Labtec
| Company type | Public (after 1998 merger) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer peripherals, audio equipment |
| Founded | 1980 |
| Founder | Charles Dunn |
| Defunct | 2001 |
| Fate | Acquired by Logitech |
| Headquarters | Vancouver, Washington , United States |
| Products | Keyboards, mice, microphones, speakers, webcams, headsets, audio cables, switches, junction boxes |
Number of employees | 20 (1993) |
Labtec Enterprises Inc. was a U.S.-based manufacturer of computer accessories operating from 1980 until 2001, recognized primarily for offering affordable peripherals such as keyboards, mice, microphones, speakers, and webcams. During the 1990s, Labtec held a leading position in the American market for computer speakers and headphones before its acquisition by Logitech in 2001.
History
Established in 1980 by Charles Dunn and headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, Labtec began by providing audio equipment—mainly headsets—to the airline sector. Around 1990, the company expanded its focus to include personal computer peripherals. By the mid-1990s, Labtec’s products targeted three main sectors: personal computer users with speakers and microphones; airlines with headphones and headsets; and professional audiovisual and telephony markets through audio cables, switches, and junction boxes. In 1993, the firm employed 20 people at its Vancouver office while outsourcing manufacturing predominantly to Hong Kong and Taiwan. That same year, Labtec distributed roughly 150,000 speakers monthly to consumers.
Labtec merged with Spacetec IMC Corporation in 1998, transitioning into a publicly traded entity and adopting the name Labtec Inc. in early 1999. Spacetec was known for producing 6DOF controllers designed for CAD applications; notably, a Spaceball 2003 controller developed by Spacetec was employed to control the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft in 2000.
In 2001, Logitech acquired Labtec for approximately USD $125 million through a combination of cash, stock, and assumption of debt, aiming to enhance its range of audio products for PCs and associated devices.
External links
- Articles with short description
- Telecommunications companies of the United States
- Telecommunications equipment vendors
- Videotelephony
- Companies based in Vancouver, Washington
- Telecommunications companies established in 1981
- Technology companies disestablished in 2001
- Logitech
- Defunct computer companies of the United States
- Defunct computer hardware companies