Runco International

Runco International is a subsidiary of Planar Systems, Inc. (PLNR, NASDAQ), an American multinational corporation headquartered in Beaverton, OR, that manufactures a wide range of display devices.

Runco International was founded by Sam Runco with wife, Lori, in northern California in 1987. He is a founding member of CEDIA(Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association) and has also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from CEDIA and been inducted into Dealerscope magazine’s Hall Of Fame and for his contributions to the home theater industry.

The first large screen projection system to display the Runco name was introduced in 1970. Prior to the incorporation of Runco International the company functioned as Runco Video. Cinemabeam was Runco Video’s first projector to feature external convergence controls that allowed the video image to be projected onto large screens. Two years later, Runco magnified the image of a 15" television using a fresnel lens to project it onto a wall, a turning point for the future of the company and large screen entertainment.

Runco International was incorporated in 1987 and launched the Runco International HT (Home Theater) video projector. The company later added significant performance enhancements and features to better accommodate the growing video market for home theater enthusiasts and its dealers. As the home theater market expanded, the company acquired additional brands within the consumer electronics custom installation channel, including the purchase of the Vidikron video display brand. By the early 1990s, Runco International had expanded its corporate offices in California, and developed worldwide distribution. It had become a popular brand of CRT projectors, selling models produced by other manufacturers such as Zenith Electronics, NEC, and Barco modified for greater home theater suitability.

Runco last recorded net sales as a private company of $54.6 million in the 12 months ending March 31, 2007. In May 2007, Runco was acquired by Planar Systems, Inc. Runco operations including product design, manufacturing, customer service, marketing and training teams have been transitioned to Planar’s headquarters located in Beaverton, Oregon, USA.

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