Industry News
Keithley Instruments Inc., a leader in advanced electrical test instruments and systems, announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Agilent Technologies Inc. to sell substantially all of its RF product line to Agilent. Following the closing, it is anticipated that the majority of the RF team will become Agilent employees. Under the terms of the agreement, the company will transfer substantially all of the assets associated with the RF product line and Agilent will assume certain related liabilities. Agilent will provide global sales, service and support for the existing RF product line. The company expects to receive cash proceeds of approximately $9 M and to realize a pre-tax gain in the range of $2.5 to $3.5 M during its first quarter ended December 31, 2009, as a result of the sale.
Molex Inc., an electronic components company, announced that it has completed the acquisition of China-based Zhenjiang Tean Telecom & Appliance Co. Ltd. (Tean), located in Jiangsu Province. Tean designs and manufactures a variety of radio frequency (RF) and microwave products for the telecom and base station/wireless markets globally.
AWR®, an innovation leader in high-frequency electronic design automation (EDA), and AMPSA, a supplier of RF and microwave amplifier design software, announced a relationship that enables AWR to incorporate AMPSA’s Multimatch amplifier design technology as an optional module into its industry-leading Microwave Office high-frequency design software. By making the Multimatch Amplifier Design Wizard (Multimatch ADW) readily available to Microwave Office software users, designers gain ready access to design technology for realizing state-of-the-art, high-dynamic-range RF and microwave amplifiers (Class A and Class B).
Cobham has opened a new facility in Exeter, NH, that will immediately accommodate 80 new jobs related to the manufacture of cable systems sold to the US Government and major aerospace and defense companies. Cobham Sensor Systems products manufactured at this facility support electronics warfare and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) applications, as well as a wide variety of major airborne, shipboard, ground-based, space-based and homeland security-related radar platforms.
Rochester Electronics, a comprehensive and authorized source for discontinued semiconductors, is actively expanding its mission critical product manufacturing capabilities to ensure a continuous supply of certified radiation hardened space-level semiconductors. An approved member of the Class V Qualified Manufacturer List (QML) by the Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC), Rochester Electronics is contractually licensed by National Semiconductor, TI, Fairchild and other leading semiconductor firms, to provide a continuing manufacturing source for products they no longer make.
DragonWave Inc., a supplier of packet microwave radio systems for mobile and access networks, announced that it has received Metro Ethernet Forum (MEF) certification for its Horizon Compact packet microwave radio solution. The MEF certification program provides service level benchmarks for manufacturers’ equipment and service provider performance in complex Ethernet-based networks. Horizon Compact is now MEF 9 and MEF 14 certified.
Cobham SATCOM, a manufacturer of Inmarsat satellite communications equipment, announced that the HGA-7001 High Gain Antenna subsystem has been certified on the Airbus A320 (Single Aisle) family of airframes. This complements an ever growing range of airframes on which the system is deployed and confirms the general appeal and acceptance that this product enjoys in the aeronautical market. Cobham also confirmed the first deliveries of this product to Airbus for installation on airline aircraft.
Skyworks Solutions Inc., an innovator of high reliability analog and mixed signal semiconductors enabling a broad range of end markets, announced that the company’s expanded ISO/TS 16949 certification now includes its entire Mexicali, Mexico manufacturing facility. Skyworks’ 2007 ISO/TS 16949 certification previously covered only certain facets of its Mexicali operations.
Rodelco Electronics Corp. has received an AS9100B supplier certification for the design, development and manufacture of RF/microwave assemblies, microelectronic circuits and electronic assemblies. The certificate was issued by National Quality Assurance, USA. Rodelco is a manufacturer of high quality, custom developed, RF and microwave components and assemblies for the military and OEM market.
Gowanda Electronics installed two cleanrooms at its facilities in upstate New York. It is the first inductor manufacturer to install multiple cleanrooms. The cleanrooms are Class 100,000, but can be upgraded to Class 10,000 as needed to meet customer requirements. The installation of these cleanrooms reflects Gowanda’s commitment to the electronics industry and to the increasing demands/requirements of its customers.
Contracts
Comtech Telecommunications Corp. announced that its Tempe, Arizona-based subsidiary, Comtech EF Data Corp., received $2.4 M in orders for satellite modems and redundancy switches. The equipment will be employed by the United States government to support an ongoing military communications program. The order includes the DMD2050 Universal Satellite Modem and corresponding redundancy switches.
RF Micro Devices Inc. (RFMD) announced that RFMD has been selected by a leading manufacturer of smartphones to support two upcoming CDMA smartphones. RFMD will supply its high performance RF1130 single-pole three-throw (SP3T) cellular switch into two upcoming models targeting the consumer smartphone market. The first device is expected to launch in the first half of calendar 2010, and shipments of the RF1130 are expected to commence in the March 2010 quarter.
Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. has been selected by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center to build a second Global Precipitation Measurement Microwave Imager (GMI) in support of the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission. The identical GMI 1 and GMI 2 Microwave Imagers are multi-channel, conical-scanning, microwave radiometers serving an essential role in the near-global-coverage and frequent-revisit-time requirements of GPM, a mission designed to improve climate, weather and hydrological predictions by providing more accurate precipitation measurements from space. GMI 1 is scheduled to begin full instrument testing at Ball Aerospace by mid-2010. Following completion, the radiometer will fly aboard the GPM space-borne core observatory scheduled to launch in 2013.
Personnel
Electronic Assembly Manufacturing Inc. (EAM) has announced the hiring of a new Director of Sales, Mary Terribile. With more than 31 years of management and customer service experience, Terribile will fulfill the role of Director of Sales by developing and managing field sales representative teams for the growing cable assembly company. She previously worked at Radiall USA Inc. (formally Applied Engineering Products), located in New Haven, CT, in a variety of roles including Inside Sales Manager, National Sales Manager and Product Manager. She also has experience working for Cablewave Systems and Times Wire and Cable as an inside sales representative.
Spartech-South, an RF and microwave manufactures rep firm covering the southeast, announced that Scott Brooks has recently joined the Spartech team as territory Sales Manager. Brooks has 25 years experience selling RF and microwave components and interconnects with companies such as W.L. Gore, Precision Marketing Inc., M/A-COM, Adams-Russell and most recently with Brooks Associates, a manufacturing rep firm he started in 1991. Brooks will be covering commercial and military customers in Eastern and Southern Florida. His new contact info is as follows: Office (321) 727-8045, Cell (321) 615-1454, e-mail: Scott@Spartech-South.com.
Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) announced new, expanded roles for Vice Presidents Robert (Robbie) McAdam and Vincent Roche, as part of an organizational change that strengthens the company’s focus on delivering world-class signal processing products and support to customers. McAdam and Roche will lead two new groups, reporting to President and CEO Jerry Fishman. Vice President Robbie McAdam leads the Core Products and Technologies (CPT) group, which focuses on strengthening ADI’s number-one market share position in converters and high performance amplifiers, and growing the portfolio of RF, power, MEMS and DSP products. Vice President Vincent Roche leads the new Strategic Market Segments (SMS) group, which focuses on integrating ADI technology into optimized solutions for automotive, industrial, medical, consumer and communications infrastructure customers.
D.L.S. Electronic Systems Inc., Wheeling, IL, names Mitch Gaudyn Manager of its Conformity Assessment Compliance Testing Group. Gaudyn will oversee the day-to-day operations and management of the Product Safety testing arm of D.L.S., covering UL, CSA, CE, CCC, C Tick, BSMI and other global testing standards and requirements. Gaudyn comes from Charles Industries, where he has been the Product Manager for OSP Telecom and Other Electronic Products.
Rep Appointments
Richardson Electronics Ltd., whose new website features the latest products from the top suppliers for the most important RF/Wireless and Power Conversion applications, announced it has signed a global distribution agreement with Sarantel, a manufacturer of filtering antennas for mobile and wireless devices. As a leading distributor of RF and microwave components, Richardson Electronics offers technical expertise, value-added customer service, and a global sales footprint, which provides OEM/ODM companies with streamlined new product introduction and shorter design cycles.
Vaunix Technology Corp., a manufacturer of USB controlled and powered test equipment, has announced the hiring of two new sales representatives to handle customer relationships in the UK and Japan. MCS Test Equipment is a supplier of wireless test and measurement equipment in the UK. Located in North Wales, MCS covers all territory within the UK. Vaunix representative Bill Beck can be reached by phone 08453 62 63 65 or e-mail: info@mcs-testequipment.com. For more information, visit the MCS website at www.mcs-testequipment.co.uk.
Electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corp., recognized by design engineers as having the industry’s broadest selection of electronic components available for immediate shipment, announced it has expanded its agreement with CTS Corp. to include the Tusonix line of EMI/RFI filters, capacitor assemblies and related components.
Reactel Inc., a manufacturer of RF and microwave filters, multiplexers, and multi-function assemblies for the commercial, military, industrial, and medical industries, announced the appointment of Trembly Associates as the company’s exclusive representative in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah. For more information about Trembly Associates, please visit www.trembly.com or telephone Gary Mulryan at (505) 266-8616.
Linx Technologies Inc. announced the appointment of World Micro Inc. as a stocking distributor.