Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/3601-around-the-circuit

Around the Circuit

March 1, 2003

INDUSTRY NEWS

REMEC Inc. announced that it has completed its acquisition of Spectrian Corp. REMEC shareholders voted to approve the merger by a margin of 99 to 1. Spectrian's stockholders voted to approve the merger by a similar margin. Spectrian's stockholders will receive one share of REMEC common stock for each share of Spectrian common stock. REMEC expects to issue approximately 11.5 million shares of common stock in connection with the merger, with the former Spectrian stockholders owning approximately 20 percent of REMEC.


MMD Components announced that they have purchased the manufacturing and patent rights to the entire product portfolio of Monitor Products . The addition of Monitor's line of crystals, oscillators and crystal filters to MMD's line of quality products puts it in good position to better serve a worldwide market. The acquisition also ensures that Monitor's former customers will still be able to get the same quality and service that they are used to, but now from MMD.

ITT Industries , Cannon announced that it has signed an agreement with Northrop Grumman Corp. to acquire the VEAM/TEC division of Northrop Grumman's component technologies sector. VEAM/TEC is in the design and manufacture of cylindrical, filter and fiber optic connectors for the military/aerospace, industrial, transit, entertainment and nuclear markets. Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

RF Micro Devices Inc. announced the acquisition of Resonext Communications Inc. , a privately held company providing complete, highly integrated CMOS wireless local area network solutions for 802.11a and multi-band platforms. The acquisition of Resonext expands RFMD's total addressable market and is expected to complement the company's presence in 802.11b products. Resonext's product portfolio focuses on 802.11a and emerging multi-band WLAN technologies.

NDK America Inc. , a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan-based NDK, announced that NRS Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of NDK, completed the acquisition of NEC 's surface acoustic wave (SAW) device business and that NRS started its operation on April 8, 2002. NRS becomes a joint venture of NDK (85.1%) and NEC (14.9%). NEC's SAW filters employ hollow plastic package technology, which will be a compliment to NDK's current SAW filters and resonator products.

SiGe Semiconductor announced that it has signed an agreement with IBM under which SiGe Semiconductor will be granted assignments and licenses to intellectual property associated with IBM power amplifier products. The complete portfolio includes seven devices in various stages of design, which SiGe Semiconductor expects will enhance performance of 2, 2.5 and 3G cellular handsets. Under a separate agreement with IBM, SiGe Semiconductor is acquiring certain design and test equipment, to be housed at the company's new facilities in the Boston, MA area. This, combined with a foundry agreement with IBM, under which IBM will manufacture these power amplifier devices for SiGe Semiconductor, will help enable the company to quickly bring these new products to market.

Avnet Electronics marketing's RF and microwave division has signed a North American distribution agreement with Hillsboro, OR-based TriQuint Semiconductor Inc. Also, in related news, Avnet Electronics marketing's RF and microwave division has signed an agreement with Philips Electronics to provide its customers with complete bluetooth and RF value-added solutions to help meet the growing demand for wireless integration products and support. These solutions will be offered exclusively through Avnet RF and microwave's specialized business unit, Avnet Wavelength Design Services.

Melexis N.V. , an automotive products IC supplier, and Microchip Technology Inc. , a microcontroller manufacturer, announced that they are working together to create RF solutions. Melexis N.V., based in Leper, Belgium, offers an extensive portfolio of RFICs for the 300 to 930 MHz industrial-scientific-medical band and automotive applications. Microchip Inc., Chandler, AZ, contributes with its large potential of low power, general-purpose microcontrollers. All joint RF front-end/microcontroller products will run under the brand of Microchip. Melexis will continue to offer its portfolio of mixed signal BiCMOS RF transmitter, receiver and transceiver ICs as discrete RF building blocks.

Palomar Technologies announced that Herley Industries Inc. is utilizing Palomar's assembly automation systems to increase yield and lower production costs for microwave components used in defense electronics systems. The Herley production line includes Palomar's fully automatic CBT 6000™ high speed ball bonders and 3500-II™ automatic component assembly machines to replace manual assembly processes with high precision automation.

Applied Wave Research Inc. (AWR) and WIN Semiconductors Corp. (WIN) announced the availability of a process design kit (PDK) supporting WIN's power pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor gallium arsenide foundry process. The PDK provides monolithic microwave integrated circuit engineers using AWR's Microwave Office™ 2002 design software, with an advanced circuit simulation and layout environment for designing with WIN's 0.15 micron process. Applications for these designs range from broadband communication, optical fiber communications, automobile radar and homeland security systems.

