Bourns, Inc.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electronics manufacturing |
| Founded | 1947 in Altadena, California, United States |
| Founder | Marlan Bourns, Rosemary Bourns |
| Headquarters | Riverside, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Gordon Bourns (Chairman and CEO) |
| Products | Electronic components including automotive sensors, circuit protection devices, magnetic components and inductors, precision potentiometers, panel controls, encoders, resistive elements |
Number of employees | 9000 |
Bourns, Inc. is a United States-based electronics manufacturer specializing in the design, production, and distribution of electronic components utilized in various sectors such as automotive, industrial, instrumentation, medical electronics, consumer devices, and portable electronics.
Established in 1947 in Altadena, California by University of Michigan alumni Marlan and Rosemary Bourns, the company originally concentrated on creating electronic components and sensors tailored for aerospace applications.
Currently operating with around 15 production sites globally and employing nearly 9,000 staff members, Bourns has grown through continuous innovation and strategic acquisitions. Gordon Bourns, the founders’ son, holds the positions of Chairman and CEO.
History
The inception of the company dates back to 1947 when Marlan and Rosemary Bourns launched it from their garage in Altadena, California. Their development of linear motion and vane position potentiometers allowed precise measurement of an aircraft’s pitch axis, which spurred the company’s evolution into a worldwide electronics enterprise.
Now headquartered in Riverside, California, Bourns offers an extensive portfolio of electronic components and circuit protection products. These include automotive sensors, circuit protection devices, magnetic components and inductors, specialized engineering services, precision potentiometers, panel controls, encoders, and resistive elements.
Technology innovations
In 1952, Bourns secured a patent for its trimming potentiometer branded as "Trimpot". The company further expanded its product line in 1995 by acquiring VRN’s trimmer assets and introducing the industry's first 4 mm surface-mount sealed tactile switch. In 2008, Bourns broadened its circuit protection offerings by purchasing the Transient Blocking Unit (TBU) technology from Fultec Semiconductor, Inc.
Acquisitions
- 2001: Assets from Joslyn GDT Division
- 2003: Telecom Protection assets acquired from Texas Instruments Sensors & Controls Division
- 2003: Microelectronic Modules Corporation assets
- 2004: Switch Power Products assets from MMC
- 2004: RUF Automotive Group
- 2005: Fuel Card Product assets from Tyco/Meggitt
- 2006: J.W. Miller Magnetics Business
- 2006: Automotive Controls Division assets from SSI Technologies
- 2006: Polymer PTC division purchased from Therm-O-Disc, Inc.
- 2008: Transient Blocking Unit (TBU) assets acquired from Fultec Semiconductor, Inc.
- 2008: Protection Products assets from Emerson Network Power (currently Vertiv)
- 2009: Central Office Surge Protection Products assets obtained from Corning Cable Systems LLC
- 2012: Assets acquired from Jensen Devices AB based in Stockholm, Sweden
- 2014: Komatsulite Manufacturing Co., Ltd
- 2015: Trimming potentiometer business purchased from Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
- 2021: Kaschke Components GmbH