Rakon clarifies nature of exports

24 August 2005

Comment from No WARP! on today's Rakon media release (below) - while it may be technically correct that "Rakon has not developed any technology specifically for the US military. No technology has been specifically developed by Rakon for use in smart bombs or missiles", their comment that the company is "not privy to the end-use systems, equipment or applications developed by its customers" reveals either a startling level of irresponsibility or of duplicity. A 2003 Investment NZ publication describes them thus: "Rakon manufactures GPS-enabled, temperature-compensated quartz crystal transistors used for ultra-demanding applications such as aircraft navigation, satellite communications and smart munitions." Perhaps Investment NZ knows more about them than they do themselves?

Media release from Rakon

New Zealand technology exporter Rakon says no government grant money it has received has been used to develop products supplied to military or aerospace customers.

Managing Director Brent Robinson said these customers accounted for around one per cent of the company's manufacturing output.

He said that the company respected the commercial confidentiality of its contracts with customers, and was not privy to the end-use systems, equipment or applications developed by its customers.

Media headlines that Rakon was involved in supplying missile systems to the US were incorrect and misleading, said Mr Robinson.

"Rakon has not developed any technology specifically for the US military. No technology has been specifically developed by Rakon for use in smart bombs or missiles."

Rakon manufactures quartz crystals and oscillators that provide a timing reference in a variety of applications, such as cellular phones, GPS systems and other communications equipment.

The company won this year's New Zealand Trade and Enterprise export award. It is a leading New Zealand technology exporter whose customers include North American, European and Korean communications equipment manufacturers.