Elanix Inc. announced the integration of Tektronix 's TekVISA™ interface with its SystemView environment, giving test engineers the ability to design, develop and verify design models within one environment.

DBP Microwave (formerly DB Products Inc.), manufacturers of electromechanical coaxial switches, DC to 26.5 GHz, 50 and 75 Ω, SPDT-SP10T and high power, has moved its headquarters and manufacturing facility from Pasadena to a built-to-spec facility in Azusa, CA. The company's new address is 1321 Mountain View Circle, Azusa, CA 91702, (626) 812-9666, fax (626) 812-9884. Sales and information e-mail is info@dbp4switches.com and its Web site is www.dbp4switches.com.

Intense Photonics has further expanded its capability with the addition of 1000 ft2/95 m2 of clean room at its Scottish semiconductor fabrication facility. The new area provides additional optoelectronic life test, assembly and packaging development space. Equipped with a full suite of assembly and test tools including GSI Lumonics' galvo-laser welder systems, the new fabrication space completes the semiconductor production capability at the organization's High Blantyre site. This will enable Intense Photonics to fully qualify its products in house.

Cigma Technologies , an Allendale, NJ, high technology firm, has introduced a generation of RF pre-distortion linearizer products. These products will allow manufacturers of wireless base stations and power amplifiers to build HPAs and MCPAs that are smaller in size, highly efficient and cost-effective. This information surfaced around the announcement that Cigma Technologies has acquired the extensive wireless amplifier research and development projects, prototypes and equipment from HC Electronics of America Inc. With it, Cigma also gains control of HC Protek Test and Measurement line, which includes the award winning 2 GHz, hand-held, RF frequency analyzer.

Piezo Technology Inc. (PTI), a worldwide supplier of frequency control products, has been assessed and registered by National Quality Assurance, US, against the provisions of ISO 9001:2000.

Advanced Cable Ties Inc. , Gardner, MA, announced that its quality system now meets the ISO 9001:2000 standard. ACT has been ISO-9002 registered since 1999, and recently acquired an upgrade to ISO-9001:2000 by the Quality Management Institute.

Florida RF Labs , a Smith Interconnect company, producer of RF and microwave components, was recently recommended for registration to the internationally recognized ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standard. The ISO 14001 Environmental Management System allows an organization to focus on sound environmental performance by controlling the impact the company operations has on the environment.

FINANCIAL NEWS

Silicon Laboratories Inc. reports sales of $182.0 M for the fourth quarter ended December 28, 2002, compared to $74.1 M for the same period in 2001. Net income was $11.1 M ($0.22/diluted), compared to a net income of $1.7 M ($0.03) for the fourth quarter of last year.

RF Micro Devices Inc. reports sales of $145.8 M for the fiscal third quarter ended December 31, 2002, compared to $100.6 M for the same period in fiscal 2002. Net loss was $5.2 M ($0.03/diluted), compared to a net income of $3.5 M ($0.02/diluted) for the third quarter of last fiscal year.

National Semiconductor reports sales of $422.3 M for the second quarter ended November 24, 2002, compared to $366.5 M for the same period in 2001. Net income was $6.2 M ($0.03/diluted), compared to a net loss of $46.6 M ($0.26/diluted) for the second quarter of last year.

Unity Wireless Corp. reports net sales of $400,516 for the third quarter ended September 30, 2002, compared to $972,037 for the same period in 2001. Net loss was $492,351 ($0.14/per share), compared to a net loss of $400,583 ($0.16/per share) for the third quarter of last year.

CONTRACTS

EMS Technologies Inc. has announced an expanded contract valued at $19.9 M to supply key defense electronics hardware to Israel-based defense contractor Elisra Electronic Systems Ltd. EMS' Space and Technology Group/Atlanta was awarded a $10.9 M contract with Elisra in 1998 to build phased array transmitter (PAT) units. The units are instrumental to locating and communicating with guided rockets. Last fall, EMS began delivering qualified units, which have been successful in field tests. Under the contract, which runs through 2005, EMS will supply additional PATs and establish a maintenance facility for the hardware in Israel.

