Industry News
Vectron International, a subsidiary of Dover Corp., announced that it has acquired Corning Frequency Control (CFC), a division of Corning Inc. CFC is a supplier of quartz crystals, oscillators and filters to the communications, test and instrumentation, position location, automotive and military/aerospace electronic markets. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.
RF Industries Ltd. announced that it has acquired, for cash, Aviel Electronics, a privately held Las Vegas, NV-based manufacturer and marketer of microwave and radio frequency connectors. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Cushcraft Corp. announced the acquisition and integration of Optimal RF, a San Diego-based designer of high performance wireless communication products and networking antennas. Cushcraft has acquired all assets of Optimal RF, including existing products, customer service contracts, designs, IP and equipment. With the acquisition of Optimal RF, Cushcraft now has a comprehensive and advanced line of antennas for WiMax and related (802.16) applications.
Sandvik Materials Technology has recently changed the name of its subsidiary Osprey Metals to Sandvik Osprey. The change was a reinforcement of the company’s commitment to activities in the field of controlled expansion alloys. Originally formed in 1974, Osprey Metals has been a member of the Sandvik Group for almost 25 years.
Eagleware announced the opening of a regional sales and support office in Singapore and the appointment of Suresh Potluri to the position of Asia-Pacific business director. In this position, Potluri will be responsible for directing and developing sales and operations in Japan and the Pacific Rim, including Australia, New Zealand and India. In related news, the company announced that it has become a member of the electronic design automation (EDA) consortium, an EDA-specific industry group whose mission is to promote the health of the EDA industry and to increase awareness of the crucial role EDA plays in today’s global economy.
RF Micro Devices Inc. announced the opening of a new sales and customer support office in Shenzhen, China. The office is located in the TianAn Cyber Times Building A in the Fu Tian District. The sales and customer support office will focus on local Chinese manufacturers, original design manufacturers and international original equipment manufacturers with operations in China.
ANADIGICS Inc. announced that the company has opened an office in Shanghai, China, to support its growing wireless and broadband business. This new office located in Lippo Plaza will represent ANADIGICS to Chinese original design manufacturers (ODM) and original equipment manufacturers (OEM), as well as international ODMs and OEMs with operations in China. In related news, the company announced that it has appointed Columbia Marketing Inc. as its manufacturer’s representative for the US Pacific Northwest and western provinces in Canada.
Networks International Corp. (NIC) announced the opening of a sales and marketing office in the Washington, DC metro area. NIC continues to develop relationships in the government, military and commercial markets, and is confident that this business decision reinforces its commitment to growth and support of its customers. NIC can be contacted via e-mail: sales@nickc.com.
Oleson Microwave Labs announced that it has changed its name to OML Inc. The company is now located at 300 Digital Drive, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 (408) 779-2698, fax: (408) 778-0941 or e-mail: oml@garlic.com.
CAD Design Software, a company that specializes in EDA layout tools, and Sonnet Software, a developer of planar electromagnetic software, announce the completion of a data interface between the two companies’ flagship products. Designers using CAD Design Software’s electronic packaging designer can now quickly and easily port data into Sonnet Suite and perform planar EM analysis. Sonnet users can now utilize a highly automated EDA layout tool that substantially reduces design times.
Aeroflex Inc. announced that its Aeroflex Test Solutions group has entered into a collaborative agreement with Daniels Electronics to have them provide a custom suite of tests for the Aeroflex IFR 2975 Project 25 digital radio test set. In related news, Aeroflex launched a new e-commerce store at www.aeroflexstore.com. The site features the company’s new PXI 3000 series, a PXI-based modular test suite for mobile phone and general-purpose wireless test, and allows customers to buy modules, options and warranties on-line.
Applied Wave Research Inc. (AWR™) announced a corporate agreement with Finisar Corp. for Finisar to purchase AWR’s Analog Office™ 2004 design suite. Finisar’s optics division will utilize the Analog Office software for the design of its high speed optical transceivers.
SiGe Semiconductor announced that the SE4100 GPS radio IC has been integrated into a series of cost-effective, high performance modules by Tyco Electronics. The modules leverage the combination of low power consumption and high integration of the SE4100 to enable location-based services in a range of automotive telematic and portable consumer electronic devices.
Taconic, Petersburgh, NY, has received honors in the prestigious DuPont Plunkett Awards competition — a competition that draws companies from around the world — for Taconic’s innovative use of DuPont™ Teflon® in its TacPreg® bond-ply, a composite used in multi-layer printed circuit boards.
Contracts
M/A-COM Inc., a business unit of Tyco Electronics, has been awarded a $4.5 M purchase contract to provide land mobile-radio communication for Washington State Patrol. As part of the purchase contract, M/A-COM will provide in-band, dual-receive M7100IP mobile and P7100IP portable radios with the capability to connect to an Internet Protocol (IP) network. This will enable Washington State Patrol troops to communicate using disparate radio systems via a network-based solution, such as M/A-COM’s IP-based NetworkFirst.
