Around the Circuit
Peter Burian , CEO of Modular Components National Inc., died suddenly on September 16, 1996. He was 44.
Burian was born in Nuremberg, Germany and raised in Bucks County, PA. Following graduation from Penn State University, Burian became a machinist and in 1981 cofounded Modular Components National in Forest Hill, MD. Burian is survived by his wife, son and two daughters. Friends remember Burian for his warmth, intelligence, humor and creativity. Contributions may be made to the Peter Burian Philanthropic, c/o First National Bank, Attention: William C. Sasser, 405 Washington Ave., Towson, MD 21204.
INDUSTRY NEWS
G.E.M. Illinois Inc. , a subsidiary of General de Mesure et de Maintenance Electronique S.A. (GMME) of France, has acquired the B+K Precision division of Maxtec International Corp . The B+K division manufactures and sells electronic test and measurement equipment for the repair, maintenance and educational markets. GMME owns several test and measurement manufacturers in Europe, including Metrix and Sefram . B+K will continue to operate out of its Chicago facility and sell products under the B+K Precision trademark.
Belden Wire & Cable Co. , Richmond, IN, has announced it is purchasing for cash substantially all of the assets of the Alpha Wire Division of Alpha Wire Corp. The division, located in Elizabeth, NJ, designs, produces and markets specialty wire and cable. The transaction is contingent on several factors, including review by appropriate governmental organizations, and is expected to be finalized early this year. In related news, Belden has completed the purchase of Intech Cable Inc. (formerly Independent Cable Inc. ) of Hudson, MA and Charlotte, NC. Intech manufactures and sells signal and control cable for use in electronic devices, and fiber-optic and copper cable. Belden purchased Intech for cash and will begin including its results of operation effective immediately.
Subsystem supplier Com Dev , Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, and telecom solution provider Phase Group , Dunstable, UK, have merged to form Com Dev International Ltd. The resulting partnership will encompass 1100 employees with an estimated turnover of more than $150 M. A public offering valued at $70 M is being raised to fund the continuing expansion.
Chelton Communication Systems Inc. (CCSI) , a subsidiary of UK-based Cobham PLC , has purchased Continental Microwave & Tool Company Inc. of Hampton, NH. Continental Microwave & Tool’s line of microwave waveguide components specializing in space and airborne communication and radar applications will complement Chelton’s line of passive microwave components, including ground and airborne antennas.
Communications and electronics company Harris Corp. , Melbourne, FL, has acquired Rochester, NY-based Digital Radio Technology Inc. (DRT) , a developer of ground-based VHF digital communications transmitters and receivers for air traffic control communications applications. Harris reportedly acquired the company in an effort to expand its advanced communications systems offerings in preparation for future Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements for air-ground communications systems. DRT will maintain its facility and will be integrated operationally with Harris RF Communications Division of Rochester, NY.
In an effort to strengthen its position in the defense electronics industry, Raytheon Co. , Lexington, MA, has announced an agreement to purchase the assets of Texas Instruments’ (TI) Defense Systems & Electronics Group for $2.95 B in cash. The Lewisville, TX-based division, a supplier of precision-guided weapons, antiradiation and strike missiles, airborne radar, night vision systems and electronic warfare systems, will now operate as Raytheon TI Systems , a Raytheon Co. subsidiary. The acquisition is expected to increase Raytheon’s total annualized revenues to approximately $15 B.
Cable Television Laboratories Inc. (CableLabs) , Louisville, CO, has created a new subcommittee to help the cable industry derive ad sales from digital programming. CableLabs’ engineering and digital network technologies departments will aid with issues such as hardware, software and digital systems integration, which are connected with local advertising, and substitute video insertion and program generation. Also being explored are bit rate difference, compression formats, cueing, buffering and statistical multiplexing.
K&L Microwave Inc. , Salisbury, MD, has opened a new manufacturing facility in the UK. K&L Ltd. , located in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, will operate as a full-service sales and manufacturing center for the company’s filter component business throughout Europe.
