Mark Thek is the author of the book Quantification of Human Emotion. A physicist and engineer by training, Mark Thek served for more than 20 years in various capacities at Esterline Power Systems, most recently as its president. Leach International, currently under the Esterline Corporation umbrella, makes switchgear for aircraft, rail, power distribution, and other uses. It has had an established reputation for quality products over many decades.
Leach International started out as a company producing automatic antenna switches and power relays in 1919. Its founder, Val Leach, worked as a radio operator in the Navy and came up with switching solutions for two-way communications. Within 10 years, Leach Relay Company, Inc., as it was then known, expanded its operations to make other types of relays and switches. Production moved to Los Angeles from San Francisco. The company had begun making a name for itself in the aeronautics industry, producing equipment for military aircraft. In 1941, founder Val Leach died.
In 1949, the G.L. Ohrstrom Company acquired Leach Relay. Following this, Leach Corporation, as it was called after the acquisition, developed “balanced armature" and "balanced force" relays. The designs for its relays raised the bar in the industry. In 1962, Leach moved into the European market with the creation of LRE, a subsidiary.
In the early 1970s, engineers at Leach once again raised the bar by reducing the size of its relays to less than half their previous size. In the late 1970s, Leach Corporation developed miniaturized circuits for time-delay relays, and in the ‘80s, started making solid-state power controllers and modules for automatic power management systems.
In 1992, Leach Corporation moved operations to its current location in Buena Park, California, and in In 1994, combined with LRE to become Leach International. Esterline acquired it in 1996.
Leach International started out as a company producing automatic antenna switches and power relays in 1919. Its founder, Val Leach, worked as a radio operator in the Navy and came up with switching solutions for two-way communications. Within 10 years, Leach Relay Company, Inc., as it was then known, expanded its operations to make other types of relays and switches. Production moved to Los Angeles from San Francisco. The company had begun making a name for itself in the aeronautics industry, producing equipment for military aircraft. In 1941, founder Val Leach died.
In 1949, the G.L. Ohrstrom Company acquired Leach Relay. Following this, Leach Corporation, as it was called after the acquisition, developed “balanced armature" and "balanced force" relays. The designs for its relays raised the bar in the industry. In 1962, Leach moved into the European market with the creation of LRE, a subsidiary.
In the early 1970s, engineers at Leach once again raised the bar by reducing the size of its relays to less than half their previous size. In the late 1970s, Leach Corporation developed miniaturized circuits for time-delay relays, and in the ‘80s, started making solid-state power controllers and modules for automatic power management systems.
In 1992, Leach Corporation moved operations to its current location in Buena Park, California, and in In 1994, combined with LRE to become Leach International. Esterline acquired it in 1996.
