Tecmar

Tecmar Inc. was an American manufacturer of personal computer enhancement products based in Solon, Ohio. The company was founded in 1974 by Martin Alpert, M.D., and Carolyn Alpert. The company's first products were computerized medical equipment;[1] the company shortly after pivoted to data acquisition boards for the first generation of microcomputers. Popular products included the Scientific Solutions LabMaster series of boards for S-100 and Apple Computer.[2]

This article is about the company. For the insect genus, see Tecmar (planthopper).
Tecmar Inc.
IndustryComputer
Founded1974 (1974) in Solon, Ohio
Founders
  • Martin Alpert
  • Carolyn Alpert
Defunct2007 (2007)
FateAcquired multiple times; brand and subsidiary dormant as of 2022
Products
  • Computer enhancement products
  • Expansion cards
Parent
Logo used since c. 2000
Logo used since c. 2000

Scientific Solutions
Logo of Scientific Solutions

In 1981, at the COMDEX show, Tecmar introduced 20 expansion cards for the new IBM Personal Computer (IBM PC) announced three months earlier. Using experience in developing scientific and industrial products for Intel 8086 microcomputers, the company purchased two PCs on the first day and up to 50 employees worked on the peripherals;[3] Tecmar's speed surprised even IBM.[4] These products included the Scientific Solutions LabMaster, LabTender, IEEE-488, BaseBoard, TimeMaster, GraphicsMaster, memory expansion boards, external hard disk drives and tape drives. In 1985, Tecmar incorporated Scientific Solutions Inc. and used this new company to design and distribute the data acquisition products. Their early achievements are now well known and expressed by their corporate saying: Scientific Solutions First in PC Data Acquisition.

Scientific Solutions has been an independent company since 1995 and is still active as of 2022.[5]

Repositioning as a tape brand

In 1986, Tecmar was acquired by the technology holding company Rexon. Martin Alpert stayed on the board of directors briefly before founding Cumulus Corporation to market expansion cards for the IBM PS/2.[6][1]: 37  While Scientific Solutions continued to design and market scientific and multimedia products, Tecmar concentrated on data storage. In 1991, Rexon purchased two other tape drive manufacturers, WangTek and WangDAT to add to the Tecmar product line. Then in 1995, while Rexon was having financial difficulties, Tecmar was sold to Legacy Storage Systems and Scientific Solutions continued as an independent company focused on the original Tecmar product line of data acquisition equipment.

Three years later, in 1998, Tecmar was sold to a new holding company, TTI Holdings of Longmont, Colorado,[7] which positioned Tecmar as a comprehensive magnetic tape data storage brand. This was reinforced in 1999 when Iomega sold their Ditto brand to Tecmar.[8] At this time, Tecmar offered DAT, QIC, Travan and Ditto magnetic tape technologies. In 2000, Overland Data saw this and acquired Tecmar in an effort to complement its line of higher end tape products.[9][10]

As of 2007, Tecmar is a dormant corporation owned by Overland.

References
  1. Martin, James A. (November 2, 1987). "Tecmar founder sees daylight, breaks open field in PS/2 aftermarket". Computerworld. IDG Publications. XXI (44): 37, 40 – via Google Books.
  2. "Scientific Solutions Inc.: Company History". Scientific Solutions. 2021. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022.
  3. Edlin, Jim (February–March 1982). "TecMates: Tecmar Unveils a Plug-in Smorgasbord". PC Magazine. Vol. 1, no. 1. pp. 57–58. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
  4. Bunnell, David (April–May 1982). "Boca Diary". PC Magazine. Vol. 1, no. 1. p. 22. Retrieved October 21, 2013.
  5. "Scientific Solutions Inc". Scientific Solutions Inc. n.d. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022.
  6. McAdams, Melinda (November 23, 1987). "Add-on Man Alpert Tackles PS/2 Market". MIS Week. Fairchild Publications. 8 (47): 36 – via the Internet Archive.
  7. Sullivan, Kristina B. (May 4, 1998). "Backing Up the Network". PC Week. Ziff-Davis. 15 (18): 120 – via Gale.
  8. Hesseldahl, Arik (March 29, 1999). "Iomega Sells Ditto Line, IP and Trademark To Tecmar for $3M". Electronic News. Sage Publications. 45 (13): 34 – via Gale.
  9. Allen, Mike (January 17, 2000). "Overland Data Acquires Colorado Firm for $3M". San Diego Business Journal. American City Business Journals. 21 (3): 13 – via Gale.
  10. Kelly, Sean (May 2000). "nanoBITS". Communications News. Nelson Publishing. 37 (5): 12 – via Gale.
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