When East Coast conglomerate Crane Aerospace & Electronics acquired Hydro-Aire Inc. in 1951, Crane was still making a name for itself in the aerospace industry. Hydro-Aire on the other hand, despite its comparatively small size, was very well-known. The Burbank-based manufacturer was the inventor of the anti-skid brake control system for jets – a technology that is still widely used today. Hydro-Aire would later officially merge with Crane Aerospace in the late 1980s, but its factory continues to manufacture the same brake systems that it pioneered in the 1940s. Hydro-Aire was a key manufacturer within the aerospace industry because it specialized in a particular niche product – one that was inventive, unique, and required a great deal of skill and expertise to manufacture. It allowed the company to capitalize on a select facet of the aerospace industry on a global scale for years, despite having only one plant in the entire United States. And that is the story of many longtime Valley manufacturers. A number of other San Fernando Valley companies, also started in the years prior to and during World War II, followed a similar path to Hydro-Aire. With only one factory, they all manufactured highly specialized niche products, which in turn has allowed them to thrive within their respective competitive industries for decades. “Anyone who manufactures displays owns at least one of our instruments,” says the president of Photo Research Inc. Francis Dominic. Photo Research Inc. was founded by Karl Freund in 1941 in Burbank. At the time, Freund was a famous cinematographer, whose body of work included such films as “Metropolis,” and “Dracula,” as well as television programs like “I Love Lucy.” Freund was approached by the movie industry to perfect a light meter to measure light levels while filming, otherwise known as a photometer. The resulting photometer, as well as other Photo Research instruments including a color-reading meter (known as a colorimeter), would go on to receive several awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for cinematic technical achievement. At the time of their founding, Dominic stated that there were few other companies making these types of instruments, thus allowing them to excel in supplying these products to the film industry. Since the 1940s, the company has relocated to Chatsworth, and expanded its clientele base to extend well beyond the film industry. Dominic explained that companies that create products that emit light need a way of measuring it to ensure that the levels are safe (but visible) to the human eye. These products include cell phones, digital projectors, televisions, LED lights, automobile and aircraft displays, and even architectural light fixtures. Post-production film companies and the home entertainment industry also need a way of calibrating their screens and equipment as well. “Our instruments are even used to measure ocean pollution and the vintages of rare wines,” said Dominic. “If a company needs an instrument to measure light or color, they come to us.” Keeping up In order to stay ahead of their competitors and satisfy their customers, Dominic said that Photo Research is always trying to keep up with the latest technical trends. He stated that his aim for the future is to make his products as portable as possible, while still being able to measure a truly dynamic range of light and color. Dominic also stated that much of their success can be attributed to the company’s origins and reputation. “We were and are the pioneers and innovators in this field. Our name has a history, and many companies would love to have our instruments, because they have a reputation for their high quality.” In the aerospace industry, Malabar International, much like Hydro-Aire, also capitalized on a unique niche product involving aircraft. Founded by E.P. “Ed” Grime in 1935 in Los Angeles, Malabar was initially a small-scale machine shop that specialized in custom hydraulics. In 1939, Grime was approached by Lockheed to create a series of jacks designed specifically for airplanes. They were based off of a tripod design, and were operated by hydraulics. Not only were these the first jacks to be made solely for use with aircraft, they were also the first to incorporate unique safety features – such as locknuts to prevent any inadvertent lowering of the jacks – so as to ensure the safety of those working underneath the plane. Since then, Malabar has become one of the top global manufacturers of airplane jacks; with only one other competitor in the United States and five others in the world. “We’ve been around for so long because we developed a good, reliable, and very durable design,” says Chairman and CEO John Carroll. “Sure we keep modernizing our products, but all in all, the jacks themselves haven’t changed all that much in 70 years.” Technical support Carroll also credited his company’s longevity to the fact that they emphasize their ability to provide timely technical support for their customers. The company has changed somewhat since the early days, as it relocated throughout California several times over the years, finally settling in Simi Valley during the late 1970s. Malabar also expanded its product line to include fluid dispensers (for hydraulics) and service carts