334:(DEC), a major enterprise computer company based in Massachusetts, also invested $ 500,000 in Equinox that year. That year, Equinox posted its first profitable financial quarters. In March 1986, by which point the company employed 100, Equinox expanded their lease in the business park where they were headquartered from 25,000 square feet to 57,000 square feet, in anticipation of a doubling of their workforce. In 1989, the company introduced their first Ethernet-based product with the ELS-48
24:
186:
374:. The IPO soon went sour, Equinox's share price dropping from a high of $ 11.50 in March to $ 3.75 in January 1994. At the time of their IPO, Hambrecht & Quist's 3.9-percent stake in Equinox was valued at $ 1.7 million, but by the following January, the same stake was worth $ 544,000, not much higher than their initial $ 500,000 investment back in 1984. This drop prompted
353:
in August 1992. The hurricane had ripped the roof off of
Equinox's main building, flooding the administrative office, destroying 90 percent of its computer systems, and totaling $ 2 million worth of completed inventory. The company was saved by mission-critical documents and electronic data
274:
liked data PBXes due to their interoperability with older computer equipment and lower cost, compared to setting up newer cutting-edge
Ethernet-based LANs. Despite the circumstances of their founding, Equinox avoided competing directly with Racal-Milgo, instead targeting the California-based
387:, serving as their new headquarters. By this point the company had stabilized at 100 employees. The move to Sunset was completed by early 1997. Equinox peaked in the late 1990s, reporting record earnings between 1997 and 1999, before the company was hit hard again in 2000.
362:, offered Equinox temporary office space for a diminished lease. Equinox's move to Plantation in Broward was later made permanent. In 1994, Equinox purchased the remaining floor space of the Plantation office formerly occupied by Encore, who had since moved out.
314:. Despite its popularity, the company posted losses of $ 432,000 and $ 281,000 in 1983 and 1984 respectively, this in spite of the company receiving $ 3 million in further financing from multiple venture capital firms, including
222:
ongoing at the time of the company's foundation. The company was soon joined by eight other former employees of Racal-Milgo who also wanted to avoid moving northward, and by
November 1983, Equinox had ten employees on its payroll.
213:
in 1982, to the chagrin of
Dambrackas and Cole, who did not want to relocate their families in order to keep their jobs. In early 1983, they obtained $ 1.1 million in financial backing from TA Associates, a
349:
In a dramatic twist of fate, Equinox was forced to re-establish itself in
Broward County, near the founders' ex-employer Racal-Milgo, after Equinox's South Dade headquarters were destroyed by
1093:
1108:
1088:
1078:
407:, announced their acquisition of Equinox for $ 57 million. The acquisition was finalized in January 2001. Equinox remained a subsidiary of Avocent for several years.
1083:
1073:
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519:
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1068:
209:
and other telecommunications equipment that had offices in South Miami-Dade. Racal-Milgo announced their intent to move 40 miles north to
1103:
190:
146:
282:
Equinox's data PBX in proved a hot-seller, the company gaining large corporations as customers; among their clientele in 1985
259:
383:
In
February 1995, the company announced their raising of a 45,000-square-foot office building, on seven acres of land, in
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The company considered going public in 1986, but they delayed this move until March 1993, when they issued their
291:
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210:
218:-based investment firm, and in March 1983, they formally incorporated Equinox Systems, named so after the
527:
201:, in 1983 by Bill Dambrackas, Mark Cole, and Kevin Doren. Dambrackas and Cole had previously worked for
343:
315:
161:
141:, and active from 1983 to 2000. The company started out selling a well-regarded series of enterprise
404:
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230:, was released to market in early 1984, retailing for US$ 30,000. Data PBXes were a form of
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systems for data transmissions in the early 1980s, before becoming a major vendor and
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172:, in 2000, who kept the company around as a subsidiary for several years.
263:
154:
505:(39). IDG Publications: 23. September 30, 1991 – via Google Books.
784:"Plantation waives occupational fees for relocation S. Dade businesses"
396:
295:
165:
112:
1025:(14). Rogers Publishing: 31. September 18, 2002 – via ProQuest.
