Industry News
MI Technologies, a provider of advanced engineering, wireless, precision instrumentation and measurement systems, announced it has entered into an agreement to purchase the majority of the assets and have exclusive rights to all IAM System’s designs and products. Since its inception, IAM Systems has been a designer and manufacturer of microwave reflector systems using the latest metrology and modeling tools. IAM’s reflector products are being used throughout the world to make RF measurements. As part of this move, William (Bill) R. Griffin, Jr., IAM’s owner and principal, will be joining MI Technologies as a senior technologist.
Abilis Systems, a Kudelski Group company, and a pioneer RF semiconductor company, announced the acquisition of Freescale Semiconductor CMOS Modulators and Silicon Tuner product lines. The acquisition of these assets will allow Abilis to expand its broad portfolio of leading, silicon-based digital TV (DTV) and tuner solutions and better address the needs of the growing digital TV market, and in particular of Digital Terrestrial (DTT) and cable platforms. It will enable Abilis to support the growth of Pay-TV operators by combining its innovative cutting-edge technology with well-established and proven technology and knowledge from one of the most relevant global chip manufacturers. Furthermore, this extension of product portfolio and related skills and competences will further enhance its expertise in this area with the integration within Abilis of the dedicated team from Freescale.
Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd., an innovator in electronics and a global supplier of ceramic passive components, announced that it has purchased the multilayer ceramic capacitor (MLCC) business from Panasonic Electronic Devices (PED). This acquisition increases Murata’s international competitiveness in the MLCC market as Murata will acquire PED’s technology, distributors and customers.
Anritsu Co. announced a partnership with Forward Link, a division of CBM of America Inc. (CBMA) and a recognized leader in the design, engineering, manufacturing and integration of innovative products and services for the communications industry. The partnership will enhance Anritsu’s established position as the market leader in developing innovative RF test solutions that make it easier for wireless field professionals to locate and identify interference, sweep antennas, conduct spectral validation and mapping coverage, as well as other tests.
HRL Laboratories LLC announced that it has partnered with the National Secure Manufacturing Center at the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Kansas City Plant (KCP) to provide multiple-project wafer services to the Department of Defense (DoD) Trusted Foundry Program. The National Secure Manufacturing Center provides the national security community secure manufacturing and engineering solutions.
Agilent Technologies Inc. announced its collaboration with Southeast University-China to improve mobile communication systems performance. Agilent is providing grants and test instruments for the university’s use in researching methods for users to obtain higher data rates and high-quality services with increased spectrum and power efficiency.
Effective immediately, S.M. Electronics LLC will operate under the name Fairview Microwave. The reason is SM is an extremely common name on the Internet. There have been several low cost imitators using similar domain names resulting in confusion among the company’s customers. Fairview Microwave is a unique name that will eliminate this confusion. The company’s new information: Fairview Microwave, 460 South Highway 5, Fairview, TX 75069, (800) 715-4396, www.fairviewmicrowave.com or e-mail: sales@fairviewmicrowave.com.
Z-Communications Inc., a US manufacturer of VCO and PLL modules, announced that the organization’s quality management system has been assessed and registered by Intertek Testing Services NA Inc. as conforming to the requirements of ISO 9001:2008. The certification of compliance with ISO 9001:2008 recognizes that the policies, practices and procedures of Z-Comm’s organization ensure consistent quality in the products Z-Comm provides its customers.
Laird Technologies Inc., a leader in the design and manufacture of customized, performance-critical components for wireless systems and other advanced electronics applications, announced that the Patent Board ranks the company as #17 in Industry Impact, #19 in InnovationCycle Time and #41 overall in the board’s Top 50 Scorecard for Telecommunications—an increase of 16 points from its previous ranking.
ANSYS Inc., an innovator of simulation software and technologies designed to optimize product development processes, announced its inclusion on the 2009 FORTUNE 100 Fastest-Growing Companies list. ANSYS is ranked number 33 overall, the only engineering simulation provider and the only Pennsylvania-based company to make the list. Of the 24 companies in the technology sector, ANSYS was in the top 10, ranked at number eight.
AVX Corp., a manufacturer of advanced passive components and interconnect solutions, received the Arrow Electronics 2008 Largest Passives Supplier award at the 2009 Electronic Distribution Show (EDS). Julie Miller, Supplier Account Manager of AVX, accepted the award from Stephen Sallas, Business Segment Manager at Arrow, at an awards banquet recently.
