Daktronics

Daktronics is an American company based in Brookings, South Dakota that designs, manufactures, sells, and services video displays, scoreboards, digital billboards, dynamic message signs, sound systems, and related products. Founded in 1968 by two South Dakota State University professors, Daktronics grew from a provider of electronic voting systems for state legislatures to one of the world's largest suppliers of electronic displays. The name is a portmanteau of "Dakota" and "electronics".[3]

Park Street Station, Boston, Red Line Outbound side platform with Daktronics electronic announcement sign (November 2012)
Daktronics
TypePublic
NASDAQ: DAKT
S&P 600 Component
IndustryElectronics
Founded1968[1]
FounderAelred J. Kurtenbach
Duane Sander
HeadquartersBrookings, South Dakota, United States
Key people
Aelred J. Kurtenbach, Co-Founder and Chairman
Reece Kurtenbach, President, CEO
ProductsTiming and Display systems
RevenueUS$610.53 million (2018)[2]
US$5.56 million (2018)[2]
Number of employees
2,500+
Websitedaktronics.com
A Daktronics Scoreboard, installed in a high school gymnasium. Used for Basketball, Volleyball, and more. (May 2018)

History

Daktronics was founded in 1968 by Aelred Kurtenbach and Duane Sander, professors of electrical engineering at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD.[4] The company began with the design and manufacture of electronic voting systems for state legislatures.[5]

  • 1971 Daktronics developed the patented Matside wrestling scoreboard, the first product in the company's line[6]
  • 1976 Daktronics scoreboards were first used at Olympics[7]
  • 1980 Scoreboards used at 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York [8]
  • 1984 New manufacturing facility built[7]
  • 1986 Sales Surpass $10 million
  • 1987 Unique mobile scoring system for PGA tour developed
  • 1992 Daktronics displays used at the 1992 Summer Olympics
  • 1994 Daktronics, Inc. became a publicly traded company, offering shares under the symbol DAKT on the NASDAQ National Market system.[1]
  • 1996 80 Daktronics scoreboards and displays used at the 1996 Summer Olympics[7]
  • 1997 Daktronics upgrades the “Zipper” sign in Times Square[7]
  • 1997 The first Prostar large screen video displays were installed
  • 1999 Indianapolis Motor Speedway installed the first of 18 large Prostar displays
  • 2000 Daktronics displays in the spotlight at the 2000 Summer Olympics[9]
  • 2000 Daktronics acquires Keyframe services[10]
  • 2000 Daktronics establishes an office in Canada
  • 2001 Daktronics installs its first LED video display in Times Square for TDK Financial Services Firm[11]
  • 2003 Daktronics establishes an office in Germany
  • 2004 Sales surpass $200 million
  • 2004 Largest video board in North America installed at Jacobs Field (now known as Progressive Field) in Cleveland, Ohio by Daktronics[12]
  • 2004 Daktronics establishes offices in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom[8]
  • 2005 Daktronics installs multimillion-dollar system in Kuwait stock exchange[13]
  • 2005 Daktronics acquires Sportsound system designer and manufacturer[8]
  • 2006 Daktronics sales surpass $300 million
  • 2006 Daktronics acquires Vortek family of products from New York-based rigging company Hoffend and Sons[14]
  • 2008 Daktronics installs world’s largest high definition LED video display for the Kansas City Royals[15]
  • 2012 Daktronics establishes an office in Brazil
  • 2013 Daktronics acquires OPEN Out of Home in Belgium.[16]
  • 2014 Daktronics installs world's largest HD display for the Jacksonville Jaguars[17] at EverBank Field (now TIAA Bank Field).

