Zebra Technologies Corporation
Company History
Zebra Technologies History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 1969 in Chicago, Illinois, United States
When was Zebra Technologies founded?
Zebra Technologies was founded in 1969 in Chicago, Illinois, United States by Edward Kaplan and Gerhard Cless, making it 57 years old.
- Founded
- 1969
- Founding place
- Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Founders
- Edward Kaplan and Gerhard Cless
- Headquarters today
- Lincolnshire, Illinois, United States
- Milestones documented
- 10 (1969–2025)
- Current CEO
- Bill Burns
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1969 | Data Specialties founded |
| 1986 | Renamed Zebra Technologies |
| 1991 | Initial public offering |
| 1998 | Eltron International Merger |
| 2014 | Motorola enterprise business acquired |
| 2020 | Reflexis Systems Acquired |
| 2021 | Fetch Robotics Acquired |
| 2022 | Matrox Imaging acquired |
| 2023 | Bill Burns becomes CEO |
| 2025 | Elo acquisition |
- Where was Zebra Technologies founded?
- Zebra Technologies was founded in Chicago, Illinois, United States in 1969.
- Who founded Zebra Technologies?
- Zebra Technologies was founded by Edward Kaplan and Gerhard Cless.
- When did Zebra Technologies start?
- Zebra Technologies was founded in 1969.
- How old is Zebra Technologies?
- Zebra Technologies is 57 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Zebra Technologies was founded in 1969 as Data Specialties Incorporated by Ed Kaplan and Gerhard Cless. Originally operating out of a small office in Chicago, the company manufactured high-speed electromechanical products like paper tape punches. In 1982, recognizing the massive logistical potential of the emerging barcode standard, the company pivoted entirely to on-demand barcode labeling and ticketing systems, eventually renaming itself Zebra Technologies in 1986 to reflect the black-and-white nature of barcodes.
Founders
Edward Kaplan
Edward Kaplan co-founded Data Specialties (later Zebra Technologies) in 1969 with a $1,000 investment. He served as the company's CEO for 38 years, guiding its pivotal transition into the barcode printing industry and driving its highly successful 1991 IPO. Under his leadership, Zebra became the global standard for industrial supply chain tracking. (Exact birth year remains publicly undisclosed).
Gerhard Cless
Gerhard Cless co-founded Zebra Technologies alongside Ed Kaplan. As the primary engineering architect, he designed the company's first barcode printers, which fundamentally changed how massive global supply chains tracked inventory. He served as Executive Vice President of Engineering, holding numerous patents for thermal printing technology. Gerhard Cless was born in 1939.
Key Milestones
Data Specialties founded
Edward Kaplan and Gerhard Cless founded the business that later became Zebra Technologies.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgRenamed Zebra Technologies
Data Specialties was renamed Zebra Technologies in 1986.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgEltron International Merger
Zebra merged with the printer maker Eltron International in 1998.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMotorola enterprise business acquired
Zebra bought Motorola Solutions' enterprise business for $3.45 billion.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgReflexis Systems Acquired
Zebra bought the workforce-management software company Reflexis Systems in 2020 for about $575 million.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFetch Robotics Acquired
Zebra bought the warehouse-robot maker Fetch Robotics in 2021 for about $290 million.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgMatrox Imaging acquired
Zebra acquired machine vision company Matrox Imaging for $875 million.
Source: sec.govMajor Acquisitions
Motorola Solutions' Enterprise Business
2014Add mobile computers, scanners, and wireless products.
Matrox Imaging
2022Add machine vision software and hardware.
Elo Touch Solutions
2025Add touchscreen, kiosk, and point-of-sale devices.
Keep researching Zebra Technologies
Zebra Technologies Company History FAQ
When, where, and how was Zebra Technologies originally founded?
Zebra Technologies was founded in 1969 in Chicago, Illinois, by Edward Kaplan and Gerhard Cless as Data Specialties Incorporated, initially manufacturing electromechanical punch tape machinery.
When did the company introduce barcode printers and change its name?
The company introduced its first on-demand thermal barcode printer in 1982 and officially changed its name to Zebra Technologies Corporation in 1986 to reflect its distinctive black-and-white striped labels.
When did Zebra Technologies complete its initial public offering?
Zebra completed its initial public offering on the NASDAQ stock exchange under ticker symbol ZBRA in August 1991, raising capital to expand international sales and product development.
What was the landmark acquisition of Motorola Solutions' Enterprise business in 2014?
In October 2014, Zebra acquired Motorola Solutions' Enterprise business for $3.45 billion in cash, more than doubling Zebra's revenue and adding rugged mobile computers, scanners, and RFID readers.
How did Zebra expand into warehouse automation and robotics?
In 2021, Zebra acquired Fetch Robotics for $290 million, integrating autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to automate material transport and pallet picking in distribution centers.
How does the National Football League (NFL) use Zebra's tracking technology?
Since 2014, Zebra has served as the Official On-Field Player-Tracking Provider for the NFL, embedding RFID chips in player shoulder pads and footballs to capture real-time Next Gen Stats.
How did Zebra transition from hardware to software and workforce analytics?
Through acquisitions like Reflexis Systems in 2020 and Matrox Imaging in 2022, Zebra added cloud workforce scheduling, task management software, and industrial machine vision inspection.
Where is Zebra Technologies headquartered today?
Zebra Technologies is headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, operating research facilities, customer solution centers, and distribution networks in over 50 countries worldwide.
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