Dataproducts
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer peripherals |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founder | Erwin Tomash |
| Fate | Acquired by Hitachi in 1990; brand integrated into Hitachi Koki Imaging Systems by 1999 |
| Headquarters | Woodland Hills, Los Angeles , United States |
Key people | Erwin Tomash (founder), Graham Tyson (CEO from 1971), Jack C. Davis (CEO from 1986) |
| Products | Disk drives, line printers, core memory, card readers, dot matrix printers, thermal printers, daisy wheel printers, laser printers |
Dataproducts Corporation was among the pioneering producers of computer peripheral equipment.
Overview
Established in 1962 by entrepreneur Erwin Tomash with the aim of acquiring a controlling stake in Telex's Data Systems Division, Dataproducts fulfilled delayed disk drive orders for clients such as General Electric, Ferranti, ICL, and RCA. Building on its disk drive operations and Informatics software capabilities, the company introduced its inaugural line printer, the 3300 drum printer, in 1963.
By 1966, Dataproducts had diversified into core memory manufacturing and moved its headquarters to Woodland Hills, Los Angeles in 1968. The firm pursued expansion through acquisitions including the staffing firm Staff Dynamics and Uptime, a manufacturer of card readers. In 1971, leadership transitioned when Graham Tyson succeeded Tomash as CEO. Due to mounting competition, the company eventually ceased its disk drive production.
During the late 1970s, Dataproducts shifted from drum printers to band printer technology and launched dot matrix and thermal printers sourced from Olivetti. The purchase of Stelma led to the creation of Data Card, focusing on plastic card embossing machines. After acquiring Plessey’s printer division in 1978, daisy wheel printers were added to their portfolio. Collaborative development with Exxon produced solid ink printers; however, patent litigation concerning hot-melt ink technologies involving Howtek and Apple delayed releases and increased expenses.
In 1989, Dataproducts incorporated Toshiba print engines into its initial laser printer models but encountered expensive patent disputes with Tektronix and Apple. These legal matters concluded with royalty payments from Tektronix and Apple withdrawing their competing products. Jack C. Davis, formerly of Harris Corporation, assumed the CEO role in 1986 amid declining profitability—net income dropped from $27.7 million to $3.8 million by 1989. The company fended off takeover attempts before ultimately being acquired by Hitachi in 1990.
Following acquisition, Dataproducts utilized Fuji Xerox engines for its Typhoon laser printer lineup; notably, the LZR1560/1580 model was rebranded as Apple's LaserWriter Pro 810 in 1993. In 1998, they introduced the LZR 5200 continuous feed laser printer. By 1999, the brand was fully integrated into Hitachi Koki Imaging Systems.
In 2005, Clover Technologies Group, LLC purchased the North American and European divisions for compatible printing supplies from Ricoh Printing Systems America, which included Dataproducts brands. Based in Ottawa, Illinois, Clover operates manufacturing and distribution facilities in Simi Valley, California; Mexicali, Mexico; and Porto, Portugal—offering over 200,000 square feet dedicated to printer consumables production.
An online Facebook page commemorates Dataproducts’ historical impact and achievements.
Informatics
Informatics was created as a subsidiary of Dataproducts to manage contract software projects under Walter F. Bauer’s leadership. In 1964, Informatics acquired Advanced Information Systems from Hughes Dynamics, which developed the AIS file management system. This system evolved into MARK IV, a fourth-generation programming language recognized as the first software product to surpass cumulative sales of $10 million and later $100 million. In 1968, Dataproducts spun off Informatics as an independent public company. Beginning in 1983, Sterling Software launched an unsolicited acquisition bid that culminated in a merger with Informatics in 1985.