Around the Circuit
INDUSTRY NEWS
National Starch and Chemical , a member of the ICI Group , has acquired selected product line and technologies from the Advanced Polymers Business of Honeywell International Inc. Terms were not disclosed.
Allgon AB has reached an agreement with National Semiconductor Corp. (NSC) whereby NSC acquires for cash all outstanding shares in Wireless Solutions Sweden AB . The purchase price is $23.5 M.
Andrew Corp. has acquired the selected assets of Deltec Telesystems International Ltd. The acquisition brings to Andrew the assets of Deltec's Teletiltª sales and development division including its intellectual property and the product development facility.
Chelton Microwave has acquired Airtron Microwave from Litton Systems Inc. , now a Northrup Grumman company. Chelton Microwave views the addition of this product line as a significant step in solidifying its position as the world's leading microwave company.
Carborundum Corp , Microelectronics has changed its name to Saint-Gobain Advanced Ceramics, Microelectronics . The name change was instituted to better reflect the company's operation as a business unit of Saint-Gobain, a leader in engineered materials.
Thomcast , a subsidiary of Thales (formerly Thomson-CSF), is changing its name to Thales Broadcast & Multimedia . The name acknowledges a transition from a pure transmitter company to a global player in high growth businesses.
Custom oscillator manufacturer BeckElec is moving from its start-up location to a new 1500 square-foot facility in Phoenix, AZ. The company will now be located at 519 West Lone Cactus, Phoenix, AZ 85027.
Channel Microwave Corp. , Camarillo, CA, has formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, Channel Microwave Corp. East (CMCE) . The new 10,000 square-foot facility is located at 12120 Plum Orchard Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20904. CMCE will design and manufacture microwave and RF filters, duplexers, combiners and subsystems.
Wavecom Inc. , a subsidiary of Wavecom SA of France, has opened its headquarters in the US. The company plans to capitalize on the growing demand for GSM/GPRS wireless platforms in North and South America in the multimedia, telemetry, telephony and automotive markets.
MCE Technologies Inc. has expanded its operations in Nanjing, China to support growing production and design requirements, together with increased sales activities in the region. MCE's Nanjing operations were initiated in October 2000.
Circuits Processing Technology (CPT) , a subsidiary of Zentrix Technologies , has completed an additional manufacturing facility that will significantly add production capacity of circuitry used in military, medical and commercial applications.
Anritsu Co. has opened a new research and development and manufacturing facility in San Luis Obispo, CA, to accommodate growing customer demand for optical and microwave/RF components. The company will manufacture high speed optical modules and other hybrid microwave assemblies at the facility.
IFR Limited entered into a five-year agreement with BAE SYSTEMS plc for the provisions of test equipment calibration and repair services. The agreement covers standard laboratory test equipment at 49 BAE SYSTEMS sites in the UK.
Applied Wave Research (AWR) signed a worldwide software licensing agreement with Ericsson . The agreement with Ericsson Microwave Systems AB provides all of Ericsson and its affiliates worldwide with a pre-negotiated licensing agreement for all of AWR's products including the popular Microwave Office.
Microlease plc and Agilent Technologies Inc. announced that Microlease has been selected as the European partner for Agilent's worldwide Premier Rental Partner (PRP) program. The agreement enables Microlease to supply European equipment manufacturers with quick access to a comprehensive inventory of Agilent's latest test-and-measurement equipment and services through short-term rental.
Philips Components , a division of Royal Philips Electronics , and WIDCOMM Inc. have jointly developed the first commercially available Bluetooth CompactFlash card module for the Microsoft" Windows" CE operating system platform. This card allows PC OEMs and electronics manufacturers to benefit from a total Bluetooth plug-and-play solution and add Bluetooth connectivity to their PDAs, handhelds and other devices.
As part of a high volume production agreement, Raytheon Co.'s RF Components Division will supply LG Electronics Co. LTD with the RMPA 1951 GaAs HBT power amplifier for the handset market.
Microsemi Corp. has entered into an alliance with Nitronex Corp. to fabricate a line of blue and ultraviolet LEDs, the first ever on substrates. The alliance aims primarily at developing cost-effective, large junction-area glass hermetic flip chip devices that eliminate any epoxy packaging.
Sheldahl Inc. and GIL Technologies Inc. have announced a joint development effort to produce high performance, thin, reinforced roll-to-roll circuitry. This project is expected to generate a new breed of products that will both lower costs and improve performance for RF/microwave components, high speed digital circuits and IC packages used in a wide range of high technology industries.
Applied MEMS Inc. and Coventor Inc. have entered into a preferred manufacturing partnership for the design and manufacture of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS).