215:
433:. Dow Jones & Company: 1. November 7, 2000 – via ProQuest.
427:"Avocent Corp.: Agreement to Buy Equinox Has $ 57 Million Price Tag"
262:
and became antiquated in the early 1980s amid rapid developments in
756:"Ethernet PBX gateway, LAT-compatible server announced by Equinox"
526:. American City Business Journals. January 8, 2001. Archived from
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In 1985, the company received $ 2.5 million in capital from
234:
developed in the 1970s, which facilitated communications between
303:
672:"Unfashionable data PBXs are ideal for wide area networks"
552:"How a little high-tech firm beats industry's doldrums"
279:, who cornered 40 percent of the data PBX market.
164:
cards in the 1990s. Equinox was eventually acquired by
137:
hardware and developer of networking software based in
836:: 21. September 12, 1994 – via Newspapers.com.
766:(45). Reed Business Information: 8 – via Gale.
737:"4 firms used to show off county's business climate"
724:(39). IDG Publications: 19 – via Google Books.
456:(13). IDG Publications: 54 – via Google Books.
354:
having been stored safely offsite. In
October 1992,
928:: 7B. February 25, 1997 – via Newspapers.com.
922:"Equinox sales strong for year, dipped for quarter"
380:to call Equinox one of 1993's riskier investments.
358:, a Massachusetts-based company who had offices in
118:
107:
89:
69:
46:
38:
30:
964:: 3C. January 26, 1999 – via Newspapers.com.
910:: 1C. February 8, 1995 – via Newspapers.com.
495:"Equinox terminal server links to Unix, VAX hosts"
873:: 1C. March 11, 1986 – via Newspapers.com.
790:. October 4, 1992: 8 – via Newspapers.com.
653:"Entrepreneur gets nod for going out on his own"
585:: 61. April 30, 1984 – via Newspapers.com.
1094:Defunct computer companies of the United States
985:: 3C. July 14, 2000 – via Newspapers.com.
946:: 1C. July 17, 1997 – via Newspapers.com.
598:"Dade taking small bytes into computer bonanza"
446:"Small PBXs: To integrate or not to integrate"
973:
971:
520:"Avocent Corp. completes Equinox acquisition"
8:
1003:: 20. November 8, 2000 – via ProQuest.
579:"Equinox Systems gets $ 3-million financing"
16:
830:"Project sold for less than '83 land price"
573:
571:
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695:"Data PBX Marketplace Continues to Thrive"
545:
543:
541:
539:
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15:
1109:Networking companies of the United States
1089:Computer companies disestablished in 2001
1079:American companies disestablished in 2001
801:
799:
797:
940:"Earnings hit record at Equinox Systems"
849:"Technology industry faces more trouble"
754:Bowen, Ted Smalley (November 13, 1989).
193:-based multi-port serial controller card
904:"Equinox to build Broward headquarters"
777:
775:
773:
712:Korzeniowski, Paul (December 1, 1986).
682:(39). Ziff-Davis: C12 – via Gale.
630:"They'd rather make switches than move"
415:
1084:Computer companies established in 1983
1074:American companies established in 1983
651:Stieghorst, Tom (September 24, 1985).
623:
621:
619:
867:"Equinox to offer 1.5 million shares"
847:Resnick, Rosalind (August 21, 1986).
514:
512:
421:
419:
254:. Data PBXes were once common in non-
7:
701:(220). UBM LLC: 68 – via Gale.
342:, both of which were based on DEC's
322:Profitability and growth (1985–1992)
270:. Nevertheless, some companies with
1099:Defunct computer hardware companies
958:"Sunrise firm posts record results"
806:McNair, James (December 23, 1992).
714:"Mixed bag for digital switch mart"
189:Front view of an Equinox SST-4 8P,
670:Sustar, Lee (September 29, 1987).
596:Prichard, Matt (August 27, 1984).
550:Resnick, Rosalind (July 8, 1985).
403:equipment vendor headquartered in
133:, was an American manufacturer of
14:
1064:2001 disestablishments in Florida
782:Menendez, Ana (October 4, 1992).
743:: 14A – via Newspapers.com.
