Irwin Magnetic Systems

Irwin Magnetic Systems, Inc., also known as Irwin Magnetics, was a computer storage manufacturer founded in 1979 and based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. At its height, the company employed 600 people in Ann Arbor.[1] The company's primary product lines were magnetic tape data storage systems, most popularly the proprietary AccuTrak format. This format was widely adopted by Compaq, Hewlett-Packard and other OEM manufacturers;[2] it was also incorporated into IBM Personal System/2 (PS/2) personal computers as an option.[3]

AccuTrak 40 MB tape cartdrige

In 1988, the company acquired Kennedy Company, a prolific tape drive manufacturer for minicomputer systems, from Shugart Corporation for an undisclosed amount.[4] In 1989, Irwin was acquired by Cipher Data Products for US$77 million.[5][6] Cipher was in turn acquired by Archive Corporation a year later.[7] Archive maintained Irwin as an independent brand for a while after the acquisition.[8]

Notable products
  • EzTape – backup and restore software
  • AccuTrak Plus – 120-MB and 250-MB tape drives

References
  1. "Fallen Star". Corporate Detroit. March 1, 1992. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
  2. Banapour, Zoren (July 23, 1990). "The Backup Safety Net". InfoWorld. 12 (30). IDG Publications: 51–61 – via Google Books.
  3. Rosch, Winn L. (May 31, 1988). "Hardware Standbys: PS/2 Tape Drives". PC Magazine. Ziff-Davis: 139–160 – via Google Books.
  4. Lucas, Peter (January 18, 1988). "Irwin Magnetics buys into new markets for tape backup". Computer Reseller News (242). UBM LLC: 106 et seq. – via Gale.
  5. Staff writer (March 2, 1989). "Cipher Data Products Inc.: Purchase of Irwin Magnetic for $77 Million Is Planned". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company: 1 – via ProQuest.
  6. Khermouch, Gerry (December 16, 1991). "Archive to reorganize Irwin; president, 130 others to exit". Electronic News. 37 (1891). Sage Publications: 11. Archived from the original on June 11, 2009.
  7. Staff writer (March 13, 1990). "Archive Agrees to Buy Cipher Data". The New York Times: D6 – via ProQuest.
  8. Lewis, Peter H. (February 4, 1992). "Beyond Diskettes for Data Backup". The New York Times: C5 – via ProQuest.
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