Industry News
Crane Co., a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products, announced the successful completion of its tender offer for Merrimac Industries Inc. Crane has accepted 2,796,642 validly tendered Merrimac shares, including 23,162 shares tendered under the tender offer’s guaranteed delivery procedures. The tendered shares, excluding those tendered through the guaranteed delivery process, constitute approximately 92.5 percent of the total Merrimac shares of common stock outstanding. Crane expects to promptly complete the acquisition of Merrimac through a short-form merger.
Harris Corp., an international communications and information technology company, has acquired the technology assets of OSI Geospatial Inc.’s land-based, situational awareness business. These technologies will enhance the company’s capabilities in delivering assured communications systems and applications for defense and public safety customers. With this acquisition, Harris gains advanced software for capturing, viewing and disseminating critical strategic and tactical information to domestic and international defense and public safety customers. The situational awareness software provides commanders and team members in the field with real-time information, such as the location of deployed personnel. These applications are capable of being embedded into both tactical and public safety radios.
Electro Technik Industries Inc. (ETI), an electronics manufacturing company based out of Largo, FL, has acquired Arizona Capacitors and its subsidiaries: West Cap of Arizona, SFE Technologies and Component Research Co. Arizona Capacitors and West Cap manufacture film capacitors for both the industrial and military markets. Arizona Capacitors builds to MIL-STD-790 and is ISO 9001:2000 approved. The company also designs and manufactures a family of electronic filters.
SELEX Galileo, a Finmeccanica company and a defence electronics manufacturer, and RFMD Inc., a leader in the design and manufacture of high performance radio frequency components and compound semiconductor technologies, announced the extension of its collaboration to develop high frequency GaAs MMIC solutions focused on SELEX Galileo’s next generation of electronically-scanned (E-SCAN) phased array radar systems. SELEX Galileo and RFMD have collaborated in GaAs MMICs since signing a strategic cooperation agreement in May 2008. In a related announcement, RFMD has commenced production shipments to SELEX Galileo of GaAs MMIC chipsets for insertion into SELEX Galileo’s surveillance and fire control radar systems. RFMD manufactures its GaAs MMIC process for SELEX Galileo on six-inch substrates at RFMD’s GaAs wafer fab in Durham, UK.
Valpey Fisher Corp., a leader in low noise timing solutions, announced the creation of its Microwaves Products Group. The group will focus on the design, manufacture and marketing of high performance RF/microwave components and integrated modules for a broad range of end markets, including microwave point to point, wireless infrastructure and military communications.
VI Technology MMTS™ for production testing of new and existing components was used in the development of the second-generation of Ford’s SYNC system. VI Technology MMTS is an automated test system designed to improve productivity for design and test engineers needing analog and digital measurements for audio/video devices. Ford has continued to innovate and add features to SYNC, including adding traffic, directions and information capabilities starting with the 2010 model year.
Organizers announced the formation of Crystal RFI Solutions LLC (CRFIS), a new company dedicated to providing global solutions for preventing and identifying the source of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). RFI Sentry provides satellite operators and users the ability to prevent costly RFI to satellite transponders and to quickly identify sources of transponder RFI from anywhere around the world.
AWR Corp., a leader in high frequency EDA, announced that it has expanded its global presence by establishing a direct sales, support and marketing office in Korea. To better serve the region’s growing customer base, Kyung Hwa Kim has been appointed AWR Korea’s Country Manager. For more information, visit AWR Korea’s new content rich, local language website: www.awr.co.kr. To contact AWR Korea directly: AWR Korea Co. Ltd., B-1412, Intellige-II, 24 Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea, 463-811; +82 31 603 7772; +82 31 603 7773; info.kr@awrcorp.com.
Delta Microwave announced the company’s relocation into a new and expanded 36,000 square foot facility. With full engineering, drafting, machine shop, assembly, electrical and environmental testing on-site, Delta Microwave can manufacture components with tough mechanical, electrical, and environmental specifications quickly and affordably. The new facility includes 20,000 square feet of ESD assembly and test to accommodate increased demand and includes a 5,000 square foot Class 100,000 clean room for space flight hardware.
ARC Technologies has expanded its manufacturing capacity by acquiring a 50,000 sq. ft. facility adjacent to its existing operation in Amesbury, MA. The new manufacturing facility, which includes new equipment for thermoplastic extrusion and injection molding manufacturing operations, will also house a renovated sales office.