TriQuint Semiconductor Inc. and Atmel will cooperate in the design, manufacture and marketing of integrated solutions for the CDMA handset market. The project, named CDMA345™, is currently developing a complete RF chipset solution for CDMA handsets.
TEMEX has signed a developmental licensing agreement with National Scientific Corp. (NSC) for its dielectric resonators. NSC's patented invention improves existing dielectric resonator performance. In related news, Temex Neuchatel Time SA announced that its Neuchatel, Switzerland rubidium plant has been awarded ISO 9001 certification.
Ansoft Corp. has been added to the recently unveiled Russell® 2000 Index. The Frank Russell Company adjusts its indexes annually in order to accurately rank the 3000 largest companies in the US stock market by capitalization, known as the Russell 3000. The Russell 2000 Index represents the 2000 smallest stocks in the Russell 3000, and is a leading benchmark for the small cap market.
Trompeter Electronics announced the conclusion of the company's ISO 9001 audit, which marked the third successive review where the third party certified auditor reported zero findings, the equivalent of a perfect score. The firm has been ISO registered since 1994.
International Crystal Manufacturing has met the standards required for ISO 9002 certification. ISO certification is a process by which rigorous quality standards must be met, business procedures must be documented and key elements must be adhered to.
Somera Communications has been certified to ISO 9001:2000 standards.
CoorsTek Inc. has been awarded ISO 9001 certification for its CVD silicon carbide operation in Benton, AR.
Connector Products , a division of Methode Electronics Inc. , has received QS-9000 certification. The QS-9000 standard consists of a multipart survey that focuses heavily on the quality and consistency of production procedures and process documentation.
Filtronic Compound Semiconductors Ltd. (FCSL) has received its accreditation to ISO 9002 for its management quality system.
SEMX Corp. announced that Polese Co. , a member of its Microelectronic Packaging Group, has been awarded a US patent entitled heat-dissipating aluminum silicon carbide composite manufacturing process. This patent presents a novel approach for producing a critical component used in the manufacture of DSPs and ASICs.
An annual award for the most significant technical contribution to low power radio has been instituted by the industry trade association, the LPRA, in memory of its principal founder, Lionel Tye , who was a much valued member of the LPRA's ruling council. The Lionel Tye Award will be presented to an individual or organization judged by a panel of volunteers from the LPRA to have developed the best product, system or service.
FINANCIAL NEWS
Andrew Corp. reports sales of $241.8 M for the third quarter ended June 30, compared to $259.2 M for the same period last year. Net income was $12.2 M (15¢/diluted share) compared to $20.9 M (26¢/diluted share) for the third quarter of 2000.
Superconductor Technologies Inc. (STI) reports sales of $3.5 M for the second quarter ended June 30, compared to $1.6 M for the same period last year. Net loss was $3.5 M (23¢/share) compared to $4.1 M (23¢/ share) for the second quarter of 2000.
Micro Lambda Wireless Inc. reports record sales, orders and year-end backlog for the just completed fiscal 2001 year. For the year ending May 31, sales increased by 38 percent, orders by 39 percent and year-end backlog increased by 57 percent over the same period last year.
ADC reports sales of $652 M for the second quarter ended April 30, compared to $771 M for the same period last year. Net loss was $115 M (15¢/diluted share) compared to a net income of $72 M (10¢/diluted share) for the second quarter of 2000.
Infineon Technologies AG intends to proceed with a public offering of up to 60 million newly-issued shares, including approximately 7.8 million shares included in the underwriters' over-allotment option. Infineon will issue the shares from its authorized capital in a capital increase without pre-emptive rights. No shares will be offered by any of Infineon's existing shareholders.
CONTRACTS
Motorola Inc.'s Global Telecom Solutions Sector has signed a $150 M network infrastructure expansion deal with BT Cellnet , a leading UK mobile operator. During the life of the contract, which runs through March 2003, Motorola will provide a range of Motorola's GSM basestations, related equipment and services.
Andrew Corp. has been selected to supply Allgon Microwave AB with customized low profile VHLP ValuLine" antennas for use in Allgon's radio-based solutions for wireless telephony and data communications. The three-year agreement, valued at approximately $2 M per year, is for the supply of several thousand antennas. In related news, W.A.T.C.H. TV, an MMDS system serving over 10,000 video customers in western Ohio, has ordered an Andrew SkyPathª integrated broadband wireless system. When completed, the system will provide high speed wireless Internet access to homes and businesses throughout northwest Ohio. Andrew will begin installing the system in August.
Electro-Radiation Inc. (ERI) has been awarded a CPFF contract valued at approximately $730 K from the US Army Aviation and Missile Command, Redstone Arsenal. The two-year program will adapt ERI's Interference Suppression Unit electronics to protect GPS from CW, broadband noise and pulsed jamming signals.
