ACR Electronics

ACR Electronics

ACR Electronics was founded in 1956 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, by a team of engineers focused on maritime safety. Jack McDougall has served as CEO since at least 2020, leading the company through a period of product expansion into satellite-based distress beacons. The company's core business centers on personal locator beacons (PLBs), emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs), and survival radios for marine, aviation, and outdoor markets. Products are certified by the US Coast Guard, FCC, and international satellite networks including Cospas-Sarsat. ACR Electronics also manufactures search-and-rescue transponders and emergency lights for commercial aircraft. Geographic reach spans North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, with distribution partnerships across 50+ countries. ACR Electronics employs approximately 200 people, per public filings from parent company Chelsea Technologies (which acquired ACR in 2018). The firm operates as a standalone subsidiary within Chelsea Technologies, a UK-based industrial technology group. Recent activity includes the launch of the ResQLink View 440 PLB in 2023, a model with integrated GPS and LED strobe (per company press release, May 2023). What distinguishes ACR Electronics is its dual focus on commercial and consumer safety electronics within a highly regulated industry. The company holds multiple patents for beacon design and has a long-standing relationship with the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system. Its ownership under Chelsea Technologies provides access to European manufacturing and R&D capabilities while maintaining operational independence in the US.