Heurikon
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Microcomputers, Microprocessor technology, Imaging devices |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Fate | Acquired by Computer Products Incorporated (CPI) and renamed Artesyn Corporation in 1994 |
| Headquarters | Madison , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Microcomputer systems, Plug-in microcomputer cards, 8-bit Multibus boards, VME bus boards |
Number of employees | 4 private shareholders (circa 1994) (1994) |
The Heurikon Corporation was established in 1972 in Madison, Wisconsin, focusing on the design and manufacture of microcomputers. The company specialized in microprocessor technology, hardware components, and imaging devices tailored for medical and scientific fields. Notably, Heurikon played a significant role in the 1985 expedition to discover the Titanic wreck. Their offerings featured custom-built microcomputer systems along with plug-in microcomputer cards.
Early history
Among Heurikon's initial customers were firms such as Oscar Mayer in Madison, WI, Arrow Sign Corporation based in Chicago, IL, Cuenique Billiards from Madison, WI, and Butler Manufacturing. The first products developed by the company incorporated microprocessors like the Zilog Z80, Intel 8080, and the Motorola 68000 series.
Use in locating the RMS Titanic
In 1985, Heurikon contributed to a collaborative U.S.-French mission aimed at finding the sunken RMS Titanic. This endeavor utilized a Heurikon HK68 system equipped with three image processing boards alongside additional processors supplied by Imaging Technology. This setup facilitated the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in capturing and displaying the initial images of the shipwreck.
Growth and further uses
By 1989, according to NASA Tech Briefs, Heurikon had earned recognition six times on Inc. Magazine's list of the 500 fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States. The firm provided processing units to the U.S. National Archives to assist with digital preservation of their collections.
During the 1990s, key clients included TransCore located in Norcross, GA, and New York City. For NYC, Heurikon developed interface hardware responsible for controlling over 10,000 traffic signals across all five boroughs.
In the mid-2000s, NASA employed Heurikon’s VME bus boards within EXPRESS rack suitcase simulators for the International Space Station. These simulators enabled payload developers worldwide to conduct pre-deployment testing of scientific instruments destined for space station missions.
Products
Heurikon's product range featured 8-bit Multibus boards launched in the early 1980s and later expanded to microcomputers utilizing the Motorola 68000 CPU. The company supported a variety of operating systems and development platforms including Unix, VxWorks, Hunter Ready VRTX, and OS-9.
Sale
In 1994, with four private shareholders and annual revenues surpassing $20 million, Heurikon was acquired by Computer Products Incorporated (CPI) based in Florida and subsequently rebranded as Artesyn Corporation. Artesyn later became part of Emerson Electric.