A subsdiary of Garmin Ltd. has signed an agreement to acquire Tri-Tronics Inc., a designer and manufacturer of electronic dog-training equipment. The acquisition will allow the combined company to expand its leadership position in both the tracking and training of sporting dogs and household pets alike.
“By integrating the two companies, we believe we can leverage our areas of expertise into products that can greatly enhance the way that dog owners interact with their canine companions,” said Cliff Pemble, president and COO of Garmin. “This acquisition should demonstrate without a doubt that Garmin is fully committed to developing innovative products for the canine market.”
“For more than 40 years, Tri-Tronics has been the leading brand of electronic dog training equipment. Combined with Garmin, we can extend our leadership well into the future,” said Mike Romano, vice president and general manager of Tri-Tronics. “Our combined team will work together to develop cutting-edge products that will help dog owners more effectively train their dogs and keep them safer. Together, we can bring these products to market quicker, with more features, and at a competitive price.”
Innovation has made both Garmin and Tri-Tronics the choice of elite dog trainers and breeders as well as amateur hunters and pet owners. Garmin entered the sporting dog market in 2007 with Astro, its highly successful GPS dog tracking system, which pinpoints the exact location of a dog for hunters. Earlier this year, Garmin introduced the cellular-based GTU 10 GPS locator and web-based Garmin Tracker service for computers and smartphones.
For more than 40 years, Tri-Tronics has pioneered many innovative and patented features on e-collars and bark limiters, including innovations in wireless signal transmission, variable stimulation, battery technology, and numerous features that ensure dogs are safe when trained with an e-collar.
Tri-Tronics will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. Its existing management team will be retained and will continue operations at its headquarters in Tucson, AZ. Financial terms of the agreement will not be released. The deal is expected to close by June 30, 2011.
