Hayes, UK. 13 May 2019. This year, TMD Technologies Limited (TMD), world class designer and manufacturer of products for radar, EW, communications, scientific and EMC testing applications – celebrates an unbeatable 75 years in the microwave and RF industry.
Innovation at its core.
TMD’s innovative heritage can be traced right back to the 1940s where, under the then leadership of EMI, the company produced the world’s first high power klystron the CV150. Subsequent major developments covered travelling wave tubes (TWTs) and magnetrons, leading to a multi-cavity klystron for the UK’s first early warning radar, and the world’s first and only electrostatically focussed klystron produced in volume.
Later, then under the management of Thorn Microwave Devices (the first ‘TMD’), the company continued its lead at the cutting edge of technology with a raft of new introductions including spin and shutter-tuned magnetrons, broadband klystrons, ring loop and ring bar travelling wave tubes, and ELINT receivers. Also, highlighting the company’s increasing world status, the UK MoD and US DoD funded a team at TMD doing research into thermionic emission – with substantial benefits for the company’s subsequent tube products.
Dave Brown, Group CEO said: “Primarily, TMD continues to be a forward-looking innovative company striving to be the best partner for the most demanding RF and HV power solutions. No less important, we have reinforced our commitment to the local community and the environment with initiatives including a ‘charity of the year’ scheme, the fitting of solar roof panels at our premises, and the introduction of corporate electric vehicles. We seek to be an employer of excellence – providing a nurturing environment and attracting the highest calibre staff.”
Following a successful management buy-out, the mid-90s saw the birth of TMD Technologies Limited – the ’TMD’ known worldwide today.
New management initiatives saw the development of high voltage switched mode power supplies, which enabled TMD to supply complete rugged amplifiers, thereby solving the many integration issues customers were facing and leading to thousands of TMD rugged amplifiers being fielded worldwide.
Developing from the rugged amplifier technology, TMD also began the production of ‘commercial’ instrumentation amplifiers for laboratory applications such as EMC testing and scientific research.
Jane McAlister, Sales & Business Development Director, continued: “Our business development team is at the leading edge of scientific development, working with major universities and research establishments on projects such as ultra-high-power solid state amplifiers for particle accelerators, quantum clock technology and THz devices. To reflect recent developments, TMD has been rebranded, with new websites, literature and improved social network engagement.”
Responding to market needs, TMD also progressed into development of its now popular rugged, miniaturised microwave power modules (MPMs) – for applications where weight and space are critical requirements. Also, at the other end of the scale, the company showed its burgeoning total design and manufacturing capability by producing a complete S band air traffic control transmitter – now in use at several major airports worldwide.
TMD later introduced an advanced GaN MMIC-based solid state MPM, optimised for EW/ECM systems and featuring over 30,000 hours predicted MTBF in an uninhabited fighter environment!
The company’s tube legacy was not however forgotten, and major advances in this area included volume production of fast-warm Ku band ring loop tubes.
In 2012 overseas business acceleration led TMD to form a new subsidiary, TMD Technologies, LLC based in Baltimore, Maryland – to provide complete technical and commercial support for TMD’s customers in the USA. This important new company not only offers a comprehensive product repair centre, but is also engaged in the sales of the whole range of TMD’s products, as well as dealing with new business development in the United States.
Back in the UK, to extend its product portfolio, TMD recently acquired G2 Engineering, a small specialist company engaged in the design and manufacture of radar transponders and support equipment for applications that include UAVs, missiles and manned aircraft.
Today, TMD’s product focus is mainly on solid state MPMs and ultra-compact tube based MPMs which, in response to industry demand now successfully cover the technically challenging Ka band. Furthermore, the introduction of modular architecture for the company’s commercial instrumentation amplifiers provides many new and enhanced user benefits.
