Daktronics featured on CBS Sunday Morning Television Show
Did you watch the Super Bowl February 1? Did you notice the huge video display in the University of Phoenix Stadium?
That video display was made by South Dakota-based Daktronics and represents a connection to southwest Minnesota’s manufacturing industry, too.
Daktronics was founded by two South Dakota State University engineering professors and today is recognized in its industry as the leading designer and manufacturer of electronic scoreboards, programmable display systems, and large screen video displays. Their products are literally found throughout the globe, as well as throughout our region.
About seven years ago, Daktronics expanded to Redwood Falls, Minn.
In 2007, local technology manufacturer Artesyn Technologies was purchased by another company, Emerson. A closure of the facility was soon after announced, meaning 240 employees—representing a highly developed and skilled workforce—were about to lose their jobs.
“Leadership in our community was very aggressive in trying to find a business that would move in,” said Redwood Valley Schools Superintendent and former Southwest Initiative Foundation board member Rick Ellingworth. “They just struck gold with Daktronics.”
The expansion saved jobs and also kept employees and families in the Redwood Falls community.
While Southwest Initiative Foundation isn’t directly connected to the company, there is a history with its Redwood Falls location. One of SWIF’s earliest loans was made in 1988 to Zytec Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of power supplies. Zytec eventually became Artesyn Technologies, which upon closing made way for Daktronics.
Daktronics was featured on CBS Sunday Morning on February 1, 2015. Take a few minutes to watch this incredible story of rural, family entrepreneurship.
