Industry News
Endwave Corp., a provider of radio frequency subsystems for aero-defense, security and commercial wireless applications, announced the acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of JCA Technology Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bookham Technology plc., for approximately $6 M in cash. JCA has a 20-year history in providing RF amplifiers and modules to the defense, commercial radar and homeland security markets.
Teledyne Technologies and Celeritek Inc. jointly announced that Teledyne, through its subsidiary Teledyne Wireless, has entered into an agreement to acquire Celeritek’s defense electronics business for $33 M in cash. Teledyne entered into the agreement with Celeritek, effective upon completion of the transaction, for the continued supply of GaAs semiconductor components for use in defense microwave products. In addition, following the transaction, Teledyne intends to relocate the business from Santa Clara, CA and consolidate it with Teledyne Microwave in Mountain View, CA.
Corning Inc. announced that it has agreed to sell its frequency control business to Vectron International. Financial details of the transaction are not being disclosed. Corning expects to close the transaction in the third quarter of this year and realize a loss of approximately $25 M pre-tax in its third quarter results including the allocation of a portion of the telecommunications segment’s goodwill.
Applied Wave Research Inc. (AWR™) announced a corporate agreement with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (TSMC) to jointly develop and deliver a design platform for TSMC’s 0.35-micron silicon germanium process. The platform will include AWR’s Analog Office™ RFIC design software, a TSMC 0.35-micron SiGe process design kit based on open software standards, and an end-user full product support package.
Ansoft Corp. announced a collaboration with Synopsys Inc., which will provide streamlined IC and package co-design and analysis design flow solutions to address the substantial challenges of developing products based on 90 nanometer and System-on-Chip (SoC) technologies.
Agilent Technologies and Lumileds Lighting announced an agreement to collaborate on a new series of light-emitting diodes. The mid-power range devices will target the automotive, mobile phone and lighting markets, and complement the high power Luxeon devices offered by Lumileds and the lower power devices from Agilent. Lumileds will provide high brightness LED chips and technology; Agilent will contribute design, development and system integration expertise, including its patented manufacturing techniques.
Aeroflex Inc. announced that Racal Instruments Wireless Solutions, an Aeroflex company, has agreed to licensing terms with Kyocera Wireless Corp. for the distribution and sale of Kyocera’s Graphical User Interface product AMBER™ (Automatic and Manual Base Station EmulatoR) as part of Racal Instruments Wireless Solutions’ test equipment. AMBER is a Microsoft Windows application used to configure the RIWS 6204 CDMA base station emulator.
Eagleware Corp. and Sonnet® Software Inc. announced a partnership to develop, market and service the integration of Sonnet’s EM simulation products into the GENESYS design environment. Included in the partnership are provisions to share licenses and to train their respective teams to support their common customer base.
CST–Computer Simulation Technology and Mician have signed an agreement enabling the further expansion and interoperability of links between CST’s design environment and other EDA simulation solutions. Users of CST DESIGN STUDIO™ (CST DS) will have optional access to a subset of µWave Wizard™’s fully parametric mode matching components. A migration path from the CST DS subset to full mWave Wizard functionality will also be available.
RFI Global Services Ltd. has signed a partnership agreement with Communications Consultants Worldwide (CCww), suppliers of wireless protocol stack and services to handset makers and semiconductor houses. The agreement will enable RFI Global Services to broaden its scope by providing local testing at CCww’s facilities in Bournemouth adding capability and capacity to RFI Global Services’ testing portfolio.
Peregrine Semiconductor Corp. and QThink announced the completion of a radiation-hard ASIC for precision clock distribution. The high performance mixed-signal ASIC resulted from a cooperative development relationship under which QThink provided design infrastructure and complex digital design support, and Peregrine completed high speed analog design, manufacturing and provided all space-level qualifications.
XMA Corp. announced the opening of its manufacturing operation in Tianjin, China. Located in a new 7500 square foot facility, this new XMA subsidiary will double XMA’s production capacity for RF and microwave terminations, attenuators and other passive products. In related news, XMA Corp. and East Coast Microwave announced the signing of a distribution agreement. Under terms of the agreement, East Coast Microwave will distribute XMA’s full line of standard RF/microwave components.
