Planar Systems
Encyclopedia
Planar Systems, Inc. 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.
, based Tektronix. In 1986, a division spun off from Planar to work on projection technology, InFocus
.
, a leading brand in the high-end, custom home theater market. On August 6, 2008, Planar sold its medical business unit to NDS Surgical Imaging.
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
. Founded in 1983 as a spin-off from Tektronix
Tektronix
Tektronix, Inc. is an American company best known for its test and measurement equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and video and mobile test protocol equipment. In November 2007, Tektronix became a subsidiary of Danaher Corporation....
, 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
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
and president Gerald K. Perkel.
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, OregonBeaverton, Oregon
Beaverton is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, seven miles west of Portland in the Tualatin River Valley.As of the 2010 census, the population is 90,267. This makes it the second-largest city in the county and Oregon's sixth-largest city...
, based Tektronix. In 1986, a division spun off from Planar to work on projection technology, InFocus
InFocus
InFocus Corporation is a privately owned American company based in the state of Oregon. Founded in 1986, the company develops, manufactures, and distributes DLP and LCD projectors and accessories as well as LCD flat panel displays. Formerly a NASDAQ listed public company, InFocus was purchased by ...
.
1990s
In 1991, FinLux, a competitor in Espoo, Finland was purchased and is now the company's European headquarters. Planar's executives took the company public in 1993, listing the stock on the NASDAQ boards Planar acquired Tektronix's avionics display business, creating the short-lived Planar Advance in 1994. Standish Industries, a manufacturer of flat panel LCDs in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, was sold to Planar in 1997. This plant was closed in 2002 as worldwide LCD manufacturing shifted to East Asian countries.2000s
On April 23, 2002, DOME Imaging Systems was purchased by Planar and became the company's medical business unit. 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. On May 23, 2007, Planar acquired Runco InternationalRunco International
Runco International is a subsidiary of Planar Systems, Inc. , an American multinational corporation headquartered in Beaverton, OR, that manufactures a wide range of display devices.-History:...
, a leading brand in the high-end, custom home theater market. On August 6, 2008, Planar sold its medical business unit to NDS Surgical Imaging.