Johnson Outdoors
Encyclopedia
Johnson Outdoors Inc. produces outdoor recreational products such as watercraft, diving equipment
, compasses and navigational products, and outdoor clothing.
, previously known as Johnson Wax Associates, and grew out of diversification and acquisition efforts by S.C. Johnson during the 1970s. It became a profitable, self-sustaining outdoor equipment business known as Johnson Camping, Inc., later renamed Johnson Worldwide Associates (JWA).
In 1996, a decision by Silva Production AB
of the Silva Group parent to begin marketing its Swedish-made Silva compasses via a new distribution network in North America led to litigation the following year between JWA, which owned the North American Silva distribution network, and Silva Production AB, the Swedish manufacturer.
In 1998, JWA and Silva Production AB reached a settlement whereby JWA retained the exclusive right to sell compasses under the Silva brand in North America, made for JWA by other manufacturers. Silva Production AB retained the right to manufacture and sell compasses under its Silva trademark outside the United States and Canada. JWA also retained the rights to some product names such as Ranger, Polaris, 1, 2, 3 and others commonly recognized in the U.S. and Canadian markets and made popular during the time Silva Production AB was manufacturing Silva-brand compasses for JWA. Silva Production AB was allowed to state on Nexus packaging and in the Nexus catalog that Nexus compasses are made by Silva Production AB, but did not retain the right to advertise this fact. JWA was eventually renamed Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
Scubapro was founded in the United States
in 1963 by Gustav della Valle, Beuchat
representative in USA and Dick Bonin to manufacture scuba gear. The "S" logo was adapted from the Beuchat “Souplair” regulator. In 1966 Scubapro introduced the first analogue
"decompression meter", a forerunner of the dive computer
and created the first "stab(ility) jacket", a vest-type buoyancy compensator, in 1971.
Scubapro merged with dive computer manufacturer Uwatec in 1997 and became part of Johnson Outdoors. The company, now known as "Scubapro Uwatec", currently manufactures diving regulator
s, buoyancy compensators, dive computers, masks, fins, snorkels, wetsuit
s and drysuits, as well as scuba accessories.
Uwatec was founded in Switzerland
in 1984 as a manufacturer of scuba gear. In 1987 it introduced the Aladin PRO, establishing a reputation for making diving computers, however multiple lawsuits accusing Uwatec (and later Johnson Outdoors) of a seven year cover-up of a potentially lethal dive-computer bug tainted that reputation. Uwatec merged with Scubapro in 1997, becoming part of Johnson Outdoors.
since 1979 and focused on providing divers with quality dive equipment at reasonable prices. In April 2007 the Seemann brand has been acquired by Johnson Outdoors Inc. as part of its diving division. As a result, Seemann products became available in the rest of Europe in 2008 and the brand was renamed SUBGEAR in 2010, coinciding with the brand expansion to the worldwide market.
Since 1998, JWA, now Johnson Outdoors, Inc. has distributed Silva brand compasses in North America made by other manufacturers to Johnson Outdoors specifications, as well as other navigation and recreational products bearing the Silva brand name in North America. Public offerings occurred in 1987 and 1988, with the Johnson family maintaining a strong ownership position. Johnson Outdoors has operations in 24 locations worldwide, employs 1,400 people and reports sales of more than $315 million. It is composed of individual, specialized companies. Helen Johnson-Leipold
, one of Samuel Curtis Johnson, Jr.
's 4 children runs the company.
Diving equipment
Diving equipment is equipment used by underwater divers for the purpose of facilitating diving activities. This may be equipment primarily intended for this purpose, or equipment intended for other puprposes which is found to be suitable for diving use....
, compasses and navigational products, and outdoor clothing.
Company history
The company is a component of Johnson Family EnterprisesJohnson Family Enterprises
Johnson Family Enterprises is a privately held company controlled by the Johnson family that in turn owns or controls a number of other firms such as S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., previously known as S. C. Johnson Wax, a global manufacturer of household cleaning supplies and other consumer chemicals,...
, previously known as Johnson Wax Associates, and grew out of diversification and acquisition efforts by S.C. Johnson during the 1970s. It became a profitable, self-sustaining outdoor equipment business known as Johnson Camping, Inc., later renamed Johnson Worldwide Associates (JWA).
The Silva Compass
The company acquired the Silva Company USA operations in 1973, followed by Silva Ltd. Canada in 1985. From 1980, JWA imported Swedish-made compasses manufactured by Silva Production AB (Silva Group) for sale in North America.In 1996, a decision by Silva Production AB
Silva compass
Silva compass, or Silva of Sweden, aka Silva Sweden AB is an outdoors products company, most known for their high-grade compasses and other navigational equipment including GPS tools, mapping software, and altimeters for aircraft. They also offer a marine range...
of the Silva Group parent to begin marketing its Swedish-made Silva compasses via a new distribution network in North America led to litigation the following year between JWA, which owned the North American Silva distribution network, and Silva Production AB, the Swedish manufacturer.
