Dataproducts

Dataproducts was an early American computer-peripherals company whose history spans the transition from mainframe computing equipment to office and industrial printing supplies. Founded in 1962 as Data Products by Erwin Tomash and other associates, the company was created to assume control of Telex’s Data Systems Division. That division was behind schedule on a disk-drive contract for General Electric, and the newly established company completed the equipment and delivered it to General Electric and subsequently to customers including Ferranti, ICL, and RCA. The company soon broadened its activities. Its first major printer was the 3300, introduced in 1963 as a 300-line-per-minute drum printer. The machine used a moving-coil actuator to operate its print hammers and helped establish Dataproducts in high-speed computer printing. Core memory became another important product area in 1966. Dataproducts also created Informatics as a subsidiary for contract software work; Informatics later developed MARK IV, an influential fourth-generation programming language, before being spun off as a public company in 1968. Growing sales and earnings led Dataproducts to move to a larger facility in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, in 1968. The company expanded through acquisitions, including Staff Dynamics, a personnel agency, and Uptime, a maker of card readers. Graham Tyson succeeded Tomash as chief executive in 1971. The original disk-drive business eventually deteriorated under competitive pressure and was discontinued, leaving printing and related equipment as the company’s principal focus. During the 1970s and 1980s, Dataproducts developed a broad printer portfolio. It moved from drum printers toward band technology, added dot-matrix products, and marketed thermal printers sourced from Olivetti. Daisy-wheel printers were added after the company acquired that business from Plessey in 1978. Dataproducts also pursued solid-ink printing in cooperation with Exxon and participated in the development of plastic-card embossing equipment through Data Card. Its telecommunications expansion included the purchase of Stelma. The solid-ink program generated significant intellectual-property disputes. Dataproducts sued Howtek over the use of hot-melt ink, delaying Howtek’s Pixelmaster color printer and raising its manufacturing costs before the case was dropped. Dataproducts also became involved in patent litigation with Tektronix and Apple. The disputes consumed resources; Apple discontinued its related product, while Tektronix ultimately paid royalties. In 1986, Jack C. Davis replaced Graham Tyson as chairman and chief executive. By the end of the 1980s, Dataproducts was under financial and strategic pressure. Net income had fallen from a reported peak of $27.7 million to $3.8 million by 1989, and the company resisted takeover attempts by a consortium. Hitachi acquired Dataproducts in 1990. Under Hitachi ownership, the business continued to develop laser printers using Fuji Xerox engines, including the Typhoon family. The LZR1560 and LZR1580 were also sold to Apple as the LaserWriter Pro 810 in 1993, and Dataproducts announced the LZR 5200 continuous-feed laser printer in 1998. The original Dataproducts brand was incorporated into Hitachi Koki Imaging Systems in 1999. A later continuation of the name emerged in compatible consumables: Clover Technologies Group acquired the North American and European compatible printing-supplies divisions of Ricoh Printing Systems America in 2005, including the Dataproducts brand. Dataproducts supplies subsequently operated within Clover, with distribution in Simi Valley, manufacturing facilities in Mexicali and Porto, and a product focus on printer, fax, and copier consumables. Thus, Dataproducts evolved from a mainframe equipment manufacturer into a printing technology and supplies brand, with its present identity tied principally to compatible imaging consumables rather than to the original computer-hardware corporation.

Dataproducts originated in 1962 when Erwin Tomash and associates established Data Products to take control of Telex’s Data Systems Division. The inherited operation was late delivering disk drives to General Electric, but Dataproducts completed the work and later supplied comparable equipment to Ferranti, ICL, and RCA. The company used this early disk-drive business as a base for diversification. Its most important early expansion was into computer printing. The 3300, introduced in 1963, was a 300-line-per-minute drum printer with moving-coil print-hammer actuation. Core memory was added in 1966, and the company moved to a larger Woodland Hills, Los Angeles facility in 1968 as sales increased. Dataproducts also formed Informatics, a software subsidiary led by Walter F. Bauer. Informatics acquired Advanced Information Systems from Hughes Dynamics, developed the MARK IV file-management and programming system, and was spun off in 1968. After Graham Tyson became chief executive in 1971, Dataproducts reduced its reliance on disk drives as competition weakened that business. The company acquired Staff Dynamics and Uptime, bought Stelma, and created Data Card for plastic-card embossing equipment. In printing, it moved from drum technology toward band printers, dot-matrix machines, thermal printers sourced from Olivetti, and, after a 1978 transaction with Plessey, daisy-wheel printers. A joint project with Exxon also produced solid-ink printing technology. Solid-ink patents became a major source of litigation. Dataproducts sued Howtek over hot-melt ink technology, delaying shipment of the Pixelmaster color printer before Dataproducts abandoned the action. Separate legal conflicts with Tektronix and Apple over solid-ink patents consumed resources; Apple discontinued its product, while Tektronix paid royalties. Jack C. Davis succeeded Tyson as chairman and chief executive in 1986. The company’s financial position deteriorated late in the decade. Reported net income fell from $27.7 million at its high point to $3.8 million in 1989, while Dataproducts faced takeover attempts. Hitachi acquired the company in 1990. Dataproducts subsequently used Fuji Xerox printer engines in the Typhoon series and supplied the technology behind Apple’s LaserWriter Pro 810 through the LZR1560 and LZR1580. It announced the LZR 5200 continuous-feed laser printer in 1998. In 1999, the Dataproducts name was absorbed into Hitachi Koki Imaging Systems. The name later continued in compatible imaging supplies after Clover Technologies Group acquired the relevant Ricoh Printing Systems America divisions in 2005. The present brand is therefore principally associated with compatible consumables for printers, fax machines, and copiers, rather than with the original Dataproducts corporation’s mainframe peripherals.

