INDUSTRY NEWS
Renaissance Electronics Corp. of Harvard, MA has acquired the ferrite circulator, isolator and attenuator product lines of MCCI Wireless and P&H Laboratories . This acquisition enhances Renaissance Electronics position as a vital supplier of military, space and commercial components for a significant number of RF and microwave applications. P&H Laboratories, along with MCCI Wireless, has a long history of supplying quality circulators, isolators and attenuators for hi-rel and military customers. This history, coupled with Renaissance Electronics' engineering/manufacturing expertise and military product heritage, creates a good choice for prime contractors. MCCI Wireless and P&H Laboratories business systems (sales and contracts) are being relocated to Renaissance Electronics headquarters in Harvard, MA.
REMEC Inc. announced that it has acquired Himark , a private sales distribution and value-added telecommunications sector company headquartered in Beijing, China. REMEC issued approximately 1.4 million shares of common stock and other consideration in connection with the acquisition. Himark has provided sales and distribution services for REMEC since entry into the China telecom market.
Computer Simulation Technology (CST) and APLAC Solutions Corp. have signed an agreement enabling the further expansion and interoperability of links between CST's design environment and other EDA simulation solutions. APLAC's Circuit Simulation and Design Tool will be tightly linked to CST Design Studio™'s (CST DS) framework allowing efficient co-simulation and optimization at all simulation levels.
Texas Instruments Inc. announced that it has acquired Radia Communications Inc. Based in Sunnyvale, CA, Radia is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in the development of radio frequency semiconductor, subsystem, signal processing and networking technologies for 802.11 wireless local area networking (WLAN) multi-band/multi-mode radios. TI's customers now have a single source for its WLAN media access controller, baseband and RF, reducing time to market for 802.11a/b/g products and for broadband, wireless and consumer devices that include 802.11.
Aeroflex Inc. , a designer, developer and manufacturer of automated testing solutions and microelectronics for the aerospace, defense and broadband communications markets, announced that it has acquired the Racal Wireless Solutions Group for cash of $38 M and a deferred payment of up to $16.5 M in either cash or Aeroflex common stock, at Aeroflex's option, depending on the Wireless Solutions Group achieving certain performance goals for the year ending July 31, 2004.
Richardson Electronics announced it has signed an expanded distribution agreement with Anaren Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Richardson will now have distribution rights for Anaren's full line of wireless products in North America, in addition to the European and Asian markets named in a previous agreement. Included in its product line are Anaren's Xinger®-brand surface-mount components, RF power-brand resistive components and AdrenaLine™ splitter combiner networks.
mmWave Integrated Solutions Inc. (mmWIS) and SUSS MicroTec Inc. announced a partnership agreement to develop turnkey probing solutions for the high frequency market. SUSS will provide probe systems, probes and calibration software while mmWIS provides instrument control software and integration expertise.
Cascade Microtech Inc. announced that it has signed a value-added reseller agreement with STAr Technologies Inc. This agreement will enable STAr Technologies' Virgo-DC/RF probe cards to provide a precision single-pass DC and RF parametric test capability, thus enabling precision DC and RF parametric tests with a single tester and probe station to reduce the total cost of test for advanced telecommunication devices. In related news, Cascade announced that it has licensed essential RF measurement technology to Tokyo Seimitsu Co. Ltd. The technology transfer will lead to faster and more accurate RF testing of advanced semiconductor devices during production, including high speed telecommunications and wireless devices.
Hittite Microwave Corp. announced that it has opened a fourth international office, Hittite Microwave Co. Ltd. (Shanghai Office), located in Shanghai, P.R.C. This office will establish a consistent Hittite presence to service the company's expanding customer base in China and Hong Kong. HuaLiang Xiong will lead the office as China country manager. His office will support sales and application engineering inquiries both directly and through Hittite's two China and Hong Kong representatives, Planet Technology Ltd. and WaiTat Electronics Ltd. He can be contacted at (+86-21)-62376717 or fax (+86-21)-62376716 or by e-mail: china@hittite.com. The new office address is Hittite Microwave Co. Ltd., 7T, HongQiao Business Center, No. 2272, HongQiao Road, Shanghai, P.R.C., 200336.
