Wyle Laboratories

Founded in 1949 by MIT graduate Frank S. Wyle (1919–2016) with an initial equity investment of $5,000,{{Cite web|date=2008|title=Interview of Frank S. Wyle|url=https://oralhistory.library.ucla.edu/catalog/21198-zz000s65d5|access-date=2021-02-20|website=UCLA Library, Center for Oral History Research}} Wyle Laboratories, Inc. began operations in El Segundo, California as a laboratory for functional and environmental testing of aircraft components.{{Cite web|date=2016-09-16|title=Frank Wyle, aerospace innovator and L.A. museum benefactor, dies at 97|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-ln-frank-wyle-20160914-snap-story.html|access-date=2021-02-20|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}} It was the first independent test laboratory for jet aircraft.{{cite news |last1=Gilpin |first1=Kenneth N. |title=BUSINESS PEOPLE; ; President of Wyle Labs Is Appointed Chairman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/14/business/business-people-president-of-wyle-labs-is-appointed-chairman.html |access-date=20 May 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=14 June 1984}} The company entered the electronic distribution business in the early 1960s.{{cite news |last1=Elliott |first1=Heidi |title=A Farewell to Wyle |url=https://www.edn.com/a-farewell-to-wyle/ |access-date=20 May 2025 |work=EDN |date=27 November 2000}} In 1961, Wyle became a public company, with net annual sales totalling $7 million. In 1970, the company broke the $100 million mark in consolidated sales. At the time of Wyle's retirement as chairman in 1984, his equity was worth about $76 million.{{cite news |last1=Gilpin |first1=Kenneth N. |title=BUSINESS PEOPLE; ; President of Wyle Labs Is Appointed Chairman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/06/14/business/business-people-president-of-wyle-labs-is-appointed-chairman.html |access-date=20 May 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=14 June 1984}}

In 1995, a group of investors including Stephen Wyle, son of the founder, purchased the scientific services division for $30 million, with Wyle continuing as chairman and CEO.{{cite news |title=Wyle Laboratories Is Selling Division for $30 Million |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/10/07/business/company-news-wyle-laboratories-is-selling-division-for-30-million.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=7 October 1994}}{{cite news |title=Wyle Laboratories acquired in management buyout |url=https://aviationweek.com/wyle-laboratories-acquired-management-buyout |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=aviationweek.com}} In 1997, Veba AG paid $810 million for the electronics distribution division of the company - Wyle Electronics- while the Scientific Services and Systems Group continued to operate as Wyle Laboratories.{{cite news |title=Wyle Electronics to Be Acquired by Germany's Veba for $810 Million |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-jul-04-fi-9591-story.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=4 July 1997}}{{cite news |title=Veba of Germany to Buy Wyle Electronics |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/04/business/veba-of-germany-to-buy-wyle-electronics.html |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=The New York Times |date=4 July 1997}} In 2003, Littlejohn & Co. acquired a majority stake in Wyle Laboratories for an undisclosed amount.{{cite news |last1=Meikle |first1=Brad |title=PE Week Wire -- Friday, December 12 |url=https://www.buyoutsinsider.com/pe-week-wire-friday-december-12/ |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=Buyouts |date=12 December 2003}}{{cite news |title=Wyle enters final stage of $600m sale process |url=https://www.ft.com/content/fa98e63c-7cf7-11dd-8d59-000077b07658 |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=www.ft.com}}{{cite news |url=https://www.privateequityinternational.com/littlejohn-boosts-aerospace-portfolio/ |access-date=21 May 2025 |title=Littlejohn boosts aerospace portfolio |date=4 January 2013 }}

In 2007, the company changed its name to Wyle; it still operated laboratories, but its primary business focus was on securing long-term services contracts from the Department of Defense, NASA and other Federal agencies. In 1998, Wyle acquired Krug Life Sciences, an aero-medical research company with 30-plus years of history supporting NASA's crewed space flight programs. In 2005, Wyle acquired the General Dynamics Aeronautics division, formerly a part of Veridian, adding aviation research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) expertise to the company's portfolio. In 2008, Wyle acquired RS Information Systems, providing services as Wyle Information Systems Group. The acquisition brought total annual revenue to $800 million and the total number of employees to 4,200.

