Industry News

L-3 Communications, a defense contractor, announced that it will acquire Cincinnati Electronics, a provider of military infrared imaging sensors and space launch electronics, for approximately $172 M in cash. Cincinnati Electronics’ customers include the US Army, US Air Force, US Navy and US Marine Corps.


Smiths Interconnect, a division within Smiths Group, completed the acquisition of TRAK Microwave and TECOM Industries, designers and manufacturers of microwave subsystems, antennas and related components, for $111.5 M from Veritas of New York. Smiths Group initially announced that it was acquiring the businesses in late 2004.

StratEdge Corp., a designer and producer of packages for high speed semiconductors, announced that a deal has been reached to transfer control of the company to a management group headed by Tim Going. The Taunton, MA operations have been moved to the StratEdge headquarters in San Diego, CA. All products, product development and deliveries will not be affected by the change.

Agilent Technologies Inc. and Computer Simulation Technology (CST) announced an exclusive alliance to bring three-dimensional (3D) electromagnetic (EM) technology to a wider range of RF and microwave design engineers. The alliance will expand the integration of Agilent Advanced Design System (ADS) electronic design automation (EDA) software and CST MICROWAVE STUDIO“ (CST MWS) software. Integrated 3D EM capabilities help simplify the design flow as well as speed characterization and analysis of new high frequency wireless and wireline communications designs. The alliance is expected to further improve the ability of engineers to simulate 3D EM applications such as signal integrity packaging and RF module design within Agilent’s ADS design flow.

DuPont announced the transfer of the chemical mechanical planarization slurry business of DuPont EKC Technology to Dupont Air Products NanoMaterials LLC (DA NanoMaterials), a 50/50 joint venture of Dupont and Air Products. The move will add critical mass to DA NanoMaterials in the CMP arena. With this move, Floyd McClung, formerly vice president and general manager of DuPont EKC Technology’s CMP line of business, is named chief executive officer of DA NanoMaterials.

Modelithics Inc., Tampa, FL and Cree Microwave Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cree Inc., announced the availability of a library of high accuracy nonlinear models for a family of LDMOS power transistors manufactured by Cree Microwave. These models have been produced as part of an agreement between the two companies under which Modelithics has been contracted to develop, distribute and support high accuracy electro-thermal nonlinear LDMOS models for multiple popular microwave simulators. The models are based on a new LDMOS nonlinear model called Cree-Modelithics-Curtice model, developed in collaboration between Cree Microwave, Modelithics and W.R. Curtice Consulting in 2003.

Ansoft Corp. announced a collaboration with Synopsys Inc., which will provide streamlined IC and package co-design and analysis design flow solutions to address the substantial challenges of developing products based on 90 nanometer and System-on-Chip (SoC) technologies.

Cypress Semiconductor Corp. and Atmel® Corp. jointly announced that Atmel will manufacture and sell chips based on Cypress’s 2.4 GHz WirelessUSB™ technology. WirelessUSB chips are currently used in low data rate wireless devices. According to the agreement, Atmel will license Cypress’s WirelessUSB technology and algorithms, being capable of shipping compatible devices as of Q3 this year in what both companies consider an important step toward open standardization of the technology.

Vector Fields, a specialist in software for the simulation of electromagnetic fields, has signed an agreement to market the CLASP software developed by Culham Electromagnetics and Lightning Ltd. based in Abingdon, UK. The CLASP software has been developed for high frequency applications using the method of moments and will become part of the Vector Fields suite interfacing to the CONCERTO modeler and post processor alongside the existing modules of QuickWave and SOPRANO.

PCTEL Inc. announced that Comarco Wireless Test Solutions will be distributing PCTEL’s Wi-Fi Analyzer. The Analyzer, which operates on PocketPC platforms, permits IT managers and others to optimize the performance of specific Wi-Fi networks, to detect “rogue” access points, and to manage various problems associated with interference. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

RF Micro Devices Inc. (RFMD) announced that it has established an assembly facility at its Beijing, China, location to provide internal module packaging capabilities. The new facility is expected to help streamline RFMD’s manufacturing supply chain and contribute directly to the company’s ongoing gross margin improvement plan. The company’s initiatives to improve profitability include the recent conversion from four-inch to six-inch GaAs wafers, ongoing test yield improvements, higher levels of integration and its strategic relationship with Jazz Semiconductor.

MICA Corp. announced the opening of its new 22,000 square-foot facility located in Manteca, CA. The new facility consolidates the company’s engineering, manufacturing and management functions of its Modesto and San Jose, CA operations.

Elcoteq Network Corp. announced that it will expand its operations to Bangalore, India during 2004. The plant is expected to be operational within six to nine months.

Unity Wireless Corp., a developer of integrated wireless subsystems and power amplifiers, announced that its quality system has received ISO 9001:2000 certification.

ANADIGICS Inc. has been granted patent 6,580,321 for a new active clamping circuit that protects GSM power amplifiers from damage under extreme operating conditions.

SV Microwave Inc. has been presented with the Program Executive Office Integrated Warfare Systems Excellence Award (the highest US Navy award given to a civilian company), which recognizes top suppliers with exceptional performance in quality, delivery, affordability and program management.

Laird Technologies Japan employee, Chris Alderson, has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. This prestigious award, for “services to British industry,” comes as reward for his efforts in establishing and developing a successful manufacturing operation in Japan.

Contracts

Stratex Networks Inc. announced that during the current quarter it has received new orders totaling $6.4 M from a major mobile carrier serving Russia. These current orders include both Altium“ MX and XP4 products. The equipment will be used to provide high speed wireless transmission links in expansion of existing GSM mobile networks. Shipments have commenced and are expected to be completed next quarter.

SDP Components, a designer and manufacturer of RF and microwave components for custom assemblies for wireless applications, announced a multi-million dollar supply agreement with REMEC Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, SDP achieved preferred supplier status with REMEC to provide the California-based communications company with volume-based savings on a variety of unique high performance ferrite devices to be used in REMEC’s power amplifiers and filter subsystems. The agreement extends through December 2005.

Financial News

Merrimac Industries Inc. reports sales of $7.6 M for the first quarter of 2004 ended April 3, 2004, compared to $6.5 for the same period in 2003. Net income for the first quarter was $231,000 ($0.07/per share), compared to a net loss of $455,000 ($0.15/per share) for the first quarter of last year.

Micronetics Inc. reports sales of $13.8 M for the fourth quarter of 2004 ended March 31, 2004, compared to $10.7 M for the same period in 2003. Net income for the fourth quarter was $1.5 M ($0.34/per share-basic and diluted), compared to a net income of $1.2 M ($0.27/per share-basic and diluted) for the fourth quarter of last year.

New Market Entry

Micro-Ant announced a strategic partnering with ISG Broadband of California and Proactive Design of New Hampshire. Together these three companies form a turnkey solution to customers in need of wireless communication equipment. Micro-Ant contributes its vast experience in antenna solutions, ISG supplies active electronics and manufacturing, and Proactive brings skilled industrial design.

Personnel

Aeroflex/Weinschel Inc. announced that Mark Darrow has joined the company as vice president of sales and marketing. Darrow has 20 years of experience in the RF/microwave industry and was most recently the vice president of sales for OEwaves Inc. Prior to OEwaves, he held various sales management positions at GTRAN, Avnet, Penstock and M/A-COM. He can be reached at (301) 846-9222 or e-mail: mark.darrow@aeroflex-weinschel.com.