EF Johnson Technologies, Inc. Celebrates Its 90th Anniversary
EF Johnson Technologies, Inc. Celebrates Its 90th Anniversary
EF Johnson Technologies, Inc., marks 90 years of exceeding customer expectations with innovative mission critical solutions.
IRVING, TEXAS – October 10, 2013 – EFJohnson has achieved a historical milestone in its long history of providing mission critical communication solutions. Today, it is the longest standing and one of only three companies in the LMR industry that has developed a full line of P25 systems and subscribers aimed at serving the mission critical first responder community. Continuing its long history of innovation, recent product releases include the award-winning ATLAS® system solution, the industry’s only patented distributed architecture based P25 system, and the Viking® radio series which includes the industry’s smallest and lightest mission critical VP900 Multi-Band portable radio. Since its inception, EFJohnson is proud to remain a wholly U.S. based manufacturer of mission critical subscriber radios with a keen focus on quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction driven by a vertically integrated model of design, manufacturing, and servicing headquartered in Irving, Texas.
Events to celebrate the company’s 90th anniversary kicked off with an open house at the original EFJohnson headquarters in Waseca, MN on October 5, 2013, where guests enjoyed tours of the EFJohnson Museum. “It is extremely enjoyable and rewarding to be able to celebrate a company with such rich heritage,” said John Oblak, who has been with the company since 1984. “The museum open house was a great opportunity to renew acquaintances with former coworkers and friends and we look forward to the festivities of the week.” On October 10th, employees of EFJohnson will participate in a company-wide celebration and on October 15th, the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce will present the company with the “Progress Award” in recognition of its 90 years of success.
Edgar F. Johnson established E.F. Johnson Company on October 10, 1923 in Waseca, Minnesota. The company began as a mail order business, selling radio transmitting parts to amateurs and early radio broadcasters. In the late 1930s, E.F. Johnson Company transitioned to the development and manufacturing of land-mobile radio products. After experiencing tremendous growth during World War II, the company continued to expand and experienced several significant milestones over the next several decades.
In the 1980s, EFJohnson introduced the first public safety trunked radio system. During the 1990s, the company became even more focused on public safety applications as the APCO standard set the future direction of public safety communications. EFJohnson was an original signatory to the Project 25 process and a founding member of the P25 Technology Interest Group (PTIG).
Continuing EFJohnson’s heritage of innovation and excellence into the 21st century, the first multiple protocol radio was introduced in 2001. The portable radio was operable on analog, SMARTNET®/SmartZone®, Multi-Net® or Project 25 digital systems. During the period of 2000-2001, the company also received final acceptance on twelve major systems. In 2004, EFJohnson moved its company headquarters to Irving, TX, where it continues to reside today.
The namesake and founder of EFJohnson insisted on continued innovation and quality products made in the U.S.A on which he could be proud to put his name. Today, the drive for quality, integrity, and innovation that he established is strongly resonant with the company as it continues to innovate and serve the mission critical user community.