Industry News
Crane Co., a diversified manufacturer of highly engineered industrial products, and Merrimac Industries Inc., a leader in the design and manufacture of RF microwave components, assemblies and micro-multifunction modules, announced that they have signed a definitive agreement for the acquisition of Merrimac by Crane. Crane will pay $16.00 cash per share of common stock of Merrimac and associated common stock purchase rights. Under the terms of the agreement, Crane will commence a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Merrimac, and this transaction, which is subject to the satisfaction of customary conditions, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2010. This transaction is valued at approximately $52 M and represents a 40 percent premium to Merrimac shareholders based on the closing value of its common stock on December 22, 2009, and a premium of 70 percent based on Merrimac’s most recent 20-day average closing price. The agreement has been approved by the boards of directors of both companies.
Cree Inc. announced that it has acquired a portfolio of patents and patent applications related to semi-insulating silicon carbide (SiC) material and power device technology from Daimler AG. The portfolio consists of approximately 20 patent families, including issued patents in the United States, Germany, Japan and China.
Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) has successfully completed operational improvements to lower cost and achieve greater wafer fabrication efficiencies for its proprietary analog, mixed-signal and MEMS manufacturing process technologies. The improvements to plants in Wilmington, MA, which were completed November 1, and Limerick, Ireland, finalized earlier last year, were part of a previously announced multi-year plan to ensure ADI’s customers have access to cost-effective and flexible global manufacturing infrastructure.
Cadence Design Systems Inc. announced that Fairchild Semiconductor has named Cadence as its primary EDA partner following the signing of a multi-year agreement for key Cadence® mixed-signal technology. Fairchild selected Cadence for its proven ability to provide an interoperable, mixed-signal design and verification solution using Cadence Virtuoso®, Encounter®, Incisive® and Allegro® technologies.
Nitronex and Modelithics have announced a collaboration to create state-of-the-art nonlinear models for Nitronex’s high power gallium nitride (GaN) devices. Combining the Modelithics team’s 35+ years of modeling experience with Nitronex’s industry-leading GaN power devices will allow power amplifier designers to achieve best-in-class performance with faster time to market. Initial models will focus on Nitronex’s new thermally improved products targeting broadband and high efficiency amplifiers for the military communications, electronic warfare and radar markets.
Agilent Technologies Inc. announced that Simplay Labs LLC, the company operating four of the eight global HDMI Authorized Test Centers (ATC), has selected Agilent Technologies as its High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) test solution provider. Agilent’s test solution meets, or exceeds, the requirements of the HDMI Compliance Test Specification (CTS) Version 1.4 and is listed as recommended test equipment. The Agilent test solution addresses four sectors: source testing, sink testing, media physical layer evaluation and protocol test. The test solution was designed to reduce development costs while providing accurate test results with greater flexibility.
TT electronics has restructured its North American sales operations to create an integrated sales and marketing team to represent the company’s component business units to its customers. The new TT electronics North American Sales Operation will be responsible for the sales and marketing of BI Technologies, IRC Inc., OPTEK Technology, Semelab and Welwyn Components products in the Americas.
Cobham is significantly enhancing its existing presence in India through the establishment of a wholly owned subsidiary, Cobham India Private Ltd. With offices in New Delhi and Bangalore, Cobham India Private Ltd. will open during the first quarter of 2010.
Dynawave® Inc. has announced that it has expanded its capabilities and product line by now manufacturing low loss bulk cables to be used with its connectors and cable assemblies in RF and microwave applications. The company, in business since 1985, designs and manufactures a variety of products, including connectors, cable assemblies and now bulk cable covering frequency ranges from DC up to 65 GHz.
Epoxies Etc. announced the completion of a new R&D and Quality Control Laboratory. The new equipment in the laboratory increases the company’s testing capabilities as it continues to develop new epoxy, urethane and silicone systems. This expansion allows Epoxies Etc. to diversify and expand its product offerings to meet customer needs and the needs of an ever-changing manufacturing environment.
Empower RF Systems, a manufacturer and provider of solid-state power amplifiers and amplifier-based solutions, celebrated the tenth anniversary of the company and also announced the appointment of Barry Phelps as CEO. Entrepreneur and founder of Empower, Efraim (Effi) Bainvoll, is President of the company and will be leading projects focused on nurturing strong, existing technologies and creating new PA solutions for evolving systems requirements.
RF Micro Devices Inc. (RFMD) announced that RFMD has commenced pre-production shipments of high-performance gallium nitride (GaN)-based CATV hybrid amplifiers to a major US-based cable television (CATV) equipment provider. RFMD’s GaN CATV hybrid amplifiers provide industry-leading RF output levels, and cable operators using RFMD’s GaN can reduce the number of amplifiers required in emerging architectures, also known as N+1 architectures, and achieve up to 20 percent cost savings in fiber deep networks.
DragonWave Inc., a supplier of packet microwave radio systems for mobile and access networks, announced that Videotron, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc., will be deploying the Horizon Compact packet microwave solution to deliver high capacity backhaul for its HSPA network, bringing consumers and small businesses advanced mobile communications services in several major Canadian markets.
Laser Services Inc., an ISO and AS-9100 registered precision laser cutting, drilling, scribing, etching and welding job shop, is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Laser Services offers a variety of unique design and manufacturing advantages to engineers and technicians in the RF/microwave, medical device, semiconductor, test and measurement, aerospace, military, and electronics industries, among others.