Auriga Measurement Systems LLC announced it will be doing business as Auriga Microwave. The new name better signifies the company’s strength and direction. Building upon its strong “Auriga” brand, Auriga Microwave expands its products and services to include design and manufacture of RF modules, particularly power amplifiers. Leveraging the team’s depth of experience, the company’s goal is to be the leading provider of high-performance microwave modules to system integrators, principally for the Department of Defense.
Mimix Broadband Inc., a supplier of high performance gallium arsenide (GaAs) semiconductors from DC to 50 GHz for RF, microwave and millimeter-wave applications, commemorates its 10th year of business in 2010. The company will celebrate the occasion throughout the year, including at the 2010 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, to be held next month in Anaheim, CA.
Raytheon Co. has developed a mobile Civil Communications solutions demonstration that allows first responders to experience seamless communications capabilities that could help save lives when crises strike. The mobile demonstration is a high-tech experience where public safety professionals can fully immerse themselves in rescue scenarios and realize the benefits that interoperable communications provide.
Sapphicon Semiconductor, a designer and manufacturer of high performance integrated circuits based on silicon-on-sapphire (SoS) process technology, and AWR Corp., a leader in high frequency EDA, introduced process design kits (PDK) for AWR software that support Sapphicon’s advanced SoS processes.
As wireless operators upgrade their microwave backhaul networks to keep up with increasing demands for capacity, Comsearch, a CommScope company, has launched a new suite of support services aimed at reducing operators’ capital and operating expenditures and speeding network deployment. Comsearch’s iQ.link® Services suite includes four offerings that provide network engineering analysis as well as software database and system maintenance to enable network planners to roll out high capacity backhaul networks quickly and efficiently. These services allow network planners to focus on their core expertise by off-loading other time-consuming tasks.
VTI Instruments Corp. announced that it has received the Lockheed Martin STAR Supplier Award. VTI has been selected as a top performing supplier by Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support (STS). The STAR Supplier Award was implemented as a way to develop stronger supply chain relationships and recognize outstanding performance by top performing suppliers. Selection is based on a number of performance criteria including high product quality, on time delivery and cost competitiveness.
Laser Services Inc., a precision laser cutting, drilling, scribing, etching and welding job shop, has announced its recent recertification of ISO 9001:2008. The certification verifies the company’s Quality Management System as “applicable to laser scribing, drilling, cutting, marking, welding, and other processing for materials to include ceramics, metals, plastic, and adhesives used in the microelectronics, medical, aerospace, and commercial industries.” The qualification was assessed and approved by National Quality Assurance, USA, an accredited organization under the Aerospace Registrar Management Program.
Technology Marketing Corp. (TMC) has recognized Aeroflex’s contributions to 4G wireless technology with a 4GWE Product of the Year award for the 7100 Digital Radio Test Set. Award recipients represent the most innovative new products brought to market during 2009.
WiSpry Inc., a leader in tunable RF semiconductor products for the wireless industry, announced that the company’s patent application for Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) Variable Capacitors and Actuation Components, and Related Methods has been granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office (Patent number 7,545,622).
Contracts
Cobham has been awarded a contract from SikorskyAircraft Corp. to manufacture advanced composite components and assemblies for the main rotor blades of the United States Marine Corps’ CH-53K Heavy Lift Replacement Helicopter under development by Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. Depending on how many CH-53K helicopters are eventually built by Sikorsky for the US Marine Corps, the contract could be worth up to US$25 M.
Herley Industries Inc. announced that its Herley New England division in Woburn, MA, has been awarded a contract valued at approximately $11.7 M from a major US Prime contractor. Herley New England will manufacture a number of multi-function IMAs for a US Navy Electronic Attack Aircraft. In related news, Herley announced that its Herley Lancaster division has received a follow-on contract valued at more than $1 M from a major US prime contractor to manufacture multi-function integrated microwave assemblies (IMA) for a US Navy electronic attack aircraft.
RF Micro Devices (RFMD) announced that it has been awarded $3.2 M in R&D contracts by the United States Department of Defense related to GaN microelectronics, including materials, device fabrication and high power circuits. The $3.2 M in R&D contracts extends RFMD’s contract backlog for calendar 2010 to approximately $5 M. Since calendar 2004, RFMD has been awarded approximately $13 M in R&D contracts by the US Government.
Micronetics Inc. announced that it has been awarded a contract valued at approximately $2 M from a defense contractor for high performance microwave isolators that will be used in a radar system. Deliveries on this contract will commence in Q1 FY2011 and continue for 18 months.
