand of submersible pumps and pressurized line leak detectors. Veeder-Root is headquartered in Simsbury, Connecticut, and is one of the few companies in the industry to design, manufacture and service its own products. Customer Service: 800-873-3313 back to top

Videojet Technologies

Part of the strategic platform Product Identification Videojet is the global leader in coding solutions for products and packaging. Videojet offers best in class products for continuous ink jet, laser, thermal transfer overprint, secondary packaging and graphics applications. Customer Service: 1-800-843-3610, snipped-for-privacy@videojet.com back to top

Vision BioSystems (now Leica Microsystems)

Part of the strategic platform Medical Technologies

Customer Service: 800-753-7264, snipped-for-privacy@leica-microsystems.com back to top

West Instruments

Part of the focused niche business Industrial Controls

Based in Brighton, UK since 1956 West has grown to become one of the worlds leading manufacturers of industrial temperature controllers. Customer Service: +44 1273 606271, snipped-for-privacy@west-inst.co.uk

avast me hearties, tiz the loot...

Robert Baer wrote in news:rL2dnUeZGeSjajvRnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@posted.localnet:

Fluke,Tek,Keithley....

I read that Tektronix was planning on moving their scope production to China. I believe they are down to less than 4000 employees from a peak of

24,000. that will drop much farther if production moves to China. the FIRST thing Danaher should have done was fire all the TEK beancounters and upper management. They ran a great company into the ground.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com

By the time Danaher got to them, the real criminals were long gone. The bean-counters that had done the largest damage to Tek, anyway.

In and around the year 1982, Tek had about 24,000 employees and their gross revenue was almost $1.4 billion. This worked out to something like $62k/employee. In that same year, IBM's figure was near $125k/employee. I was making on the order of $36k, that year, and I believe in that year profit share was 0% (or close to it.) When I had started, in 1979, profit share was 16% and the folks who had been there when I arrived said that was down from about a more usual figure of about 20%.

I'd been there about four years at the time and I have to say that from the down-in-the-trenches place I lived -- 3 manager levels inserted between me and the president -- I couldn't have noticed better loyalties. I almost never saw an empty office on saturdays or even sundays when I would also stop in to work towards a calendar target I'd been given. I didn't mind contributing to that spirit, either. It was wonderful to be a part of and I felt good about playing a small role shouldering work with others, too.

Not that it was a majority working week-ends, or that all week-ends were filled with busy little elves making santa's toys. People had lives. We were all part of something and we had an identity. We knew who we were and that was part of a whole team. Some of that team were able to make extra time sometimes. Some weren't. But we never doubted the whole team we were part of. We just each played the roles we could, when we could.

The bean-counters were not so blind they couldn't see a bad gross revenue per employee ratio. Especially since that is one of the easiest and first calculations the MBAs there made each year. However, apparently, they had a very difficult time measuring this sense of pride and spirit and work ethic and it never showed up in their 10k report where only numbers and ratios make the grade.

By the end of 1981, the bean-counters on the board level hatched some plans. They didn't believe in themselves, didn't trust their own ability or the executive staff's ability to take risks and succeed. And they didn't believe in their employees or undertand the sense of place and identity a great many of us had there, and what that could mean when and if the executives chose to ask us to push hard and get something done for them.

They could ask and I think many of us would have gone the extra mile, instantly, had they merely said they have a goal and need us to push towards it. That's something you can't write down on a 10k report, but it sure is something that can make a huge difference if you set your mind to achieving important goals and need the rank-and-file to get behind you to get a job done.

Profit share was down. Gross-revenue-per-empoyee was a mess. Another factor loomed to the board of directors. Leveraged buyouts were increasingly in the news and a serious danger to Tek around that time. Tek had, circa 1982, $600 million dollars at US National Bank. On their 10k report, it was also clear that Tek had no short term or long term debt. They were debt free, flush in cash, and looked about like slab of juicy meat to an LBO-buyout-dog. The board decided to act, I think, starting in 1981 and continuing forward to begin buying their own stock shares back. I don't remember the budgets set aside for that, but the amounts were huge and intended to draw down some of that $600 million and become less of a target.

But to get the gross-revenue-per-employee figure back up, I think it was in 1982 that they also offered early retirement to over 800 employees as a step to try before going on to change an old policy and start firing people, wholesale.