Contracts
Raytheon Co. announced it has received Foreign Military Sales contract awards totaling $1.1 B to fund new production of the Patriot Air and Missile Defense System for Taiwan. The awards include ground-system hardware through an initial contract valued at $965.6 M and an initial spares contract valued at $134.4 M. Raytheon is the prime contractor for both domestic and international Patriot Air and Missile Defense Systems and system integrator for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles. Work on the contract will be performed in Andover, MA; El Paso, TX; and Huntsville, AL.
Harris Corp., an international communications and information technology company, has received a $228 M order from the US Marine Corps to provide Falcon II AN/VRC-104 high frequency radio systems for use in US Department of Defense (DoD) MRAP-All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATV). The contract was awarded by the US Marine Corps - Systems Command on behalf of the Joint MRAP Vehicle Program.
Giga-tronics Inc. announced that it has received three orders valued at $5.1 M for microwave components from a major aircraft manufacturer. The award for high performance specialty filters based upon the company’s fast switching YIG technology will be fulfilled by Giga-tronics’ Microsource component subsidiary located in Santa Rosa, CA. One order valued at $1.8 M will be delivered by the end of the fiscal year, in March 2010.
SprayCool®, a leader in advanced thermal management and environmental isolation products for the military, announced that it was selected by Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) to supply its liquid cooled enclosure to support their Electronic Support Measure (ESM) system on the US Navy’s Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Unmanned Aircraft System (BAMS UAS). The current development program was awarded to Northrop Grumman in April of 2008, and Sierra Nevada is working with Northrop Grumman to provide the ESM system.
New Market Entries
Murata Electronics North America introduced the new LQH88P_38 series of power inductors, marking Murata’s entrance into the large form factor power inductor market. The inductors support up to an 8A rated current and measure 8 × 8 mm with a low profile of 3.8 mm. This new inductor series is designed for DC-DC converters that are utilized in flat screen televisions, set-top boxes, digital recording devices, wireless base stations and other electronic applications.
Peregrine Semiconductor Corp., a supplier of high performance RF CMOS and mixed-signal communications ICs, announced the first pair in a series of new SPDT RF switches addressing the needs of wireless infrastructure, 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM), and broadband applications for fiber optics and Multichannel Multipoint Distribution Service (MMDS). The PE4250 and PE4251 are the result of a joint design and development activity with long-standing partner OKI Electric Ltd. (Tokyo). Product engineers from both OKI and Peregrine collaborated to develop leading-edge design techniques to meet market demands, resulting in the latest high-performance UltraCMOSTM Silicon-on-Sapphire RFICs.
Personnel
ANSYS Inc., an innovator of simulation software and technologies designed to optimize product development processes, announced that Joshua Fredberg has joined the ANSYS senior management team as the Vice President of Marketing. Fredberg will play an integral role in furthering the company’s vision and strategy, enhancing ANSYS global marketing initiatives, and leading all aspects of the company’s branding. Fredberg brings a rich, diverse background in engineering and technology to the ANSYS leadership team. Before joining ANSYS, Fredberg was Senior Vice President of Product and Market Strategy at Parametric Technology Corp. (PTC), where he worked on industry strategy, marketing and business development. Prior to joining PTC, he held leadership roles with both ARIBA and Andersen Consulting Strategic Services.
Nitronex, a leader in the design and manufacture of gallium nitride (GaN)-based RF solutions for high performance applications in the defense, communications, and industrial and scientific markets, has named Edwin Chen as Director of Sales and Business Development for the Asia Pacific region. Chen has over 15 years experience in mobile and broadband communications, as well as infrastructure base station sales and business development. He also brings 10 years of experience in leading field sales, technical resources and channel partner teams in the Asia Pacific region.
Rep Appointments
RFMW Ltd. and NXP Semiconductors announced a distribution agreement for the Americas. NXP is a manufacturer of high performance RF and microwave semiconductors. RFMW Ltd. is a specialized distributor providing customers and suppliers with focused distribution of RF and microwave components as well as specialized component-engineering support. According to the agreement, RFMW will distribute NXP’s broad portfolio of RF and microwave products including RF wideband transistors, RF power transistors, RF small-signal FETs, RF diodes and RF amplifiers.
Mouser Electronics Inc. announced that it is now the sole catalog distributor for TriQuint Semiconductor, an RF products manufacturer and foundry services provider. The entire TriQuint RF product line is available from Mouser and includes amplifiers, control products, discrete transistors (FET), filters and duplexers, frequency converters, integrated products, passives, RFID modules and semiconductors, as well as standard RF products. TriQuint Semiconductor recently acquired two companies, WJ Communications and TriAccess Technologies, whose products continue to be offered by Mouser.
ESM Cable Corp., a manufacturer of high performance RF cable assemblies, announced the appointment of MC Microwave Inc. as the company’s northern California and northern Nevada representative. MC Microwave Inc. brings 26 years of sales expertise to a RF and microwave cable assembly supplier with decades of experience and an established reputation. Visit ESM Cable Corp.’s website at www.esmcablecorp.com or MC Microwave’s website at www.mcmicrowave.com.
The Micromanipulator Co. announced its partnership with Teltec Semiconductor Pacific Ltd. for sales and service representation in Taiwan, and the People’s Republic of China.
Allied Electronics has signed a distribution agreement with International Resistive Co. (IRC), a TT electronics company, to distribute its resistive solutions. Allied will carry IRC’s complete line of resistive product solutions, which includes a comprehensive range of current sense resistors, precision discretes and networks, passive components and power resistors.