Contracts
MicroWave Technology Inc. (MwT), a wholly-owned subsidiary of IXYS Corp., announced that it has been awarded a contract from BAE Systems with a total amount of over $2.5 M. The contract consists of supplying a large volume of custom connected microwave amplifiers with military electrical specifications and high reliability requirements.
KOR Electronics announced a multi-million dollar award from a major international Defense Prime. The contract is for upgrade to a KOR simulator originally developed in 2005. This new contract will dramatically extend the simulator’s current features, in addition to providing the end user with testing capabilities that are the most advanced available in today’s market.
Microwave Systems Solutions of Crane Aerospace & Electronics Group, a segment of Crane Co., has announced that it signed a new contract with Harris Corp., Melbourne, FL. Microwave Systems Solutions was awarded a development contract, with potential for annual production of over $3 M, by Harris Corp. to manufacture a Transmit/Receive (T/R) Module for a new program. Under the contract, Microwave Systems Solutions will work closely with Harris Corp. to provide a T/R Module for the War Fighter Information Network—Tactical. This particular product is designed to provide modern/robust voice, data and imagery distribution system for battlefield operations. The production is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2009 in Chandler, AZ.
RF Micro Devices Inc. (RFMD) announced it is supporting the ramp of Samsung’s Tocco Ultra Edition and GT-S8000 “Jet” 3G handsets with two of its industry-leading 3G cellular front ends—the RF3267 and RF6266. RFMD’s high-efficiency and ultra-compact 3G front ends are designed to support the critical needs of multi-band, multi-mode 3G handsets and smartphones.
Wireless RF semiconductor company RFaxis announced that it has scored design wins with Taiwan-based CeraMicro Technology Corp. RFaxis’ industry-first RFeICs (RF Front-end Integrated Circuits) will be used in CeraMicro’s System-in-Package (SiP) solutions for Zigbee and WLAN.
Harris Stratex Networks Inc. has signed a contract with ICOMM, one of India’s leading groups in the field of telecom, power transmission and distribution EPC, solar and infrastructure, to supply, install, commission and maintain an IEEE 802.16e mobile WiMAX network for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL).
Financial News
TriQuint Semiconductor Inc. reports sales of $169.1 M for the second quarter of 2009 ended June 27, 2009, compared to $127 M for the same period in 2008. Net income for the second quarter of 2009 was $3.9 M ($0.03/per share), compared to a net income of $3.4 M ($0.02/per share) for the second quarter of last year.
New Market Entries
Rohde & Schwarz, a supplier of RF test and measurement equipment, has developed its first family of broadband amplifiers. The company leveraged its extensive expertise as a broadcast transmitter manufacturer to design the new product line. As a result, the R&S BBA100 is the most flexible and advanced broadband amplifier system on the market. Its modular design allows users to select frequency range and output power to suit their requirements. The built-in expansion capability protects capital investment. Individual amplifier modules can be replaced quickly and easily, making downtime a thing of the past. The R&S BBA100 is ideal for EMC applications in test houses and the electronics and automotive industry. The high quality and reliability of the amplifiers will also benefit research institutes, development labs and government agencies, as well as radiocommunications applications.
ENS Microwave LLC announces that it has opened business as a small, woman-owned manufacturer of high performance flexible and semi-flexible microwave cable assemblies. Kristen Schretzenmayer, formerly VP of Operations at IW, Microwave Products Division, has assembled a staff with over 50 years experience in the interconnect industry. ENS offers a wide range of cable and connector combinations from DC to 60 GHz with typical lead times of less than four weeks and can design special connectors to be used within any particular application and can utilize almost any cable type commercially available. The company specializes in custom assemblies built to customers’ specifications with products found in the telecommunications and aerospace industries and address the stringent reliability, environmental, and performance requirements of the RF industry.
Personnel
Valpey Fisher Corp. announced that the Board of Directors elected Gary Ambrosino and Steven Schaefer to its Board of Directors as well as the appointing of Mario Alosco as Secretary of the corporation. Ambrosino is the Managing Director of clearValue strategies, a consulting firm based in Boston, MA, that specializes in strategic development and tactical execution of new product programs. Schaefer is the President of Cobham Sensor Systems Strategic Business Unit. He has over 30 years of experience in the Aerospace and Defense Industry and an extensive background in engineering, business development, program management and finance. Alosco, a Director of Valpey Fisher since 2004, was named Secretary of the corporation. From September 2005 he has been an Executive Search Consultant and Partner at Mainstay Partners.
