Steatite Newsletter, Spring 2023
New partnerships, new capabilities, new challenges: see what we’ve been up to in our Spring newsletter. Read it here.
sales@steatite.co.uk +44 (0) 1527 512 400
All the latest news from Steatite
New partnerships, new capabilities, new challenges: see what we’ve been up to in our Spring newsletter. Read it here.
Our Communications team had a busy start to this year, showcasing Persistent Systems’ and Steatite’s military certified and rugged mobile communication equipment.
The team headed to London for Future Soldier Technology on 6-8 March, and our partners DataHertz attended SOFINS on 28-30 March in Bordeaux. May will see them exhibiting at AOC Europe in Bonn and supporting our partner MENPRO at FEINDEF in Madrid. Look out for them across Europe!
Our solutions for building scalable and reliable networks in the most challenging environments include the best-in-class MPU5 radio, versatile Embedded Module and our rugged mobile operations hub, the CRiB. Read more about the products and support we offer for rugged communications.
We’ve recently installed an Asterion wire bonder in our Power facility in Crewkerne to add wire bonding to our inhouse capabilities. Compared to traditional methods of interconnecting, wire bonding enables manufacturers to offer custom battery packs with high discharge capabilities and reduced assembly time (in a shorter lead time) which meet even higher levels of reliability and safety. Wire bonding helps to prolong cell life and improve battery performance as a result of lower resistance.
We will now be able to deliver wire bonded battery packs to customers covering a range of applications including medical, industrial, oceanographic, transport and energy.
We know that every cell that leaves our factory having been wire bonded is safe, reliable and robust. This is in addition, of course, to our traditionally bonded battery packs which have been tried and tested over decades. See more about wire bonding.
How did we meet the challenge of providing power for MWD, LWD and Wireline logging equipment? These tools need to operate in the harshest of environments for long periods of time through huge temperature variations and immense vibration.
Read our case study to see how we’re powering GOWell’s range of Pegasus star tools.
Our latest newsletter is out with details of what we’ve been up to including contract wins, community and charity events, new team members and more. Read it here.
We’re proud to confirm our commitment to honour and support the Armed Forces by signing the Armed Forces Covenant.
This means that we will endeavour in our business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Armed Forces Covenant including supporting the employment of veterans, recognising military skills and qualifications in our recruitment and selection process, and working with the Career Transition Partnership (CTP) to support the employment of Service leavers.
Read more to see what it means to us and our partners.
Steatite has been awarded a multi-million dollar contract by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) to supply customers with MANET radio systems through the NATO Logistics Stock Exchange (NLSE). The NLSE is a secure web-based application linking Armed Forces and Suppliers via a single electronic marketplace. The NSPA’s e-business application provides online & paperless procurement to satisfy consolidated requirements from participating NATO nations and partners
See our full range of communications technology for challenging environments.
Solid State is pleased to announce that it has completed the acquisition of Custom Power LLC., the battery systems and energy solutions provider based near Los Angeles in the United States, details of which were announced on 12 July 2022.
Gary Marsh, Chief Executive of Solid State, said:
“We are delighted to have completed the transformational acquisition of Custom Power, which represents a step-change in our power business.
“The newfound scale and increasingly international offering open up opportunities in specialist and growth markets driven by decarbonisation and the drive for cordless power.
“We look forward to integrating Custom Power and welcoming our new colleagues to the Solid State Group.”
Solid State Plc, our parent company, has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire Custom Power LLC for a maximum consideration of $45.0m.
Custom Power is a battery systems manufacturer and energy solutions provider based near Los Angeles in the United States of America.
Commenting on the acquisition, Solid State Plc CEO Gary Marsh said: “After lengthy negotiations, we are delighted to be able to announce this very exciting news. This will be Solid State’s largest acquisition to date and brings huge benefits to the group as well as to Custom Power.”
Solid State’s strategy for expansion, through both organic growth and highly targeted acquisitions, is providing increased scale to the group’s capabilities in addition to providing access to lucrative markets that have historically had high barriers to entry.
The acquisition of Custom Power further builds upon this by bringing many benefits that are highly complementary to the group and in-line with the group’s strategic aims to internationalise the business, further develop its “our brand” product portfolio, broaden its complimentary product portfolio, and invest in developing its talent. In particular, the move will bring new and increased capabilities to the group’s power business, specifically within the defence, medical and industrial markets.
Mel Weis, CEO of Custom Power, commented: “This is an exciting move that will combine the battery power capabilities of Custom Power with those of Solid State Plc. allowing our customers access to highly customised power solutions on an international level. Both businesses are leaders in this field and together they will benefit from increased reach, resource and expertise. We are very much looking forward to joining the Solid State family and the opportunities that the increased scale will bring.”
Solid State plc (AIM: SOLI), the specialist value added component supplier and design-in manufacturer of computing, power, and communications products, is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a contract to help deliver a new One Person Operation CCTV system for Transport for London, as part of the Piccadilly Line Upgrade on the London Underground Network.
The new digital system will be utilised on the Piccadilly line, which will benefit from 94 new state-of-the-art Tube trains from 2025. It will allow real time IP video images of the platform edge (the “mind the gap” area) to be transmitted to, and displayed, on in-cab screens for driver awareness.
Steatite will be providing custom-designed computers for use on the trains and within the wider station-based system. Carrier boards with specialist display outputs are being designed by Steatite’s Imaging business, Active Silicon, to be utilised at the heart of the onboard system. The finished systems will be tested to various rail-standards using Steatite’s in-house EMC testing chamber and environmental test facility, allowing de-risking of the project prior to carrying out official certification at an independent test house.
Matthew Richards, Managing Director of the Systems division, said: “We are very excited to be involved in this project. By drawing on Steatite and Active Silicon’s technical prowess, this is a superb example of our ability to utilise multiple skill sets within the business to overcome complex challenges, and to design, test and implement a world-class solution.”