Autron Inc. was formed in 1968 by employees of Eastern Specialties Inc., a manufacturer of spooled paper and tape products. Similar to Eastern Specialties, this was a paper converting company. The business’s initial location was 17 Bond Street, now Nick Cosmos Way. Production was underway in September 1970 in the 14,000-square-foot space.
The company specializes in manufacturing products geared towards the communications and computer technology sectors. There were approximately 14 workers employed at its inception.
By 1973, the demand for the company’s goods had increased rapidly, and additional space was needed. The company relocated to 38 Winter Street, where it employed 50 workers by 1979. Being located in Holyoke, there was a ready availability of outside technical and mechanical services. The company attributed its early success to the local banking industry, government agencies, the availability of real estate, and Holyoke’s highly skilled workforce.
In 1987, Murebeni America acquired Autron. In 1989, Murebeni America Paper Sales Corp., a branch of Murebeni America, acquired Eastern Specialties Inc. Eastern Specialties and Autron merged in 1991 under the name Autron Inc. It was in this year, while working through the merger at 5 Appleton Street, and dealing with a recession, that 39 of its 100 employees were laid off.
In 1993, Autron participated in the National Retail Federation Convention and Exposition in New York City. The company was there to promote its Security Plus Tape, which was coated with ink visible only under ultraviolet light. The purpose of the product was to reduce theft of items from stores, in which a customer would present a copy of a receipt, claiming to have purchased the product taken off the shelf. This was becoming a major issue for retailers. The hope was that this would spur Autron’s sales, which had been lackluster the two preceding years.
In 1993, Autron employed 65 workers in Holyoke, 40 in Dallas, and about 20 in other office locations. Sales were estimated at about $20 million that year.
In August 2000, Graphics Control of Buffalo, New York, acquired the assets of Autron. There was no additional news forthcoming from the buyer or the seller. The Buffalo News reported that the acquisition of assets would add 25 new jobs at the Buffalo facility. The transaction occurred 6 months before Graphics Controls was to open a new $16 million plant in Buffalo.
Citations:
Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Holyoke (Massachusetts) Transcript & Transcript-Telegram; Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; Buffalo (New York) News; publication dates and pages are shown.
