Roper Technologies history

As the success engendered by the implementation of the product manager system grew, Key moved up Roper Industries' corporate ladder, becoming president of Roper Industries' primary revenue-generating engine, Roper Pump Company, in November 1985.

In 1988, a battle began as General Electric and Whirlpool fought to acquire Roper for its appliances and yard equipment.

Less than four years later, in February 1989, Key was named president of Roper Industries, assuming the company's presidential post at a time when annual sales hovered around $35 million and earnings stood at $2 million.

1990: The company acquires Amot Controls Corporation, a manufacturer of valves, switches, and sensors.

In September 1992, Roper Industries acquired Compressor Controls Corporation, the world's leading turbocompressor control manufacturer, for an estimated $35 million.

When shipments to Gazprom began in April 1993, however, expectations were high and largely substantiated by the year's end.

Roper Industries found such a company in August 1994 when it acquired Instrumentation Scientifique de Laboratoire, S.A. (ISL) for approximately $10.5 million.

Toward this objective, the company announced the completion of its acquisition of Houston, Texas-based Metrix Instrument Company in October 1995.

1996: The company acquires Gatan International, a manufacturer of electron microscopy control systems.

By December 1997, president Derrick Key announced that Gazprom would need to secure substantial funds by the middle of 1998, otherwise Roper would reduce its business or abandon the deal altogether. As a result, Roper canceled a $12 million shipment to Gazprom in October 1997.

Announces the Signing of a Letter of Intent for Its Largest Acquisition to Date," PR Newswire, July 28, 1998, http://www.elibrary.com. "Roper Industries, Inc.

In 2001, Brian Jellison, a former executive of General Electric and Ingersoll-Rand, joined Roper as chief executive officer.

In the first quarter of 2002, Roper's analytical instrumentation segment had grown to net sales of $82 million.