Jump to content

Zebra Technologies

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zebra Technologies Corporation
Company type
Public
ISINUS9892071054
IndustryComputer hardware, Manufacturing, Retail, Health care, Transportation and logistics
FoundedJune 5, 1969; 56 years ago (June 5, 1969)
Founders
  • Ed Kaplan
  • Gerhard Cless
HeadquartersLincolnshire, Illinois, U.S.
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
  • Anders Gustafsson (chair)
  • William Burns (CEO)
ProductsRFID printers/encoders, barcode printers, mobile printers, card imaging printers, kiosk printers, real-time locating systems, UWB and related supplies and services, rugged mobile computers and tablets, scanners, software
RevenueIncrease US$5.40 billion (2025)
Decrease US$700 million (2025)
Decrease US$419 million (2025)
Total assetsIncrease US$8.50 billion (2025)
Total equityIncrease US$3.59 billion (2025)
Number of employees
10,700 (2025)
Websitezebra.com
Footnotes / references
[1]

Zebra Technologies Corporation (ZBR), commonly known as Zebra, is an American multinational technology conglomerate corporation, specializing in smart data capture systems.[2]

As of 2025, Zebra holds nearly 8,000 patents and patent applications worldwide.[3][4] Zebra (ZBRA) stock has been listed on the NASDAQ since its initial public offering (IPO) in 1991.[5]

History

[edit]

20th century

[edit]

Zebra was incorporated in 1969 as Data Specialties Incorporated, a manufacturer of high-speed electromechanical products.[6] The company changed its focus to specialty on-demand labeling and ticketing systems in 1982 and became Zebra Technologies Corporation in 1986.[7] Zebra became a publicly traded company on the NASDAQ stock exchange in 1991.[8]

In 1986, Zebra (then Data Specialties Incorporated) acquired Qwint Systems.[9][10]

In 1998, Zebra Technologies merged with Eltron International, Inc.[11]

21st century

[edit]

In 2000, Comtec Information Systems was acquired by Zebra Technologies,[12] followed in 2003 by the acquisition of Atlantek, Inc., which was a manufacturer of photo ID printers.[13]

In 2004, the company expanded into RFID smart label manufacturing.[14][15] In the following years, Zebra also acquired Swecoin, WhereNet Corp,[16] Proveo AG,[17] and Navis Holdings (later divested in 2011).[18]

The company bought the Enterprise Solutions Group (ESG) in 2008 and renamed the group Zebra Enterprise Solutions in 2009. In the same year, Multispectral Solutions, Inc. was acquired.[19] In 2012, the companies LaserBand,[20] and StepOne Systems were purchased with a cash price of $1.5 million.[21]

In 2013, the company acquired Hart Systems for $94 million in cash from the private equity firm Topspin Partners LBO.[22]

In 2014, Zebra acquired Motorola Solutions' Enterprise Division in a $3.45 billion transaction, providing mobile computing and advanced data capture communications technologies and services. Zebra's acquisition of the Enterprise Division included the Symbol Technologies and Psion product lines.[22][23] Also in 2014, Zebra provided its real-time location system (RTLS) in NFL stadiums to track players and officials and provide location-based data for the NFL's Next Gen Stats program.[24][25] Zebra’s partnership with the NFL extends through the 2025 football season.[26]

In 2018, the company acquired Xplore Technologies, a maker of ruggedized tablets and other hard-wearing hardware.[27]

In 2019, Zebra acquired Temptime Corporation, a provider of temperature monitoring devices to the healthcare industry.[28] That same year, Zebra also acquired Profitect, a retail software company that developed a product line used for tracking and identifying inventory losses.[29][30]

Zebra TC56 touchscreen handheld device configured in German

In 2020, Zebra acquired Reflexis Systems, a provider of workforce scheduling and task management software to the retail, food service, hospitality, and banking industries[31] for $575 Million.[32]

In 2021, Zebra acquired Adaptive Vision (provider of graphical Machine Vision software), Fetch Robotics (manufacturer of autonomous mobile robots) and Antuit.ai (provider of AI-powered SaaS solutions specific to forecasting and merchandising for the retail and CPG industries).[33][34][35]

In 2022, Zebra acquired Matrox Imaging, a developer of machine vision components and systems.[36]

In December 2023, Zebra partnered with Verizon Business to create a software package that will allow for a faster private 5G network. Zebra tablets and computers will work on Verizon's private network, allowing for more network capacity and fast communication.[37][38]

In 2023, Zebra unveiled Zebra Workcloud - its purpose-built suite of enterprise software applications, primarily serving in retail, banking and healthcare industries.[39] Zebra also introduced the WS50 powered by Workcloud, the first wearable Android touch computer.[40][41]

