Industry News
Terabeam/HXI, also known as the Harmonix Division of Terabeam Corp., was sold by its parent company, Proxim Wireless, to Renaissance Electronics Corp. (REC), Harvard, MA. Going forward, the new company name will be HXI LLC and HXI will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of REC. Proxim will retain the use of the Terabeam name and it will no longer be used by HXI. All management, engineering, technical, administrative and direct sales personnel have remained with HXI through the acquisition. HXI also retained all relevant intellectual property, patents and component/subsystems designs that they had previous to the acquisition. HXI will remain in the same facility and will have all the same contact information, with the exception of e-mail addresses and web site address. The company can be reached at HXI LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Renaissance Electronics Corp., Ward Hill Business Park, 22 Parkridge Road, Haverhill, MA 01835; ph: (978) 521-7300; fax: (978) 521-7301 or visit: www.hxi.com.
Ceralta Technologies Inc. announced the launch of a combined direct Sales Force to support the strategic direction and valued customer base of Ceralta and its subsidiaries TRU Corp. and Sage Laboratories Inc. TRU and Sage are radio frequency and microwave solution providers that garner significant brand recognition in the marketplace due to the individual technological innovations and growing value to their customers since each was founded in the early 1950s. Ceralta’s combined Sales Force will be jointly directed by Michael Wisner and Ed Kersten.
Harris Corp., an international communications and information technology company, announced that it will integrate technology from Freescale Semiconductor, a global-leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors, into its new TV transmitters for terrestrial broadcasters. Using Freescale’s laterally diffused MOS (LDMOS) UHF technology will enable Harris to produce its most compact and power-efficient UHF transmitters.
Acceleware® Corp., a developer of high performance computing applications, and Computer Simulation Technology (CST), a supplier of electromagnetic (EM) simulation software, announced a new Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA)-based Acceleware solution for accelerating EM simulations with CST MICROWAVE STUDIO® (CST MWS). Trial tests of this new acceleration product have delivered performance gains of up to 40 percent compared to the current product.
Peregrine Semiconductor Corp., a supplier of high performance RF CMOS and mixed-signal communications ICs, and Rubicon Technology, a manufacturer of sapphire substrates and other advanced technology materials, announced that Rubicon has begun initial production of 8” sapphire wafers for supply to Peregrine for its UltraCMOS™ Silicon-on-Sapphire (SOS) semiconductor processing.
TriQuint Semiconductor, an RF front-end product manufacturer and foundry services provider, was recognized by Northrop Grumman Corp. Electronic Systems (NGES) at its 2008 Supplier Conference with an award for bulk acoustic wave (BAW) innovation. At the same event, TriQuint also received a Strategic Supplier Award for its dedication to the success of NGES programs. TriQuint was one of 32 companies recognized by Northrop Grumman at the event and the only company to win two awards.
Astrolab has received its AS9100 B certification as a manufacturer of RF and microwave applications for the aerospace industry. AS9100 B is a Quality Management System that specifies aerospace industry quality and manufacturing standards. In addition to receiving this new certification, the company was re-certified to the ISO 9001:2000 standard maintained since 1994.
Contracts
Skyworks Solutions Inc., an innovator of high performance analog and mixed-signal semiconductors enabling mobile connectivity, announced that it has signed a five-year, multi-million dollar contract with Lockheed Martin to supply high-precision technical ceramic toroids and inserts for the Aegis Weapon System. This contract win reflects the company’s increasing diversification into adjacent markets within its Linear Products business.
Nitronex, a developer and manufacturer of high performance RF power transistors for wireless infrastructure, broadband and military markets, has received Phase II Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding to further develop its GaN technology for military and aerospace applications. The two-year Phase II STTR program began in the first quarter of this year. The primary program objective is to deliver high power X-band GaN monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMIC) that address Ballistic Missile Defense radar needs of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA).
MI Technologies has completed installation of a very large planar near-field antenna measurement system at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC Crane), located in Crane, IN. NSWC Crane provides comprehensive support for complex military systems spanning development, deployment and sustainment in three mission areas: Electronic Warfare/Information Operations, Special Missions and Strategic Missions.
New Market Entry
RF VCO provides training and design services for integrating custom voltage-controlled oscillators (VCO) onto a customer’s PCB. Depending on customer’s needs, RF VCO can provide either a turn-key VCO design ready for PCB layout or VCO design training for engineers seeking to learn VCO design. RF VCO empowers engineers and companies to take control of their own VCO requirements for performance and cost optimization. Visit the company’s web site at: www.rfvco.com.