for aircraft maintenance. Carroll said that Malabar will continue to provide its specialized products for the aerospace industry, and that the company as a whole is gearing up for the new Boeing project: the much-anticipated Boeing 787 Dreamliner. “Every time a new plane like the Dreamliner is built, new equipment must also be built,” says Carroll. These will include new jacks, maintenance tools, and new fluid dispensary systems for the liner’s innovative composite design. Carroll also plans on expanding his operations within the San Fernando Valley as well. “We are thinking of getting into jacks for the automobile industry, but otherwise our plans for the future are to expand our operations locally, and also continue as a leader within the aircraft jack industry,” said Carroll. Within the display industry, Industrial Electronic Engineers – which was founded in North Hollywood by Donald Gumpertz in 1946 – has been manufacturing its niche products for well over 60 years. While it originally manufactured automatic control systems, in 1956 the company created a rear projection readout display as a value-added service for one of its control customers. There was such a high-demand for the new display system that IEE started to manufacture them instead. “We were the first to use vacuum florescent glass to make a display module,” said regional sales manager Jodie Bennett. “A lot of different technologies utilize displays like ours,” says CEO Steve Motter. “Our clients are very diverse.” Since its founding, the company has relocated to Van Nuys, and greatly expanded its client base. According to Motter and Bennett, IEE manufactures displays for companies that manufacture POS displays like ATMs, gas pumps, or DVD vending machines, as well as ScanVue price checkers, and even handheld displays for the military. “Some of our most innovative products are handheld IED (improvised explosive devices) jammers for the military. We are one of the leading manufacturers of these devices. They save a lot of lives overseas,” said Motter. “One of the greatest difficulties that we have is making sure our devices are able to withstand the elements,” said Bennett. “The outdoor POS displays undergo a lot of extreme temperatures. In fact, what they go through on a regular basis is often worse than what our military devices will ever experience.” Motter stated that their longevity within the display business is due in part to their expertise in the field, their loyal customer base, and the fact that the company is always vying to remain on the cutting edge. “For 60 plus years we have been manufacturing displays,” says Motter. “We have a great reputation and a rapport with our customers.” Motter said that their future products will place more emphasis on portability, high-definition, and 3-D displays. He also noted though, that despite its years of expertise in the field, IEE has to keep up with new technologies and trends in order to retain its cutting edge. “In this industry, you always have to keep reinventing the wheel,” said Bennett. Runway Help: A Malabar jack is pulled up to an airplane in this photo from the company’s early years. Malabar International Malabar International was founded by E. P. Grime in 1935 in Los Angeles. The company originally specialized in hydraulics, but in 1939, was approached by Lockheed to design a series of tripod jacks for airplanes. Malabar would go on to produce the first jacks designed solely for aircraft. Since then, the company has relocated to Simi Valley and also expanded its product line to include aircraft service carts, aircraft fluid dispensers and portable aircraft hydraulic test stands. Malabar is currently one of the top global manufacturers of airplane jacks. Industrial Electronic Engineers Inc. IEE was founded in 1946 in North Hollywood by Donald Gumpertz. Originally, it specialized in producing automatic control systems and rear projection readouts. Since then, it has relocated its headquarters to Van Nuys, and expanded its production line to include point of sale displays, ScanVue price checkers, and military handheld displays. While Gumpertz no longer serves as CEO, he continues to assist managing the company as the current chairman of the board of directors. Photo Research Inc. Photo Research Inc. was founded in 1941 by Karl Freund in Burbank. A world-famous cinematographer, Freund utilized his cinematic expertise to invent new light and color meters for the film industry. His company would later go on to receive several Academy Awards for its cinematic technical achievements. Since its founding, the company has relocated to Chatsworth, and it now markets its products toward other industries aside from film, including aerospace, home entertainment, transportation and more. Crane Aerospace & Electronics Crane Aerospace & Electronics in Burbank was formerly known as Hydro-Aire, Inc, and was founded in 1943 by Homer Rhoads. Though it originally manufactured soldering irons and wall heaters, Hydro-Aire is actually credited with inventing the first anti-skid brake control system for jet aircraft. The plant was acquired by Crane in 1951, but the plant still manufactures the brake control system that it invented, as well as other critical aircraft systems designed by the Crane Aerospace group.
