[CCF] Alpha Power

[esa.p.korhonen@nokia.com]

Alphalle nayttaa olevan tulossa uusi omistaja. Tassa ote ARRL:n web-sivulta.

73 ja hyvaa uutta kontestivuotta !
Esa w5/oh7wv
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Colorado Company to Acquire Alpha/Power

NEWINGTON, CT, Dec 28, 2000--CrossLink Inc, a Boulder, Colorado, a
delivery tracking and telemetry company, is expected to acquire the
assets of Amateur Radio amplifier manufacturer Alpha/Power Inc. An
announcement from Alpha/Power Chairman and CEO Dick Ehrhorn,
W0ID, said the two companies hope to complete the buyout agreement
by year's end. 

"I'm extremely pleased to be entrusting Alpha to the capable hands of
two enthusiastic, licensed amateurs, Gary Zarlengo and Gordon
Hardman," Ehrhorn said in an Alpha/Power news release. "CrossLink's
experience in RF/wireless and digital communications and control
technology is an excellent fit for Alpha." 

In September Alpha/Power, based in Longmont, Colorado, announced
plans to cease engineering and manufacturing operations once its
current run of Alpha 87A and 99 amplifiers was completed. At the time,
Ehrhorn said "a combination of health issues and family obligations"
had made it impossible for Alpha/Power president and technical director
John Brosnahan, W0UN, to continue at his present pace. Ehrhorn left
open the possibility of selling Alpha/Power, provided the right buyer
came along. 

Under the anticipated agreement, CrossLink will acquire all assets of,
and rights to, the Alpha Amateur Radio product line. It's anticipated
that production at the CrossLink facility will resume early in 2001. 

In a joint statement CrossLink President/CEO Gary Zarlengo,
WA0KLP, and Chief Technical Officer Gordon Hardman, KE3D, said
they were "very pleased to have the opportunity to continue bringing the
world-renowned Alpha name and product line to the amateur radio
community." CrossLink will continue to provide full factory warranty
and post-warranty service for existing Alpha owners, Zarlengo and Hardman
said. 

Ehrhorn, formerly W4ETO, founded Ehrhorn Technological Operations in 1970
and designed all the
early Alpha linears. He sold ETO several years ago. In 1996, Ehrhorn and
Dave Wilson,
AA0RS/G3SZA, bought back the Alpha amplifier business from ETO, which had
merged with Applied
Science and Technology in 1995. Alpha/Power purchased the RFConcepts line of
VHF-UHF power
amplifiers from Kantronics in late 1998. 

With CrossLink just 25 miles from the present Alpha/Power facility,
relocation was expected to be
completed quickly, Ehrhorn said. A nucleus of Alpha/Power personnel,
including Business Vice
President Scott Ehrhorn and Customer Service Manager Glenn Pladsen, AE0Q,
will join CrossLink.
Scott Ehrhorn will become Alpha Product Line Manager, while Pladsen will
continue to handle Alpha
customer service. According to Hardman, additional space and facilities
available at CrossLink will
allow ongoing Alpha production at previous rates or greater. 

Founded in 1995, CrossLink posted annual revenues of $2.5 million last year.
The company employs 70
people, including several hams. Originally an aerospace technology firm,
CrossLink now concentrates
on research and development, testing and manufacture of RF identification
products and systems to
track the position and temperature of refrigerator trailers, containers and
rail cars using GPS,
low-Earth orbiting satellites and the Internet. 

CrossLink just moved into a new 33,000 square-foot facility last May.
Houston-based Tech-Sym owns a
majority interest in CrossLink. Tech-Sym, in turn, was acquired by New York
investment firm Veritas
Capital earlier this year, through its portfolio company Integrated Defense
Technologies. Tech-Sym also
owns Continental Electronics Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of
transmitters, as well as
Metric Systems Corporation, TRAK Communications Inc, and Enterprise
Electronics Corporation. 

Additional details, including the new Alpha address, telephone, fax and
e-mail information, will be
posted on the Alpha Web site as they become available.

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