735:Steinberg, Jim (March 14, 1986).
467:Poppe, David (December 8, 1997).
1045: (archived November 4, 1996)
884:Mowatt, Twig (January 7, 1994).
855:: 12 – via Newspapers.com.
628:Smart, Tim (November 14, 1983).
444:Hunter, John J. (June 2, 1986).
246:and certain peripherals such as
979:"Company sees turnaround ahead"
886:"Big money for small companies"
197:Equinox Systems was founded in
1059:1983 establishments in Florida
258:shops, but they were prone to
1:
1069:2001 mergers and acquisitions
693:Doherty, J. (July 15, 1985).
332:Digital Equipment Corporation
1104:Defunct networking companies
469:"Florida's high-tech hurdle"
892:: A10 – via ProQuest.
890:Miami Daily Business Review
818:– via Newspapers.com.
640:– via Newspapers.com.
612:– via Newspapers.com.
562:– via Newspapers.com.
524:Birmingham Business Journal
483:– via Newspapers.com.
366:IPO and decline (1992–2000)
226:Equinox's first product, a
95:; 23 years ago
52:; 41 years ago
1130:
808:"A permanent resettlement"
659:: 1D – via ProQuest.
199:Miami-Dade County, Florida
63:Miami-Dade County, Florida
21:
1015:"Equinox goes universal"
997:"Avocent to buy Equinox"
292:University of Louisville
431:The Wall Street Journal
391:Acquisition (2000–2003)
372:initial public offering
346:networking technology.
328:Oak Investment Partners
232:private branch exchange
530:on September 26, 2002.
194:
181:Foundation (1983–1985)
699:Computer Systems News
316:Hambrecht & Quist
268:local area networking
188:
131:Equinox Systems, Inc.
17:Equinox Systems, Inc.
344:Local Area Transport
205:, a manufacturer of
162:serial communication
405:Huntsville, Alabama
397:Avocent Corporation
360:Plantation, Florida
170:Huntsville, Alabama
135:computer networking
120:Number of employees
42:Computer networking
18:
399:, a multinational
395:In November 2000,
377:The New York Times
272:wide area networks
244:personal computers
195:
318:, in early 1984.
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93:January 2001
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1039:Official website
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385:Sunrise, Florida
351:Hurricane Andrew
158:network switches
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338:and the ELG-48
336:terminal server
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76:Bill Dambrackas
65:, United States
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583:April 30, 1984
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348:
325:
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242:and between
225:
196:
130:
129:
111:Acquired by
31:Company type
401:data center
300:Toys "R" Us
203:Racal-Milgo
143:digital PBX
82:Kevin Doren
1053:Categories
411:References
308:Chase Bank
288:Bell South
260:collisions
124:100 (1995)
79:Mark Cole
296:AT&T
264:Ethernet
252:printers
228:data PBX
155:Ethernet
70:Founders
39:Industry
1041:at the
676:PC Week
604:: 16M,
340:gateway
266:-based
176:History
166:Avocent
113:Avocent
100:2001-01
98: (
90:Defunct
57:1983-03
55: (
47:Founded
1114:Modems
814:: 1C,
636:: 20,
558:: 16,
475:: 3T,
312:Sprint
310:, and
290:, the
248:modems
216:Boston
207:modems
151:modems
34:Public
284:Intel
277:Micom
250:and
238:and
108:Fate
610:18M
606:17M
304:GTE
256:IBM
191:PCI
168:of
149:of
147:OEM
61:in
1055::
1023:15
1021:.
1017:.
999:.
981:.
970:^
960:.
942:.
924:.
906:.
888:.
869:.
851:.
832:.
816:3C
810:.
796:^
786:.
772:^
762:.
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739:.
720:.
716:.
697:.
678:.
674:.
655:.
638:21
632:.
618:^
608:,
600:.
581:.
568:^
560:17
554:.
536:^
522:.
511:^
501:.
497:.
481:6T
479:,
477:4T
471:.
452:.
448:.
429:.
418:^
330:;
306:,
302:,
298:,
294:,
286:,
153:,
764:6
722:3
680:4
503:8
454:3
102:)
59:)
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