EMS Technologies Inc. announced that its space and technology/Montreal division has received a CND $3.5 M contract from Public Works and Government Services Canada on behalf of the Canadian Space Agency, following a commercial competition, for work on a stratospheric wind interferometer project called SWIFT. The contract is for phase B activities that include systems engineering, design, testing and other development phase efforts.
Micronetics, a Hudson, NH-based developer of microwave and radio wave communications technology, has received an order valued at over $3 M to manufacture integrated microwave subsystems for use in Airborne DBS in-flight entertainment. Deliveries are expected over a six to sixteen month period. In related news, Micronetics announced that it has received a development order to provide next-generation integrated microwave subsystems for use in in-flight entertainment and data communications worldwide. This airborne microwave RF subsystem technology addresses the market for passenger communications, including the use of laptops and personal digital assistants.
Agilent Technologies Inc. announced that Maury Microwave has adopted Agilent’s Advanced Design System (ADS) electronic design automation (EDA) software platform to help streamline its RF and microwave design flow. The multiyear agreement includes a long-term support contract and licensing for Agilent ADS and several of Agilent’s circuit and system simulators for device characterization of microwave components and instruments operating from DC to 100 GHz.
MI Technologies has received an order from the University College of London for a turnkey spherical near-field antenna measurement system. The equipment will be used for developing a range of antenna applications at the department of electronic and electrical engineering under the supervision of Dr. Paul Brennan and Mr. Erik De Witte from the microwaves, radar and optics group.
TriPoint Global Communications announced that its VertexRSI business in San Jose, CA, has received a contract from Telesat, a satellite operator. Under the contract, VertexRSI will supply Telesat with three Ka-band 8.1 meter and one Ka-band 6.1 meter limited motion antennas. The antennas will serve as uplink gateways in Toronto and Vancouver for services on Telesat’s new Anik F2 satellite.
Renaissance Electronics has received an order from a manufacturer of reconnaissance and surveillance systems equipment for a SPDT hermetically sealed electro-mechanical switch with phase and amplitude matching performance characteristics.
Financial News
REMEC Inc. reports sales of $116.2 M for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 ended April 30, 2004, compared to $81.3 M for the same period in 2004. Net loss for the first quarter was $7.1 M ($0.11/per diluted share), compared to a net loss of $7.1 M ($0.12/per diluted share) for the first quarter of last year.
Ansoft Corp. reports sales of $12.7 M for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 ended July 31, 2004, compared to $10.7 M for the same period in 2004. Net income for the first quarter was $30,000 ($0.00/per diluted share), compared to a net loss of $1.2 M ($0.10/per diluted share) for the first quarter of last year.
New Market Entries
Auriga Measurement Systems LLC announced the acquisition of the characterization instruments, and the test and measurement lines of business as well as the associated assets and personnel from ACCO USA. Auriga has assumed all outstanding orders, warranty and support responsibility for these business lines. The acquisition is part of Auriga’s strategy to grow the two core business lines of characterization instruments and test and measurement and to expand into related fields that will broaden Auriga’s capabilities and consulting activities to support the modeling, design and manufacturing efforts of its customers.
Microcom Sales LLC specializes in manufacturer’s representatives servicing customers in microwave and lightwave markets. Exclusive territory responsibilities cover New York, northern New Jersey, including Monmouth and Mercer counties, and Fairfield County, Connecticut. The company is located at 76 North Maple Ave., Suite 390, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. For sales information, contact Kirit Dixit (201) 669-7599, e-mail: kdixit@microcomsales. com or Jon Jackson (908) 370-6990, e-mail: jjackson @microcomsales.com.
Personnel
WJ Communications Inc. announced that Fred J. Krupica, chief financial officer, will leave WJ in September to become the CFO of a privately-held technology company. The company has begun a search for his replacement and has named Rainer Growitz, vice president finance and board secretary, as its interim chief financial officer.
Kent Frazer
PC Specialties announced the promotion of Kent Frazer to the position of vice president of global sales and marketing. Frazer will be directing all sales and marketing for the company and is relocating to Dallas, TX. Frazer can be contacted at (480) 763-9800 or e-mail: krfrazer@pcsitexas.com.
Skyworks Solutions Inc. announced that Stan Swearingen has joined the company as vice president and general manager of the company’s cellular infrastructure and wireless data business unit, which includes discrete and passive semiconductors, GaAs switches, ceramic products and multi-chip modules supporting cellular infrastructure and wireless data markets. Swearingen most recently served as vice president and general manager of Agere Systems’ computing connectivity division where he was responsible for the design and manufacturing of wired and wireless connectivity solutions.
