Visual Communications Company was founded in 1893 as a maker of stencils and marking machines. The company was among the first to produce marking machines and stencils for the use of government and military agencies. The use of stencils and marking machines was popular across industries and in the home for streamlining communications in handwritten documents. Visual Communications Company also sold engraving equipment, inkjet machines, and more recently, electronic laser devices for labeling and marking. The company continues to be a leader in advances in labeling and marking technology and is now a global leader in automated identification solutions.