Allendale Electronics is a rapidly growing small company that is just about to get bigger with a majority shares acquisition by Nautel Ltd. last week.
“Good times, exciting times,” said Allendale president Cyril Meagher moments before their largest client, Nautel signs the letter of intent.
Ben Pooley founded Allendale Electronics in 1973 and offered prototype and production printed circuit card assemblies, specializing in SMT and mixed technology.
The company has been growing at a rapid pace in the last few years, currently employing 46 people with 20 new employees hired and trained in 2006.
“What we offer is quality electronics at reasonable prices,” said Meagher.
“Small manufacturing in rural communities works because people have low housing costs and tend to stay where they are. We have low building costs and the product ships cheaply,” explained Meagher.
The newest development with Nautel will allow Allendale to expand production by 60 per cent.
With that comes more money and more jobs for the local economy and for the business.
“An increase in that capacity will allow us to pursue other customers,” said Meagher, “so we are planning growth all around.”
Nautel, a Hackett’s Cove-based company that began 38 years ago, is a key player in radio broadcast technology, producing transmitters that are fully compatible with digital transmission methods being used around the world.
The small town company is serving customers in over 170 countries, including broadcasters such as CBC.
They employ 150 people in Hackett’s Cove, 80 people in Bangor, Maine and now 46 people in Lockeport, Nova Scotia.
“That’s a part of what makes this so great,” said Darlene Fowlow, CFO of Nautel. “We are also a success story in a rural community.”
Nautel President, Peter Conlon, explained how Denis Covill, founder of Nautel has always been a strong fan of rural towns in Nova Scotia and is a huge supporter of the acquisition.
“He sees it as a strengthening of the technology base in rural Nova Scotia,” said Conlon.
The acquisition also includes new capital for Allendale Electronics, enabling the company to expand in both a technical and capacity perspective.
“We are expecting nothing but the upside (for the future of both companies),” said Fowlow. “There are lots of good things on the horizon.”
Growing bigger business in small towns
Growing bigger business in small towns
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Published on
February 25, 2007
- Published on January 29, 2010
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Amy Woolvett
Lockeport firm expands through acquisition
By Amy Woolvett THE COAST GUARD NovaNewsNow.com Big things are happening in the small town of Lockeport.
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