Videojet

Videojet's story begins in the 1960s, not as a standalone company, but as a small, innovative division within the A.B. Dick Company, a giant in the printing industry. This division, known as Videograph Operations, was born from research aimed at advancing duplicating technologies. The mission, as directed by Albert Blake Dick III, was simple yet profound: 'to put marks on paper.' This foundational goal set the stage for a journey of technological advancement that would revolutionize product identification. A pivotal moment arrived in 1969 with the introduction of the world's first commercial ink-jet printer, a groundbreaking innovation that laid the groundwork for Videojet's future. The technology quickly found its footing in various industries, with the canning industry becoming a major early adopter. The challenge of printing date codes on beverage cans moving at incredible speeds was a problem that Videojet's engineers, like Tom Madden, successfully tackled, creating a highly successful prototype that proved the technology's immense value and potential. By 1980, the division's success led to its establishment as a subsidiary named Videojet Systems International, Inc. The company continued to grow and innovate throughout the decade. A significant milestone occurred in 2002 when the Washington, D.C.-based Danaher Corporation acquired the company, renaming it Videojet Technologies, Inc. This acquisition marked a new chapter, integrating Videojet into a larger family of technology companies and further solidifying its position in the product identification market. Today, Videojet is a global leader, providing a comprehensive range of coding, printing, and laser marking solutions. With a presence in over 135 countries and more than 4,000 employees worldwide, the company that started as a small research division now helps ensure the safety, quality, and authenticity of billions of products consumed daily across the globe. Its journey is a testament to the power of a clear mission and continuous innovation, evolving from putting simple marks on paper to providing the complex data and traceability solutions that modern commerce demands.