Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/3788-around-the-circuit

Around the Circuit

December 1, 2003

INDUSTRY NEWS

Laird Technologies announced its acquisition of Orcus Inc. Orcus Inc., with a 12,000 square foot facility in Overland Park, KS, develops, manufactures and sells thermal interface materials to a diverse customer base in the electronics industry. In related news, Laird and Seiren Co. Ltd. announced that they have concluded a broad-based intellectual property licensing agreement in the field of conductive foam (CF) EMI shielding product. Under this agreement, Laird Technologies is granted a global exclusive license to SeirenÕs existing CF patents and both parties will cross-license any new patents granted to the other in the field of CF.


Aeroflex Inc. announced the acquisition of Celerity Systems Inc. from L-3 Communications Corp. for $10.25 M consisting of cash, Aeroflex common shares and a release of certain liabilities.

Fairchild Semiconductor announced it has purchased the commercial unit of the RF components division of the Raytheon Co. The purchase provides Fairchild with an immediate entry into the advanced radio frequency market for applications that include wireless LANs and handset power amplifiers. The agreement also adds gallium arsenide millimeter-wave integrated circuits to Fairchild's extensive portfolio of high performance building block components that power multiple end market products. Fairchild has also acquired Raytheon's foundry partnership agreement for the supply of gallium arsenide wafers and an equity stake in WIN Semiconductor, as well as access to foundry and support services at Raytheon's Andover, MA facility.

IAM Systems Inc. , via an acquisition from Mission Research Corp. , continues the electromagnetic measurement range products business area. Bill Griffin, who spearheaded this industry within MRC, leads the new spin-off organization with plans to maintain and expand this enterprise.

Palomar Technologies announced that Bookham Technology has purchased Palomar's Laser Diode Assembly Cell to complement its automated equipment resources used for precision volume manufacturing and new product development at its facility in the UK.

LPKF Laser & Electronics has entered into a know-how and license agreement with Ticona for the material Vectra® liquid crystal polymer (LCP). The agreement enables Ticona to modify its LCP material for the LPKF laser direct structuring process to produce 3D-MID circuits.

RF Monolithics Inc. (RFM) announced the expansion of its sales channel with Richardson Electronics . Under the terms of the agreement, Richardson will operate as a distributor for RFM's broad range of radio frequency components and modules based on surface acoustic wave technology for the automotive, consumer, industrial, medical and telecommunications markets.

United Monolithic Semiconductors (UMS) and TNO Physics and Electronics Laboratory (TNO FEL) have formed a strategic alliance with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding whereby both parties have agreed to share selected information and capabilities to provide market advantages for its customers. The initiative will build on the companies' combined expertise and experience in the development of monolithic microwave integrated circuit solutions and GaAs process technology to provide a one-stop shop for customers.

Labtech and Pioneer Circuits Inc. have formed a strategic marketing alliance. The new alliance, a non-competitive agreement, allows both companies to promote each other in specific territories by utilizing existing sales channels. Pioneer will promote Labtech's core capabilities to the North American space and defense markets and Labtech will reciprocate by promoting Pioneer in the European market.

Maury Microwave Corp. announced that it has signed an agreement with Modelithics Inc. of Tampa, FL, to advance the application of load/source pull measurement for more efficient nonlinear device modeling and circuit design. Under the agreement, applications of load/source pull measurements will be advanced using the latest Maury Microwave automated tuner systems. These test systems will allow Modelithics to create a wider variety of high accuracy nonlinear device models and load-pull data sets to accelerate RF and microwave designs.

Nu Horizons RF , the RF/microwave division of Nu Horizons Electronics Corp., announced the signing of a distribution agreement with Amphenol RF , the RF/microwave division of Amphenol Worldwide, an interconnect product manufacturer. This agreement, effective immediately, establishes Nu Horizons RF selling rights within the US, Canada and Mexico for Amphenol's RF coaxial connectivity products utilized in radio frequency, microwave and data transmission system applications.

Elcoteq Network Corp. and Marconi plc announced a co-operation agreement under which Elcoteq will become Marconi's preferred partner for the manufacture of fixed wireless access products and associated technologies. Elcoteq will offer Marconi new product introduction, manufacturing, pre-field installation and repair services primarily for its microwave communications systems business. Co-operation also includes transfer of Marconi's electronics manufacturing in Offenburg, Germany with its 340 employees to Elcoteq.

