Industry News
L-3 Communications announced that it acquired 3Di Technologies LLC. 3Di provides highly specialized end-to-end secure satellite communications utilized by forward-deployed United States special operations and in-theater personnel. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The business will be included in the Microwave Group within L-3’s Electronic Systems segment.
AML Communications Inc., a designer, manufacturer and marketer of microelectronic assemblies for the defense industry, announced the launch of Cal Mimix Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary. Cal Mimix has been in formation for the last six months as a fabless designer and developer of RF and microwave semiconductor products to serve commercial and military applications. The company has entered into manufacturing contracts with an on-shore foundry for production of GaAs-based semiconductor devices and has taken delivery of low rate production units.
Ceragon Networks Ltd., a provider of high-capacity, 4G/LTE-Ready wireless backhaul networks, announced that it has acquired all the shares of privately-held Elxys Innovations, Athens, Greece. Elxys is a designer of advanced, next-generation radio-frequency integrated circuits (RFIC). The acquisition solidifies Ceragon’s leadership in RF design and allows it to further optimize its core radio technology. By strengthening the radio design team with a group of seasoned professionals in the RFIC domain, Ceragon will continue to offer its customers superior radio performance, higher capacities, reduced power consumption and better overall cost.
Rohde & Schwarz has entered into a cooperative agreement with the Belgian company NMDG, a highly specialized provider of nonlinear network analysis solutions that will enable Rohde & Schwarz to expand its extensive network analysis portfolio of nonlinear measurement solutions. Today’s advanced RF components and systems need to support complex modulation techniques and accommodate even wider transmission bandwidths. The goal is to achieve higher data throughput while simultaneously lowering power consumption.
W.L. Gore & Associates Inc. has entered into a strategic partnership with A.E. Petsche Co. to provide GORE® FireWire® Cable Products for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) F-35 Lightning program, the Department of Defense’s next-generation strike aircraft system for the Navy, Air Force and Marines. A.E. Petsche will manage the requirements of all program partners to ensure optimum stocking levels and timely distribution.
Agilent Technologies Inc. announced that its application for a seat on the board of directors was accepted by the PXI Systems Alliance Board at its annual meeting on September 15. Following the recent announcement of 46 new PXI and AXIe modular products, Agilent applied for sponsor-level membership, the highest level of membership within the PXI Systems Alliance. The primary goal of the PXISA is to improve the effectiveness of CompactPCI-based solutions in measurement and automation through use of the PXI specification.
Linwave Electronic Manufacturing Services, a division of Linwave Technology, announced the opening of a new UK-based high technology microwave manufacturing centre. The facility will support key activities of diode manufacturing, MMIC packaging and high frequency/precision manufacturing solutions. The technology partnership between e2v and Linwave Technology has been enabled by the transfer of equipment, processes and 15 highly skilled personnel into the new facility.
ON Semiconductor, a supplier of high performance, energy efficient silicon solutions for green electronics, recently announced plans to expand production capacity at its 6-inch (150 mm) wafer manufacturing facility in Oudenaarde, Belgium, by approximately 40 percent with a total equipment investment in 2010 of 12.3 M EUR (or $15.78 M USD). The Belgium factory specializes in the manufacture of application specific high-voltage technologies for the automotive and industrial industry, and in integrated and discrete standard products for a wide range of market segments.
East Coast Microwave is pleased to announce the company’s recent ISO 9001:2008 certification. Certificates available upon request. As of October 1, 2010, East Coast has moved to an expanded facility. The new address: 70 Tower Office Park, Woburn, MA 01801.
Emerson Network Power Connectivity Solutions, a business of Emerson and a leader in enabling Business-Critical Continuity™, announced that it has been awarded the Digi-Key Superior Sales Performance by Superior Engagement Award.
Contracts
SenarioTek LLC, a provider of custom RF/microwave test and measurement solutions, has been awarded a contract by Orbital Sciences Corp., Dulles, VA, to provide test technology to extend the capabilities of Orbital’s installed payload test systems for the HYLAS 2 satellite payload. The SenarioTek solution will provide Orbital the highest level of RF accuracy and performance and reduces the test program risk by better characterizing the uncertainties introduced by the test system.
