Oak Industries Inc. is a leading supplier of components to manufacturers and service providers in the communications industry. Two niche markets generate the company’s revenues: communications components and controls components. The communications components divisions consist of Gilbert Engineering, a manufacturer of cable connectors; Laserton Inc., a manufacturer of active fiber optic components; and Oak Frequency Control Group, a manufacturer of quartz-based crystals and oscillators. The communications components are used mainly in communications networks, including telephone service, cable television, and cellular communications. The controls components divisions consist of OakGrisby, a leading manufacturer of switches and encoders for use in commercial, medical, and military applications; and Harper-Wyman, a major supplier for the gas range industry. In 1996, the company was in a strong financial position for growth in their industry segments; in fact, some analysts predicted double digit growth.
