In brief: Avanex, Sirenza Microdevices and AXT
Photonic chip manufacturer Avanex Corporation has posted revenue of $42.4 million for its fourth fiscal quarter of 2005. Sales increased $2.1 million sequentially, and 33% year-on-year.
The US-based company recorded a $43.2 million loss for the recent quarter, but that figure included a $21.4 million charge primarily associated with cuts at its French facility (see related story).
"We continue to make progress toward our goal of profitability with improvements in gross margin and reduced operating expenses, and we expect substantial further improvements in our overall financial performance as we begin to realize the benefits of our restructuring programs," commented Avanex CEO Jo Major.
Quarterly spending is predicted to fall by $10 million once manufacturing and development have been shifted to Asian centers in Thailand and China. The restructuring is progressing on time, according to Avanex, and should be substantially completed by January 1, 2006.
Sirenza improves amplifier linearityRF chip maker Sirenza Microdevices has been awarded US patent # 6,933,787, which discloses a method for improving Darlington-based RF amplifier linearity.
Darlington amplifiers are used for various applications including pre-drivers in base-stations and fiber optic receivers.
"The patented design is being applied to some of our next generation amplifier products which address higher frequency and linearity requirements," revealed Kevin Kobayashi, Sirenza's executive engineering fellow.
AXT appoints a new head of sales
US-based substrate manufacturer AXT has appointed John Cerilli as vice president of global sales and marketing.
Cerilli has over 29 years of semiconductor experience, and most recently held the position of Aixtron's director of sales and marketing.
