WJ Communications, the commercial products descendent of the Watkins-Johnson Company, recently completed its acquisition of the infrastructure business and associated assets of EiC Corporation.
WJ Communications is a leading designer and supplier of high-performance RF semiconductors and multichip modules (MCM) for wireless, wire-line, and CATV infrastructure applications, with an expanding role in the RFID, RF power amp and defence security markets. EiC is a designer, developer, manufacturer and marketer of proprietary radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) - primarily for wireless communications products.
Local EiC agent, CST Electronics, was recommended to continue to distribute and develop new design wins for the former EiC range that includes gain block amplifiers, MMIC RF amps and intermediate power amplifiers. CST is also now able to offer the full range of products from WJ.
"We are delighted to have completed this acquisition and look forward to fully integrating EiC's strong technology and talented staff into our operations," said Michael Farese, CEO and president of WJ Communications. "The addition of EiC's products and technology provide a great complement to our RFIC capabilities which will enable us to better serve our current customers and expand into new opportunities in the wireless infrastructure market.
"With our unique blend of technical expertise, design, and manufacturing capabilities including our own GaAs FET and InGaP HBT foundries, WJ Communications delivers complete RF solutions, including high-quality devices, multichip modules, RFICs, RFID reader modules and chip-sets," he added.
WJ Communications is the commercial products descendent of Watkins-Johnson Company. Founded in 1957, Watkins-Johnson designed and manufactured microwave components, subsystems, and systems for the defence marketplace for four decades. The company's telecommunications products began in 1995 as an entrepreneurial activity, with the goal of combining WJ's technical expertise with cost-effective design and advanced packaging technologies, commensurate with the commercial marketplace. Sales grew rapidly due to the company's reputation for quality and performance. In 1997, a key decision was made to refocus the company on commercial telecommunications, and over the next three years other activities in defence electronics, intelligence, and semiconductor capital equipment were sold. A recapitalisation merger with Fox Paine was completed in early 2000.
Today, WJ Communications is a leading pure-play semiconductor company focusing on the high-quality, innovative devices and multichip modules (MCMs) for telecom systems worldwide, including COTS devices for the defence market and devices for RFID reader applications. Its high reliability amplifier, mixer, RFIC and MCM products are used to transmit and receive signals that enable current and next generation digital wireless and wireline services.
Expanded opportunities
WJ is now pursuing business opportunities in the RFID sector, offering both its radio expertise and RF semiconductor integration intellectual property to address the need for low-cost RFID technology. WJ's semi-conductor products are ideally suited for the challenging world of RFID readers. The combination of high dynamic range and rugged reliability make them highly suited for demanding RFID homodyne requirements.
Due to the recent tightening of security requirements through the US Homeland Security Bill, a greater demand for technology in telecommunications, especially for cost-efficient designs is being seen. WJ offers a full line of high-performance and high reliability RF semiconductors targeted towards communications intelligence (COMINT) and electronics intelligence (ELINT) applications. WJ's product offering covers RF and IF frequencies up to the C-Band.
Local support
Apart from the similar or complementary amplifier ranges, WJ also offers variable gain amps, mixers, frequency converters and special purpose discretes for LNAs VGAs and H-FET driver amps. CST can immediately offer support and supply to existing and new WJ customers, and is beginning to promote its range to its existing RF and microwave customer base.
For more information contact Gareth Kneale, CST Electronics, +27 (0)11 452 0706.
| Tel: | +27 11 608 0070 |
| Email: | natasha@cstelectronics.co.za |
| www: | www.cstelectronics.co.za |
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