It was a leading manufacturer of control systems technology primarily serving the transportation and telecommunication industries.
In 1986, General Signal acquired Drytek, Inc., a plasma dry-etch company founded in August 1980 by Arthur W. Zafiropoulo.
[1] In July 1987 Zafiropoulo also became President of Kayex, a semiconductor equipment manufacturer unit of General Signal.
[1] General Signal became further streamlined in the mid 1990s through the divestment of Leeds & Northrup, which had formerly been part of the process controls sector.
General Signal shareholders ended up with 60% ownership of the combined entity, which retained the SPX Corporation name and headquarters.