RKR Designs Buys Ten Tec & Alpha from RF Concepts

[W3WN]

Press Release at http://www.tentec.com

(April 2, 2015) RKR Designs, LLC of Longmont Colorado has announced that they have acquired the assets of Alpha Amplifier and TEN-TEC brands from RF Concepts. RKR plans to expand the product line, while continuing to service their customers that have enjoyed their products over the years.

The principals of RKR Designs are Richard Gall, Ken Long and Rich Danielson (Gall and Danielson of QSC Systems, Longmont, Colorado have been a successful contract manufacturer, for over 20 years). Ken Long, N0QO has over 20 years in the electronics and amateur radio industry. Long will be President and CEO of the new company. QSC has been building Alpha amplifiers for over 5 years. They have also been building boards for TEN-TEC since their purchase by RF Concepts last year. Mr. Long said “QSC has always been a fantastic contract manufacturer, and has the expertise and knowledge that will allow us to bring down costs, while increasing quality and reducing manufacturing times.”

When asked for comment, Michael Seedman, AA6DY said “I can’t think of a more capable group of people to take over the 45 year Alpha Amplifier/TEN-TEC legacy. Ken Long has been involved with the industry for years, and has a great feeling for products and operations. He has the manufacturing and engineering resources available to deliver quality products that our customers demand”. Mr. Seedman went on to say “Alpha and TEN-TEC have always had a warm spot in my heart, and I am thrilled that RKR Designs will be able to continue the operations of the business. I wish them the best”.

Ken, Richard and Rich have been working very close over the past several years and feel that this new relationship will benefit the company and customers moving forward. This closer relationship to the contract manufacturer will allow a more consistent process and delivery of quality products along with significant cost benefits.

RKR Designs LLC is privately held, and terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

[N8YX]

Interdasting.

Will there be an Orion III? How about a matching transmitter for the RX-340?

Inquiring minds want to $pend...

[W3WN]

Interdasting.

Will there be an Orion III? How about a matching transmitter for the RX-340?

Inquiring minds want to $pend...

Indeed.

There's got to be more to the story. Whether or not we'll ever hear it, well, that remains to be seen...

[NQ6U]

I wonder if Ten-Tec's legendary customer service will survive the sale. That is, will you still be able to send a near-antique piece of gear back to them for repairs the way you can now?

[PA5COR]

It's all in the future....

[WØTKX]

Wow. Be fun to work for them after the dust settles. My commute is already freaking long!

[W3WN]

I wonder if Ten-Tec's legendary customer service will survive the sale. That is, will you still be able to send a near-antique piece of gear back to them for repairs the way you can now?

No reason it shouldn't be.

Of course, time will tell.

[K7SGJ]

They ought to by HRD and fix it.

[NQ6U]

No reason it shouldn't be.

Of course, time will tell.

It depends on how strictly the new ownership counts the beans. I suspect that Ten Tec doesn't make much, if any, money on fixing the old stuff. What doing it does reap is a lot of customer goodwill and while that's priceless in many corporate cultures, it might not be so to RKR.

I'm not saying that will be the case, of course, just speculating a bit.

[suddenseer]

Oh shit. This could be bad. I only had an Ameritron with the single 3-5000Z final. I hardly used it. I bought one of those cheaper (then) Russian tubes as a back up. I never needed it. I kicked it in when I sold it to sweeten the deal. I had Alpha envy.