Elcoteq Network Corp. announced its plan to build a new plant in St. Petersburg, Russia. Construction of the plant, with an area of 14,700 square meters (158,000 square feet), is expected to begin in the final quarter of 2004, and to be in operation by the fall of 2005.
TMD Technologies Ltd., an independent UK manufacturing company based in Hayes, West London, has opened a new manufacturing facility to support its on-going expansion in both the overseas and home markets. TMD works in the specialized area of microwave electronics for radar, EW, communications, EMC and medical applications.
Smiths Interconnect, a division within Smiths Group, is reorganizing its businesses into three main technology groups. The new structure will enable the division to further focus on organic and acquisitive growth. The three technology groups are connectors, microwave technologies and protection.
The UWB Forum announced that the organization has grown to more than 50 members, less than five months following the forum’s formation, underscoring the industry’s support for an ultra-wideband solution that is now available and employs the Direct Sequence Ultra-wideband approach. As of July 12, 2004, the UWB Forum has a total of 57 members encompassing a range of industry expertise.
M/A-COM, a business unit of Tyco Electronics and a provider of wireless radio frequency, microwave and millimeter-wave components, has received the supplier of the year award, within the European region, from Richardson Electronics RF and Wireless Communications Group. The criteria for winning the award were based on a survey provided by the Richardson sales force comparing 15 competing suppliers.
Dow-Key Microwave Inc. was named the relay/switch commodity supplier of the year 2004 by Rockwell Collins. The supplier of the year is an acknowledgment of significant contributions made during the year by suppliers based upon delivery, cost of ownership, lead time and customer metrics.
ANADIGICS Inc., a supplier of wireless and broadband solutions, received its 43rd patent. The company has been awarded 14 new patents in the areas of power amplifier technology, radio frequency circuit design and electronics manufacturing technology.
Midwest Microwave, an RF microwave passive component supplier specializing in attenuators, terminations, adapters, power dividers and cable assemblies, has announced that its commitment to the highest level of customer service, continuous improvement and technical excellence has resulted in its ISO 9001:2000 certification by TUV UK QA Ltd.
Stratex Networks Inc. announced that its quality management system has been certified as compliant with TL 9000 requirements.
Contracts
Multispectral Solutions Inc. has received a $24.5 M contract from the Naval Air Systems Command for the production of UWB-based Aircraft Wireless Intercommunications Systems.
REMEC Inc. announced it has received an initial $9.9 M production contract from Raytheon Missile Systems for the tube-launched, optically-tracked, wire-guided (TOW) missile second-generation upgrade program. This contract is a result of Raytheon’s recent demonstrated success to prove feasibility to add expanded capability to the TOW weapon system. Delivery is scheduled to begin in 2004 with contract completion in early 2006.
Microwave Dynamics has been awarded a contract in excess of $1.1 M to supply its hermetically sealed version of its PLO 2000 phased-locked oscillator to a major US defense contractor. The oscillators will be used for a military airborne project. These models of Microwave Dynamics oscillators are designed to withstand harsh environmental conditions such as intense shock, vibration and temperature ranges (–55° to +105°C).
Merrimac Industries announced that it has received a $1 M multi-mix order from a defense system contractor to continue to provide a 3D multilayer integrated assembly for use in an electronic countermeasures application. To date, Merrimac has delivered $3 M on existing contract releases for this product. The potential revenue to be derived from this new order is currently estimated at approximately $1.2 M as the US Government continues to release contracts.
MI Technologies announced that it 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.
Accumet Engineering Corp. has contracted Dragon Fire Inc., an engineering consulting firm, to define, develop and install four new tools that enable accurate and rapid shape, surface roughness and dimensional measurements. Dragon Fire tailored these significant metrology capabilities to match Accumet’s process requirements, thereby enhancing Accumet’s in-process control and out-going quality assurance.
