Tecmar
{{Short description|American manufacturer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{About|the company|the insect genus|Tecmar (planthopper)}}
{{Infobox company
|logo=Tecmar wordmark 1980s.svg
|logo_caption=Logo used in the 1980s
|image=Tecmar headquarters Solon Ohio.jpg
|image_caption=Original headquarters in Solon, Ohio
|name=Tecmar Inc.
|founders={{ubl|Martin Alpert|Carolyn Alpert}}
|founded={{start date and age|1974}} in Solon, Ohio
|defunct={{end date and age|2007}}
|fate=Acquired multiple times; brand and subsidiary dormant {{as of|2022|lc=y}}
|parent={{ubl|Rexon (1986–1995)|Legacy Storage Systems (1995–1998)|TTI Holdings (1998–2000)|Overland Data (2000–2007)}}
|industry=Computer
|products={{hlist|Computer enhancement products|Expansion cards}}
}}{{pic|Tecmar logo.png|Logo used since {{circa|2000}}}}
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; 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.{{cite web | last= | first= | date=2021 | url=https://scientific-solutions.com/archives/ssi_history.html | title=Scientific Solutions Inc.: Company History | publisher=Scientific Solutions | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20221017081014/https://scientific-solutions.com/archives/ssi_history.html | archivedate=October 17, 2022}}
Scientific Solutions
File:Scientific Solutions Inc.png
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;{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w_OhaFDePS4C&pg=PA57 | title=TecMates: Tecmar Unveils a Plug-in Smorgasbord | work=PC Magazine | date=February–March 1982 | accessdate=October 20, 2013 | pages=57–58 | last=Edlin | first=Jim |volume=1|number=1}} Tecmar's speed surprised even IBM.{{cite news | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w_OhaFDePS4C&pg=RA1-PA21 | title=Boca Diary | work=PC Magazine | date=April–May 1982 | accessdate=October 21, 2013 | last=Bunnell | first=David | page=22|volume=1|number=1}} 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|lc=y}}.{{cite web | last= | first= | date=n.d. | url=http://www.scientific-solutions.com | title=Scientific Solutions Inc. | publisher=Scientific Solutions Inc. | archiveurl=https://archive.today/20221017080914/https://scientific-solutions.com/ | archivedate=October 17, 2022}}
Repositioning as a tape brand
By 1985 Tecmar had 600 employees and manufactured 100 Apple and IBM peripherals. IBM Product Centers sold Tecmar tape drives, giving the company an important advantage over rivals.
{{Cite journal
| last=Bermant
| first=Charles
| date=July 9, 1985
| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SprPDrQRvM8C&pg=PA56
| title=Marty Alpert: Building an Add-On Empire
| journal=PC Magazine
| publisher=Ziff-Davis
| page=56
| volume=4
| number=14
| via=Google Books
}}
In 1986, Tecmar was acquired by the technology holding company Rexon. Alpert stayed on the board of directors briefly before founding Cumulus Corporation to market expansion cards for the IBM PS/2.{{cite journal | last=McAdams | first=Melinda | date=November 23, 1987 | url=https://archive.org/details/sim_mis-week_1987-11-23_8_47/page/36/ | title=Add-on Man Alpert Tackles PS/2 Market | work=MIS Week | publisher=Fairchild Publications | volume=8 | issue=47 | page=36 | via=the Internet Archive}}{{cite journal | last=Martin | first=James A. | date=November 2, 1987 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mUSIMiurpfYC&pg=PP37 | title=Tecmar founder sees daylight, breaks open field in PS/2 aftermarket | work=Computerworld | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=XXI | issue=44 | page=37, 40 | via=Google Books}}{{rp|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,{{cite journal | last=Sullivan | first=Kristina B. | date=May 4, 1998 | url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A20591848/GPS?sid=wikipedia | title=Backing Up the Network | work=PC Week | publisher=Ziff-Davis | volume=15 | issue=18 | page=120 | via=Gale}} which positioned Tecmar as a comprehensive magnetic tape data storage brand. This was reinforced in 1999 when Iomega sold their Ditto brand to Tecmar.{{cite journal | last=Hesseldahl | first=Arik | date=March 29, 1999 | url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A54339376/GPS?sid=wikipedia | title=Iomega Sells Ditto Line, IP and Trademark To Tecmar for $3M | work=Electronic News | publisher=Sage Publications | volume=45 | issue=13 | page=34 | via=Gale}} 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.{{cite journal | last=Allen | first=Mike | date=January 17, 2000 | url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A59363870/GPS?sid=wikipedia | title=Overland Data Acquires Colorado Firm for $3M | work=San Diego Business Journal | publisher=American City Business Journals | volume=21 | issue=3 | page=13 | via=Gale}}{{cite journal | last=Kelly | first=Sean | date=May 2000 | url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A62276807/GPS?sid=wikipedia | title=nanoBITS | work=Communications News | publisher= Nelson Publishing | volume=37 | issue=5 | page=12 | via=Gale}}
As of 2007, Tecmar is a dormant corporation owned by Overland.
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
Category:1974 disestablishments in Ohio
Category:2007 disestablishments in Ohio
Category:American companies established in 1974
Category:American companies disestablished in 2007
Category:Computer companies established in 1974
Category:Computer companies disestablished in 2007
Category:Computer storage companies
Category:Defunct companies based in Ohio
Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States
Category:Defunct computer hardware companies