The company began operation in 1984 in response to the need for a quality outsource facility capable of satisfying high-tech requirements from major OEM companies in the area with cost effective results.

Selco's founder and CEO, Joel Selber, began his career in 1964, as a production engineer for Tracor Inc., a high-tech military defense contractor in the field of countermeasures, stabilized optics, and other defense related products requiring the highest levels of quality control. After twenty years with Tracor, culminating in overall manufacturing responsibility for both military and commercial product lines, he was hired by the General Dynamics Corporation in San Diego and given the role of manufacturing manager for the Tomahawk Cruise missile then under contract by the Department of Defense. He remained in this role for four years until 1984 at which time he moved back to Texas and began his own business.

During this era, the 3M Company for the first time elected to relocate several ECB divisions out of the twin cities area of Minnesota, selecting Austin, Texas as the new location. Mr. Selber was contacted and the resultant meeting established a sub-to-prime contractual relationship between the two companies. This relationship has helped close the gap between the laboratory and the production floor utilizing its versatile team with experience in building a variety of electromechanical products.