Communications & Power Industries’ Satcom Division , formerly Varian Microwave Equipment Products , has moved to new facilities at the company’s headquarters in Palo Alto, CA. The division’s new address is 811 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, CA 94303 (415) 846-2800.
Microwave and mm-wave amplifier, multiplier and radio front end manufacturer DBS Microwave Inc. has moved to a new 18,000-square-foot design and manufacturing facility. The company’s address is 4805 Golden Foothill Parkway, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762 (916) 939-7545, fax (916) 939-7540, e-mail: dbsmicro@tomatoweb.com.
G.T. Microwave Inc. has relocated its corporate headquarters to 10 Orben Dr., Landing, NJ 07850 (201) 770-7300, fax (201) 770-9824.
The MAGNA Phone Operation of Hughes Technical Services Co. (HTSC) has moved to a new facility in Torrance, CA. All administrative, sales, service, support, engineering, testing and manufacturing functions for the MAGNAPhone line of satellite communications systems will be housed at the new facility. The operation was transferred to HTSC after Hughes purchased Magnavox Electronic Systems Co. in 1996. The operation is now located at 3100 Lomita Blvd., Torrance, CA 90505 (310) 517-6031, fax (310) 517-6110.
Precision quartz crystal and oscillator producer Micro Crystal , a division of SMH Inc. , has moved its North American headquarters to a new facility. The division is now located at 601 Campus Dr., Suite B4, Arlington Heights, IL 60004 (847) 818-9825, fax (847) 818-9915.
Space system producer Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.’s Telecommunication Products Division , Broomfield, CO, has developed a three-pound antenna to relay images of Mars to Earth at a rate of greater than 1000 bps. The Mars Pathfinder spacecraft, launched in May 1996 aboard a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral, FL, carries a lander and robotic rover, which are scheduled to arrive on Mars in July. The expedition is part of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) 10-year robotic exploration program.
Conductus Inc. , Sunnyvale, CA, has announced that its ClearSite™ receiver subsystems have been installed in a coordinated field trial at three separate and adjacent Cellcom sites in Wisconsin for network-wide deployment. Cellcom , a rural cellular service provider, is using ClearSite to increase coverage for 0.6 W portable phones between adjacent cells and within cells due to a high percentage of dropped calls in those areas.
The Allen Group Inc. , Beachwood, OH, has announced that Next Wave Telecom Inc. and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates will purchase $50 M in wireless personal communications service (PCS) products and services from The Allen Group and/or its subsidiaries within the next five years. NextWave plans to use the products and services in the build out and implementation of its national code-division multiple access-based (CDMA) PCS network. The Allen Group has agreed to make an equity investment of $5 M in NextWave and will extend up to $50 M in secured financing for products purchased from Allen.
GaAs IC manufacturer ANADIGICS Inc. , Warren, NJ, has signed a European distribution agreement with Integrated Optical Components (IOC) , Essex, UK, a designer and manufacturer of optoelectronic components based on lithium niobate chips. The agreement expands the European distribution of ANADIGICS’ electro-optic modulator driver. IOC plans to market and sell the driver bundled with its line of modulators.
Passive component provider EMC Technology Inc. , Cherry Hill, NJ, has signed Penstock , an Avnet company, as it North American power resistive products distributor. Penstock will contribute application engineering assistance while offering high power loads, attenuators and resistors.
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) , Palo Alto, CA, has selected Kollmorgen Corp.’s Motion Technologies Group , Radford, VA, to supply servo motors and drives for HP’s computer-numerical-controller machine-tool products. HP is supplying its new open-architecture controller and Kollmorgen is providing the servo motors and drives to machine-tool builders worldwide.
Microwave Components Enterprises Inc. (MCE) subsidiaries KDI/Triangle Corp. , Weinschel Corp. and Inmet are working with the University of Michigan’s engineering microwave laboratory to develop new technologies and designs, and to utilize materials that will be incorporated into new products in the microwave market. KDI/Triangle, based in Whippany, NJ, has already defined and embarked on several projects with the University of Michigan, including an investigation and analysis of new materials for microwave applications.