Rosenberger OSI Fiber Optics , a manufacturer of specialty fiber optic connectors, recently established a North American presence by opening a sales, engineering support and distribution facility in Lancaster, PA. Rosenberger OSI Fiber Optics is a division of Rosenberger of North America LLC, a supplier of coaxial connectors and cable assemblies. Stephen Sacco is the technical director for the new fiber optics division.
Laird Technologies announced that its beryllium copper (BeCu) products plant in Shenzhen, China is now in full operations mode. This plant entered start-up in late 2002 and has since transitioned to full production. All process operations, including stamping, forming, heat treat, plating and downstream processing are running. Laird Technologies can now offer full production of metal products in North America, Europe and Asia.
NDK America Inc. and NDK Crystal Inc. have moved into its new Belvidere, IL facility. The construction of the facility started in April of 2002 and was completed nine months ahead of the original April 2004 estimated completion date. This new facility combines sales/marketing, research and development, a design center, manufacturing, warehousing and the executive office functions. The new address is 701 Crystal Parkway, Belvidere, IL 61008 (800) 635-9825, fax: (815) 544-7901, e-mail: sales@ndkxtal.com, Web site: www.ndk.com. The building project covers 55,000 square feet with 34,000 square feet devoted to manufacturing.
SSB Technologies Inc. , a worldwide supplier of linear and ultra-linear solid-state power amplifiers, has announced that its quality system now meets the ISO 9001:2000 standard. SSB Technologies has been ISO 9001 certified since 2000, and acquired an upgrade to ISO 9001-2000 by the RWTUV USA on July 1, 2003.
Elcom Technologies Inc. has been recommended for ISO 9001:2000 certification by Underwriter's Laboratories Inc. Elcom is a privately-held, technology company that designs, develops and manufactures and markets RF/microwave frequency sources and customized subsystems for military and commercial industries.
Dielectric Laboratories Inc. has successfully completed a transition of its quality management system and received recertification to the requirements of ISO 9001-2000. The company has been certified for several years to the earlier ISO 9001-1994 standard.
CONTRACTS
Thales Communications Inc. announced that it is a subcontractor on the recently announced $59.9 M cost-plus-fixed-fee Land Warrior contract awarded to General Dynamics Decision Systems by the US Army. Thales supplies the Leader Radio Subsystem for the current version of the Army Land Warrior system, providing extended communications range capability, as well as connectivity into the Tactical Internet. Based on the recent award to General Dynamics, Thales will support the selection and integration of a Leader Radio Subsystem into the Land Warrior system as the system evolves, matures and is integrated into the Army's Stryker combat vehicles. The total value of the Land Warrior program, with all options exercised, has an estimated potential value of $791 M.
Signal Technology Corp. , a Crane company, announced the award of a follow-on contract valued at $4.6 M from the defense microelectronics activity (DMEA) of the US Department of Defense . The award is for the second phase of a program to develop a new wireless network technology for military, law enforcement, counter-terrorism intelligence and surveillance. Under the $4.1 M first phase of the program, awarded by DMEA during the third quarter of 2002, Signal Technology led a team from academia and industry to successfully establish the system requirements and advance the sensor electronics packaging technology. Under this $4.6 M follow-on contract, the team will continue to work closely with both the DMEA and the defense advanced research programs agency to develop hardware and software with the goal to enable a fielded system in 2004.
CMC Electronics Cincinnati has been selected by Northrop Grumman Corp. 's Electronic Systems sector as a team member supporting and protecting America's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft. CMC will provide mega-pixel infrared detector assemblies (IDA) used in the electro-optical distributed aperture system suite of six sensors, which will give a 24-hour, all-weather, all-aspect imaging capability. The suite provides full spherical coverage around the aircraft for missile threat warning, navigation and situational awareness. An additional IDA will be used in the electro optical targeting system pod in many of the aircraft.
