For those of you familiar with the BETA LaserMike product line, you know this brand has a long heritage of dependable quality and reliable accuracy. The origin of BETA LaserMike traces back to two main companies: Beta Instruments and LaserMike (formally known as the Techmet company).
(Side note: BETA LaserMike merged with NDC Infrared Engineering in 2014 to form NDC Technologies.)
Beta Instruments pioneered the measurement and control technologies for the cable industry in the mid-sixties. And the Techmet company invented the world’s first laser-scanning micrometer in the early seventies which they named the “LaserMike.” The Techmet company would later change its name to LaserMike, Inc. in the early 90s. The micrometer was (and is still to this day) used to measure critical properties of precision parts.
In 1997, the two companies merged to form BETA LaserMike. The company grew to provide world-renowned laser, ultrasonic and process control technologies for companies all over the world.
But none of these ground-breaking products would exist if it hadn’t been for a pair of inventive entrepreneurs in the 1970s by the name of Paul Diles and Harry Petrohilos. Paul headed up the quality control and business aspects of the new company and Harry was chief engineer directing the development of the LaserMike gauge.
Before co-founding the Techmet company, Paul served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War conflict. It was here he honed his skills as an engineer and inventor.
Unfortunately, Paul passed away in January 2021 at the age of 90. But his legacy continues in each-and-every BETA LaserMike product. And he’s fondly remembered by colleagues at NDC Technologies who worked with him all those years ago at BETA LaserMike.
Paul Diles
In 1984, Neal Crabill, a current member of our Sales team in Dayton, was interviewed for a position with LaserMike by Paul himself.
Neal described Paul as “the most generous guy in the entire world” and that he would offer a hand to anyone in need. He also described him as a very serious and extremely dedicated to the company and its employee’s.
Today, we like to think that Paul’s inventive, kind and professional qualities are present throughout the company, and that all of the products we engineer and the ways in which we engage with our customers would meet the exacting standards of Paul Diles.
