Smiths Acquires US Millimetre Wave and Antenna Company

Smiths Group announced today that it is expanding its Interconnect business with the acquisition of Millitech, Inc., a Massachusetts-based business which specialises in the design and manufacturing of millimetre wave components, assemblies and fully integrated antenna positioning systems for satellite communications, radar, passive imaging, space and remote sensing applications. Smiths acquired the business for $33.5 million, in cash.

Millitech extends Smiths capabilities at the upper end of the microwave frequency spectrum and into millimetre wave frequencies. These higher frequencies provide greater communications bandwidth, higher resolution imagery and higher security. Applications for millimetre wave technology and antenna systems are growing with the demand for greater connectivity, particularly with the expansion of network centric operations. Millitech is well positioned to gain a significant share of this growth.

Millitechs customers complement those of existing Interconnect businesses, particularly in radar and satellite communications as well as emerging applications in sensors, where it has successful development projects in industrial plant and jet engine monitoring.

Commenting on the acquisition, Keith Butler Wheelhouse, chief executive of Smiths Group said: Millitech provides further expansion of the capabilities of our Interconnect business, an area that has seen significant development and growth in the last three years. It reflects our commitment to extending Smiths technology in profitable, high growth markets.

John Langston, Group managing director of Smiths Specialty Engineering said: Our acquisition of Millitech complements the capabilities of both the TRAK and TECOM businesses acquired last year and the Component Division of Farran Technology purchased early this year.

ENDS