About two months ago, AstroNova Inc. marked its 50th year in business. Founded by Albert Ondis and Everett Pizzuti in 1969, the company started out with NASA as one of its clients, producing data-acquisition recorders. It was the first company to produce a digital ink-jet tabletop color label printer, and the first to make an end-user thermal array recorder. Gregory Woods became the company’s CEO in 2014.
PBN: This September, AstroNova’s rebrand is 4 years old, having changed its name and put its focus on delivering aerospace products and services, product identification, and test and measurement equipment. Are the markets totally separate or are there industries that utilize all three divisions?
WOODS: All of our products are based on our core technology – data visualization technology, or DVT. This proprietary technology allows us to rapidly process large volumes of data and transform it into useable visual information.
While there are some customers that use products from all three groups, our product-identification customers are primarily focused on our high-speed, digital color label printers … sold in … global markets, including food and beverage, hardware, cosmetics, medical and many others.
On the other hand, there is a fair bit of industry overlap between our Test & Measurement and aerospace products within the aerospace and defense industry … some of our aircraft-manufacturing customers use our T&M products in the development and testing of aircraft; they also use our networking and cockpit printers on those aircraft.
PBN: With data being a key factor in business these days, what kinds of trends are you seeing in your Test & Measurement business group?
WOODS: With the increased proliferation of low-cost sensors, we’re seeing many new application areas where customers need to rapidly aggregate and analyze data from hundreds of distributed sensors and turn that data into useful information.
Our new Daxus product line can easily collect data from a large number of wired or wireless sensors and then instantly display meaningful charts and other metrics that give our customer a clear visualization of what is happening with the process they are measuring.
PBN: Employee health and well-being seems to be a main priority at AstroNova, winning PBN Healthiest Employers awards, etc. When did this focus begin, and how did this nurturing not only of the body and mind but soul develop?
WOODS: The existing program began in 2015. We knew that effective change would not be achieved by simply identifying and correcting individual behaviors. We needed to build a more positive culture and community around well-being.
We realized that by creating an environment of “teammates” rather than “co-workers,” we could lift each other up and support each other in a more social environment and overall well-being would improve as a result.
Some small examples of our dedication to this effort are: the running club, weight-loss challenges, group yoga classes. No one in our community has to struggle to achieve personal wellness goals alone. Now, instead of joining the social group for a smoke break, our team members get together and do yoga.
PBN: Last May, the company began producing Honeywell printers at your location in West Warwick. How has that transition been?
WOODS: Our AstroNova team did an outstanding job … this was a significant endeavor to relocate a substantial aerospace production line here from halfway around the world. I’m pleased to report that the transition has been very smooth, and we have received several compliments from regulators and aerospace customers.
Our success came as a result of not simply replicating the process but improving and streamlining it using the lean tools of the AstroNova operating system … the comprehensive business-management process. Its key ingredients are built around our core values.
PBN: What is next for AstroNova?
WOODS: We will continue to execute on our growth strategy for the business. This includes continuously improving our operations both here in Rhode Island and around the globe. As a technology company, we have a strong focus on product development, and you will continue to see us release game-changing products.
Susan Shalhoub is a PBN contributing writer.
