It started with an offhand request.
Such sparks of innovation frequently do.
Roger Jones, then working for a Chanute company making radar detectors, had a friend in the towing business looking for a way to wirelessly control his tow truck’s lift.
“I just pushed it off for a while, for the mere fact that I figured there were all kinds of things he could use,” Jones recalled.
But Jones’ friend persisted.
“So I did some research, and figured out there really was not anything in the industry for him to use,” Jones said.
It took about a year for Jones to eventually come up with a wireless controller for a six-function wheel lift.
Jones was proud of his prototype; so much so, he took it to various trade shows, to see if others would be interested.
“The towing industry could use them, but the numbers really weren’t there to support” mass manufacturing such devices.
But other industries could.
“At the time, there was not much equipment that was retrofittable, where you could just plug and play,” Jones recalled.
Jones started filling that niche. In February 1991, Microtronics was born.
Fast forward to April 2016.
Microtronics celebrated its 25th anniversary Friday with a barbecue and employee party to recognize the company’s ability to withstand numerous challenges it faces on a daily basis.
“I don’t know where the past 25 years went,” Jones said with a laugh. “It went by in a hurry. It has been a great 25 years, and we hope to see many years to come.”
