SL INDUSTRIES - Montevideo Technology Inc. history

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

Other acquisitions during the decade included Lube/Systems Corporation, Sculpta Glass Corporation, and the Grinding Wheel division of Michigan General Corp. in 1977.

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.

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.

In 1992 a group led by Wilmer J. Thomas of Palm Beach, Florida, and Martin L. Solomon of Coconut Grove, Florida, who together owned less than 8 percent of SL, nominated a slate of candidates, including themselves, to the board of directors.

In 1997 the company sold SL Auburn, Inc., a move that management said signaled the end of its restructuring effort, and began increasing its investment in product development.

In 1998 the company spent a record $6.3 million on engineering and product development, a 16.7 percent jump over the previous year.

1999 RFL Electronics, Inc. is acquired.

Brubaker, Harold, "Philadelphia-Area Power Supplies Firm Announces Job Cuts, Financial Warning," Philadelphia Inquirer, July 20, 2001.

Business improved in 2004, when SL returned to profitability, earning nearly $8.7 million on revenues of $118.8 million.