Agilent Technologies Inc. announced that NEC Compound Semiconductor Devices Ltd. has selected Agilent's RF and mixed-signal design software tools as its new standard for mobile communications RFIC development. Agilent's RF Design Environment provides NEC designers with efficient circuit simulation and system design.
Elcoteq announced that it has signed the Series 60 contractor agreement with Nokia . This agreement will make Elcoteq one of the first members of the Product Creation Community formed around the Series 60 Platform.
FINANCIAL NEWS
Northrop Grumman Corp. reports sales of $6.6 B for the second quarter ended June 30, 2003, compared to $4.2 B for the same period in 2002. Net income was $207 M ($1.09/per share), compared to a net income of $181 M ($1.52/per share) for the second quarter of last year.
Superconductor Technologies Inc. (STI) announced that it has closed an equity private placement transaction. The financing yielded total proceeds of $11 M. STI issued 5,116,278 shares of common stock to the investors in the private placement along with five-year warrants for an additional 1,279,069 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $2.90 per share. STI plans to use the estimated $10.3 M in net proceeds to fund working capital and general corporate purposes. RBC Capital Markets acted as exclusive placement agent for the offering.
Unity Wireless Corp. announced that it has shipped power amplifiers exceeding $1 M to customers in the first two months of the second quarter. The company's effort to diversify its customer base over the last year has resulted in a growing mix of customers in different markets, each requiring different technology. Unity Wireless now offers a broad family of power amplifier solutions for both second and third generation CDMA and WCDMA requirements to customers in many distinct geographic markets.
NEW MARKET ENTRY
Discera Inc. announced it has expanded its business and technology team to help power the company's push into the handset market. It also has opened a sales and marketing office in Campbell, CA. The creation of an experienced team will play a key role in moving Discera's microcomponent technology into strategic accounts at major wireless semiconductor manufacturers and communications systems design houses. The company's new sales and marketing offices are located at 51 East Campbell Avenue, Campbell, CA. The research and development team is located in Ann Arbor, MI. New senior management and technical staff include: Ken Cioffi, vice president, product development; Jim MacDonald, director, manufacturing; and Andrew Brown, microwave scientist.
PERSONNEL
Michael Vohrer was appointed president and COO of Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co. KG. Vohrer previously held the position of executive vice president and head of the test and measurement division. He is successor to Hans Wagner, who stepped down from the executive board. The executive board now consists of Friedrich Schwarz as the chairman, Reinhard Bruckner and Vohrer.
Northrop Grumman Corp. announced that Michael P. Driscoll , president of Winchester Electronics, a business unit of its component technologies sector, has been appointed to the Executive Council of the International Engineering Consortium (IEC). The IEC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to catalyzing technology and business progress worldwide in a range of high technology industries and their university communities. As a member of the Council, Driscoll's role includes acting as a liaison between industry and academia, and helping to develop programs and initiatives for companies and universities east of the Mississippi.
Apollo Microwaves Ltd. has appointed John Padulo as the company's president and Vito Campanella as the vice president of sales and marketing. Padulo brings over 25 years of experience in the telecom industry. He will be responsible for developing and implementing profit and growth strategies in all areas of operation. Campanella brings over 10 years of RF experience from design to implementation. He will oversee all sales and marketing activities for the company's microwave components and subsystems solutions.
Texas Instruments RFid Systems welcomes Perry Garvis to the company in the role of business development manager for access control and security products. In his new position, Garvis will spearhead efforts to build TI-RFid's access control business by developing OEM, channel and consultant relationships, driving sales efforts and educating the market on 13.56 MHz RFID solutions. Garvis joins TI-RFid Systems with over twenty years of experience in sales, sales management and new business development in the security and wireless RF industries working for companies that include Motorola, Conxus Communications Inc., Sensormatic Electronics Corp. and Security Tag Systems Inc.
