AtlasIED announced that it is currently celebrating the milestone of its 90th anniversary as a manufacturer of sound and communications equipment for a wide range of professional applications.
Building on prior owner Loyd Ivey’s legacy, who passed away in September 2023, AtlasIED and current owner, president and CEO John Ivey, remain committed to operating as a family-owned business.
“We couldn’t be more proud of our AtlasIED family for reaching 90 years as a global leader in audio and communications technology,” Ivey says. “Arriving at this milestone reinforces our commitment to never-ending growth and innovation, maintaining relevance, and high-quality service to our customers.”
Initially gaining recognition for its PA loudspeakers and microphone stands, Atlas Sound developed into into a well-rounded manufacturer of commercial AV technologies. In 2011, Atlas Sound and IED combined their sales, marketing, engineering, and support teams to better serve their customers and market segments.
Today, AtlasIED focuses on application-based platforms with a range of installation and aesthetic options, including communications and audio products as well as an array of loudspeakers for commercial applications. Most recently, the company announced enhancements to its Atmosphere control system platform, strategic investments in threat detection technology, and beam-steering loudspeakers.
Though AtlasIED is celebrating 90 years in 2024, itss beginning can be traced back to the early origins of the commercial sound industry. During the late 1920s, the Warren Harding political campaign demonstrated the need for better sound reproduction than the traditional megaphone as crowds grew at political rallies.
In 1934, Atlas Sound became the first company to combine the horn shape of the megaphone with electro-acoustics to create PA loudspeakers for outdoor applications. In addition, founders Bob Reinhardt and Carl Blumenthal took a special interest in mechanical devices and tooling, and noticing the demand for microphone stands, the pair began designing and metalworking.
Today, AtlasIED has full-time manufacturing facilities in Ennis, TX and Phoenix, AZ. The largest of these facilities, about 300,000 square feet in Ennis, is outfitted metalworking, molding machines, robotics and automation, and it also houses the majority of the company’s inventory.
“It’s an honor to be able to look back at AtlasIED’s heralded legacy, knowing that there is so much more ahead of us,” concludes Ivey. “This year, we recognize our accomplishments that serve as a tribute to the people and technology who have made AtlasIED the global leader that it is today. To say we are proud is an understatement, we cannot wait to see what the next 90 years will bring!”