Millitech LLC has received a phase two contract for $2.3 M from Boeing Satellite Systems to supply millimeter-wave receivers in support of the conical microwave image sounder (CMIS) program. The CMIS contract includes up to 12 years of options, which could double the value of the order, to supply flight hardware for the national polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system.

DataPath Inc. announced that it had won an order for approximately $800,000 from the US Army 's 93rd Signal Brigade to relocate the satellite terminals from Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, to its headquarters at Fort Gordon near Augusta, GA. DataPath had previously supplied this equipment to the Army under a separate contract. The contract requires the construction of facilities to house the equipment at Fort Gordon, relocation, installation and commissioning of satellite terminals in a three-month schedule.

Microwave Innovations , a manufacturer of RF telemetry products, has been awarded a design and development contract for a 1 W transmitter in support of the MRM smart munition development test program. The contract to deliver product is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2003 with the units ultimately being delivered to Raytheon 's Tuscon, AZ, facility for integration.

Allgon , a global supplier of radio-based infrastructure solutions, has been appointed a 3G roll out partner by Telecom Italia Mobile (TIM), Italy's leading mobile operator. Continuing a long term customer relationship, the agreement with TIM cements Allgon's position as a UMTS supplier in the competitive European wireless market.

PERSONNEL

Bernard Fleming , the co-founder of Flann Microwave Ltd., died on December 3, 2002. He was 76 years old. He began Flann in 1956 and led the company until illness forced him to stand down as Chairman last March. The company has a long standing reputation for quality that was the hallmark of Fleming's life. The industry has lost an innovative and highly regarded member. Fleming is survived by his wife Colleen and two children.

Ansoft Corp. announced that Zoltan Cendes , the company's founder, chairman and chief technology officer, was recently elected an Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Fellow for his outstanding contributions to the application of finite-element modeling to microwave guides, structures and circuits. Cendes was the first microwave engineer to de- velop the finite-element technique using edge elements in the solution of the vector wave equation. His early accomplishments led to the development of HFSS™, the industry-standard high frequency tool for 3D electromagnetic-based design, a program that literally changed how microwave engineers work. Cendes' election to IEEE Fellow represents one of the Institute's most prestigious honors and the highest grade of membership in the organization.

Antenova has appointed Greg McCray as chief executive officer. McCray's experience in marketing and developing communications technology businesses will certainly be a catalyst for the next phase of Antenova's development into a full-fledged production organization - now that it has completely characterized its technology and is actively forging agreements with OEMs. Antenova is funded by a set of VCs who have invested over $15 M. The second round of funding was led by Quester and the Cambridge Gateway Fund, and included, NIF Ventures Co. Ltd, FNI Venture Capital and Yasuda Enterprise Development Co. Ltd.

After nearly seven years leading United Monolithic Semiconductors, Heinrich Daembkes has left the company to take a new position within EADS Airborne Systems. Daembkes was the driving force during the creation of the French/German joint venture and led UMS to become a major GaAs MMIC design and manufacturing company. UMS, EADS and Thales have appointed Terry Nisbet as president and chief executive officer of UMS. Nisbet joined UMS as chief operation officer and was previously managing director of Thales MESL and Thales Antennas. His expertise will ensure that United Monolithic Semiconductors remains a strong and reliable partner for the telecom, defense, automotive and space industries.

Silicon Laboratories Inc. announced that Dan Artusi has been appointed to president and chief operating officer. Artusi will continue to report to Nav Sooch, chief executive officer and chairman of the board. Artusi joined Silicon Laboratories in August 2001 as the chief operating officer and has been a major contributor to the successful expansion of the company.

EMS Technologies Inc. announced the election of Hermann Buerger and John L. Woodward, Jr . as additional members of its Board of Directors. Buerger is a senior executive with Commerzbank AG. He is a Commerzbank regional board member, and currently CEO of that German bank's operations throughout the Americas. A resident of New York, Buerger is also a director of Ptek Holdings Inc., a member of the international advisory board of Unibanco of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and a member of the advisory board of the Wharton Real Estate Center. Woodward recently retired as a Lieutenant General with 34 years of experience in the US Air Force. During his Air Force career, he had a wide variety of assignments related to communications and command and control systems, including experience with space operations and acquisition management. His last assignment prior to retirement was as deputy chief of staff for communications and information, and deputy chief information officer, at Air Force headquarters in Washington.

