Latest German quartz crystal technology for the defence sector
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 Preview | Actum Group director Kevin Klaff, KVG vice president sales Jürgen Müller and Actum Group director Greg Barron. | 1.45 MB | Download |
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Crystals are used in plating process monitoring as well as temperature, pressure and viscosity sensors. KVG offers standard products, in addition to customised solutions. This makes it a natural fit for Actum Electronics, which focuses on niche products for high-end sectors.
Jürgen Müller, vice-president sales, was recently in South Africa to visit key customers in the defence sector. “Africa is a growth area and has exactly the type of customers we are looking for,” he notes.
Highlighting the latest trends in this niche sector, Müller points out that military customers, in particular, are increasingly looking to companies like KVG to supply the appropriate testing too.
“We can carry out all kinds of special testing for our products. This means that not only do we supply the products themselves, but we also prove that they can perform under certain conditions.”
In this regard, KVG is certified according to ISO 9001 and ISO 14000. In 2011 the company received certification from the European Space Agency (ESA), which makes it one of only two manufacturers in Europe certified to supply space crystals.
Crystal products in the defence sector, for example, must be able to withstand vibration. “There is a definite trend in the defence sector to strive for improved performance under certain mechanical conditions in order to reduce the sensitivity to vibration,” Müller explains.
Another trend driven by the defence sector is a reduction in overall product size. “Many of our customers require smaller equipment packages. At the same time we are constantly moving towards higher levels of specification and improving the general performance under specific conditions.”
Müller adds that so-called low-phase noise applications are becoming increasingly important. “Low-phase noise is seen as a measure of the purity of the signal. The better this parameter, the higher that a particular frequency can be multiplied without any distortion.” This is critical in radar systems, for example.
“The defence sector is more specialised and its requirements are far stricter. The quantities are lower and there is much more customisation. This requires a lot of engineering expertise, and is something we pride ourselves on,” Müller elaborates.
A privately-owned company located in Neckarbischofsheim, about 100 km south of Frankfurt, KVG is a mid-sized company with about 60 employees that was established in 1946.
Focusing on the design and manufacture of quartz crystal products, the company’s state-of-the-art low noise and tight stability products are used in applications from test and measurement systems to telecoms networks and radar systems for the aerospace, defence and commercial sectors, and even avionics and medical testing.
Ends
Notes to the Editor
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About the Actum Group
The Actum Group has diversified to become a leading importer and distributor of components, instrumentation, automation and industrial products. The original business, Actum Electronics, has been operating since the 1970s and was originally an importer and distributor of electronic components. More recently, four businesses have been acquired to form the Actum Group. These are Altico, Connecta, Peter Jones Electronic Equipment and Dowson & Dobson Industrial.
Actum Group Contact
Kevin Klaff
Executive Director
Phone: (011) 608 3001
Fax: (011) 608 1918
Email: kevin [at] actum [dot] co [dot] za
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NGAGE Public Relations
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