Company History

Stephen P. Johnston registers Electro Systems as a business and begins production of the Tank Alert alarm system in his garage.

The business is incorporated and renamed S.J. Electro Systems, Inc.

SJE’s first employee is hired.

An addition is built that doubles the size of the facility.

Five employees are active at S.J. Electro Systems, Inc. An addition of 44′ x 74′ is added to the existing building.

S.J. Electro Systems, Inc. makes INC magazine’s list of the “500 fastest growing privately held companies in the nation” three years running.

S.J. Electro Systems Board of Directors adopts an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

A new building! S.J. Electro Systems, Inc. completes and occupies a new 30,000 square foot pre-cast concrete manufacturing building.

S.J. Electro Systems, Inc. adds a new product line and establishes expertise in designing and manufacturing control panels (Rhombus Technology).

Founder Stephen P. Johnston retires as CEO of SJE. Lois Solheim is named the new CEO.

S.J. Electro Systems, Inc. begins doing business as SJE Rhombus.

SJE Rhombus becomes 100% employee-owned and 33,000 sq. ft. was added to the existing manufacturing building. Lois Solheim retires as CEO. Laurie Lewandowski is named the new CEO.

SJE Rhombus acquires Tamarack Engineering, an embedded controls engineering firm located near Minneapolis, MN.

Printed Circuit Board production moves from C&D Electronics to SJE Rhombus in Detroit Lakes, MN. Surface mount PCB equipment is installed and production for the Embedded Controls Group begins.

SJE Rhombus acquires Control Works, Inc., a custom control panel facility located in Milford, Ohio.

SJE Rhombus increases engineering and PCB capabilities with the addition of Compucon Co., located in New Hope, MN.
SJE Rhombus opens a facility in Suzhou, China to better serve pump OEMs currently producing products in China.
SJE Rhombus is named one of the ’50 Best Small to Medium Companies to Work for in America’.

SJE Rhombus acquires CSI Controls in Ashland, Ohio – a manufacturer of custom panels and on-site controls.
SJE Rhombus acquires Best Controls Co. in Clearwater, FL – a manufacturer of custom panels and pump controllers.

SJE Rhombus develops new line of innovative products using “floatless” technology.
SJE Rhombus Suzhou receives TUV certification on the SJE Quest™ pump switch.
SJE Rhombus creates facebook page.

SJE Rhombus is recognized by American Heart Association for employee wellness initiatives.
Compucon Co. begins doing business as SJE Rhombus.
Corporate website is redesigned.
Dave Thomas is named President.

Laurie Lewandowski retires as CEO.
Dave Thomas is named CEO.

SJE Rhombus unifies the Engineered Control Solutions businesses (Best Controls, Co., CSI Controls, Control Works, Inc.) under the new master brand PRIMEX™.
PRIMEX™ website developed.

SJE Rhombus expands from a three-year to a five-year limited warranty on most wholesale catalog products.

SJE Rhombus acquires ICS Healy-Ruff™ in Plymouth, MN – a manufacturer and integrator of municipal control systems – and positions them within the PRIMEX engineered brand.
SJE Rhombus celebrates 40th Anniversary (1975-2015) with a company picnic.

SJE Rhombus acquires MCC Control Systems in Vacaville, CA – a systems integrator and automation solutions provider for municipal water, wastewater and industrial applications – and positions them within the PRIMEX engineered brand.

SJE Rhombus is named 2017 ESOP Company of the Year by the National ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) Association. Company name becomes SJE, with separate brands for SJE Rhombus, CSI Controls and Primex. SJE Rhombus gets a new logo and rebranding for the first time in nearly 20 years.

Construction begins on a new facility in Ashland, OH, with more space than the old facility in the same city. CSI Controls gets a new logo and rebranding.

The newly finished Ashland, OH, facility hosts a grand opening celebration.

SJE announces a new purpose statement and values. New websites are launched.

SJE meets the its Vision 2020 goal of reaching a $100 share price by 2020.

Audax Private Equity purchases SJE Inc.

SJE acquires L. W. Allen and Altronex, based in Madison, WI.

SJE acquires Ohio Electric Control, based in Ashland, OH.

SJE acquires Horlick, based in Randolph, MA.