Products
  • LED Video Displays[18]
  • LED Message Displays[19]
  • Scoreboards & Timing Systems[20]
  • Digital Billboards[21]
  • LED Street Furniture
  • Digit & Price Displays[22]
  • ITS Dynamic Message Signs (DMS)[23]
  • Audio Systems[24]
  • Automated Rigging & Hoists[25]
  • Tote/Odd Boards[26]
  • Space Availability Displays[27]
  • Software & Controllers[28]

Facilities

Daktronics is headquartered in Brookings, SD, with other facilities in Sioux Falls, SD, Redwood Falls, MN, Shanghai, China, and Belgium, along with more than 50 regional offices around the world.[4][1]

Services

Daktronics acquired Keyframe Inc., a video production and consulting company, in 2000.[10] Today, Daktronics Creative Services designs digital content in HD video, 3D animation and motion graphics, specializing in media networks and large-scale LED displays.[29]

The company is also involved in sports marketing.[30]

Notable

Daktronics has been supplying scoreboards and video displays for the Olympic Games for several years, though due to official sponsorships with other timing providers such as IBM, Omega SA and Swiss Timing, the display is Daktronics-manufactured but utilizes timing and front-facing branding for the former.[4]

Daktronics has been an influence in National Basketball Association rule changes in the 2000s. The company manufactured the first backboard light strips to comply with buzzer beater instant replay rulings, and in 2004, developed a see-through shot clock to improve spectator visibility.[31]

See also

References
  1. "Company". Daktronics. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  2. . Finance.yahoo.com https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/DAKT/key-statistics?ltr=1. Retrieved 2018-07-23. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. Belson, Ken (July 19, 2014). "Daktronics Plays Outsize Role as Giant Scoreboards Proliferate". nytimes.com. New York Times. Retrieved January 21, 2020. Daktronics — an amalgam of the words Dakota and electronics — was listed on the Nasdaq stock market in 1994.
  4. Belson, Ken (2014-07-19). "Daktronics Plays Outsize Role as Giant Scoreboards Proliferate". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-02-12.
  5. "Keeping Time". southdakotamagazine.com. South Dakota Magazine. July 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
  6. "Aelred Kurtenbach- Daktronics by Justin Brunick on Prezi". Prezi.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  7. "History of Daktronics, Inc. – FundingUniverse". Fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  8. "Daktronics, Inc. | Company profile from Hoover's | +1-605-692-0200". Hoovers.com. 2010-10-21. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  9. "Daktronics, Inc.: Information from". Answers.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  10. "Daktronics to acquire Keyframe Inc. - Tampa Bay Business Journal". Bizjournals.com. 2000-01-31. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  11. "Times Square LED Video to Help Celebrate". Daktronics.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  12. "Daktronics To Install New Jacobs Field Led Video Display - SportsBusiness Daily | SportsBusiness Journal | SportsBusiness Daily Global". M.sportsbusinessdaily.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  13. PennWell Corporation (2005-03-23). "Daktronics to expand display system for Kuwait Stock Exchange". LEDs Magazine. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  14. "Rebranding of Vortek Division". Daktronics.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  15. PennWell Corporation (2007-10-04). "Daktronics installs world's largest HD display for Kansas City Royals". LEDs Magazine. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  16. "Daktronics Agrees to Purchase Belgium Display Manufacturer". Reuters. 2013-01-11. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  17. Andrew Tarantola (2014-07-26). "The World's Largest HD LED Display Takes Over Jacksonville". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2014-07-26.
  18. "Scoreboards and Timing Systems :: Daktronics Products". Daktronics.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  19. "LED Signs and Message Displays". Daktronics. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  20. "LED Video Displays". Daktronics. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  21. "Digital Billboards :: Daktronics Products". Daktronics.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  22. "Digit & Price Display Products". Daktronics. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  23. "ITS Dynamic Message Signs". Daktronics. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  24. "Audio Systems :: Daktronics Products". Daktronics.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  25. "Automated Rigging and Hoists". Daktronics. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  26. "Tote/Odds Boards". Daktronics. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  27. "Space Availability Displays :: Daktronics Products". Daktronics.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  28. "Software & Controllers". Daktronics. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  29. "Creative Services". Daktronics. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  30. "Daktronics Sports Marketing". Daktronics.com. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
  31. "High-Tech Shot Clocks Improve Court Vision". NBA.com. 2005-11-18. Retrieved 2013-08-18.
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