Corporate Profile
Corporate Overview
Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market: GNTX) develops, manufactures and markets proprietary electro-optical products -- products combining photoelectric sensing devices with related electronic circuitry. Specifically, smoke detectors that "see" smoke and signal an alarm; rearview mirrors that sense glare and correspondingly dim.
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Automotive Products Group (97% of total company sales)
Gentex is the recognized world leader in the manufacture of electrochromic, automatic-dimming mirrors for the auto industry, selling to nearly every automotive manufacturer worldwide.
Gentex automatic-dimming mirrors are based on the science of electrochromics, which is the process of reversibly darkening materials by applying electricity. During nighttime driving, the mirrors use a combination of sophisticated sensors and electronic circuitry to detect glare from rearward approaching vehicles and darken accordingly to eliminate the glare and protect driver vision.
Although Gentex has earned the dominant market share, the industry still has incredible room for growth. Gentex mirrors are found on the majority of the vehicles offering auto-dimming mirrors, yet this represents only 18% of the light vehicles produced in the world.
Today, Gentex is making auto-dimming mirrors even smarter, helping them eliminate blind spots, display the compass heading and outside temperature, turn on your headlights and unlock your doors. They're rapidly becoming the preferred location as the driver interface for advanced electronic features and displays.
Gentex mirrors are offered as standard or optional equipment on over two hundred fifty 2009 model year vehicles around the world. The Company is producing mirrors at a rate of over 10 million units a year, with the current estimated capacity to produce more than 25 million units annually. Over 130 million mirror units have been shipped since 1987.
Gentex was the first company in the world to successfully develop and produce a commercial automatic-dimming rearview mirror. After more than 20 years of supplying these products in the highly competitive global automotive industry, the Company remains the leading supplier of these mirrors.
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Fire Protection Products Group (3% of total company sales)
Gentex also maintains an extensive line of commercial fire protection products for the North American market, including smoke detectors and audible/visual signaling devices. Gentex's photoelectric method of smoke detection is preferred by hotels, hospitals, office buildings and the like because they're less prone to false alarms yet are quick to detect slow, smoldering fires.
Founded in 1974, Gentex operates out of five manufacturing plants (4 automotive and 1 fire protection) all located in Zeeland, Michigan; automotive sales/engineering offices in Northville, Michigan; Munich and Sindelfingen, Germany; Nagoya and Yokohama, Japan; Seoul, Korea; Coventry, England; Paris, France; and Gothenburg, Sweden. There are automotive sales, engineering, light assembly and warehouse facilities in Erlenbach, Germany, and Shanghai, China. There are four regional U.S. sales offices for the Fire Protection Products Group. The Company is recognized for its quality products, its application of world class manufacturing principles, for its commitment to developing and maintaining a highly skilled workforce, and for encouraging employee ownership of the Company's stock. At March 10, 2010, Gentex had approximately 2,550 employees worldwide.
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Transfer Agent
American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
59 Maiden Lane
New York, NY 10038
Phone: 1.800.937.5449
Corporate Counsel
Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt and Howlett LLP
Bridgewater Place
333 Bridge Street N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Independent Accountant
Ernst & Young LLP
171 Monroe Avenue N.W., Ste. 1000
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
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