Financial News
Skyworks Solutions Inc. reports sales of $207.4 M for the third fiscal quarter ended July 2, 2004, compared to $150.2 M for the same period in 2003. Net income was $13.0 M ($0.08/diluted per share), compared to a net loss of $6.2 M ($0.04/diluted per share) for the third quarter of last year.
RF Micro Devices Inc. reports sales of $165.8 M for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 ended March 31, 2004, compared to $131.5 M for the same period in fiscal 2004. Net income was $3 M ($0.02/per diluted share), compared to a net loss of $8.2 ($0.04/per diluted share) for the first quarter of last year.
Crane Co. reports sales of $479.1 M for the second quarter ended June 30, 2004, compared to $406 M for the same period in 2003. Net income was $31.2 M ($0.52/per share), compared to $26 M ($0.44/per share) for the second quarter of last year.
Silicon Laboratories Inc. reports sales of $126.1 M for the second quarter of 2004 ended July 3, 2004, compared to $69.1 M for the same period in 2003. Net income was $22.8 M ($0.41/diluted per share), compared to $10.9 M ($0.21/diluted per share) for the second quarter of last year.
New Market Entry
Sypris Test and Measurement, a subsidiary of Sypris Solutions Inc., announced it has added RF and microwave testing capabilities to its wide range of product and component testing services. Sypris will offer RF test services that include component qualification, parts management across the supply chain, life testing, characterization and burn-in/environmental testing to meet military requirements.
Personnel
Denis Boulanger
Effective immediately, vice president of corporate development, Bob Nurmi, has been named to investigate and bring to market next-generation products and technologies for Taconic. In addition, Denis Boulanger has joined the company as North American national sales manager, ADD. Boulanger has sold microwave laminates for over 15 years, first with Rogers Corp. and most recently with Neltec. To contact Boulanger, call (508) 326-6495 or e-mail: denisb@4taconic.com.
AMI Semiconductor announced that Tony Liang has joined the company as vice president of sales for the Asia Pacific market. Liang brings the company more than 20 years experience in sales and marketing, with more than 15 years spent working directly with technology companies in the Asia Pacific. Liang comes to AMIS from Cygnal Integrated Products, where he was the Asian business manager, responsible for doubling the company’s overall revenue in a one-year period.
Gregory C. Poe
Micro-Ant Inc. announced that Gregory C. Poe has joined the company as chief technology officer and is responsible for overseeing the company’s engineering and technology development. Prior to joining Micro-Ant, Poe was senior RF engineer at KVH Industries where he led the development of the Ku-band phased-array antenna and LNB for mobile satellite television in SUVs and minivans.
Park Electrochemical Corp. announced that Anthony W. DiGaudio has been appointed vice president of quality for the corporation. In this position, DiGaudio will be responsible for leading and driving the company’s worldwide quality efforts. DiGaudio joined the company in May 2002 as product director and was responsible for management of a portion of the company’s high volume and advanced technology products.
Mike Ghara
Sabritec, a custom connector manufacturer, welcomed Mike Ghara as director of engineering. In this position, he will be responsible for the creation and maintenance of product/technology roadmap and product development processes. He will be leading the engineering department in new product design and research, improving production techniques and developing and implementing lean initiatives. Ghara has over 24 years of connector design engineering experience with major emphasis on fiber optic interconnects.
Nanotron Technologies has appointed its chief technology officer Zbigniew Ianelli as the new managing director. Manfred Koslar, the former managing director, now joins the company’s advisory board.
Jean Menard
EMS Technologies Inc. announced the appointment of Jean Menard as director of commercial sales for EMS SATCOM located in Ottawa, Canada. Menard has been involved in business and commercial aviation electronics and communications systems for over 28 years. Menard’s aviation career has already spanned three decades, which have included the engineering of structural and electrical aircraft modifications, corporate and special mission aircraft completions, and senior sales management roles within companies such as BAE Systems, CAL Corp., Innotech Aviation and Max-Viz Inc.