Micron Communications Inc. , Boise, ID, has authorized Cary, NC-based Asset Management Technologies (AMT) to integrate Micron’s MicroStamp™ remote intelligent communications (RIC) line of products into integrated systems solutions. Under the terms of the agreement, AMT will integrate the RIC systems solutions by providing site-specific designs, customized software interface design and development, systems installation and post-installation service. In related news, Micron’s MicroStamp has been named the number one product of the year in the new product showcase competition at the 14th annual SCAN-TECH USA show.
Digital European Cordless Telephone (DECT) IC supplier Philips Semiconductors , Sunnyvale, CA, has selected Tokyo, Japan-based Alps Electric Company Ltd. to provide DECT RF modules to Philips’ baseband customers who are unable to start their own RF development programs because of design challenges. Philips will continue to sell its RF components to customers developing their own DECT radios. According to the company, the time from initial concept to type-approved product has been reduced 50 percent as a result of the its relationship with Alps.
QUALCOMM Inc. , San Diego, CA, has signed an agreement with TriQuint Semiconductor to jointly develop RF ICs for CDMA handsets. The agreement addresses the RF receive functions required in QUALCOMM’s CDMA PCS phones, with a specific focus on RF receive components that provide critical radio performance required to comply with the North American IS-95 CDMA standard. In related news, QUALCOMM has signed a letter of intent with Asahi Kasei Microsystems Company Ltd. (AKM) to provide a triple-mode chipset for the CDMA market in Japan. The chipset incorporates QUALCOMM’s CDMA digital baseband technology and AKM’s J- and N-TACS analog baseband technology, and will provide a solution for triple-mode handsets and specialized terminals for digital cellular, PCS and wireless local loop applications.
Aydin Corp. , Horsham, PA, has successfully completed the provisional site acceptance of the first radar integration system (RIS) in Turkey. The acceptance represents an achievement in one of the company’s large-system contracts and concludes a multiyear development effort. The RIS is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) procurement contracted by the NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency (NAMSA) in Capellen, Luxembourg and managed within the NAMSA Air Defense Program. The system is expected to become operational in several NATO countries this year.
The FAA has concluded that Electronic Space Systems Corp.’s (ESSCO) sandwich radomes improve the performance of enclosed antenna systems. This announcement comes after a full-scale testing as part of the organization’s radome replacement program based on more than 60,000 target measurements. The program is using ESSCO’s low loss, electromagnetically tuned sandwich radomes to upgrade between 80 and 110 FAA sites in the US.
H Rollet & Co. , Herts, UK, celebrated its 100th anniversary recently and was certified to the ISO 9002 quality standard. At the turn of the century, the company produced bamboo struts for biplanes and steel spokes for bicycles. Today, H Rollet & Co. produces space-qualified precision waveguide tubes for satellites.
Nashua, NH-based Sanders , a Lockheed Martin company, has been granted type acceptance for its PCS-over-cable system by the Federal Communications Commission and listing by Underwriters Laboratories and Canadian Underwriters Laboratories. The system deploys a wireless network with less dependence on the use of antenna towers.
Frequency generation and control product supplier Vectron Laboratories Inc. , Norwalk, CT, has been certified to the ISO 9001 quality system standard.
FINANCIAL NEWS
REMEC Inc. reports sales of $22.5 M for the third quarter, ended November 3, 1996, compared to $15.1 M for the same period last year. Net income was $1.4 M (15¢/share), compared to $494 K (7¢/share) for the third quarter last year. In related news, REMEC has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a public offering of 2.25 million shares of common stock. Of those shares, 1.75 million are being sold by the company and 500,000 are being sold by shareholders.
Comtech Telecommunications Corp. reports sales of $5.2 M for the first quarter, ended October 31, 1996, compared to $4.5 M for the same period last year. Net income was $81 K (3¢/share), compared to a net loss of $186 K (7¢/share) for the same period last year.
Vari-L Company Inc. reports sales of $2.6 M for the third quarter, ended September 30, 1996, compared to $2.2 M for the same period last year. Net income was $192 K (5¢/share), compared to $177 K (5¢/share) for the same period last year.