Personnel
The publishing and defense industries lost a respected veteran recently with the death of Hal Gershanoff. Hal joined Horizon House in 1978 and served as publisher of the Journal of Electronic Defense until his retirement in 2002, after which he continued to work with the Association of Old Crows (AOC). He travelled extensively for business and pleasure, establishing personal relationships around the globe. He leaves his wife of 35 years, Mary Dana, and a strong legacy in the industry.
Harry Rutstein has retired from the presidency of Dorado International and left the telecommunication industry for his new calling as an explorer and writer. In 1948 he started as a research engineer at Johns Hopkins University and over the next 60 years established and managed many marketing and manufacturing enterprises. Now as a writer, Rutstein announced the September publication release of The Marco Polo Odyssey: In the Footsteps of a Merchant Who Changed the World. The book is a personal narrative of his 13,000 mile overland journey to become the first person to follow the voyage of Marco Polo from Venice to Beijing. Rutstein can be reached via e-mail at hrutstein2@aol.com.
Crane Aerospace & Electronics, a segment of Crane Co., has announced the appointment of Joe Bottenfield as the vice president of microwave systems solutions, which includes both the Beverly, MA and Chandler, AZ sites. Crane’s Microwave Systems provide RF and microwave solutions for the defense, space and communications industries for use in electronic countermeasures, missiles, radar, intelligence and guidance systems. Prior to Crane, Bottenfield was director of avionics, North America for Barco Inc.
Mimix Broadband Inc. announced that it has appointed Greg Baker as senior vice president sales and marketing. Baker will focus on managing the sales cycle, acquiring new customers and expanding relationships with existing customers, and launching new products to the marketplace. Most recently with Sirenza Microdevices as vice president international sales, Baker brings more than 20 years experience in RF and microwave component design, marketing and sales to Mimix.
Renaissance Electronics Corp. announced the appointment of Charles Nashef in charge of the company’s International Sales Development and Marketing Campaign. Nashef has over 16 years in business development for manufactured components on a national and international level with extensive experience working with the aerospace, defense, telecom, industrial and medical industries. Nashef will manage and develop the international markets for all of Renaissance product offerings along with spearheading the marketing campaign for both national and international. Nashef can be reached at (978) 772-7774.
KOR Electronics announced that Bruce Quinn has joined the company as director of sales. In his role as sales director, Quinn oversees KOR Electronics’ sales activities with major prime contractors and Asian customers. Prior to joining KOR Electronics, Quinn was director of sales for Crane Aerospace and Electronics. He comes to KOR Electronics with over 30 years of experience in the microwave industry.
Rep Appointments
MITEQ Inc. announced the appointment of TriTex Technical Sales Inc. as the company’s exclusive sales representative in Texas. TriTex Technical Sales Inc. will represent MITEQ’s Component division of products. TriTex Technical Sales Inc. can be contacted at (972) 492-2621 or e-mail: dpgrand@worldnet.att.net or tritex@austin.rr.com.
Micro-Coax announced the appointment of Northern Technical Sales as sales representative in the Upstate New York territory. Northern Technical Sales has been providing solutions for demanding test and measurement applications since 1988.
Planar Monolithics Industries Inc. (PMI), a manufacturer of RF and microwave amplifiers, filters, log amps, phase shifters and many other components, subsystems and systems, announced the appointment of Altaix Electronica of Madrid as its representative in Spain. To reach Altaix, visit www.altaix.com.
California Eastern Laboratories (CEL) has signed Elexience to represent its growing line of IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee radio modules. Based in Verrières-le-buisson, Elexience will be the exclusive source for these CEL products throughout France.
Presidio Components Inc. announced the appointment of Southeastern Sales RF LLC (SES RF), headquartered in Stuart, FL. SES RF will provide technical, sales representation for the Southeastern US utilizing extensive technical expertise to solve customer problems. Presidio Components manufactures quality ceramic capacitors serving commercial, defense and space markets, with unique capabilities in compact, high voltage and/or high frequency ceramic capacitors. Contact SES RF directly at (321) 431-1503 or visit them on the web at www.sesrf.com, or contact Presidio at (858) 578-9390.