John Sevic
Ali Boudiaf
John Sevic has joined Maury Microwave Corp.’s engineering team as ATS technical manager. Sevic has over 13 years of experience in RF/microwave characterization, modeling and simulation of passive and active technologies. In addition, Ali Boudiaf has joined the company’s engineering team as product manager for the solid-state tuner based noise parameter and load pull product line. Boudiaf was most recently at ACCO-USA as R&D product manager. Prior to that, he worked at Agilent Technologies as R&D project manager in the signal integrity group.
SV Microwave Inc. announced the appointment of Alan Laflin as western regional sales manager. In his new role, he will work closely with the company’s manufacturers representatives and distributors by providing local technical and sales support, helping to close orders, generating new opportunities and building the customer base in the western region. Laflin comes to the company from Tru-Connector where he held a senior sales management position.
Bernard D. Geller
iTerra Communications LLC announced the appointment of Bernard D. Geller as product development manager for the company’s integrated broadband RF/microwave and mixed-signal products that are employed in RF/microwave and optical communications applications. Geller has more than 35 years of experience in the technical design and development, and market development of a broad array of RF and microwave products.
Raltron Electronics Corp. announced the appointment of John Shoemake as distribution sales manager. As distribution sales manager, Shoemake will be responsible for the sales and marketing of the company’s products through its distribution channels in North America. His background includes a broad exposure to both the frequency components industry as well as to components distribution in his previous associations with Crystek Crystals Corp. and Mil-Rep Associates.
Rep Appointments
Richardson Electronics announced it has signed a distribution agreement with ABRACON Corp., an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer of frequency control and magnetic products. Under the terms of the agreement, Richardson will operate as worldwide distributor for ABRACON’s complete line of frequency control and magnetic products.
Valpey Fisher Corp. announced the addition of The Axis Group to the global distribution and rep network as its exclusive authorized sales representative for all company product lines to the Florida and Puerto Rico markets. The company also announced the addition of Efora to the global distribution and rep network as its exclusive authorized sales representative for all company product lines to the Benelux market.
Filtronic Compound Semiconductors, a supplier and manufacturer of PHEMT semiconductors for wireless communications, announced the appointment of several sales representatives to its list of authorized representatives. Filtronic has signed Systems and Components to serve customers in India. Eltronik Ltd. will represent the company products to customers in Turkey. In North America, the company welcomes RF Spectrum as its representative in Canada; M. Lader Co. will cover the eastern US, including southern New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. DB Technical Sales will support accounts in New York and New Jersey and Boston Micro-Components in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. D&L Sales will be responsible for Arizona, while Pamcor Inc. will cover southern California and southern Nevada.
Hittite Microwave Corp. announced the appointment of a new sales representative firm to serve customers in Australia and New Zealand. ASD Technology Pty. Ltd., Sydney, Australia, is a dynamic, high tech company offering products and solutions covering areas of RF/microwave, satellite communication, fiber optics and electronics. ASD Technology can be contacted via telephone at +61 2 9884 7486, via fax at +61 2 8080 8366 or e-mail: info@asdtech.com.au.
Modelithics Inc. announced the appointment of Tech-Inter S.A., Maurepas, as reseller for its EDA RF/microwave model library software, measurement and modeling services in France. Modelithics has also signed Sematron Italia, with offices in Rome and Milan, as reseller for its products and services in Italy.
CAD Design Software (CDS) announced that it has appointed Design Solutions Inc. (DSI) as the latest CDS channel partner. DSI is positioned as a provider of automatic test equipment design services. DSI will focus its efforts as a value-added reseller for CAD Design Software IC test products.
Renaissance Electronics Corp. announced that Naunas Sales Co. will be the sales representative for the Indiana area. Naunas Sales can be reached at (260) 432-4792 or e-mail: naunassales@earthlink.net.
Microwave Filter Co. Inc. announced the appointment of Spectron Inc. as its exclusive sales representative covering Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC. Spectron can be contacted by telephone at (410) 602-2275.
Trompeter announced the signing of a new manufacturer representative. Marktron Inc., Rockville, MD, will be representing Trompeter’s complete product line throughout Maryland and Virginia.