Documation
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Fate | Acquired by Storage Technology Corporation in 1980; later spun off and ceased production of computer peripherals |
| Headquarters | Melbourne, Florida , United States |
| Products | Punched card readers, impact line printers, laser printers (rebadged Siemens models) |
Documation was a computer hardware manufacturer based in Melbourne, Florida, established in 1969 and publicly traded on the American Stock Exchange starting in 1976. The company specialized in producing punched card card reader devices, which were notably utilized in certain American elections years later, along with manufacturing impact line printers.
In late 1980, Documation was acquired by Storage Technology Corporation (STC). Subsequently, the company was spun off, and its related subsidiaries bearing similar Documation names discontinued the production of computer peripherals. At that point, Documation was characterized as "a financially troubled printer manufacturer."
IMPACT Line printers
The IMPACT 3000 model from Documation offered a speed of 3,000 lines per minute (LPM), followed by the IMPACT 3800 a year later, which increased throughput to 3,800 LPM. In 1986, operating under StorageTek Printer Corp., the firm launched a Florida-manufactured impact printer capable of 5,000 LPM. At the time, impact printers controlled approximately 85% of the market share. Additionally, Documation’s laser printer lineup consisted of rebranded products sourced from Siemens, reflecting a collaborative strategy to broaden their product range.
Printers rebadged by Burroughs
In 1978, Documation introduced four printer models that were rebranded by Burroughs Corporation as DOC 2000B, DOC 1800B, DOC 1500B, and DOC 1250B. These printers operated at speeds of 2,000, 1,800, 1,500, and 1,250 lines per minute respectively and utilized a 48-character ASCII set. Their high-speed performance made them well-suited for commercial printing needs.
Card readers
During the 1970s, Documation offered several card readers designed for minicomputers:
- M-200 card reader with a capacity of 300 cards per minute, also marketed by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) as the CR-11 for the PDP-11
- M-600 card reader capable of processing 600 cards per minute, sold by HP under model numbers 2892A and 2893A
- M-1000-L card reader with a throughput of 1,000 cards per minute
These devices played a crucial role in data processing across various sectors and were notably employed in election systems such as the Florida recount during the 2000 United States presidential election. Their use in such critical scenarios highlights Documation’s reputation for dependable data management solutions.
End-user market
By late 1977, Documation had strategically ventured into the end-user segment by initially offering IBM-compatible card readers like the model 6501. This expansion allowed them to reach beyond original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), with nearly half of their revenue at that time coming from end-user sales. Later on, they added line printers to their end-user product lineup, strengthening their position in office automation and supporting continued business growth.
Storage Technology Corporation and subsequent developments
By 1992, the Documation brand was no longer affiliated with Storage Technology Corporation within the United States; however, two subsidiaries carrying the Documation name remained active in France and the United Kingdom.
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- Companies founded in Florida in 1968
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- Punched card readers
- Computer firms founded in 1968
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