Article - Power behind a technology throne

Plextek's electronics design services include:FPGA design, ESCAN Radar, MMIC design, GPRS design, Communications product design, Microwave design Defence electronics, Electronic product design, RF design, DSP design, Telemetry system, System Integration,Communications system design, Due diligence

Article

Power behind a technology throne

Article published in Business Weekly 17/10/2002

Just because Plextek is based 350 yards into Essex (Great Chesterford) it should not be disregarded as part of the Cambridge Phenomenon. They have shown steady growth over thirteen years from the original three to the current one hundred personnel and were solely responsible for starting Radiant Networks, the mesh network technology company, which employs more than a further hundred.

Plextek have behind them a solid track record of electronics innovation with projects mostly involving communications. These include: -

TRACKER Network, the Stolen Vehicle Recovery Service for which they designed in-car products (over 400,000 fitted), supplied base station equipment and considerably enhanced the system

Automatic Remote Meter reading system for BCN Ltd with a 50,000 house trial currently underway with British Gas

Car-to-pit telemetry radio links for formula-1 racing, currently used by fitted four race teams (in conjunction with Pi Technology)

Flight radar sub-systems on board RAF Hawk and Tornado jets

Electronics for a male fertility testing device

Electronics for an dental x-ray imaging system

Development of a full feature 2.5G smart phone including tri-band GPRS, bluetooth and camera system

Precision electronics for optical communications

Differential voltage controlled DROs in LTCC technology for 40Gbps optoelectonic modules

Design for manufacture and manufacturing functional test equipment

Reference designs for GSM, GPRS, Bluetooth and DECT

Strategic Consulting assignments for FT100 companies

In-house developments currently include a ground breaking PC-based, DSP processing platform with 10 million+ gates which is user configurable and intended for rapid prototyping tasks.

Plextek have recruited through the years to cover all of the skills required for whole products or systems and are probably the largest truly independent communications-oriented design house in the UK.

Plextek considers that commentators would do well not to judge technology business plays by size of VC investment, turnover or glamour of ideas alone. They should not lose sight of the solidness of the engineering capability and continuity of all financial aspects of a business.