Gould Electronics
| Company type | Public company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electronics, Battery manufacturing, Semiconductors, Industrial automation |
| Predecessor | National Battery Co. |
| Founded | 1899 |
| Founder | Charles A. Gould |
| Defunct | 2014 |
| Fate | Ceased operations |
| Headquarters | Eichstetten (later headquarters) , Germany |
Area served | Worldwide (United States, Asia, Europe) |
| Products | Batteries, Copper foil, Test and measurement instruments, Superminicomputers, Programmable logic controllers |
Number of employees | 21,000 (1985) |
| Parent | JX Holdings (formerly Nippon Mining) |
Gould Electronics Inc. was a company specializing in electronics and battery manufacturing that expanded its operations before being partially purchased in 1988 by Nippon Mining (currently known as JX Holdings), ultimately ceasing operations in 2014. The firm originated from the consolidation of multiple battery producers under the National Battery Co.
History
The origins of Gould can be traced back to the Gould Storage Battery Corporation, established in 1899 by Charles A. Gould, and the National Lead Battery Company, founded in 1920 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Initially, Gould produced batteries for US Navy submarines during World War I, later shifting its focus to automotive battery production in the 1920s.
In 1928, National Lead Battery reorganized as National Battery Co., and in 1930 it acquired Gould Storage Battery for $225,000. The company further expanded in 1947 by purchasing Philco’s Storage Battery Division, integrating it into Gould Storage Battery. By 1950, the business adopted the name Gould-National Batteries, Inc.
A significant transition occurred in 1969 when Gould-National merged with Clevite, marking its entry into the semiconductor sector and relocating its headquarters to Rolling Meadows, Illinois. Through acquisitions such as Systems Engineering Laboratories, Gould broadened its portfolio to include superminicomputers.
From 1977 through the mid-1980s, Gould owned the Modicon programmable logic controller brand, signaling its growth into industrial automation. By this period, functioning as a mini-conglomerate, it divested its original battery segment in 1983 to private investors; this division became GNB Batteries Inc., which Pacific Dunlop acquired in 1987 and was subsequently absorbed into Exide by 2000.
By 1985, Gould employed approximately 21,000 individuals worldwide and generated $1.4 billion in revenue, primarily from electrical/electronic products and defense-related systems. In 1988, Nippon Mining acquired Gould’s non-defense operations but was mandated by U.S. authorities to sell off defense-associated units including the Computer Systems Division; this division was sold to Encore Computer in 1989.
After encountering financial difficulties, Nippon Mining dissolved Gould Inc. in 1993, dividing its assets into Gould Electronics Inc. (focused on copper foil production) and Gould Instrument Systems Inc. (specializing in test and measurement instruments). The latter was sold to ThermoSpectra for $25.6 million in 1995.
Later headquartered in Eichstetten, Germany, Gould Electronics maintained operations across the United States, Asia, and Europe under JX Holdings until its closure in 2014.
Sports sponsorship
During the late 1970s, Gould served as the primary sponsor for Penske Racing within American open-wheel car racing, backing the victorious vehicle at the 1979 Indianapolis 500.
Closure
In July 2014, JX Nippon Mining & Metals Corporation (a subsidiary of JX Holdings), announced plans to shut down Gould as part of a corporate restructuring impacting sites in Japan, the Philippines, and Germany where Gould was based. This decision was driven by declining demand in Europe, excess production capacity, and pricing pressures caused by subsidized competitors from China and other Asian nations.
Additionally, Gould owns a lead-contaminated property located in Throop, Pennsylvania, which it acquired during the early 1980s from Marjol Battery and Equipment Company.
Notably, the CGI opening credits for the 1980s television series Amazing Stories were produced using a Gould Powernode 9080 computer.