PCB Piezotronics

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[edit] History

The name "PCB" is acronym for "PicoCoulomB" which is technical terminology defining an electrical charge of the type generated by the piezoelectric sensors they manufacture. "Piezotronics" combines the science of Piezoelectricity and electronics. PCB manufactures sensors and related instrumentation. Sensors are small electromechanical instruments for the measurement of acceleration, dynamic pressure, force, acoustics, torque, load, strain, shock, vibration and sound.

Founded by Robert W. Lally and James F. Lally in 1967, PCB Piezotronics has evolved from a family business to a large company engineering and manufacturing operation, with technical emphasis on the incorporation of integrated circuit-piezoelectric sensor technology. In 1967, these ICP* sensors (Integrated Circuit-Piezoelectric), sensors incorporating microelectronic circuitry, were developed and marketed.

The 1970's for PCB Piezotronics saw expansion of its standard product offerings, to include other types of sensor technologies. In 1971, the company developed a 100,000 g high-shock, ICP* quartz accelerometer; Impulse Hammers for structural excitation were developed in 1972; and in 1973, the first rugged, industrial-grade ICP* accelerometer was introduced to serve the emerging machinery health monitoring market. Employment grew to 25 employees. By 1975, PCB had become one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of piezoelectric sensors.

During the 1980s, PCB continued to develop new products. In 1982, the Structcel* Modal Array Sensing System was developed to ease sensor installation and reduce set-up time on larger-scale modal surveys. Modally-Tuned* Impulse Hammers won the IR-100 Award as one of the top 100 technical developments for 1983. The 128-channel Data Harvester was invented in 1984 to provide sensor power and speed modal analysis by offering automatic bank switching capability. In 1986, PCB developed the first commercial quartz shear-structured, ICP* accelerometer. Additionally in 1980, PCB broke ground on six acres of land at 3425 Walden Avenue for its new quartz technology center, a location which it continues to occupy today. The facility doubled in size in 1985, and in 1996 an additional was added. An acre of land to the west of the building was purchased for future expansion and in 1999 a 30,000 square foot addition was completed.

In 1995, Underwriters Laboratory certified PCB to the International Quality Standard ISO-9001. In January 2002, The American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) recognized PCB with accreditation to ISO 17025, an international standard for assuring technical competence in calibration and testing.

Today, is organized into various divisions and product grous, and has representation in more than 60 countries worldwide. These divisions include PCB Automotive Sensors, based in Novi, Michigan; PCB Aerospace & Defense; IMI Sensors; and Larson Davis. PCB product groups include Shock and Vibration; Acoustics; Force; Pressure; and Electronics.

Additional information on the company and its core competencies may be found on the company's website, located at www.pcb.com.