SL Industries history

The acquisition spree continued after Gaugler's departure, as the company bought Dependable Printed Circuit Corp. and Galaxie Manufacturing Company in 1968.

1970 The name is changed to SGL Industries.

In January 1984 it sold its printed circuit division, and two months later divested B&S Screw Machine Products.

The Modern Creative division was sold in February 1985, followed by the sale of SL Homalite Corp. in May of the same year, and its Electronics division in August. As a result, SL entered 1986 with a business mix that included electrical products, aviation, metalworking, and plastics, with electrical products and aviation contributing 65 percent of all sales.

At the age of 64, Instone turned over the president and CEO roles to Daryl L. Renschler, 20 years younger, in February 1988 in what the company called an orderly transition.

The company painted Thomas as little more than a "greenmailer," because in 1990 he had met with SL's chairman and indicated he might be interested in selling back his stock to the company.

1995 Teal Electronics Corporation is acquired.

Also in 1998, SL improved its global presence by acquiring a German company, Elektro-Metall Export GmbH, a designer and manufacturer of PDQ products, such as actuators, motor controllers, and power distribution units used by industrial and aerospace original equipment manufacturers.

Credit Suisse First Boston was hired in February 2001 to help management explore "strategic alternatives." A group of dissident shareholders, again led by Lichtenstein, pressed for a quick sale of the company.

2002 Warren Lichtenstein is named CEO and chairman.

Taylor had been the company's chief operating officer and had played a key role in SL's turnaround, which continued in 2005.

Although the name SL Power Electronics has only been around since 2006, there is a lot more history that defines the organization.