As a fully-owned subsidiary of the local defence industry giant Denel, the company we take a look at in this article was established as a commercial business in 1990, located at Denel Kentron’s Centurion premises.
Besides its electronics manufacturing capability this company, Irenco, has a large plastic injection moulding facility that produces such components as CD disk holders, HTH containers, and parts for pool cleaning equipment.
In terms of electronics, Irenco manufactures its own range of security related products whilst operating as a full contract manufacturer for the industry in general. Many companies in South Africa have used Irenco as a total source for their in-house designed products and a comprehensive service is provided which includes manufacturing, testing, packaging and delivery. Where the electronic devices require plastic-moulded housings this service, of course, can also be provided.
Irenco offers both a pure SMD capability as well as the ability to manufacture mixed technology products. The company is ISO 9000:2000 compliant and has a well-trained staff complement. Customers can be assisted right from the start with the in-house capability to industrialise for both manufacturing and testing. Assembly and test procedures will also be prepared while components and sub-assemblies can be procured for the client. Having been brought into existence through a history as a supplier of defence electronics, Irenco has the ability to cope with products that have to operate in demanding environmental conditions. Products produced on a contract basis include radios and intelligent metering systems, and the company is a VDA-6 rated supplier to BMW.
In terms of its own product line the best known device is its Peritec dual-beam perimeter intrusion detection system that is widely used in domestic, farming and other markets to provide early warning of trespassers. The system uses pulsed infrared beams that provide reliable operation even in the presence of rain, fog and dust storms. In addition to this, Irenco manufactures a full range of PIR sensors for both internal and external use. Making use of double dual element detectors, most of these devices can distinguish between real intruders and domestic animals or rats. A breaking glass detector is also manufactured that reduces false alarms through requiring both a shock and a strong breaking-glass signal.
Irenco's flagship product is its Observer on-board computer that forms the heart of its Observer Fleet Management System. This is used, for example, by Eskom. The Observer collects data associated with the vehicle's activities and can monitor driver behaviour. The reports generated by the system are customised to suit individual requirements but benefits include reduced fleet maintenance costs (through better driver habits), reduced fuel costs, information on unauthorised use of vehicles and valuable management information. On-board recording is possible using either a smartcard device or a smart key that offers 16 KB of memory. The data recorded is downloaded to a PC following the driver's return to the depot. Other systems offered by Irenco include passive or active vehicle tracking systems, the latter operating using either a GSM or satellite communication link.
Not being a listed company little is known about the profitability of Irenco but it would appear to be on a sound footing with its mix of contract manufacturing, security and transport management products and its extensive plastics capability.
This series looks at some of the leading companies in the electronics industry in South Africa today. To simplify presentation and avoid perceptions that they are being 'rated' in any way, this coverage is being presented in alphabetical order. Do not miss the next issue of Dataweek where we look at one of our foremost electronics developers with origins from the CSIR's defence research division and that now offers a range of extremely sophisticated products for defence.
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