In 2009, Wyle entered into a merger agreement for an undisclosed amount to be acquired by Court Square Capital Partners, an investment company which became the majority shareholder.{{cite news |last1=Werner |first1=Debra |title=Robert Ellis, President, Wyle Integrated Science and Engineering Group |url=https://spacenews.com/robert-ellis-president-wyle-integrated-science-and-engineering-group/ |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=SpaceNews |date=30 November 2009}} In 2010, Wyle bought CAS Inc from ITT Corp, valued at $235 million, and organized it as the company's fourth operating group.{{cite news |title=Court Square's Wyle to Buy CAS |url=https://www.themiddlemarket.com/news/court-square-146-s-wyle-to-buy-cas |access-date=21 May 2025 |work=www.themiddlemarket.com |date=9 August 2010}} The CAS Group provides a range of services to the U.S. Army and related customers. In 2013, Wyle opened a $18.75 million facility in Huntsville, Alabama{{cite news |last1=Berry |first1=Lucy |title=Wyle opens new 3-story, 120,000-square-foot facility in Cummings Research Park (photos) |url=https://www.al.com/business/2013/10/wyle_opens_new_3-story_120000-.html |access-date=20 May 2025 |work=al |date=15 October 2013 |language=en}} and, in 2014, National Technical Systems, Inc. purchased Wyle's former testing sites in Huntsville, as well as facilities in El Segundo and San Bernardino.{{cite news |last1=Berry |first1=Lucy |title=Wyle Laboratories in Huntsville under new name after National Technical Systems acquisition |url=https://www.al.com/business/2014/03/wyle_laboratories_in_huntsvill.html |access-date=20 May 2025 |work=al |date=20 March 2014 |language=en}}

In 2016, KBR purchased Wyle for $570 million becoming KBRwyle.{{Cite web|url=https://kbr.com/about/newsroom/press-releases/2016/07/05/kbr-acquires-government-services-company-wyle|title=KBR Acquires Government Services Company, Wyle | KBR}}

The Wyle Labs 450-acre facility in Norco, California was established in 1957 for nuclear research programs, military testing, and working with aerospace firms. In 2002, residents of newly built homes in the area sued the property developers, Centex Homes and Western Pacific Housing, alleging inadequate disclosure of Wyle's operations, which included discreet weapons tests and earthquake simulations.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-19-me-norco19-story.html |title=An Environmental Feud at the End of the Trail in Norco |date=19 February 2002 }} Residents also expressed concerns about potential groundwater contamination to the site and surrounding areas as a result of mishandling and improper disposal of chemicals. A representative for the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health said after an investigation: "Our inspections reveal some violations, but nothing really, really significant. And they [Wyle] have worked with us to make corrections."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency later determined that the site was eligible for a spot on the National Superfund list due to pollution but declined to list it, as the state was overseeing site cleanup. In 2003, Wyle signed an order with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control agreeing to find and clean up all contamination from the site.{{Cite web|date=2005|title=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-apr-04-me-wyle4-story.html|access-date=2023-11-13|website=Los Angeles Times}} However, state officials said they had no evidence that the contamination posed a significant health threat and an epidemiologist with the California Cancer Registry said he had found no evidence of a cancer cluster.{{cite news |title=Toxic Seepage Worries Norco |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-apr-04-me-wyle4-story.html |access-date=20 May 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=4 April 2005}}

As of 2021, community groups are monitoring pollution levels.{{Cite web|date=2021|title=Cal DTSC|url=https://dtsc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/31/2021/08/Wyle-Labs-Project-Update-Deep-Groundwater-Monitoring-Installation-Community-Update.pdf|access-date=2023-11-13|website=California Department of Toxic Substance Control}}

• Norco, California Wyle Laboratories 1841 Hillside Avenue, Norco, California 92860 (Site no longer in operation; Undergoing HAZMAT cleanup)
• Norco, California cryogenic facility[https://archive.org/stream/Aviation_Week_1962-05-07#page/n48/mode/1up Production Briefing]. // Aviation Week & Space Technology, May 7, 1962, v. 76, no. 19, p. 97.

{{Reflist}}

• California Department of Toxic Substance Control - Wyle Laboratory Norco, California site cleanup and test result documents: https://dtsc.ca.gov/smrp-projects/wyle-laboratories-property/
• Toxic Seepage Worries Norco: Dozens of families in one of the fastest-growing pockets of Riverside County have for years questioned whether toxic chemicals from a military contractor's former facility in Norco are seeping beneath their neighborhoods and causing serious health problems: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-apr-04-me-wyle4-story.html
• An Environmental Feud at the End of the Trail in Norco: Wyle Labs hazmat contamination has homeowners suing: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-19-me-norco19-story.html
• {{Official website|http://www.wyle.com/}}{{dead link|date=September 2021}}
• Battling Fire and Ice: remote guidance ultrasound to diagnose injury on the International Space Station and the ice rink: http://www.ajsfulltextonline.com/article/S0002-9610%2806%2900802-6/abstract
• Evaluation of Shoulder Integrity in Space: First Report of Musculoskeletal US on the International Space Station: http://radiology.rsna.org/content/234/2/319.abstract
• A Pilot Study of Comprehensive Ultrasound Education at the Wayne State University School of Medicine: http://www.jultrasoundmed.org/cgi/content/abstract/27/5/745

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Category:Commercial laboratories

Category:Defense companies of the United States

Category:Laboratories in California

Category:Technology companies based in Greater Los Angeles

Category:Companies based in El Segundo, California

Category:American companies established in 1949

Category:Technology companies established in 1949

Category:1949 establishments in California