General
RF Industries, Ltd., together with its wholly-owned subsidiary (collectively, hereinafter the “Company”), primarily engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of interconnect products and systems, including coaxial and specialty cables, fiber optic cables and connectors, and electrical and electronic specialty cables. The Company’s wireless operations also design, manufacture and sell radio-frequency (RF) wireless modems and provide mobile management solutions for wireless networks. For internal operational purposes, and for marketing purposes, the Company currently classifies its operations into the following seven divisions. The five interconnect product divisions consist of the following: (i) The Connector and Cable Assembly Division designs, manufactures and distributes coaxial connectors and cable assemblies that are integrated with coaxial connectors; (ii) the Aviel Electronics Division designs, manufactures and distributes specialty and custom RF connectors primarily for aerospace and military customers, (iii) the Oddcables.com Division primarily sells coaxial, fiberoptic, and other connectors and cable assemblies on a retail basis to local multi-media and communications customers; (iv) the Bioconnect Division manufactures and distributes cabling and interconnect products to the medical monitoring market; and (v) the Cables Unlimited Division manufactures custom and standard cable assemblies, adapters, and electromechanical wiring harnesses for communication, computer, LAN, automotive and medical equipment. The Cables Unlimited Division is a Corning Cables Systems CAH Connections SM Gold Program member, authorized to manufacture fiber optic cable assemblies that are backed by Corning Cables Systems’ extended warranty. The two wireless products and systems divisions consist of the following: (i) The Neulink Division is engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of RF data links and wireless modems for receiving and transmitting control signals for remote operation and monitoring of equipment, personnel and monitoring services; and (ii) the RadioMobile Division is an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) provider of end-to-end mobile management solutions implemented over wireless networks that supplement the operations of the Company’s Neulink division.
The Company’s principal executive office is located at 7610 Miramar Road, Building #6000, San Diego, California. The Company was incorporated in the State of Nevada on November 1, 1979, completed its initial public offering in March 1984 under the name Celltronics, Inc., and changed its name to RF Industries, Ltd. in November 1990. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to the “Company” in this report include RF Industries, Ltd., Cables Unlimited, Inc., a New York company and a wholly-owned subsidiary, and the divisions of RF Industries, Ltd.
On March 10, 2011, RF Industries, Ltd. effected a two-for-one stock split. All common stock and per share information (other than par value) contained in this Annual Report has been adjusted to reflect the foregoing stock split.
The Company’s principal internet website is located at http://www.rfindustries.com. The Company’s annual reports, quarterly reports, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to such reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and other information related to the Company, are available, free of charge, on that website as soon as we electronically file those documents with, or otherwise furnish them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company’s Internet website and the information contained therein, or connected thereto, are not and are not intended to be incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
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Operating Divisions
Connector and Cable Division The Connector and Cable Division is engaged in the design, manufacture and distribution of coaxial connector solutions for companies that design, build, operate, maintain and use wireless voice, data, messaging, and location tracking systems. Coaxial connector products consist primarily of connectors which, when attached to a coaxial cable, facilitate the transmission of analog and digital signals in various frequencies. Although most of the connectors are designed to fit standard products, the Company also sells custom connectors specifically designed and manufactured to suit its customers’ requirements such as the Wi-Fi and broadband wireless markets. The Company’s Connector and Cable Division typically carries over 1,200 connectors, adapters, tools, and assembly, test and measurements kits. The Company’s RF connectors are used in thousands of different devices, products and types of equipment. While the models and types of devices, products and equipment may change from year to year, the demand for the types of connectors used in such products and offered by the Company does not fluctuate with the changes in the end product incorporating the connectors. In addition, since the Company’s standard connectors can be used in a number of different products and devices, the discontinuation of one product does not make the Company’s connectors obsolete. Accordingly, most connectors carried by the Company can be marketed for a number of years and are only gradually phased out. Furthermore, because the Company’s connector products are not dependent on any line of products or any market segment, the Company’s overall sales of connectors do not fluctuate materially when there are changes to any product line or market segment. Sales of the Company’s connector products are, however, dependent upon the overall economy, infrastructure build out by large telecommunications firms and on the Company’s ability to market its products.
The Company designs its connectors at its headquarters in San Diego, California. However, most of the RF connectors are manufactured by third party foreign manufacturers located in Asia.
The Company has been designing, producing and selling coaxial connectors since 1987 and the Connector and Cable Division therefore represents the Company’s oldest and most established division. The Connector and Cable Division has historically generated, and continues to generate the majority of the Company’s net sales and net income.
Cable assembly products consist of various types of coaxial cables that are attached to connectors (usually the Company’s connectors) for use in a variety of communications applications. Cable assemblies manufactured for the Cable and Connector Division are manufactured at the Company’s California facilities using state of the art automation equipment and are sold through distributors or directly to major OEM accounts. Cable assemblies consist of both standard cable assemblies and assemblies that are custom manufactured for the Company’s clients. The Company offers a line of cable assemblies with over 100,000 cable product combinations. The Company launched its cable assembly operations in 2000, and cable assembly products constituted the second largest source of revenues for the Company during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011.
Aviel Electronics Division The Aviel Electronics Division is primarily engaged in the design, manufacture and sale of custom, specialty or precision connectors and cable systems for specialized purposes, such as commercial aerospace and military systems. Aviel has a 50 year history of serving the microwave transmission industries, and is an approved vendor to leading aerospace, electronics, OEM’s and government agencies in the United States and abroad. Aviel complements the Company’s Connector and Cable Division’s capabilities by providing additional custom design and manufacturing capabilities, thereby expanding the Company’s products in the military and commercial aerospace markets, and expanding the Company’s overall client base. Aviel’s operations, including its manufacturing facilities, are based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Oddcables.com Division Oddcables.com (formerly known as Worswick) sells coaxial connector solutions and manufactures RF cable assemblies for both individual customers and companies that design, build, operate, and maintain personal and private multi-media, wireless voice, data and messaging systems. Oddcables.com primarily sells its products on a retail basis at its retail outlet in San Diego, California. Oddcables.com, however, also sells its products on-line under the e-commerce brand Oddcables.com. This division recently also commenced designing, manufacturing and selling precision-grade, high frequency connectors and adapters for OEM, military and metrology lab applications as well as 10GHz high frequency fiber optic patch cable assemblies. Oddcables.com was a privately held, 20-year old California company based in San Diego before its acquisition by the Company in September 2005.