CONTRACTS
The Decibel Products Division of Allen Telecom Group , Cleveland, OH, has been awarded a $9 M contract by the Guangdong Machinery Import and Export Corp. of China. The contract calls for the division to supply key components to the expanding Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and new digital communications system 1800 (DCS 1800) systems operated by Guangdong Mobile Communication Corp. The GSM expansion will cover the Guangdong province in southern China with a system capacity of 1.13 million subscribers. The DCS 1800 system will cover four major cities in the same region with a capacity of 3.5 million subscribers. The agreement will lead to the first trial and commercial operation of a DCS 1800 system in China.
Aydin Corp. , Horsham, PA, has received two orders for its model 2760 120 Mbps satellite time-division multiple access (TDMA) terminal. The second-generation terminal is suitable for major international service providers for international telephone and data traffic. The first three terminals are scheduled to be delivered to AT&T this month. Later this year, Kiev will incorporate the system in its UKRTELECOM new satellite earth station, which will operate over the EUTELSAT network.
Chesapeake Microwave Technologies Inc. , Glen Rock, PA, has received a follow-on production contract from Hughes Missile System Co. for amplifier transmitters for Hughes’ standard missile (SM). The SMII transmitter was developed under a 1994 contract from Hughes to replace the triode tube designed originally in the missile system. The transmitter is being furnished for use in Block III, Block IVA and SM-X missile configurations.
PERSONNEL
The IEEE Vehicular Technology Society has elected Eric Schimmel president for 1997. Currently, Schimmel is VP of TIA.
Philip Garrou has been named the first president of IMAPS, the International Microelectronics and Packaging Society. IMAPS was formed in October 1996 with the merger of the ISHM and IEPS societies. Currently, Garrou is chief scientist for microelectronics at Dow Chemical.
Arlon’s Materials for Electronics Division has announced several personnel appointments, including Vernon C. Fuller as plant manager, Kimberly Andras as customer service manager and Anthony Welo as senior sales engineer for the Midwest and Canada. Formerly, Fuller was a plant manager at Devro Inc., Andras was manager of corporate filing for The Company Corp. and Welo was a senior sales engineer at Bairnco Inc.
Bruce W. Johnson has been appointed president and COO, and has been elected to the board of directors at Richardson Electronics Ltd. Formerly, Johnson was president of Premier Industrial Corp.
American Microsystems Inc. has named Harold Blomquist senior VP of business operations and Grant Hulse director of new business development. Formerly, Blomquist was VP of sales and Hulse was director of the company’s Standard Products Division. .
Daniel E. Mambert has been appointed VP, operations at AMITRON. Most recently, Mambert was GM of Applied Laser Technology.
Anaren Microwave Inc. has named Stanley S. Slingerland VP, human resources. Prior to this promotion, Slingerland was manager of human resources at the company.
Dennis Craig has been appointed to the newly created position of VP, manufacturing at Illinois Superconductor Corp. Most recently, Craig was the manufacturing operations manager in the component products group of Motorola Inc.
Mini-Systems Inc. has appointed Paul Solan VP of the company. Most recently, Solan was GM of the company’s Thin Film Division.
Mark Peavey has joined the Microwave Component Marketing Inc. Florida division as the region’s sales representative. Previously, Peavy was employed at Midwest Microwave for 10 years.
Ron Galli has been named manager of Advanced Control Components’ Microwave Control Devices Division. Formerly, Galli managed systems design engineering at KDI/Triangle Electronics Inc.
WASSCO has hired Lucinda Farwell as product manager. Formerly, Farwell held positions at Beckman Industrial Corp. and Wavetek Corp.
REP APPOINTMENT
Tellurian Technologies Inc. , Rolling Meadow, IL, has appointed Electron Marketing Corp. , Des Plaines, IL, to represent its products in northern Illinois and eastern Wisconsin. Electron Marketing will market Tellurian’s line of quartz oscillators, filters and crystals for cellular, RF and data-transmitted communications.
