Gould Electronics Inc history

Shields established plants throughout the country and pursued growth through a series of acquisitions during the 1920s.

Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Japan Energy CorporationIncorporated: 1928 as Gould Storage BatteryEmployees: 3,000Sales: $280 millionSICs: 3497 Metal Foil & Leaf; 3674 Semiconductors &Related Devices

By 1930, the company had become an established name in the battery industry and was one of the largest manufacturers of industrial batteries in the country.

The fiberglass separator batteries were perfected for automobiles, and, in 1936, Shields introduced a significant advancement in the industry.

GOULD, INC., once a leading defense contractor in the Cleveland area, began doing business in Cleveland in 1945 as Gould Storage Battery.

In addition, the acquisitions of other battery manufacturers doubled the size of the company; in 1948 revenues grew to $50 million and earnings to $3.1 million.

In 1958 Gould-National acquired from White Machine Works a group of companies that manufactured parts for internal combustion engines.

Having worked his way up to a group vice presidency and directorship at G.A.T., he joined Gould - then known as Gould National Batteries -in 1967 as chairman and chief executive officer.

In 1969, the company reported total sales of $342 million and earnings over $12 million.

Another major acquisition in 1976 helped Gould strengthen its position in electronics: I-T-E Imperial Corporation focused on distribution, transmission, and control of electricity, and manufactured hydraulics and fluid power systems.

All this is a major subtheme in a corporate stratagy that has resulted in sales more than quintupling in a decade while profits marched steadily ahead for nine years, until 1980.

Gould employed over 2,500 at its Ocean Systems, Foil Recording Systems & Controls Division in 1985 and was Greater Cleveland's largest defense contractor.

By 1986, the board encouraged the resignation of Ylvisaker, and, after he stepped down, McDonald took over his position.

In 1987, Nippon Mining and Metals, Japan's largest non-ferrous metals smelting company, acquired Gould Inc. for over $1 billion.

In 1988, Nippon Mining Co.

Following the merger of Nippon Mining with Kyodo Oil Company in 1992, resulting in the formation of Nikko Kyodo Co., the new conglomerate invested $150 million in Gould in an effort to restructure the Eastlake-based company and renovate its copper foil production facilities.

In December 1993 Nikko Kyodo changed its name to Japan Energy Corporation, to reflect the company’s commitment to energy supply, new business growth, and technological development.

According to Japan Energy Corporation’s 1994 annual report, the businesses transferred to Gould Electronics and Gould Instrument Systems had promising growth areas and good operating performance in their first stage of operation.

Bethany is a self-confessed stationery-lover and has a particular penchant for writing lists and arranging her thoughts and goals with the help of fancy pens and colourful notebooks. It’s no wonder that when she first started working for the business back in 2010, she took to organising like a duck to water.

David appointed Bethany as Managing Director in October 2020 to free up the time needed to concentrate on his health.