PERSONNEL
Melles Griot has appointed Blake Fennell chief operating officer of the worldwide organization. Previously, Fennell was chief operating officer of the Photonics Group.
The Titan Corp. and its subsidiary, e-tenna Corp., named David McCartney as president of e-tenna Corp. McCartney is a wireless veteran with more than two decades of industry experience including various senior management positions.
IFR Systems Inc. has appointed John Bickley VP of worldwide sales and Bob Vogel to the newly created position of VP of product development. Previously, Bickley was director of product marketing, Broadband Routing and Switching Division at Marconi Communications, while Vogel served as VP, Broadband Networks Division at Acterna Corp.
IFR Systems Inc. has named Sam Strang VP of sales for the Americas. Strang will retain his position of VP of corporate accounts with the company. In his now expanded role he will be responsible for all orders and distribution strategy for the Americas.
Strand Marketing has named Kyle McNamara VP of operations. McNamara will head up Strand's new WebCentric" marketing approach. In related news, the company appointed Allison O'Connor as sales representative for Identity Domain, a service of Strand Marketing. Previously, O'Connor was employed at VerticalNet as industry manager for the RF Globalnet and Wireless Design Online communities.
Sabritec named Alan Weber executive VP. Previously, Weber was the VP of operations for Packard Hughes Interconnect. Weber brings with him over 22 years experience in the interconnect industry.
REMEC Inc. has appointed Bruce Anderson executive VP, Manufacturing Operations. He was previously VP/general manager for DMC Stratex.
Rohde & Schwarz has named Philippe Catherine the managing director for sales in Europe. Catherine will be responsible for all European sales activities and representatives of the communications and T&M manufacturer.
Dennis L. Deck has joined Trilithic Inc. Wireless Products as director of sales. Most recently, Deck served as sales manager at Narda Microwave-West.
Semflex Inc. named David Shaff the director of distribution sales. Prior to joining the company, Shaff held management positions with Avnet, SV Microwave, JAE Electronics and ITT Cannon. In this newly created position he will be responsible for the company's worldwide distribution activity and selected major OEM accounts.
A new business strategy and continued growth has led Palomar Technologies to strengthen its sales force in Europe. The new team is headed by Burkhard Habbe as European sales manager, who is also directly re- sponsible for sales in Spain, France, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Region- al sales managers are Martin Brandl for the German speaking countries, Benelux and Italy, with David Mudd focusing on the UK market.
Celerity Digital Broadband Test, a division of L-3 Communications, has named David Sprenkle eastern regional sales manager. Previously, Sprenkle spent nine years with RDL Inc. as a marketing specialist.
Hittite Microwave Corp. has named Robert S. Donahue as director of marketing. Previously, Donahue has held leadership positions in engineering and product line management at M/A-COM and Raytheon.
Allyson D. Yarbrough has been appointed principal director of the Electronics Engineering subdivision, Electronic Systems Division, at the Aerospace Corp. Yarbrough was promoted from director of the Electromagnetic Techniques Dept., Electronic Systems Division.
Arcom Wireless Inc. selected Kevin Coffey as its new general manager. Previously, Coffey worked at Hewlett-Packard as a business unit manager and served as president of ATN Microwave. Most recently, he was the general manager of a local unit of Teradyne.
LBA Group Inc. appointed Marvin Brewer as senior RF engineer in its Lawrence Behr Associates Inc. unit. Brewer has over 20 years experience in the telecommunications industry, including significant experience with critical military system interference and electromagnetic compatibility.
Narda has appointed Gerard Spinelli to the position of sales engineer. Previously, Spinelli was an account manager for East Coast Microwave. In related news, Narda Safety Test Solutions promoted Kathy Burns to the position of applications engineer. In this position, Burns provides technical and sales support to RF safety customers and sales representatives in North America.
REP APPOINTMENTS
Advanced Control Components Inc. , Eatontown, NJ, has appointed a pair of new manufacturing representatives. R.L. Engineering Inc. will cover Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC, while Eagle Technology will handle South Africa.
MCE/Inmet has appointed Steve Pollock of Cain- Pollock Inc. to represent its products in Colorado and Utah.
Channel Microwave Corp. , Camarillo, CA, has appointed G2 Technologies' Donna Gildea to be the exclusive East Coast representative.
Hittite Microwave Corp. , Chelmsford, MA, appointed Custom Wireless Sales , Campbell, CA, as the official representative in northern California and Nevada. Hittite also appointed N & W Sales Inc. , Arlington, TX, to cover Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana.
WEB SITES
MegaPhase LLC has launched a new Web site, www.MegaPhase.com. The site is designed for RF and microwave engineers who use coaxial cable assemblies and test adapters through 50 GHz. Easy to download product data, performance charts and photos are available for over 30 different assembly types.