Smaller companies operating in niche markets often do not get the recognition they deserve. One of these is RF Cable and Connector Supplies (RF Cable), which is a specialist company providing a one-stop shop for the day-to-day needs of the commercial two way radio communications industry.
RF Cable was established by Sam McCrorie in 1995 and he remains the sole owner of the business. McCrorie, who came to Africa some 44 years ago from the UK, was a specialist in radio communications and spent many years in a senior position in the Rhodesian police in this field before coming to South Africa after his retirement in 1982. Following that, he worked for one or two local radio communications companies before deciding he wanted to be his own boss and established his own company.
McCrorie's idea behind the creation of RF Cable was that he had recognised that whereas there were a lot of companies operating in the business of supplying peripherals (such as antennas) to the two-way radio business, no single company was able to provide a one-stop shop. RF Cable, which now employs seven people directly, now effectively fills this gap and services South Africa and many neighbouring countries.
The sales infrastructure is focused on the company's offices in Gallo Manor, and two sales representatives are used to cover the Gauteng, Northern Province, Northwest Province, Mpumalanga and the Free State. A standalone operation has been established in Durban to service KwaZulu-Natal, while the needs of the Cape are covered by approved agents operating out of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Dealings with the rest of Africa are usually conducted through third parties to simplify export and payment requirements. While RF Cable is not directly involved with the end users, the company's customers are the suppliers of radio communications systems.
RF Cable both imports and manufactures certain products locally, with the focus being on the highest quality rather than low cost, poor quality devices. The complete range of products supplied include antennas (mobile, portable, base station and GPS), batteries, cables (co-axial and power), coaxial connectors, installation materials, lightning arrestors, loudspeakers, microphones, power supply units as well as tools and instrumentation. This product range covers virtually every peripheral required by the two-way radio industry, both by the importers and the regional representatives.
RF Cable, together with its wholly owned subsidiary Powerlane Antenna Products, is one of the few local manufacturers of mobile, base station and portable radio antennas. The company also manufactures duplexers while more specialist items such as cavity filters, collinear antennas and isolators are sourced from several specialist overseas companies, these including Telewave in Mountain View, California, for whom RF Cable is an authorised representative. Once again in terms of imported products RF Cable maintains its reputation by sticking to the best products available in terms of performance, cost-effectiveness and longevity. In terms of its local manufacture, the company has invested significantly in both development and tooling.
Besides its many special antennas, the AvengA range of base station and repeater power supplies developed and manufactured by RF Cable has become an industry standard for the suppliers of many prestigious brands of commercial radio equipment, including Icom, Kenwood and Motorola. Thousands of these power supplies are in use throughout Africa and to a lesser extent, the Middle East and Europe.
As the commercial two-way radio industry continues to grow, so too will RF Cable & Connector Supplies, with its one-stop niche, high quality product range and its non-competition with customers being highly valued within South Africa and beyond.
For more information contact RF Cable & Connector Supplies, +27 (0)11 802 2301, sam@rfcable.co.za
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