Cables Unlimited Division On June 15, 2011, RF Industries, Ltd. acquired all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Cables Unlimited, Inc., a New York corporation. The Cables Unlimited division is an established custom cable manufacturer based in Yaphank, New York. Cables Unlimited, Inc. is a Corning Cable Systems CAH Connections SM Gold Program member, authorized to manufacture fiber optic products that are backed by Corning Cable Systems' extended warranty. The products manufactured by Cables Unlimited, Inc. include custom fiber optic and standard cable assemblies, adapters and electromechanical wiring harnesses for communications, computer, LAN, automotive and medical equipment.
Bioconnect Division The Bioconnect Division is engaged in product development, design, manufacture and sale of high-end or specialty cables and interconnects for medical monitoring applications, such as disposable ECG cables, EEG leads, infant apnea monitors in hospitals, patient leads, snap leads and connecting wires. Bioconnect’s products typically do not directly compete against the mass-produced, lower priced standard medical cables used by medical facilities. The Company acquired the Bioconnect operations in 2000.
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RF Neulink Division The RF Neulink Division has, since 1984, designed and manufactured, through outside contractors, wireless data products commonly known as RF data links and wireless modems. These radio modems and receivers provide high-speed wireless connections over longer distances where wire connections may not be desirable or feasible. In addition to selling its own radio modem, RF Neulink also distributes antennas, transceivers and related products of other manufacturers. RF Neulink’s small point-to-point systems and large systems of wireless data networks are used by banks, gas and oil, casinos, military units, government agencies, and manufacturing plants. The RF Neulink Division also offers complete turn-key packages for numerous remote data transmission applications.
RadioMobile Division The RadioMobile Division is an OEM provider of end-to-end mobile management solutions implemented over wireless networks. Although the RadioMobile Division operates as a separate division, its operations supplement the operations of the Company’s Neulink division. In November 2011, RadioMobile Division was awarded a $2.6 million contract from the Los Angeles County Fire Department for the implementation of a wireless system upgrade to the County Fire Department's existing remote communications equipment. The Company acquired substantially all of the assets and assumed certain liabilities of RadioMobile Inc., a privately held company in San Diego, California on September 1, 2007.
For financial reporting purposes, the Company aggregates its operations into four segments. (1) Connector and Cable Assembly, Aviel Electronics, and Oddcables.com divisions are aggregated into one reporting segment (the RF Connector and Cables Assembly segment) because they have similar economic characteristics, while (2) RF Neulink and RadioMobile are aggregated in the RF Wireless segment. (3) Bioconnect makes up the Company’s Medical Cabling and Interconnector segment. (4) The Cables Unlimited division constitutes the Company’s newest fiber optic and power/electronic cabling segment, which we refer to as the Cables Unlimited segment.
Product Description
The Company produces a broad range of interconnect products and assemblies. The products that are offered and sold by the Company’s various divisions consist of the following:
Connector and Cable Products
The Company’s Connector and Cable Division designs, manufactures and markets a broad range of coaxial connectors and coaxial cable assemblies for the numerous products with applications in commercial, industrial, automotive, transportation, scientific, aerospace and military markets. Various types of connectors are offered by the RF Connector Division including 2.4mm and 3.5mm, 7-16 DIN, BNC, MCX, MHV, Mini-UHF, MMCX, N, SMA, SMB, TNC, QMA and UHF. These connectors are offered in several configurations and cable attachment methods for customer applications. There are numerous applications for these connectors, some of which include digital applications, 2.5G, 3G, 4G, Wi-MAX, LTE and other broadband wireless infrastructure, GPS (Global Positioning Systems), mobile radio products, aircraft, video surveillance systems, cable assemblies and test equipment. Users of the Company’s connectors include telecommunications companies, circuit board manufacturers, OEM, consumer electronics manufacturers, audio and video product manufacturers and installers, and satellite companies. The Connector Division markets over 1,200 types of connectors, adapters, tools, assembly, test and measurement kits, which range in price from under $1 to over $1,000 per unit. The kits satisfy a variety of applications including, but not limited to, lab operations, site requirements, and adapter needs.
The Connector Division designs and sells a variety of connector tools and hand tools that are assembled into kits used by lab and field technicians, R&D technicians and engineers. The Company also designs and offers some of its own tools, which differ from those offered elsewhere in the market. These tools are manufactured for the Company by outside contractors. Tool products are carried as an accommodation to the Company’s customers and have not materially contributed to the Company’s revenues.
The Cable Assembly component of the Connector and Cable Division markets and manufactures cable assemblies in a variety of sizes and combinations of RF coaxial connectors and coax cabling. Cabling is purchased from a variety of major unaffiliated suppliers and is assembled predominately with the Company’s connectors or other brands of connectors as complete cable assemblies. Coaxial cable assemblies have numerous applications including wireless and wireless local area networks, wide area networks, Internet systems, PCS/cellular systems including 2.5G, 3G, 4G, Wi-MAX, LTE wireless infrastructure, TV/dish network systems, test equipment, military/aerospace (mil-standard and COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf)) and entertainment systems. Cable assemblies are manufactured to customer requirements.