In August 2025, Zebra announced a $1.3 billion all-cash acquisition of Elo Tech, a touch screen technology maker.[42][43]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Zebra 2025 Annual Report" (PDF). Zebra Technologies. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  2. ^ "About Zebra Technologies | Zebra". Zebra Technologies. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  3. ^ "Zebra Technologies Announces Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2025 Results". Morningstar, Inc. 12 February 2026. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  4. ^ "Zebra Technologies Corporation". www.sec.gov.
  5. ^ "Zebra Technologies (ZBRA) Stock Price History 1991-2026". StockAnalysis. Retrieved 29 April 2026.
  6. ^ "Zebra's co-founder to retire as top exec". Chicago Tribune. 21 September 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  7. ^ "FORM 10-K - Zebra Technologies Corporation" (PDF). SEC. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  8. ^ "About Edward L. Kaplan, MBA '71 - Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation". Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation -. 15 May 2024. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
  9. ^ Loboyko, Steve (April 29, 2006). "Qwint Teleprinter!". Juliepalooza. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023.
  10. ^ Industrial Research Laboratories of the United States. Vol. 17. Jaques Cattell Press. 1982. ISBN 9780835213608 – via Google Books.
  11. ^ "Zebra : Zebra Technologies Corp.'s shareholders..." Chicago Tribune. 26 October 1998.
  12. ^ "History of Zebra Technologies Corporation – FundingUniverse". www.fundinguniverse.com.
  13. ^ "Zebra to maker of photo ID card printers". Chicago Tribune. 20 November 2003.
  14. ^ "RedPrairie Provides Support for Zebra RP4T Mobile Thermal RFID - Bloomberg". Bloomberg (Press release). 24 September 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  15. ^ "Form 10K SEC Filings". 25 September 2016.[dead link]
  16. ^ "Zebra Active RFID Provider WhereNet". www.rfidjournal.com. 12 January 2007. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014.
  17. ^ "Zebra Navis, Proveo". www.rfidjournal.com. 16 October 2007. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014.
  18. ^ "Zebra Technologies sells Navis unit for $190M". Crain's Chicago Business. 31 January 2011.
  19. ^ "Zebra Technologies acquires Multispectral Solutions". DQ Channels. 15 May 2008.
  20. ^ Barr, Diana (13 July 2012). "LaserBand sold to Zebra Technologies". St. Louis Business Journal.
  21. ^ "Retail Touch Points". EWEBsite. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  22. ^ a b Osborne, Charlie. "Zebra Technologies Motorola enterprise unit for $3.5bn - ZDNet". ZDNet.
  23. ^ "Zebra". BIAS Tech. 19 March 2020.
  24. ^ Belzer, Jason. "NFL Partners With Zebra Technologies To Provide Next Generation Player Tracking". Forbes.
  25. ^ "NFL Next Gen Stats". Archived from the original on 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2021-05-26.
  26. ^ "Zebra Technologies extends partnership with NFL through 2025 season". SBJ.
  27. ^ Lunden, Ingrid (July 5, 2018). "Zebra Technologies is buying rugged tablet maker Xplore for around $90M in cash". Tech Crunch.
  28. ^ "Zebra Technologies to Temptime Corporation". www.businesswire.com. 2019-01-28. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  29. ^ Denman, Tim (May 20, 2019). "Zebra Technologies to Acquire Profitect". RIS.
  30. ^ Yablonko, Yasmin (May 22, 2019). "Zebra buys Israeli retail analytics co Profitect for $100m". Globes.
  31. ^ "Zebra Technologies Completes Acquisition of Reflexis Systems, Inc". www.businesswire.com. 2020-09-02. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  32. ^ "Zebra Technologies to Acquire Reflexis Systems, Inc". businesswire.com (Press release). 28 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-18.
  33. ^ "Zebra Technologies makes acquisition, launches machine vision and fixed scanning solutions". Modern Materials Handling. 18 May 2021.
  34. ^ Allinson, Mark (25 October 2021). "Zebra Technologies expands Fetch Robotics portfolio with solution to optimize fulfillment workflows". Robotics & Automation.
  35. ^ Kanaan, Maha (4 November 2021). "Zebra Technologies' Acquisition of Antuit Group". Global Legal Chronicle.
  36. ^ "Zebra Technologies Completes Acquisition of Matrox Imaging". Zebra Technologies. Retrieved 2022-06-07.
  37. ^ "Verizon Business and Zebra Technologies launch device & software solutions to accelerate private 5G". www.verizon.com. 2023-12-06. Archived from the original on 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2023-12-11.
  38. ^ Meyer, Dan (6 December 2023). "Verizon herds Zebra into its private 5G pen with an eye on enterprise". sdxcentral. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  39. ^ "Zebra Technologies unveils reimagined software portfolio at ZONE Customer Conferences". Edge Middle East. October 13, 2023. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  40. ^ "Zebra Technologies to Unveil New Solutions at NRF 2024 Advancing the Modern Store". Nasdaq. January 11, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  41. ^ "StayLinked supports Zebra Technologies ground-breaking WS50". DC Velocity. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  42. ^ "Barcode scanner maker Zebra in $1.3 billion deal to buy Elo Touch, boosts forecasts". Reuters. 8 August 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
  43. ^ "Zebra Technologies to Acquire Elo Touch Solutions for $1.3B | Built In Chicago". Built In Chicago. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
[edit]
  • Official website
  • Business data for Zebra Technologies Corporation:
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zebra_Technologies&oldid=1356403416"