You see, stories I heard when arriving were that if your job wasn't needed anymore, Tek would allow you quite a long time to run around the company and find some other area where they needed you. And they would maintain some kind of salary for you, too. That was quite a sense of security to have.

What shocked the board (I spoke with a board member for hours about this), was that just about all of them took the early retirement offer -- 795 is the figure I remember... in any case, it was nearly 800. And the offer was made to some 820, or so. Jim Castles told me that executive staff had planned to that about 200 would.

I spoke personally with Jim Castles about this, who was on the board. This conversation was in late 1983, while I was running about securing venture capital (seed money) for a new business I'd decided to start with four others. In the process, the capitalist types put me in touch with Jim, but the discussion turned to the subject of Tektronix for a bit. (We succeeded, by the way, and launched a new company and a product that was rated top in its class in national publications. But that is another story for another time.)

I had been seeing what had happened to Tek in a short year or two, before leaving. People were actually being let go, without any time to find other work. Profit share was 0. People showing up on weekends had significantly dropped. Loyalty was falling. Etc. That was the context.

But I could not believe my ears, early in talking with Jim. Apparently, they just wanted to avoid being an LBO target and also to get the gross revenue/employee figure up. Buying stock was the decision to inhibit the LBO part. Early retirement and a change in employee policy allowing them to just fire people with two weeks' notice was another.

But it was so obvious to me those were bean-counter steps, not the steps of what you expect from top leadership in a company. It's the kind of thing a CPA might do. But not the kind of thing a captain of industry does.

(1) Never buy your own stock back. You sell stock because you know how to do more with money than others do. That's why you are in business. If the best thing you can do with your cash is buy your own stock, you should find something else to do.

(2) $600 million in cash in a bank and no debt is a good thing, not a bad thing. Yes, you might be easy pickings as an LBO target, but the solution isn't to throw the cash away buying stock. The answer is to put that money together with the money of others and do something with it. Be an active, not a passive, manager of it. Tek had no debt. They could have easily secured another $2 billion on their credit and lack of debt and the fact that they could also contribute that $600 million (it was NOT set aside for payroll, in case you are wondering ... this was cash over and above operating cash levels.) Going into debt is a great way to avoid being a target.

The question is... what to do with all that.

Gee. I don't know. Let's see. Tek's bean-counters figure there are too many employees. Maybe 10,000 too many by that revenue/employee ratio, or more. Tek could muster $2.5 billion in a matter of a months' time. What a place to be!!

This means they would be able to enter any business arena, cold turkey, with 10,000 employees already hired up and in their seats, $2.5 billion dollars in cash to move forward on, and... well... it was so clear to me because of all the work I'd been doing, struggling for venture capital... that this was a situation ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND would have drooled for. It's like a wet dream. Who wouldn't want to have an army of loyal employees, willing to work weekends if needed, ready to go and 2.5 billion in cash to push along in some direction??? Cripes. That's what everyone wishes for, dreams about, and never gets to have. And here Tek was, sitting on this possibility and deciding to bean count themselves into the ground, instead.

It made no sense.

And I told Jim that, standing there next to him simply shocked as I began to learn the fuller picture. I was working my ass off for $1 million. It was like pulling teeth. Those venture types were brutal about it, too. And here I was learning the details of a company that was two inches of vencture capital heaven, fully in their control, and they were walking in the OPPOSITE DIRECTION!! I was flabbergasted. Damn, would I have killed for that!!

The problem was, they didn't believe in themselves. To succeed, you don't have to make the best decisions. You just have to be able to make the decisions you do make, work out much of the time. If you can navigate reasonably well, even if the course you set isn't perfect, you will do okay. But they didn't even believe that about themselves. They were scared and had no confidence about managing that wonderful situation they were in.

Some answers to the revenue/employee question are "get the revenue up, keeping the employees the same" Another is "lose employees, keeping the revenue the same." Apparently, the only thing they felt confident to do was "lose employees." But with that kind of cash availability in hand and the existing employees, they could have chosen the other route -- had they had confidence in themselves to manage the needed steps moving forward. But they didn't believe in themselves about setting such a course. So they let that opportunity go and instead chose to sail the company into the rocks, instead, further ruining loyalties of some very good people and letting go the core of all of those who'd been there 20 years and more and who formed the nervous system within the company that _I_ relied upon when I needed to know who to go to on some subject. They gutted, via early retirement; the bought their own stock back rather than going into debt for some new, confident business direction, and they started a two week notice practice besides.

