Astec

Astec International plc

File:Astec logo.svg
Formerly	Astec (BSR) plc (1985–1999)
Industry	Electric power conversion
Founded	1971 (1971) in Hong Kong
Founders	Brian Christopher Neal Stewart
Defunct	Template:End date and age
Fate	Dissolved
Number of employees	11,000 (2002)
Parent	Birmingham Sound Reproducers (1980–1999) Emerson Electric (1989–2013) Artesyn (2013–2014)
Website	Template:Web archive

Astec International plc, often referred to as Astec Power or simply Astec, was a Hong Kong-based multinational electronics firm specializing in power supply units and equipment for electric power conversion. The company emerged as a prominent global producer of power supplies, particularly those designed for computer systems.

History

Established in 1971 in British Hong Kong by Brian Christopher, an ex-IBM professional, and physicist Neal Stewart, Astec launched its operations with HK$2.4 million in initial funding, focusing on manufacturing DC-to-DC converter devices. Initially targeting the rapidly expanding electronic calculator industry, the company shifted its focus during the late 1970s towards producing switched-mode power supply units catering to the nascent personal computer market. A pivotal moment came in 1977 when Astec secured a major contract to supply power units for the Apple II series from Apple Computer. The firm's growth accelerated with the provision of power supplies for the original IBM PC in 1981, fostering enduring collaborations with IBM and other technology companies such as Hewlett-Packard. By 1985, Astec had risen to become the largest manufacturer of power supplies worldwide, overtaking competitors including TDK-Lambda. Its partnership with Apple alone accounted for $50 million in revenue by mid-1983.

In May 1980, British audio equipment company Birmingham Sound Reproducers (BSR) acquired a controlling interest of 53.6% in Astec, achieving full ownership by 1981. Although BSR encountered significant financial difficulties, Astec remained its sole profitable division, generating £1.3 million while BSR suffered losses exceeding £17 million. This acquisition provided stability for BSR, which gradually transitioned from home audio products to focusing on computer power supplies, eventually rebranding as Astec (BSR) plc by the late 1980s.

In 1989, American electronics corporation Emerson Electric purchased a controlling stake between 45% and 50% in Astec (BSR) plc through a transaction involving several Emerson subsidiaries, including ACDC Electronics. Emerson then merged five of its subsidiaries into Astec, significantly broadening its business scope. Full ownership was completed by Emerson in 1999. Nonetheless, sales declined during the early 2000s amid a downturn in the global computer sector. In 2006, Emerson integrated Astec into Artesyn, another acquired entity specializing in power conversion. Astec continued to operate as a division within Artesyn until it was dissolved in 2014 following Emerson’s divestment and Artesyn’s rebranding as Artesyn Embedded Technologies.