Everyone appreciates
the tremendous pace of advancement in computers and computer software.
Just as computers have revolutionized information technology, they have
also revolutionized controls in aircraft, satellites and industrial machinery.
This phenomenon works in Moog Inc., Industrial's favor. Their principal
product lines are servoactuators that take the information generated by
computers and then make something happen. The inputs to their products
are the tiny electrical signals emanating from the control computers.
Advancements in computer technology enhance the capabilities of their
products and their relevance in today's industrial society.
The Industrial segment
provides more than one-third of their revenues and is their most diverse in terms
of geography, customers, and applications. This part of their business generated
sales of $267 million in ’03, up nearly 6%.
Moog began selling its Industrial products overseas nearly forty years ago.
Today, they have facilities in twenty-four countries around the world. The extent
of their geographic reach has brought them valuable exposure to new customers and
has resulted in dozens of unique markets ranging from saw mills to bottle-labeling
equipment to valves for all the Formula 1 teams in Europe. Among the dozens of markets that they serve, there are four that add up to nearly
half of the total revenues. These are controls for plastic making machines,
defense control systems, metal forming equipment, and turbines. The drivers
for these major product lines in all of their different geographies are as diverse
as the segment itself.
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