Radiall and Huber + Suhner announced that QMA and QN connectors are patented products as a result of a joint development between the companies. Both companies guarantee the full intermateability between their connectors. In order to protect customers from low performance products and interface dimensional issues the companies have created a new standard represented by trademark QLF. The new QLF®, "Quick Lock Formula®" standard applies to QMA and QN series.

RFMW Ltd. is a new San Jose, CA-based specialty electronics distribution company that will focus exclusively on the RF and microwave component and semiconductor market. Co-founders include Joel Levine, president, Steve Takaki, vice president of sales and marketing, and Mike Lee, vice president of product management and marketing. This management represents many years of experience in product distribution, applications engineering and customer support. The company is located at 1876 Hartog Drive, San Jose, CA 95131 (408) 350-8318, fax (408) 350-8315 or e-mail: info@rfmw.com.

Vishay Electro-Films announced the grand opening of its recently rebuilt facility in Warwick, RI. The $50 M facility is an advanced thin-film manufacturing plant that has doubled production capacity and provides greater flexibility and accuracy for specialized designs. In related news, the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce has selected Vishay Intertechnology's Electro-Films division as recipient of its Conquering Adversity Award. Vishay was recognized for its decision to rebuild in Warwick after its Electro-Films facility was almost entirely destroyed by a fire in February 2002.

I.F. Engineering Corp. (IFE), manufacturer of standard and custom-engineered passive RF and microwave components covering 100 kHz to 7 GHz, has relocated to a larger facility to accommodate significantly increased engineering and manufacturing demands. IFE is now located at 40 Parker Road, Fabyan, CT 06255 in a building double the size of its previous facility. New contact numbers are (860) 935-0280 and fax (860) 935-0283. In related news, the company announced the appointment of new sales representation in Florida. Gruber & Associates will now represent IFE in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee.

Fox Electronics announced that it has achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification. The company received accreditation in August 2003, following a successful surveillance audit by its chosen registrar, Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance.

QUALCOMM Inc. announced that the company has shipped one billion chips since its first commercial CDMA solution was provided to wireless handset customers and infrastructure providers in 1994.

CONTRACTS

Smiths Group's Interconnect subsidiary has been selected by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics to supply its Times Microwave Broadband Airborne Cable Assemblies for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The contract is potentially valued in excess of $500 M over the life of the program. The high performance cable assemblies are designed to handle high speed data in extreme avionics environments, including wide variations in temperature and pressure. Delivery of the first set is planned for early 2004. Production of the F-35 JSF is scheduled to commence in 2006, continuing to 2026.

Agilent Technologies Inc. announced that Thine Electronics Inc. has selected Agilent's high frequency electronic design automation tools to help speed RF integrated circuit design. Thine uses AgilentÕs Advanced Design System and RF Design Environment to develop wireless communications products such as buffer amplifiers for mobile phones and wireless LANs.

FINANCIAL NEWS

RF Micro Devices Inc. reports sales of $163.5 M for the second quarter of fiscal 2004 ended September 30, 2003, compared to $119.7 M for the same period in 2003. Net income was $11.4 M ($0.06/diluted share), compared to a net income of $6.5 M ($0.04/diluted share) for the second quarter of last year. In related news, the company announced that it has shipped its 300 millionth power amplifier module.

Silicon Laboratories Inc. reports sales of $82.9 M for the third quarter ended September 27, 2003, compared to $51.8 M for the same period in 2002. Net income was $13.9 M ($0.26/diluted share), compared to a net income of $7.9 M ($0.16/diluted share) for the third quarter of last year.

Cree Inc. reports sales of $66.2 M for the first quarter of fiscal 2004 ended September 28, 2003, compared to $48.8 M for the same period in 2003. Net income was $8.9 M ($0.12/diluted share), compared to a net income of $3.9 M ($0.05/diluted share) for the first quarter of last year.

Merrimac Industries Inc. reports sales of $6.6 M for the second quarter ended June 28, 2003, compared to $6.5 M for the same period in 2002. Net loss was $475,000 ($0.15/per share), compared to a net loss of $54,000 ($0.02/per share) for the second quarter of last year. In related news, the company announced the refinancing of its revolving credit, term loan and letter of credit facility with CIT Business Credit, a unit of CIT Group Inc. The refunding, which replaces a similar facility with another lender, represents a three-year secured revolving credit, term loan and letter of credit facility for $9.3 M.

