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Videosys Broadcast has increased its office and manufacturing capacity in response to increased demand from robotics, security, and defense industries.
The company is recruiting more design and production staff and has created a separate brand identity for its antenna business, VB Antennas.
According to Videosys, the growth of the company’s antenna business has been fuelled by its expansion into new areas, including security and defense, where there is demand for robust, durable and flexible antennas that can be used in challenging terrain as well as harsh RF environments.
Colin Tomlin, CEO of Videosys Broadcast, stated that new customers in the defense and security sectors have been quick to recognise Videosys Broadcast not only has extensive expertise and knowledge of antennas, but is also an expert in video, radio and camera systems, placing Videosys in the unique position of being able to advise and build bespoke systems across a wide range of use cases.
Tomlin said; “Our antenna cover the L, S and C bands used in ground-based security and surveillance applications, as well as the NATO D-H frequency bands that enable battlefield and MANET connectivity, both on-the-move and at-the-halt.
“We also provide COTS and custom-designed antennas for use with unmanned vehicles such as drones, boats and ground transportation with a wide range of connector options. While our genesis and pedigree lie in the design and supply of broadcast quality antennas for outside broadcast and live sports events – a market that still accounts for the majority of our business – the technology used in broadcast antenna can equally be applied to these new markets. It’s just that the use case is different.”
“A good example of this is our new gooseneck omni antenna, which is ideal for body worn applications where having a fully bendable neck allows users to position the antenna in a particular direction to enhance battlefield communications,” he says. “We have expanded this principle across all our omni and sector antennas.”
Tomlin says; “Many of these new markets require suppliers to deliver up to 1,000 units at a time, so we must be nimble and ready to meet that demand without impacting on the supply of antenna products to our existing customers.
“By increasing our manufacturing capacity, we are able to keep lead times down to four to six weeks for all customers, which is significantly better than some of our competitors with lead times as long as 14 weeks. What’s more, all of our products are made in the UK. This is especially important in some sectors where provenance and reliability are key and where suppliers – and their suppliers – are carefully vetted before contracts are awarded.“
This comes two and a half years after the acquisition of Masthead Antennas. Tomlin added; “Since acquiring Masthead, we have streamlined our design and manufacturing processes, ensuring continuity of product. Parts are standardised and built with components that come from commercial suppliers.
“This is something we have always done, but is also a requirement for our ISO 9001 accreditation application, a globally recognised standard that helps companies audit their performance and demonstrate a commitment to quality.”