TRL Technology Ltd., a UK-based radio and satellite communications systems specialist, has announced the appointment of Ken Jarvis to the position of international sales manager for TRL Technology's Government Systems Business Unit. In his new position, Jarvis will concentrate on sales of the company's satellite monitoring solution, developing export sales to governments worldwide, and building on TRL Technology's past experience. He brings specific experience of the Far East, Middle East, European and South American territories, gained during a career spanning over 25 years in international military sales.
MI Technologies announced that it has appointed Diane P.H. Williams of Cumming, GA to the position of sales manager, North America. Williams will be responsible for coordinating the activities of MI Technologies' domestic sales representatives and will also provide direct sales support for the company's test and measurement products, systems and services. Williams comes to MI Technologies from the Giga-tronics Co., where she served as eastern regional sales manager for three years. Prior to that, she served as manager of Satcom accounts for Xicom Technology of Malabar, FL, and Atlanta, GA, from 1994 to 2000.
REP APPOINTMENTS
Inter-Continental Microwave announced the appointment of six new sales representatives. Beacon Technical Sales Inc. will cover Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Gamma Opt. will handle Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. GenTek Inc. will be responsible for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, and Tennessee. Giga-tron Associated Ltd. will cover all of Canada. MEDs Technologies Pte. Ltd. will handle Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. Chang Woo Inc. will be responsible for South Korea.
Osprey Metals , a manufacturer of lightweight, controlled expansion carrier plates and housings for use in electronic packaging, has signed an agreement with D-TecH . D-TecH will represent Osprey to promote the sale of Al-Si and Si-A1 alloys to the military, aerospace and communication markets in New England and the mid-Atlantic states.
Spectrum Control announced that Seki Technotron has been named its exclusive agent/representative in Japan. In addition, JEPICO has been named to Spectrum's group of global distributors.
EDO Corp. announced that it has selected R F Associates Inc. to represent its RF and microwave products and services in southern California. R F Associates Inc., based in Van Nuys, CA, will assist in marketing EDO's line of RF modules that are manufactured in Deer Park, NY for both the space and military markets.
Lorch Microwave announced the appointment of two international sales representatives. In-Time Electronics AB will handle sales in Sweden and MEL-SIVAN Technologies Ltd. will cover Israel.
Semflex Inc. , a manufacturer of coaxial cable for the telecommunications, mil/aero and test instrumentation markets, announced the appointment of a new sales rep organization, TC Technical Sales . TC Technical Sales will serve the tri-state region of Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. Headquartered in Batavia, IL, TC Technical Sales is managed by Tom Chivari. The company can be reached at (630) 879-0391 or by e-mail at kavary@aol.com.
RF Logic LLC announced the appointment of Advanced Communications as its exclusive representative in the northern California territory. RF Logic has also appointed E Squared Marketing Inc. as its exclusive representative in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut territory. RF Logic is a supplier of high quality coaxial cable assemblies and custom test equipment and components to both the RF/microwave and high speed digital markets.
International Manufacturing Services Inc. , a manufacturer of high quality thick film resistors and substrates to the electronics industry, announced the appointment of M&S Sales Inc. to represent the IMS product line in the US Midwest, the territory encompassing the state of Illinois and designated parts of Wisconsin. The primary M&S sales office is located at 616 North Court, Suite 110, Palatine, IL 60067 (847) 934-1200, fax: (847) 934-9169.
WEB SITE
Fluke Corp. has unveiled a free on-line program called FlukePlus that is designed to offer assistance and rewards to its customers. This program offers exclusive on-line technical information, product specific tips, and how-to instruction plus access to a members library of the company's archives. FlukePlus also provides product discounts and member-only pricing on the company's merchandise. For more information, visit www.fluke.com/flukeplus.