NEW MARKET ENTRY
Commercial Microwave Components Inc. (CMC) is a new circulator manufacturing company formed to engineer and produce all types of isolators and circulators from 500 MHz to 20 GHz. The company is located at 5952 Frond Way, Apollo Beach, FL 33572 (813) 645-9195, fax (813) 645-9242.
NEW WEB SITES
The Microelectronics & Technology Center of AlliedSignal Aerospace , Columbia, MD, has designed a Web site to introduce its silicon-on-insulator technology comprising mixed-signal and microwave capabilities for wireless applications and high resolution electroluminescent displays. The site can be accessed at http://www.mtcsemi.com.
Antenna Research Associates Inc. (ARA) , Beltsville, MD, has redesigned its Web page to include the company’s on-line catalogs of antennas and accessories, along with a description of ARA and its capabilities. The site address is http://www.ara-inc.com.
Besser Associates , Los Altos, CA, and Microwave Online Services , Boulder, CO, have developed a new Web site making Besser’s RF and microwave courses available over the Internet. Beginning this month, the courses will be presented via the Web over a two- to three-week period. The site can be accessed through RF Globalnet at http://www.rfmicrowave.com. For more information, contact Larry Black at Microwave Online (303) 415-9233 or e-mail: larry@mosco.com.
Crystal oscillator manufacturer Champion Technologies Inc. , Franklin Park, IL, has developed a Web site that allows access to the company’s product catalog, which includes a selection guide, information on the company’s VCXOs, TCXOs, VCTCXOs and data clocks, and a definition of terms section. The Web address is http://www.champtech.com.
The Beverly Microwave Division of Communications & Power Industries has established a new Web site to provide information on its receiver protectors, switches, pressure windows, magnetrons, traveling-wave tubes and transmitters. The site address is http://www.cpii.com/bmd/index.htm.
Delphi Components Inc. , Laguna Niguel, CA, has developed a new Web site to provide information about the company and its products. The site can be accessed at http://www.delphidro.com.
Indutec Corp. , Fayetteville, AR, has developed a Web site to outline its filters, diplexers and tower-mounted products for cellular and PCS applications. The site address is http://www.indutec.com.
Lambda Technologies Inc. , Raleigh, NC, has launched a new Web site to provide papers on variable-frequency microwave (VFM) and to detail its 1000- and 6000-series laboratory instruments. Color animation of plasma ignition using VFM is also available. The site can be accessed at http://www.vari-wave.com.
Circuit-protection device producer Littelfuse Electronics Inc. has designed a Web page offering a corporate overview, product bulletins and news, a part number cross reference, technical information, a response section and worldwide locations. The site address is http://www.littelfuse.com.
Mitec Telecom has established a new Web site to provide information on its terrestrial microwave, satellite communications and wireless products. The company’s four manufacturing facilities located worldwide are also listed. The Web address is http://www.mitectelecom.com.
Specialty chemical, salt and automotive inflatable restraint system provider Morton Advanced Materials , Woburn, MA, has redesigned its Web site to include up-to-date information on its chemically vapor-deposited materials for use in semiconductor, optical, wear, laser, thermal imaging and temperature-sensing equipment. The site can be accessed at http://www.mortoncvd.com.
Penny Technology Inc. , Fayetteville, AR, has designed a Web site describing its advanced filter technology and capabilities. The Web address is http://www.pennytech.com.
Carlisle, PA-based Piezo Crystal Co. has introduced a new Web site to provide product information on its quartz crystals and high performance ovenized crystal oscillators. The site address is http://www.piezocrystal.com.
Antenna and associated equipment manufacturer Seavey Engineering Associates Inc. , Cohasset, MA, has established a Web site to provide information about the company and its antenna products, an electronic antenna check list for communicating customer requirements, feedback and new product developments. The site can be accessed at http://www.seaveyantenna.com.
ZYP Coatings Inc. , Oak Ridge, TN, has developed a new Web site to provide information about the company. Products, including high temperature coatings for general or specialized uses, yttria coatings for reactive metal applications and coatings for research and development are detailed. A literature request/feedback form is provided. The Web address is http://www.zypcoatings.com.