X-Rite
Encyclopedia
X-Rite, Inc. is a manufacturer of color matching products, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan
, United States
. Their products include those used for matching paint colors. They also create products that regulate quality in the processing of film and x-rays.
in 1958. The company's first product, x-ray marking tape, was introduced in 1961. In 1968 they debuted silver recovery equipment for radiographic film. In 1975, X-Rite introduced its first densitometer
for photographic printing use. X-Rite went public in 1986. A year later, X-Rite moved into a new headquarters and production facility in Grandville, Michigan. In 1990, X-Rite began to shift its emphasis to the field of color measurement
. A round of acquisitions started in 1994 with the purchase of H. Miller Graphic Arts of England
. Co-founder Ted Thompson retired in 2001. The same year, dental color matching systems were unveiled. In June 2006, X-Rite purchased Amazys, owners of Gretag–Macbeth and thereby the Munsell
products. In October 2007, X-Rite completed acquisition of Pantone, Inc.
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located on the Grand River about 40 miles east of Lake Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 188,040. In 2010, the Grand Rapids metropolitan area had a population of 774,160 and a combined statistical area, Grand...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Their products include those used for matching paint colors. They also create products that regulate quality in the processing of film and x-rays.
Background
X-Rite was incorporated by seven engineers from Lear SieglerLear Siegler
Lear Siegler Incorporated was created as a result of a merger between the Siegler Corporation and Lear Avionics Inc. that was concluded in 1961. John G. Brooks was the founder; President and Chairman of Siegler and William Lear was the founder; President and Chairman at Lear...
in 1958. The company's first product, x-ray marking tape, was introduced in 1961. In 1968 they debuted silver recovery equipment for radiographic film. In 1975, X-Rite introduced its first densitometer
Densitometer
A densitometer is a device that measures the degree of darkness of a photographic or semitransparent material or of a reflecting surface. The densitometer is basically a light source aimed at a photoelectric cell. It determines the density of a sample placed between the light source and the...
for photographic printing use. X-Rite went public in 1986. A year later, X-Rite moved into a new headquarters and production facility in Grandville, Michigan. In 1990, X-Rite began to shift its emphasis to the field of color measurement
Colorimetry
Colorimetry is "the science and technology used to quantify and describe physically the human color perception."It is similar to spectrophotometry, but is distinguished by its interest in reducing spectra to the physical correlates of color perception, most often the CIE 1931 XYZ color space...
. A round of acquisitions started in 1994 with the purchase of H. Miller Graphic Arts of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Co-founder Ted Thompson retired in 2001. The same year, dental color matching systems were unveiled. In June 2006, X-Rite purchased Amazys, owners of Gretag–Macbeth and thereby the Munsell
Munsell color system
In colorimetry, the Munsell color system is a color space that specifies colors based on three color dimensions: hue, value , and chroma . It was created by Professor Albert H...
products. In October 2007, X-Rite completed acquisition of Pantone, Inc.
Pantone
Pantone Inc. is a corporation headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA. The company is best known for its Pantone Matching System , a proprietary color space...
Subsidiaries
- X-Rite International, Inc. (Barbados)
- X-Rite Holdings, Inc.
- XR Ventures LLC
- X-Rite GmbH (Germany)
- X-Rite Asia Pacific Limited (Hong Kong)
- X-Rite Ltd. (U.K.)
- X-Rite MA, Incorporated
- X-Rite Mediterranee SARL (France)
- X-Rite Global, Inc.
- X-Rite AG
- Pantone, Inc.PantonePantone Inc. is a corporation headquartered in Carlstadt, New Jersey, USA. The company is best known for its Pantone Matching System , a proprietary color space...