In 1998, JWA and Silva Production AB reached a settlement whereby JWA retained the exclusive right to sell compasses under the Silva brand in North America, made for JWA by other manufacturers. Silva Production AB retained the right to manufacture and sell compasses under its Silva trademark outside the United States and Canada. JWA also retained the rights to some product names such as Ranger, Polaris, 1, 2, 3 and others commonly recognized in the U.S. and Canadian markets and made popular during the time Silva Production AB was manufacturing Silva-brand compasses for JWA. Silva Production AB was allowed to state on Nexus packaging and in the Nexus catalog that Nexus compasses are made by Silva Production AB, but did not retain the right to advertise this fact. JWA was eventually renamed Johnson Outdoors, Inc.
Scubapro
Scubapro was founded in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1963 by Gustav della Valle, Beuchat
Beuchat
Beuchat International, known as Beuchat, was established in 1934 in Marseille, France and is now a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of underwater equipment.-Business:Beuchat currently has 3 core ranges:...
representative in USA and Dick Bonin to manufacture scuba gear. The "S" logo was adapted from the Beuchat “Souplair” regulator. In 1966 Scubapro introduced the first analogue
Analog computer
An analog computer is a form of computer that uses the continuously-changeable aspects of physical phenomena such as electrical, mechanical, or hydraulic quantities to model the problem being solved...
"decompression meter", a forerunner of the dive computer
Dive computer
A dive computer or decompression meter is a device used by a scuba diver to measure the time and depth of a dive so that a safe ascent profile can be calculated and displayed so that the diver can avoid decompression sickness.- Purpose :...
and created the first "stab(ility) jacket", a vest-type buoyancy compensator, in 1971.
Scubapro merged with dive computer manufacturer Uwatec in 1997 and became part of Johnson Outdoors. The company, now known as "Scubapro Uwatec", currently manufactures diving regulator
Diving regulator
A diving regulator is a pressure regulator used in scuba or surface supplied diving equipment that reduces pressurized breathing gas to ambient pressure and delivers it to the diver. The gas may be air or one of a variety of specially blended breathing gases...
s, buoyancy compensators, dive computers, masks, fins, snorkels, wetsuit
Wetsuit
A wetsuit is a garment, usually made of foamed neoprene, which is worn by surfers, divers, windsurfers, canoeists, and others engaged in water sports, providing thermal insulation, abrasion resistance and buoyancy. The insulation properties depend on bubbles of gas enclosed within the material,...
s and drysuits, as well as scuba accessories.
Uwatec
Uwatec was founded in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in 1984 as a manufacturer of scuba gear. In 1987 it introduced the Aladin PRO, establishing a reputation for making diving computers, however multiple lawsuits accusing Uwatec (and later Johnson Outdoors) of a seven year cover-up of a potentially lethal dive-computer bug tainted that reputation. Uwatec merged with Scubapro in 1997, becoming part of Johnson Outdoors.
Subgear
Subgear is the rebranded name of Seemann Sub a diving brand active in GermanyGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
since 1979 and focused on providing divers with quality dive equipment at reasonable prices. In April 2007 the Seemann brand has been acquired by Johnson Outdoors Inc. as part of its diving division. As a result, Seemann products became available in the rest of Europe in 2008 and the brand was renamed SUBGEAR in 2010, coinciding with the brand expansion to the worldwide market.
Current activity
The company produces tents and other camping and outdoor equipment under the Eureka brand name.Since 1998, JWA, now Johnson Outdoors, Inc. has distributed Silva brand compasses in North America made by other manufacturers to Johnson Outdoors specifications, as well as other navigation and recreational products bearing the Silva brand name in North America. Public offerings occurred in 1987 and 1988, with the Johnson family maintaining a strong ownership position. Johnson Outdoors has operations in 24 locations worldwide, employs 1,400 people and reports sales of more than $315 million. It is composed of individual, specialized companies. Helen Johnson-Leipold
Helen Johnson-Leipold
Helen Johnson-Leipold is the daughter of Samuel Curtis Johnson, Jr., who died in 2004, and Imogene Powers Johnson and the great great granddaughter of S. C. Johnson & Son founder Samuel Curtis Johnson, Sr.. She was elected Chairman and CEO of Johnson Outdoors in March 1999, and she was elected...
, one of Samuel Curtis Johnson, Jr.
Samuel Curtis Johnson, Jr.
Samuel Curtis Johnson, Jr. was the fourth generation of his family to lead S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., which is headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin. He was the son of Herbert Fisk Johnson, Jr. and the great-grandson of company founder, Samuel Curtis Johnson, Sr...
's 4 children runs the company.