Nortek recognized for innovation, growth; computer engineering firm is an industry leader.

• Position: Company of the Year - 26 to 50 employees - awardee Nortek Computers Ltd. - Northern Ontario Business Awards - Company Profile

Tucked away on Main Street West in North Bay, overlooking Lake Nipissing is the unassuming home of Nortek Computers Ltd.

At first glance passers-by would never suspect that the building houses a computer engineering firm which is a North American leader in computer hardware manufacturing and servicing.

Upon closer inspection, a visitor discovers that the store front conceals a larger, highly technical facility that houses Nortek Computer's elite team of engineers.

Nortek Computers recorded $4.1 million in revenue last year from the manufacture and repair of computer hard drives, ranking it second in the North American industry.

The company recorded $1.2 million in revenue from the repair of tape drives, ranking it third in North America.

Nortek Computers estimates that its sales will be between $5 million and $6 million this year. Its clients include NASA, IBM, AT & T, Sun Microsystems and Honeywell, and its two main competitors are Veltron Industries and Dyne Systems, both of the United States.

It is the company's growth, leadership and technological innovation which have earned Nortek Computers the Company of Year Award (26 to 50 employees). The award is sponsored by Canadian Partner.

Nortek Computers began modestly in 1978 in the basement of the home of company president and chief executive officer Brian McGaffney.

Today the company has assets worth an estimated $30 million, and it is debt-free.

Nortek Computers currently employs 47 "hand-picked and hand-trained" people and has an annual payroll of more than $1 million.

The company also specializes in "reverse engineering" which McGaffney describes as the disassembling, inspection and customizing of computer components.

The company's latest...