Esterline history

In the summer of 1968, the newly formed Esterline acquired Costa Mesa, California-based Babcock Electronics Corp., a manufacturer of sophisticated electronic devices used for defense-related applications.

The company began acquiring medical supply and equipment companies in 1969.

The company had been located in Darien, Connecticut since 1975.

The company had sold the majority of its healthcare businesses and subsidiaries by 1978 when Esterline sold its hearing aid manufacturing business.

From 1980 forward Esterline's financial growth stagnated, its annual sales volume remaining checked at approximately $250 million.

After exiting the healthcare sector, Esterline had acquired 20 additional companies by 1986.

In November 1987, following the dismissal of the company's executive staff by Esterline's board of directors, the company relocated its corporate headquarters from Darien, Connecticut, to Bellevue, Washington, a suburb of Seattle.

By the end of 1988, the efforts of Martenson and Criton Technologies officials had realized great gains, enabling Esterline to put its decline behind it and face a more promising future.

In 1989, Esterline purchased DKM's remaining 23% share in the company and Criton Technologies' aerospace and defense businesses for a collective $147.5 million.

Esterline also changed chief executives in 1992, with company president and COO Wendell Hurlbut succeeding the retiring Carroll Martenson.

By the following year, 1994, improvements were again evident, as internal efficiencies effected by the company and a revamped product line buoyed Esterline's financial performance.

That year, 80% of Esterline's revenue came from the company's aerospace and defense business, up from 17% in 1995.

Robert Cremin succeeded Hurlbut in January 1999.

In 2002, the company acquired the BAE Systems' North American electronic warfare countermeasures business.

The company purchased Leach International in 2004 for $145 million.

Esterline acquired Darchem Holdings, a British manufacturer of thermally engineered aerospace and defense products including ducting systems and heat shields, in 2005.

In 2006, Esterline purchased Wallop Defence, a British manufacturer of electronic warfare countermeasures, including flares.

The company then acquired CMC Electronics, a Canadian aerospace and defense avionics manufacturer in 2007 for $335 million (USD).

John was featured in a Springfield New-Sun article (Aug 2009), when he retired from the Clark County Fair Board after serving 20 years.

Esterline continued its expansion into the military communications and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) markets with its purchase of Eclipse Electronic Systems, a manufacturer of signal and communication intelligence hardware for aerospace applications in 2011.

In September 2013, Esterline appointed Curtis Reusser to succeed Brad Lawrence as the company's CEO. Reusser had formerly served as president of United Technologies Corporation's aircraft systems business.

In February 2015, Esterline acquired the defense and aerospace division of the Belgium-based display manufacturer, Barco.

In 2016, Esterline & Sons was purchased by Waldo’s great nephew, John Maurer, and Plant Manager Mike Stollings.