• 2005

  Clover acquires compatible-supplies operations

  [1]Dataproductsen.wikipedia.org

  Clover acquired Ricoh Printing Systems America’s North American and European compatible-supplies divisions, including Dataproducts.

• 1999

  Original brand reorganized

  [1]Dataproductsen.wikipedia.org

  The Dataproducts brand was incorporated into Hitachi Koki Imaging Systems.

• 1998

  LZR 5200 announced

  [1]Dataproductsen.wikipedia.org

  Dataproducts announced the LZR 5200 continuous-feed laser printer.

• 1990

  Acquired by Hitachi

  [1]Dataproductsen.wikipedia.org

  Hitachi purchased Dataproducts following competitive and financial difficulties.

• 1978

  Daisy-wheel printing added

  [1]Dataproductsen.wikipedia.org

  The company added daisy-wheel printers by acquiring the business from Plessey.

• 1968

  Move to Woodland Hills and Informatics spin-off

  [1]Dataproductsen.wikipedia.org

  Dataproducts moved to a larger Los Angeles facility and separated Informatics as a public corporation.

• 1966

  Core memory added

  [1]Dataproductsen.wikipedia.org

  Core-memory products broadened the company’s computer-hardware portfolio.

• 1963

  3300 line printer introduced

  [1]Dataproductsen.wikipedia.org

  Dataproducts entered high-speed computer printing with the 300-line-per-minute 3300 drum printer.

• 1962

  Company founded

  [1]Dataproductsen.wikipedia.org

  Data Products was established under Erwin Tomash to assume control of Telex’s Data Systems Division and complete a delayed General Electric disk-drive contract.

Historically positioned as a business and mainframe-peripherals supplier specializing in high-speed computer printing, with later expansion into office printers and imaging consumables. Under Clover Technologies Group, the name is associated primarily with compatible printer, fax, and copier supplies.

• Drum line printer · 1963

  3300

  Introduced in 1963, the 3300 was a high-speed computer line printer rated at 300 lines per minute. Its drum mechanism used moving-coil actuators to drive the print hammers, making it one of Dataproducts’ foundational products.

• Laser printers

  Typhoon series

  The Typhoon family represented Dataproducts’ later laser-printer activity and used Fuji Xerox engines. The line reflected the company’s shift from traditional impact printing toward office and continuous-feed laser systems.

• Laser printers · 1993

  LZR1560 and LZR1580

  These Dataproducts laser printers were OEMed as Apple’s LaserWriter Pro 810 in 1993, linking the company’s hardware platform to Apple’s professional printing range.

• Continuous-feed laser printer · 1998

  LZR 5200

  Announced in 1998, the LZR 5200 was a continuous-feed laser printer intended for higher-volume production and commercial printing environments.

• Printer, fax, and copier consumables · 2005

  Dataproducts compatible imaging supplies

  After the original hardware business was reorganized, the Dataproducts name continued on compatible supplies for printers, fax machines, and copiers. These operations became part of Clover Technologies Group after its 2005 acquisition from Ricoh Printing Systems America.

• 2005

  Transfer compatible-supplies operations to CloverM&A

  Background

  Ricoh Printing Systems America operated compatible printing-supplies businesses in North America and Europe under brands including Dataproducts.

  Action taken

  Clover Technologies Group acquired those divisions, effective February 1, 2005.

  Aftermath

  Dataproducts continued as a Clover supplies division with distribution in Simi Valley and manufacturing in Mexico and Portugal.

  Source

• 1990

  Accept acquisition by HitachiM&A

  Background

  Dataproducts faced stronger competition, declining profitability, and takeover pressure after its solid-ink patent disputes and weakening disk-drive business.

  Action taken

  Hitachi acquired Dataproducts and subsequently continued parts of its printing business.

  Aftermath

  The brand later continued with Fuji Xerox-engine laser printers before being incorporated into Hitachi Koki Imaging Systems in 1999.

  Source

1. 1Dataproductsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Dataproducts Corporation records and oral historiescbi.umn.edu