Carlisle Interconnect Technologies recently signed two long-term supply agreements with Airbus in Toulouse, France. Under the first agreement, Carlisle Interconnect Technologies will supply (DR) style airframe wire and cable to Airbus. This culminates a multi-year qualification effort by Carlisle Interconnect Technologies to gain approval for all Airbus production aircraft. Production is expected to start immediately with first deliveries beginning in March of 2010. Carlisle will manufacture the Airbus airframe wire in its St. Augustine, FL facility. Under the second agreement, ECS, recently acquired by Carlisle Interconnect Technologies, will supply ARINC 600 trays for all Airbus aircraft. The trays are designed and manufactured in its Franklin, WI facility.
Agilent Technologies Inc. announced that its Advanced Design System (ADS) software has been selected by Paratek Microwave for use in development of tunable antenna modules for the mobile handset market. The accuracy, capacity and performance offered by ADS will aid Paratek in the design of optimized modules as well as in the creation of models for its customers.
Cambridge Consultants, a technology product design and development firm, announced the inclusion of its holographic radar technology in a US Department of Defense (DoD) demonstration program geared at improving the projectile scoring capabilities of the US Navy and Army. This demonstration project, funded by the Department for Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E) for both services, will align holographic radar technology and target scoring technology applications for the first time.
New Market Entry
CogniTech Sales LLC provides consultative technical sales for leading manufacturers of RF, microwave, millimeter-wave, lightwave components, integrated circuits, cable assemblies, subsystems and systems. In addition to the company’s synergistic line-up of component and communication systems, it offers test and measurement equipment, high frequency simulation tools, high precision simulation models, electronic manufacturing services (EMS) and high technology printed circuitry. Alen Fejzuli, Director, Advanced Products Sales and Founder of CogniTech Sales LLC, has extensive technical sales, management, and high frequency design experience in the commercial, military RF/microwave and fiber optic industries. For more information, visit www.cognitechsales.com.
Personnel
Andy Humen has been promoted to the position of Vice President of Cobham Sensor Systems. He is responsible for the sensor and microwave electronics and microwave components business units in San Diego, CA, Richardson, TX, San Jose, CA, Lowell, MA, Roanoke, VA, Milton Keynes, UK and Lansdale, PA. Previously, Humen was the Vice President for the Sensor Electronics operations in Lansdale, PA, Baltimore, MD, Bolton, MA, and Largo, FL. Previous to that he was the Director of Advanced Technology for Cobham Sensor Systems, responsible for the coordination of technology development across the SBU and Cobham.
AR RF/Microwave Instrumentation has announced the appointment of Timothy J. Rainear to the post of Regional Manager, North America. Rainear comes to AR with over 20 years of experience in the sales and marketing of technology solutions. Most recently Rainear was consulting as the VP of Business Development at an early stage start-up company based in Cambridge, MA. His extensive technical background enabled him to investigate and penetrate several key commercial markets for this DARPA-backed, analog signal processing company.
Phase Matrix Inc. announced the recent appointment of Alexander Chenakin to Vice President of the Signal Sources group. In this new role, Chenakin will be responsible for overseeing the development and marketing of a new generation of microwave signal sources.
Rep Appointments
Richardson Electronics Ltd. announced it has teamed with Scintera Inc. to bring Scintera’s recently announced SC1887 to the worldwide market. The SC1887 delivers critically needed power amplifier linearity improvements without requiring access to the I/Q baseband signals. This digitally controlled analog technology works at the RF signal level, can be brought to market quickly, and requires only the addition of a few standard RF components to implement. Scintera’s SC1887 Adaptive RF Power Amplifier Linearizer is a practical, cost-effective solution that satisfies today’s needs for reduced amplifier distortion, increased power efficiency and higher output power.
Modelithics Inc. announced its new agreement with CogniTech Sales LLC, for sales and service representation for the Southeastern United States. Larry Dunleavy, Modelithics’ CEO, and the Advanced Products Sales Director, Alen Fejzuli, have signed a comprehensive agreement designed to fully support Modelithics in the Florida, Alabama and Georgia markets for RF and microwave simulation models as well as characterization services. CogniTech will also be assisting with establishing new relationships for Modelithics Vendor Partner Program (MVP).
Technical Communities Inc. announced an exclusive government services partnership agreement with Casella USA, the North American subsidiary of UK-based Casella Measurement Inc. The agreement authorizes Technical Communities to distribute more than 300 Casella products.