Antec Corp. (Rolling Meadows, IL) and Northern Telecom (Montreal, Quebec) announced the signing of a letter of intent for three interrelated business relationships. These relationships are subject to negotiation and execution of definitive agreements and regulatory approvals. The plans involve the formation of a joint venture company to provide integration services for hybrid fiber/coaxial-cable networks to include voice, data and interactive video applications; a joint venture company that will focus on the development of Northern Telecom`s integrated digital access technology and Antec`s digital video technology; and the third proposal involves a marketing and sales arrangement for the Cornerstone voice and data product line.
Installers in Ohio now have another distributor for voice and data products. Anicom Inc. (Rosemont, IL), which distributes communications wire, cable, fiber-optics and computer network and connectivity products, has announced its agreement to acquire Pinnacle Wire and Cable (Columbus, OH). Pinnacle currently distributes voice and data products from two locations in Ohio.
Harris Corp. Dracon Division (Camarillo, CA) has acquired Micro Computer Systems Inc. (Greensboro, NC), a manufacturer of telephone line-testing equipment. In addition to interactive telephone line-test systems, the Dracon Division offers portable test equipment, tools and integrated paging systems.
Tyton Corp., a subsidiary of Bowthorpe plc, announced plans to add 33,000 feet to its main manufacturing facility in Milwaukee. The company, which also has two manufacturing plants in Naples, FL; distribution centers in Hinsdale, IL, and Naples, FL; and a sales and distribution office in Toronto, manufactures cable management products such as raceways, cable ties, markers and accessories.
Alcatel (Claremont, NC) is the latest in a series of fiber and cable makers to raise prices. "We are just going along with the industry trend," says John Steen, vice president and general manager of fiber optics. "The increases--the first for Alcatel--will be 6% to 10%." Along with the price increase, the company announced its plans to expand by 35% its optical fiber and fiber-optic cable production capacity by the beginning of 1997.
AFC Cable Systems Inc. of New Bedford, MA, a producer of armored and metal-clad cables for power applications, has entered the fiber-optic cabling market. One of its products, the MC/OF, is a metal-clad hybrid cable that includes power conductors and fiber-optic members.
AMP Inc. (Harrisburg, PA) recently opened a 200,000-square-foot facility dedicated to cable development and manufacturing. Located near Greensboro, NC, the plant solidifies AMP`s position as a leading supplier of electronic cable.
Delco Wire and Cable Ltd. of Canada has opened a U.S. office in Florida at 499 Douglas Road E., Oldsmar, FL 34677; tel: (813) 855-0808 or (800) 714-9473.
Newton Instrument Co. Inc. (Butner, NC) has expanded its product line to include customer premises equipment and fiber-optic cable management systems, which offer a fully enclosed channel design that facilitates the protection, routing and segregation of fiber-optic cables from the point of entry to fiber termination.
Noyes Fiber Systems (Laconia, NH) has opened a 16,000-square-foot building in Belmont, NH. Specifically designed to manufacture fiber-optic test equipment to meet the demand for the company`s testing products, the plant provides space for expansion and increased efficiency.
Rockwell International Corp. (Seal Beach, CA) and K-Tec Holdings Inc., an affiliate of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (New York, NY), have sold Reliance Comm/Tec, a subsidiary of Reliance Electric Co., to KKR`s K-Tec affiliate and the management of Comm/Tec for $475 million.
Spectrix Corp., a designer and manufacturer of wireless local area networks for mobile users, is relocating to 106 Wilmot Road, Suite 250, Deerfield, IL 60015; tel: (800) 710-1805.
The Wiremold Co. (West Hartford, CT) has acquired Interlink Technologies (Broomall, PA). Also, a subsidiary of The Wiremold Co., Walker Systems (Parkersburg, WV), has acquired Raceway Components Inc. (Paterson, NJ), which manufactures fire-rated poke-through devices and other slab penetration wiring distribution systems. This acquisition enhances Wiremold`s wire management product offerings.