Tom Shahood
Ion Beam Milling announced that Tom Shahood has joined the team to head up the sales and marketing efforts. Previously at SatCon Electronics/FMI, where he held positions of VP of sales, director of key accounts and regional sales manager, Shahood brings over 20 years of technical, marketing and sales management experience in the aerospace, materials and electronics industries.
MICA Corp. announced the appointment of Christopher Prior to the position of vice president of operations. Prior has 17 years of experience in the microwave industry, which includes a management history specializing in microwave components. Prior was most recently with REMEC Inc. for six years, where he held the positions of vice president of space products and president of REMEC Magnum.
Gregg Pollack
Technical Research and Manufacturing announced that Gregg Pollack has joined the company as director, sales and marketing. He has extensive experience in the RF/microwave industry, having held applications, regional and national sales/marketing positions at Radiall, M/A-COM, Huber+Suhner and Johnson Components. He may be reached at (603) 627-6000 x23 or via e-mail: gregg@technicalresearch.com.
Modelithics Inc. announced the addition of Dick Whisler as director of operations. Whisler has held executive positions in engineering and business management, including 17 years as vice president or general manager for electronic instrumentation and electronic component companies.
Freddy Lee
Park Electrochemical Corp. announced the promotion of Freddy Lee to Asia Pacific director of product sales. Lee will be responsible for the marketing and sales of Park/Nelco’s complete advanced substrate materials product line in the Asia Pacific region. Lee joined the company in January 1999 as sales and customer service director and was responsible for regional management of the Asia Pacific region.
Len Down
Intelek plc announced the appointment of Len Down as the managing director of its subsidiary, Pascall Electronics Ltd. Down, formerly the finance director, joined Pascall Electronics in 1992 having previously held senior management positions at GKN Westland, Temperature Ltd. and Cunard Line. Down has been a member of the senior management team since 1996 and brings experience to his new role and an innate understanding of the niche markets addressed by Pascall.
Daniel O’Connell
Sabritec, a custom connector manufacturer, welcomed Daniel O’Connell as director of operations. In this position, O’Connell is in charge of developing and maintaining manufacturing operations business plans to include all program requirements, labor hours, cycle, production costs and image. He is also responsible for production and quality control stan dards and all materials operations while implementing lean techniques. O’Connell has over fifteen years experience in all facets of the operations environment with primary emphasis on manufacturing, materials management, industrial engineering and lean concepts.
Vicki Kirk
RFI Global Services Ltd. has appointed Vicki Kirk to the position of global marketing manager as part of its drive into expanding international markets. She will be responsible for marketing all of the company’s business areas across 14 market sectors, including cellular, smart card, electronics and wireless. She has already implemented the company’s re-brand to RFI Global Services Ltd. Kirk most recently worked with Retail Logic, where she headed the marketing team.
John D. Barbuto
Micro-Ant Inc., Plymouth, MA, announced the appointment of John D. Barbuto as principal mechanical engineer. Barbuto has over 18 years of mechanical engineering experience, and 11 of those years have been in the field of antenna design. In his new position, he will bring both experience in industrial and manufacturing design.
Charlotte Alvarez recently joined the engineering staff at Connecticut Microwave Corp. Alvarez holds BSEE and MSEE degrees in EE, as well as PHD studies with Dr. Richard Snyder on dielectric filters. Most recently she worked as a consultant on EMI filters, planar RF products using LTCC-M and EM simulations with HFSS and Sonnet.
Rep Appointments
Jersey Microwave has appointed the team of sales representatives of newly formed Microcom Sales (www.microcomsales.com) to cover the greater New York, New Jersey and Fairfield County, Connecticut areas. Jersey Microwave designs, develops and manufactures RF and microwave components and subsystems.
Hittite Microwave Corp. announced the appointment of a new sales representative firm to serve customers in southern California. ACETEC specializes in RF/microwave sales to the consumer, industrial, military and space electronics industries. ACETEC can be contacted via telephone at (858) 784-0900, via fax at (858) 784-0909 or e-mail: sales@acetec.com.
Reactel Inc., a manufacturer of RF and microwave filters, multiplexers and switched filter banks for military, commercial and industrial applications, has selected two new domestic manufacturer’s representatives. Serving the Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming areas will be W. Howard Associates. W. Howard can be reached via telephone at (303) 766-5775 or e-mail: service@whoward.com. Reactel has also selected Tekmar Sales to serve the areas of Metropolitan New York, Long Island, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania and Fairfield County, Connecticut. Tekmar can be reached via telephone at (631) 254-9026 or e-mail: tekmarsls@aol.com.
Valpey Fisher Corp. announced the addition of Cross Plains Technology LLC to the company’s global distribution and rep network as its exclusive authorized sales representative for all company product lines to the Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas markets.