Strata-gee.com

Strategy in TECH...

Sonance James Small Aperture Series
You are here: Home / Archives for Manufacturers

Manufacturers

Supply Chain Kills Exogal, CEO Says

by 1 Comment

‘If You’re Watching This…We’re Dead’

If you try to go to the website of Exogal, a high-end digital electronics manufacturer, you’ll end up at a YouTube video titled, “If you’re watching this, we’re dead.” The video consists of Exogal CEO Jeff Haagenstad looking directly into the camera and explaining to viewers that the company has died..and why that happened. It’s a cautionary tale for all manufacturers who are universally buffeted by supply chain issues – especially the worldwide, multi-industry chip shortage.

See more on how the supply chain took down Exogal

[Read more…] about Supply Chain Kills Exogal, CEO Says

Crestron Launches Tunable LED Light Fixtures & Innovates an Advance in HCL

by Leave a Comment

Crestron Electronics, one of the industry’s leading control and automation system manufacturers, announced today that they are making a major push into the lighting segment – especially within the realm of what is generally known as human-centric lighting (HCL). Their new line of LED Light Fixtures not only contemporizes their lighting offerings to today’s standards – but I believe that they take the lead with an exciting and futuristic new capability known as Solar Sync™.

See this major launch of new LED Light Fixtures from Crestron

[Read more…] about Crestron Launches Tunable LED Light Fixtures & Innovates an Advance in HCL

Onkyo Announces Two Subsidiaries Will Cease Operations & File for Bankruptcy

by 5 Comments

One of the products to be sold in Onkyo’s new direct-to-consumer business

Onkyo Home Entertainment Company Ltd. (formerly Onkyo Corp.) has announced that two of its consolidated subsidiaries will cease operations and file for bankruptcy. It is yet another dramatic development in the company’s effort to stop the bleeding and stabilize the company. But substantial concerns exist about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Learn more on these shuttered Onkyo subsidiaries

[Read more…] about Onkyo Announces Two Subsidiaries Will Cease Operations & File for Bankruptcy

Crestron Continues Expansion of Residential Line with Two New Models

by Leave a Comment

New Crestron DM NAX 4-Zone Streaming Pre-Amplifier

Crestron Electronics announced today that it is launching two new audio products, both part of its successful Crestron HOME residential line-up. The addition of these new models – an in-wall subwoofer developed in conjunction with partner Origin Acoustics, and a new DM NAX 4-zone streaming pre-amp – demonstrates the company’s continued commitment to further expanding their residential business.

Learn more about these all-new Crestron audio products

[Read more…] about Crestron Continues Expansion of Residential Line with Two New Models

Sound United Acquired by Medical Products Maker Masimo Corp. in $1B Deal

by 9 Comments

Masimo website home page
Masimo Corp’s website [Click to enlarge]

BREAKING NEWS

Sound United, LLC, one of the audio industry’s leading providers of high-quality branded electronics and loudspeaker products, announced late Wednesday that it is being acquired by Masimo Corporation, a global provider of medical products, in a deal valued at $1.025 billion. The two companies have entered into a definitive agreement in a transaction that is expected to close later in 2022.

See more on Masimo acquiring Sound United

[Read more…] about Sound United Acquired by Medical Products Maker Masimo Corp. in $1B Deal

AKM Responds to Strata-gee Request for Comment on Damaged Factory

by 2 Comments

Last week, I updated the story of the Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) factory fire that destroyed one of the world’s largest fabs producing semiconductors, particularly LSIs (large-scale integrated circuits) for digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) widely used in audio for consumer, pro, and commercial applications. [See post: AKM Fire Update: Co. Makes Progress, Interim Solution Shows Promise] At the time I was working on that report, I reached out to AKM for comment on what I was learning from my sources, but did not receive a reply by the time the story was posted.

This morning, AKM responded to my request…

See what AKM said in a statement to Strata-gee…

[Read more…] about AKM Responds to Strata-gee Request for Comment on Damaged Factory

Sonos Has Another Record Quarter…But Just Barely

by Leave a Comment

Revenues Up 3%, But Net Income Drops 6.7%

Sonos Inc. released the results for their fiscal 2022 first quarter on Wednesday and the results were mostly mixed. While a quarterly revenue record was set, net earnings dropped. CEO Patrick Spence called it “an excellent quarter, with record-setting revenue” but the tone of the company’s management seemed slightly more muted on a conference call with financial analysts as compared to previous such events. Perhaps this was because their financial performance was slightly more muted as compared to past quarters.

See more on the Sonos finanical results for Q1 2022

[Read more…] about Sonos Has Another Record Quarter…But Just Barely

Don’t Revamp Your Business for the Latest Fad Guru; Be Your Own Guru

by Leave a Comment

business guru at a trade conference

GUEST POST: All It Takes is Common Sense to Improve Your Biz

Recently, an integrator I know goes to a trade conference. The principal hears a presentation on a new way to run his business, which is already generating a solid $5-6 Million in revenues. The presenter, a sort of business guru, is impressive and has authored a book.

This guru has a “system” he wants to sell you on…

[Read more…] about Don’t Revamp Your Business for the Latest Fad Guru; Be Your Own Guru

AKM Fire Update: Co. Makes Progress, Interim Solution Shows Promise

by 4 Comments

burned out AKM factory
[Click to enlarge] [Photo: nikogorio (Twitter)]

Commits to Deliver New DACs & ADCs in 2022!

In one of the most-read stories ever posted on Strata-gee.com, I reported on a fire in October 2020 at an AKM factory in Japan. AKM is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of large-scale integrated circuits (LSI) used in a variety of products, including digital-to-analog converters (DACs) and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for the audio industry. In that post, I warned you that this fire threatens to “disrupt the global supply of critical digital ICs.” It was the bright red flag of what was to become a massive supply chain headache that the world continues to struggle with to this day.

UPDATE: What’s happening now after the AKM fire

[Read more…] about AKM Fire Update: Co. Makes Progress, Interim Solution Shows Promise

Sony Forecasts a Record Profit; Says NOT Entering the Car Building Biz

by Leave a Comment

New Financial Info Shows Sony Continues to Transform Biz

On the eve of closing out their current fiscal year (fiscal 2021) on March 30, 2022, Sony Group announced their latest financial results for the first nine months of the fiscal year…and included a surprising new upgrade of their forecast, now saying they’ll have a record operating profit for the year. This was a high note for the company, a company that has benefitted from consumers spending more time at home playing video games on their PlayStation, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the company also answered the question that many – including me – had about Sony entering the automobile business via their new Sony Mobile division – and in so doing, reiterated their plan to move away from a hardware-centric business.

See more on where tech leader Sony is headed

[Read more…] about Sony Forecasts a Record Profit; Says NOT Entering the Car Building Biz