Mimix Broadband Inc. announced it has secured $6.7 M in an initial close of its second round of institutional funding. This round of funding was led by 3i, an international venture capital company, and First Capital Group of San Antonio, TX. The majority of existing shareholders also participated in this round. Proceeds will be used to expand the companyÕs product portfolio of highly integrated and high power monolithic microwave integrated circuits.

RNT , a provider of high tech products and solutions for component joining, has secured an $800,000 bridge round of funding from original first round investors Toucan Capital Corp., SAS Investors and the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development. The company plans to use the funds in the initial launch of commercial product.

PERSONNEL

TriPoint Global Communications announced two key management appointments for itsVertexRSI Duluth, GA, program division. Eduardo Coquis has been appointed vice president, sales, and Robert W. Lysak has been appointed director of engineering. Coquis will be responsible for the development of business programs and overall sales. Lysak is responsible for both sales and implementation systems engineering.

Joan M. Byrnes has joined Andrew Corp. in the newly created role of vice president and general manager, satellite communications. In this position, she will be responsible for managing the company's global satellite communications lines of business. Byrnes was the former chief operating officer at Loral Skynet, a division of Loral Space and Communications, where she had responsibility for marketing, sales, business operations and profitability for Loral Skynet's product lines.

Micrel Inc. announced the appointment of James Gandenberger to the position of vice president of Wafer Fab Operations. In this position, he will have the responsibility of overseeing day-to-day operations. Gandenberger has served as acting vice president of Wafer Fab Operations since July 2002. Most recently, he served as the managing director of Santa Clara Wafer Fabs at National Semiconductor.

Antenova announced it has appointed Su Zhang as chief technology officer. Zhang's experience in building and managing teams and transforming research and development ideas into mass-produced products will be invaluable as the company moves forward to the next stage of volume production. Zhang's background spans over 20 years in the antenna industry. Previously, she had been the head of Nokia's new antenna concept team, which included global responsibility for assessing antenna suppliers. She also worked at CSA Antenna Systems Ltd. as a principal engineer before joining Nokia.

RF Logic LLC has named Arthur E. Butts to the newly created position of director, new business development. In this position, Butts will manage the sales and marketing functions and also assist in defining strategic market development of new products. He brings over 20 years of global sales, marketing and operations experience to the company. In related news, RF Logic LLC announced the appointment of KSA Electronics as its exclusive representative in the southern California territory.

Peter Sahjani has been named the director of marketing at EiC. Previously, he served as the product manager at Agilent Wireless Semiconductor Group.

Reactel Inc. an- nounced the addition of Raymond R. Hashemi to the company in the role of engineering general manager. Hashemi brings over 25 years of experience in engineering and management in the RF and microwave filter industry. He was formerly with Merrimac Industries, Trak Corp. and Piezo Technology Inc.

MICRO-COAX announced the appointment of Jeanne E. Ploshay as inside sales manager for the company. Ploshay was formerly enterprise resource planning and business analyst with the company. In her new position, Ploshay will manage the inside sales operation at the company, ensuring that all activities, from sales to quotation and customer satisfaction, are con-
ducted properly.

International Manufacturing Services Inc. announced the appointment of Robert Giblin to the position of eastern regional sales manager. Giblin will be responsible for managing the companyÕs sales on the US east coast and territories east of the Mississippi River as well as servicing select international accounts.

REP APPOINTMENTS

Elcom Technologies Inc. has appointed several new representatives in North America as a result of increased demand for RF/microwave sources, frequency synthesizers and customized integrated modules. The company has appointed Advanced Technical Marketing for New Jersey, New York, eastern Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC. Hi-Peak Sales will represent Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Rhode Island. KJS Marketing will handle Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

WEB SITE

Park Electrochemical Corp. announced the introduction of new technical and product reference areas at the company's Web site, www.parknelco.com. The new areas, resources and products replace the previous product, web customer and designer's corner areas, and provide more streamlined access to available product information, design resources and technical data. Using the company's new database technology, designers and manufacturers of printed circuit boards can quickly pinpoint products that meet specific needs based upon electrical values, mechanical requirements or a variety of other categories. The resources area provides direct access to technical data, articles, question and answer sheets, and other helpful tools.