M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc. (M/A-COM Tech), a supplier of semiconductors, active and passive components and subassemblies for RF, microwave and millimeter-wave applications, announced that Robert (Bob) Donahue has joined the company as Chief Strategy Officer. Donahue is responsible for leading M/A-COM Tech’s efforts in targeting faster growth markets where the company’s technology provides a competitive advantage. He will also work with the product line managers on new product and technology roadmaps. Additionally, he will oversee the company’s channel and strategic account plans. Donahue has a rich background in the RF and microwave industry. Most recently he was Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Business Development and Chief Strategy Officer at WIN Semiconductor.
Duplex CSA Ltd., a supplier of low cost RF connector solutions and shielding products, announced the appointment of Dave Gravina as Business Development Manager Americas, Steve Bearns as Business Development Manager Asia and Paul Hulatt as Group Project Manager. In the positions of Business Development Manager, Gravina and Bearns are responsible for coordinating new business opportunities in their respective regions. Rosa Fearria continues in her role as the Business Development Manager for Europe. As Project Manager, Hulatt is responsible for the support of ongoing business running with major customers as well as working on marketing and the company’s key product initiatives. Bearns has a long standing relationship with Duplex CSA since 2004 when he worked for Frontier Silicon and was a customer of Duplex.
Entropic Communications Inc. announced that Tom Lookabaugh has joined the company as its Chief Technology Officer. Lookabaugh joins Entropic as a seasoned executive with more than 20 years experience in developing communications technology solutions for satellite, cable, telco and broadcast industries. As CTO, Lookabaugh will define and drive the company’s technology and advanced architectures roadmap and will support the company’s business strategy.
MI Technologies announced the appointment of Zemin Liu to the position of Sales Manager – Asia reporting to Mike Murphy, Vice President of Sales. In this role, Liu will provide leadership of the company’s sales efforts in Asia by providing a broad range of business and technical capabilities in support of MI’s aggressive expansion in Asia. Prior to joining MI Technologies, Liu held increasingly responsible roles in the industry with multi-national companies in both the public and private sectors.
Empower RF Systems, a manufacturer of solid-state power amplifiers and amplifier-based solutions, announced the addition of senior level RF talent as part of its ongoing commitment to growth and customer support. Bill Vassilakis comes to Empower RF Systems with more than 25 years of experience in senior technical leadership roles developing cutting-edge wireless subsystem technologies for amplifiers, antennas, TMAs, filters, and advanced coverage and capacity solutions. He joins the company as Chief Business and Technology Advisor.
Rep Appointments
Valpey Fisher Corp. announced the addition of Sanco Trading (International) Ltd. to the global sales network as an authorized sales representative and distributor for all of its products in China. Sanco Trading (International) Ltd. represents manufacturers from around the world with its office in Hong Kong. Its parent company, APAT Investment Group, is headquartered in Shenzhen, China. With a strong sales team and a healthy portfolio, Sanco has the expertise and financial strength to succeed in finding high growth opportunities for Valpey Fisher.
Reactel Inc., a manufacturer of RF and microwave filters, multiplexers, switched filter banks, and subassemblies to the commercial, military, industrial and medical industries, announced the appointment of COMP-TECH SALES as the company’s exclusive representative in New York, New Jersey and Fairfield County, Connecticut. For more information about COMP-TECH SALES, please visit www.comp-techsales.com or telephone Russ Muniz at (201) 288-7400.
Asylum Research and Intertech Corp. announced that they have entered into a new distribution agreement that will enable Asylum to extend its global reach and promote its products in the Russian Federation, Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Armenia and Turkmenistan. Intertech, an American export and engineering company that specializes in providing analytical instrumentation and other products to the Former Soviet Union, will sell and support Asylum’s complete line of atomic force/scanning probe microscopes.
Web Site
Richardson Electronics Ltd. (RELL) announced the launch of its redesigned corporate website, www.rell.com, aimed at serving the global community of RF, microwave and power conversion engineers. In developing the new site, Richardson Electronics worked closely with the industry’s leading suppliers for today’s important applications to provide online resources designed to help engineers improve time to market for new products, locate alternative solutions, save development costs, reduce risk and improve design performance.