VTI Instruments announced that it has been selected by Lockheed Martin to provide the Enhanced Switching and General Purpose Interface (eGPI) subsystem for the US Navy’s eCASS (Electronic Consolidated Automated Support System) Program. eCASS will replace CASS as the US Navy’s core test system and ensures that fleet aircraft can maintain mission-ready status by facilitating quick diagnostic and repair of line-replaceable subassemblies.
WiSpry Inc., a leader in tunable RF semiconductor products for the wireless industry, announced that it has won, along with key partners, a four year, $48 M DKK ($8 M USD), Smart Antenna Front End (SAFE) project to be funded by Denmark’s High Technology Foundation. Wi-Spry will work together with Aalborg University (AAU), antenna specialist Molex Interconnect, and chipset leader Infineon Technologies to develop tunable antennas and RF front-ends based on WiSpry’s tunable RF technology. To work closely with its partners, WiSpry will be establishing a technical presence in Aalborg, Denmark. The Smart Antenna Front End (SAFE) project’s goal is to develop antennas and front-end technology platforms for the next generation of mobile handsets and media devices. SAFE will enable significant reduction in the size and cost of mobile devices while increasing their overall efficiency.
New Market Entry
Wireless Applications Corp., a Bellevue, Washington-based Telecom Infrastructure software and services company, announced that it has beta-released a suite of web service Application Programming Interface (API) for performing telecom infrastructure analysis called the Telecom API Suite. Carriers, tower companies, web app programmers and wireless service providers alike can immediately begin amping up their software with power from the Wireless Applications’ cloud service.
Personnel
Crane Aerospace & Electronics, a segment of Crane Co., has announced the appointment of Bob Tavares as Vice President, Microwave Solutions for the Electronics Group. Tavares will lead the Microwave Solutions business. Tavares comes to Crane Aerospace & Electronics with an extensive background in the microwave industry. He has spent most of his career at Tyco Electronics, M/A-COM Division. He started his career as an engineer and then progressively advanced his career to his latest position of Vice President, General Manager, where he was responsible for setting the strategic direction, growth and profitability of a $320 M RF and microwave multi-site business, making a diverse set of highly custom and application specific products. He also created divisional LEAN and 6 Sigma programs, which became the foundation for the Operational Excellence program in M/A-COM.
Rep Appointments
Anritsu announced the appointment of Trescal as its sole certified service partner in France. This certification means that Trescal will be providing OEM backed calibration and repair services on Anritsu products via their network of labs throughout the country. Anritsu will be directly supporting Trescal, as an integral part of this relationship, to ensure the continuing high quality service support of Anritsu products for its French customers.
Anatech Electronics announced three manufacturer’s representatives each responsible for sales of the company’s RF and microwave filter and passive products in different areas of the US. FCS Group will represent Anatech Electronics in Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. The company has multiple sales offices in Colorado and more than 15 years of experience in technical sales and support, along with contacts in key aerospace, communications and electronics manufacturing companies. The FCS Group can be reached at (303) 587-3353. Martronix will represent Anatech Electronics in Southern California and southern Nevada. The company has two offices based in the Southern California and has been representing high-tech companies for more than 20 years. They can be reached at (805) 499-6385. Electronic Instrument Associates will represent Anatech Electronics in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and Wisconsin. The company was founded in 1971 and covers the Midwest through three offices in Chicago, Minneapolis and Indianapolis. Electronic Instrument Associates can be reached at (630) 924-1600.
MITEQ Inc. announced the appointment of Test Midwest LLC as the company’s exclusive sales representative in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Test Midwest LLC will represent MITEQ’s Component division of products, which includes amplifiers, mixers, frequency multipliers, passive power components, switches, attenuators, limiters, phase shifters, IF signal processing components, oscillators, synthesizers, integrated multifunction assemblies and fiber optic products. Test Midwest LLC can be contacted at (866) 639-3311.
International Manufacturing Services Inc. (IMS), a manufacturer and supplier of high quality thick and thin film resistors, terminations, attenuators, planar dividers, planar filters and thermal management devices to the electronics industry, announced the appointment of E.G. Holmes as its Dixie States representative. E.G. Holmes and Associates Inc. was organized in 1955 by Edward Holmes and remains focused on sales of RF, microwave and fiber optic/electro-optic components, and subsystems. Sales territories encompassed by EGH include South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.