Damn, what anyone wouldn't have done to be able to pull together billions of dollars and thousands of vetted employees willing to work weenends for them. And they had that right there, sitting on the table in front of them. And because they didn't believe in themselves enough, because they doubted their abilities, they pushed that away and chose a bean-counter's approach.

The sad thing to me is that in late 1983, all that was clear as crystal. Jim didn't argue with me. We just stood there sadly discussing this disaster. At the time we were talking, I think there were still about 22 thousand employees, which Tek was actively working downwards. Much of the banked money was gone. The 20+ year employees gutted out of the company.

The iceberg had hit the titanic, the hull ripped, but she was hadn't yet sunk. But we could see the inevitable.

Jon

Um, 'two inches FROM venture capital heaven'

It's often a way to help shareholders avoid tax. Keeping the stock price up by buying stock leads to capital gains, whereas dividends are income.

Cheers

Phil Hobbs

It's not active investment, doesn't create added value, and is not healthy -- long term business-wise.

I gather additional motives exist. I mentioned one of my own when I wrote, so your's just adds yet another which I was also aware of.

I was making a judgment call. If the best thing you are able to do with cash is buy back your stock, you've no business being in business. You should have MUCH, MUCH BETTER THINGS to be doing with it than that. If not, move aside.

Jon

yours

In this case that wasn't the reason. And I know it wasn't, because I was talking with one of the board members of Tek.

Besides, at the time capital gains was taxed at the same rate as dividends. (Though it is hard to be certain since capital gains taxes have see-sawed.) I think it was under Reagan, with a later very public tax push, that they dropped the rate to 1/2 or so. For a time.

Jon

Phil Hobbs wrote in news:rsGdnbYgccWyQzrRnZ2dnUVZ snipped-for-privacy@supernews.com:

at one point,TEK was doing better at Beaverton land purchases and sales than in electronics sales....

I suspected the end was coming when TEK bought Dolch LCD handheld scope and rebadged them for sale as a "TEK scope",instead of making their own LCD scope. Then they graduallyincluded more purchased instruments and rebadged them or sold them as a 3rd party dealer. The real doozy were the foreign-made TV demodulators and the wacky "service" policy they created.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
localnet
dot com

f

rs

As you almost certainly know (but others may not), Tek had spent several buckets of money dabbling in various fields of endevor (medical electronics, mechanics instrumentation,...) and when it didn't pay off quick got cold feet and left with big losses.

When a group of EEs got together and tried to sell Tek management on the idea of producing home computers [this is before the IBM PC - close to the inception of the Apple II] - Tek management was impressed by their idea, but insistent that Tek didn't want to compete in a more commodity market.

In short, Tek management didn't have a clue. They were too comfortable with what they knew to tolerate much risk in new areas, though they had the resources to try many different things.

-f

I disagree. If you are good at one thing, it doesn't mean you are good at other things. Look at Microsoft; they are struggling to get into other markets but they are not very succesful.

If you ever open an Tektronix product you'll find very well engineered electronics but far from low cost. If Tektronix would have ventured into a commodity market they would have lost big time.

--
Failure does not prove something is impossible, failure simply
indicates you are not using the right tools...
nico@nctdevpuntnl (punt=.)
--------------------------------------------------------------

The low-end of their market has become a commodity anyway; scopes below some hundreds of MHz for both Tek and Agilent are now largely designed and entirely produced off-shores by contractors.

I was just gonna say that ... :-)

Nico, have you ever looked inside a TDS-2xx series scope? If you ever do place a box of tissues next to you, for when tears well up in your eyes.

--
Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com/

"gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam.
Use another domain or send PM.

Perhaps they were right. IBM didn't make any money on PCs either.

The main theme of my point, though, isn't about whether or not Tek mgmt was right or wrong about actions they decided NOT to take. It was about what fantastic opportunity they had for taking forward action and instead chosing to shrink back out of poor self-confidence and lack of vision -- reduced thereby to taking mere rear guard actions only until there was little left to worry about.

If you don't know what to do with 10,000 highly technical and reasonably well-trained workers sitting in their desks already hired up and ready to go and 2-3 billion dollars of instantly ready cash, you really should NOT be in business at all.

It is a place to drool for. And they could only worry themselves to death, instead.

Jon