Planar Systems, Inc. is a U.S. digital display manufacturing corporation based in Hillsboro, Oregon. Founded in 1983 as a spin-off from Tektronix, it was the first U.S. manufacturer of electroluminescent (EL) digital displays. Planar currently makes a variety of other specialty displays. It is a subsidiary of Shenzhen, China-based Leyard Optoelectronic Co..
History
1980s
Planar was founded in 1983 by Jim Hurd, Chris King, John Laney and others as a spin-off from the Solid State Research and Development Group of the Beaverton, Oregon, based Tektronix. In 1986, a division spun off from Planar to work on projection technology, InFocus.
1990s
In 1991, FinLux, a competitor in Espoo, Finland was purchased and is now the company's European headquarters. Planar's executives took the company public in 1993, listing the stock on the NASDAQ boards Planar acquired Tektronix's avionics display business, creating the short-lived Planar Advance in 1994. Standish Industries, a manufacturer of flat panel LCDs in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, was sold to Planar in 1997. This plant was closed in 2002 as worldwide LCD manufacturing shifted to East Asian countries.
2000s
On April 23, 2002, DOME Imaging Systems was purchased by Planar and became the company's medical business unit. Planar acquired Clarity Visual Systems (founded by former InFocus employees) on September 12, 2006, now referred to as the Control Room and Signage business unit. On May 23, 2007, Planar acquired Runco International, a leading brand in the high-end, custom home theater market. On August 6, 2008, Planar sold its medical business unit to NDS Surgical Imaging.
2010s
In November 2012, Planar announced the sale of its electroluminescent business to Beneq Oy, a supplier of production and research equipment for thin film coatings. Under the terms of the transaction, consideration consists of a $6.5 million base purchase price, of which $3.9 million was paid in cash at closing and $2.6 million was paid in the form of a promissory note. Planar was purchased by Leyard Optoelectronic Co. of China in 2015 for $157 million. It became a subsidiary after formerly trading on the NASDAQ under the symbol PLNR.
In November 2016, Planar announced that it was to enter a merger agreement with NaturalPoint Inc., which sells infrared point tracking systems for use on CGI movie sets (Optitrack), and home use both for assisted computing (Smartnav) and computer gaming (TrackIR). The merger was finalized in January of 2017. NaturalPoint will remain a separate business with its own executive team, customers, and market initiatives.
Products
- Video Walls
- Large Format LCD Displays
- Touch Screen Monitors
- Rear Projection Video Walls
- 4K LCD Displays
- LCD Monitors
- Video Wall Processors
Operations
Planar currently assembles and services videowalls, projectors, and other displays in Hillsboro. Planar's EL manufacturing operations were consolidated into Planar's Espoo, Finland facility in 2002. Additional large-format displays are assembled and integrated in Albi, France.
Leyard Merger
On November 27, 2015, Planar closed its sale to become a subsidiary of Leyard Optoelectronic Co., an LED display product corporation. With the merger, Planar increased its capabilities to offer indoor, outdoor, fixed and creative LED display solutions. Headquarters operations for Planar remain in Beaverton, OR following the sale.
Locations
In addition to its Oregon, U.S. headquarters, Planar has worldwide reach. Its sales offices are located in Europe, North America, and Asia. It has manufacturing facilities in France, North America, and Finland.
Awards & Recognition
- Government Video Salute 2013 Planar UltraRes Series
- Commercial Integrator BEST 2013 Video Wall Solution: Clarity Matrix MultiTouch LCD Video Wall
- Sound & Video Contractor Most Innovative Product 2013 Planar UltraRes Series
- Technology Integrator Exc!te Award 2013 Planar UltraRes Series
- rAVE 2013 Best New Video Wall Product: Planar Mosaic Video Wall
- Best of Show 2014 Clarity Matrix LCD Video Wall G2 Architecture
- Technology Integrator ExC!te Award 2014 Planar EP-Series 4K
- Systems Contractor News Installation Product Award 2014 Most Innovative Video Display: Planar UltraRes Series
- Tom’s Hardware Smart Buy 2014 Planar IX2850
- rAVe 2015 Best Indoor Display for DSE: Planar DirectLight LED Video Wall System
- DIGI Award 2015 Best 4K Display Device: Planar UltraRes Series & DIGI Award 2015 Best New Display Device, Large Screen: Clarity Matrix LCD Video Wall with G2 Architecture
See also
- Silicon Forest
- List of companies based in Oregon
References
External links
- Official website
- Hoover's Profile of Planar Systems
- International Directory of Company Histories, Volume 61 (1990) via Answers.com
- Planar Systems topic at New York Times