CMC Wireless Components announced the promotion of Chris Mosher to the position of director, sales and applications engineering. This promotion is in recognition of the job Chris has done in promoting CMC's products within his current east coast territory and Mosher's in-depth knowledge of electronic packaging technology. In this new position, which reports to the president, he will have sales and applications responsibility for all territories. In addition, Mosher will direct CMC's network of manufacturers representatives.

Michael P. Hallman has been named eastern regional sales manager for Microwave Journal (MWJ). Prior to joining MWJ, Hallman held the positions of director of marketing communications for Paratek Microwave and advertising director for K&L Microwave. Hallman can be reached at his Maryland office by phone at (301) 371-8830 or via e-mail at mhallman@mwjournal.com.

Eric Forstner has joined Rodelco Electronics as director of business development. His primary responsibility will be expanding the depth and scope of Rodelco's relationships with the OEM customer base for RF/microwave products. Prior to joining Rodelco, Forstner held business development and program management positions at ATC, Comtech PST and Microwave Power Devices.

Basingstoke, UK-based Link Microtek has appointed Mick Keryell to the position of microwave product engineer for the North and Midlands. After an early career in test and production engineering of microwave components for military projects, he subsequently moved into sales and spent several years with companies such as Tekelec, Frequency Techniques and EM Elec- tronic Components. In his new position, Keryell will be responsible for selling the company's complete range of RF and microwave components, instruments, subsystems and services.

Eagleware Corp. announced two appointments to its management team: Mark Zachmann as vice president of research and development, and Gary Karstedt as vice president of sales. With the appointment of Zachmann, John R.K. Lefebvre II has been promoted to executive vice president and chief technical officer. Prior to joining Eagleware, Zachmann founded and served as CEO of the graphics software company, ZSoft Corp., and several other startups. Karstedt brings over 19 years of experience with HP and Agilent to the Eagleware team.

REP APPOINTMENTS

Chelton Microwave Corp. and its four operating divisions, Atlantic Microwave , Continental Microwave , Kevlin and Nurad Technologies Inc. , have appointed new representatives to assist in marketing their antenna, radome, microwave components, integrated circuits, waveguide and rotary joint products. Albright Engineering Sales Co. will market products in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Utah, CentraMark America in Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas, Sun-Tech Marketing in Arizona and New Mexico, and F.L. Ohmer & Associates in Ohio and Indiana.

Sprague-Goodman Electronics Inc. announced the appointment of three new sales representatives. These organizations will market Sprague-Goodman's product lines which include trimmer capacitors, fixed and variable inductors and transformers, tuning elements and insulated tuning tools. New England will be covered by May Technology , headquartered in Wilmington, MA; sales in Ohio will be the responsibility of Cincinnati-based Technical Sales Solutions ; in Iowa, Sprague-Goodman will be represented by Dytec Inc. , based in Marion.

M-tron Industries Inc. announced the appointment of a manufacturer's representative. Kottmeier Associates will handle M-tron's entire line of frequency control devices in northern California and northern Nevada. Kottmeier has a corporate office in Los Gatos, California (408-395-0700), with access to customers throughout Silicon Valley and into Nevada.

Molex Inc. , a global electronic component company, and Newark Electronics , a global catalog distributor owned by Premier Farnell plc, have entered into an agreement that makes Newark a direct distributor of Molex's full line of products in North America.

NEW MARKET ENTRY

AmpliTech , a new start-up company, has been formed to design, develop and manufacture custom and standard low noise amplifiers, medium power amplifiers and amplifier-related sub-assemblies for the wireless, commercial, SATCOM, space and military markets. These designs cover the frequency range from 50 kHz to 40 GHz. AmpliTech also provides consulting services to help its customers with any microwave amplifier or system design problems and can become a turn-key supplier for its products should the need to outsource become evident.

Hursel Milbourne, former production manager of Precision Tube, Coaxitube division, announced the opening of H.M. Coax Enterprises . The company brings 12 years of experience in the microwave industry to the market, specializing in semi-rigid fabricated parts for the wireless industry. The new company will manufacture coaxial components with a range of 25 W to 75 W, and from 0.047 to 0.141 diameters. The company is located at 29225 Doubletree Dr., Salisbury, MD 21801 (443) 235-5454, fax (410) 548-7144.

WEB SITE

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