Tektronix

The United States corporation, Tektronix, is well known in the test, measurement, and monitoring industry. It manufactures instruments that are used in these fields. With 50 years of experience, Tektronix plays a key role in the union of computers and communication. Their products help run the labs, design centers, and communications networks of many of the major companies involved in the information technology field.

Since its inception in 1946, Tektronix has gone public and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TEK. In 2005 the company did 1.0 billion in sales.

Tektronix Beginnings

In 1946, Vollum and Murdock invented the first triggered oscilloscope. This breakthrough in technology allowed for easier troubleshooting of malfunctioning electronic equipment. This led to them to create the company Tektronix in southeast Portland, Oregon. At a later date the company moved to Beaverton, Oregon. It remained a private company until it went public, selling its first stocks on September 11, 1963.

The Early Success of Tektronix

Starting with the triggered oscilloscope, Tektronix embarked on an impressive creative run that has resulted in 697 patens. Part of the company's immense early success can be attributed to its employee relations policies. Employees were given trust, good benefits, and a liberal profit sharing plan. This led to years of substantial profits.

A Minor Setback in Tektronix

However, in the 1980s, Tektronix had grown too large and lost its focus by getting involved in too many markets. Faced with its first financial slump, the company laid employees off, shook up management, and sold off many of its divisions that were unrelated to test and measurement. A steady and carefully planned rise in profits has continued since then.

Tektronix Products

In addition to oscilloscopes, some of Tektronix main products are:

• Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers: These analyzers help to define issues by characterizing the device, system, or signal and allow for problems to be solved more quickly because of the quick detection of them.
• Logic Analyzers: Tektronix logic analyzers provide digital systems analysis products that help digital software and hardware designers find and fix problems that otherwise would be difficult to detect.
• Signal Sources: Tektronix creates arbitrary waveform/functions generators, logic signal sources, waveform editing, and curve tracers that all deal with signal source applications.

These and other Tektronix products are applied in a number of areas including serial data, mobile/wireless technology industries, video industries, network management and diagnostics, defense electronics, and design and analysis.

By Robin Shreeves