Ideal Industries Inc. (www.idealindustries.com) recently has taken several steps to position itself in the cabling-certification market space, and individuals within the company say they anticipate taking additional steps in the near future.
"The testing market is undergoing significant change," said Robert N. Lane, Ideal's chief executive officer. "With the recent consolidation trend among vendors and distributors, installers are looking for comprehensive products from a trusted source. I'm confident that Ideal's DataComm division is well-positioned to take advantage of the changing marketplace. We're building a business, and developing products, that will rise above the rest and offer superior products and services."
In keeping with that goal, Ideal recently hired Doug Waggoner as general manager of the company's DataComm Division. Previously employed in the aviation and furniture industries, Waggoner most recently served as president of Ameron Global, and previously was president of Overland Aviation.
Ideal also hired Mike Sciulli as sales manager for the DataComm Division. Sciulli oversees sales and distribution in the United States.
The company's acquisition of the Wavetek LAN-testing properties, formerly owned by Acterna, probably is the most easily identifiable move toward a prominent position in the cabling-certification market. The acquisition "fits into our strategy," says Waggoner. "We are gradually merging the sales channels of the Wavetek LAN products and the long-standing Ideal products," he continues. "And we have maintained the level of support that Wavetek customers have always experienced."
Waggoner was non-committal when asked if more acquisitions are pending. "You could hear something very soon, or maybe not for a year." He did say, however, that the company will soon introduce some new products, and suggested that Ideal will aim for a high profile at the upcoming BICSI Winter Conference, to be held in late January.
