After having expressed its intent to sell in January, Howell Laboratories has sold Shively Labs to American Amplifier Technologies.
Angela Gillespie, vice president of Howell Laboratories, shared the following statement with Radio World on Thursday, which can also be found on Shively Labs’ website:
“Shively Labs has recently been acquired by American Amplifier Technologies. Orders that were fulfilled before March 24 will ship from Bridgton, Maine. Future orders will ship from the new Shively Labs facility in Sacramento, Calif. Please continue to contact us and we will assist during this transition period.”
In January, Gillespie said Howell Laboratories, which is based in Bridgton, Maine, had decided to move away from the broadcasting business after 40 years to “focus on new growth opportunities.”
Now, the future of Shively Labs rests with California-based American Amplifier Technologies (AAT), which designs and manufactures broadcast and industrial electrical products, including transmitters, RF power meters, audio processors and a variety of antennas.
All Shively Labs products will now be manufactured at the AAT facility in Sacramento, Calif. The West Coast facility will be used for Shively Labs manufacturing, as well as continued operations and manufacturing of the AAT products.
AAT currently has a full-scale test range at the Sacramento facilities. Radio World is told that the Shively test range equipment will be moved and used at the same test range.
“The Shively Labs extensive product offerings, excellent reputation, customers and long history make Shively Labs a clear leader in the broadcast industry,” said Stephen Wilde, president and CEO of AAT. “We are excited to continue Shively Labs and support current and future customers.”
Wilde said the Shively Labs employees, that were with Shively Labs before the acquisition, have been offered positions with Howell Labs.
[Related: “FM Antenna Manufacturer Shively Labs Is on the Market“]
For 60 years, Shively Labs has been designing and fabricating FM broadcast equipment for broadcast sites around the world.
According to its website, Shively Labs was founded in 1963 by radio electronic pioneer Ed Shively. The company says “Ed was instrumental in the development of FM and TV antennas and combiners for RCA, and later Dielectric Communications, where he served as head of its research and development team.”
In 1963, Shively founded Shively Labs, where he developed a line of FM broadcast antennas and combiners as well as specialized RF equipment and techniques for military and civilian customers. In 1980, Shively sold his business to Howell Laboratories, where he remained active until his retirement eight years later.
“We believe that FM communication is an important and vital medium used throughout the world,” said Wilde. “AAT and Shively Labs will continue to provide innovative solutions for the broadcast industry, for current and future requirements.”
AAT will be at the upcoming NAB Show at booth #3758. Read more NAB Show news here.
