Profile: Zebra Technologies Corp (ZBRA.O)

Zebra Technologies Corporation (Zebra), incorporated in 1969, designs, manufactures and sells specialty printing devices that print variable information on demand at the point of issuance. These devices are used worldwide by manufacturers, service organizations and governments for automatic identification, data collection and personal identification in applications. Zebra’s product range consists of direct thermal and thermal transfer label and receipt printers, passive radio frequency identification (RFID) printer/encoders, dye sublimation card printers and digital photo printers. It also sells a range of specialty supplies consisting of self-adhesive labels, thermal transfer ribbons, thermal printheads, batteries and other accessories, including software for label design and printer network management. As of December 31, 2008, Zebra had sold over 7,500,000 printers to customers around the world. On April 1, 2008, Zebra acquired Multispectral Solutions, Inc. (MSSI). MSSI is a global provider of ultra wideband (UWB) real-time locating systems and other UWB-based wireless technology.

The Company designs its printer products to operate at the point of issuance to produce and dispense labels, tickets, receipts and plastic cards. The Company’s printers are used to produce bar code labels, passive RFID smart labels, receipts, plastic identification cards, wristbands and tags. It also sells related specialty labeling materials, thermal ink ribbons, and bar code label design and network management software. These products are used to provide bar code labeling, personal identification and specialty printing solutions principally in the manufacturing supply chain, retail, healthcare and government sectors of the economy.

As of December 31, 2008, the Company offered 56 thermal printer models with variations, in eight categories, such as performance tabletop printers; RFID printer/encoders for passive high frequency (HF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF), radio frequency identification (RFID) in the retail supply chain, for defense logistics and other applications; Mid-range tabletop printers, which are designed for commercial applications; Desktop printers; Mobile printers; Print engines, which are sold to manufacturers and integrators of high-speed automatic label applicator systems and available with or without RFID smart label capabilities; Kiosk and ticket printers, for use in kiosks and other unattended printing applications; Card printers, which print national identity cards, driver’s licenses, employee identification badges, gift cards and personalized cards.

Zebra offers label design and integration software for Zebra bar code label printers. In addition to Zebra’s label design and printer configuration tools, such as, ZebraDesigner, ZebraDesigner Pro, ZebraDesigner for XML and ZebraDesigner Label Design Software, the Company added Enterprise Connector Solution for Oracle Business Intelligence Publisher, which delivers integration between Oracle and Zebra printers, during the year ended December 31, 2008. Zebra provides depot maintenance and repair services at repair centers in Vernon Hills, Illinois; Camarillo, California; Canada; Preston, United Kingdom; China; and the Netherlands. Zebra Authorized Service Providers (ZASP) also provides repair services for Zebra products at their locations. In addition, Zebra offers on-site repair services for tabletop printers in the United States. Zebra also provides technical support from in-house support personnel located in the United States, the United Kingdom and Singapore.

The Company competes with Altech, Argox, Avery Dennison, Boca Systems, Brother International, Canon, CIM, Citizen, CognitiveTPG, ColorX, Copal, Custom, Danaher, Datacard, Datamax-O’Neil, a unit of Dover Corporation, Dymo, a Newell Rubbermaid Company, Epson, Evolis, Extech, Fargo Electronics, Fuji, Godex, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi, Intermec Technologies, Lexmark International, LogickaComp, MagiCard, Matica, Microcom, Mitsubishi, NBS, Nisca, Oki Data, Olmec, Olympus, Practical Automation, Printronix, Sato, Seiko Instruments, Shinko, Song Woo Electronics, Sony, Star Micronics, Taiwan Semiconductor, ToshibaTEC, Victor Data Systems, Woosim and Xerox.