AtlasIED announced the celebration of its biggest milestone in 2024 — 90 years in business. Per a statement, Atlas Sound and Innovative Electronic Designs (IED), which merged as one organization as AtlasIED in 2011, has been providing audio and communication solutions to the world since 1934. Now, according to the company, its a global leader in the manufacturing of high-quality commercial audio and communication technology solutions for a variety of applications. These range from transportation to houses of worship.
Building on prior owner Loyd Ivey’s legacy, who passed away in September 2023, AtlasIED and current owner, John Ivey, remains steadfast in its approach to operating as a family-owned business.
The late Loyd Ivey was founder of MiTek Communications, parent company of AtlasIED and MTX. Photo courtesy: Brand Definition/AtlasIED.
“We couldn’t be more proud of our AtlasIED family for reaching 90 years as a global leader in our audio and communications technology,” says John Ivey, president and CEO at AtlasIED. “Arriving at this milestone reinforces our commitment to never-ending growth and service to our customers.”
The company states that it first gained recognition for its high-quality PA loudspeakers and microphone stands. Thereafter, Atlas Sound catapulted itself into a well-rounded manufacturer of technologies that has revolutionized the commercial AV industry. In 2011, Atlas Sound and IED combined its sales, marketing and support teams to better serve customers and market segments. Per a statement, for the past 13 years, the merger has proved to be successful and beneficial in the industry.
Today, the company says it focuses on application-based solutions with a wide and flexible range of installation and aesthetic options. This includes communications and audio platforms along with a broad array of loudspeakers for commercial applications.
Though the company celebrates 90 years in 2024, AtlasIED adds that its beginning can be traced back to the very origin of the commercial sound industry. During the late 1920s, the Warren Harding political campaign demonstrated the need for better sound reproduction than the traditional megaphone as crowds grew at political rallies.
In 1934, Atlas Sound made headlines by being the first company to combine the horn shape of the megaphone with electro-acoustics to create outdoor PA loudspeakers, the company reveals. This greatly improved public audio. According to AtlasIED, it serves as an early example of the versatile solutions available today to airports, hospitality and other applications.
Photo courtesy of AtlasIED.
Bob Reinhardt and Carl Blumenthal, the company’s founders, took a special interest in mechanical devices and tooling. Noticing the demand for microphone stands, the pair began designing and metalworking.
Today, AtlasIED remains a versatile manufacturer with full-time manufacturing facilities in Ennis, Texas and Phoenix, Ariz. The largest of these facilities, about 300,000 square feet, is centrally located in Ennis, Texas. It boasts metalworking, molding machines, robotics and automation, and houses the majority of the company’s inventory, says AtlasIED.
Since its inception, the company notes that it has helped customers improve end-user experiences in some of the most popular venues in the world, such as New York’s LaGuardia Airport and Moynihan Train Hall. It also has supported world-famous talent ranging from Whitney Houston to The Beatles.
“It’s an honor to be able to look back at AtlasIED’s heralded legacy, knowing that there is so much more ahead of us,” says Ivey. “This year, we recognize our accomplishments that serve as a tribute to the people and technology who have made AtlasIED the global leader that it is today. To say we are proud is an understatement — we cannot wait to see what the next 90 years will bring!”
Editor’s note: This was first published on March 22, 2024. It has since been updated on March 26, 2024.
