EMS Technologies Inc., a Norcross-based developer and manufacturer of technology hardware products for commercial, defense and wireless communication industries, continues to expand globally with three new contracts, including a seven-year agreement announced last week with Honeywell International Inc. and Thales Avionics Inc., Al Hansen, the company’s president and CEO, told GlobalAtlanta.
EMS, which employs 1,700 people worldwide and has manufacturing facilities in Atlanta; Curitiba, Brazil; Montreal and Ottawa, will develop avionics communications products for the commercial airlines market, according to the agreement, which has a forecasted five-year value of some $50 million.
EMS’s growth lies in high-speed data and mobile communications systems using satellite and wireless equipment, said Mr. Hansen, a retired four-star general with 34 years of service with the U.S. Airforce, during an interview at his office.
Honeywell approached the company to manufacture a high-speed system to be used on all their aircraft because of its expertise in high-speed data, said Jean Menard, director of commercial sales for the SATCOM division of EMS in Ottawa.
Honeywell and Thales Avionics have jointly produced a satellite communications system for all aircraft, including the A380 Airbus. The Airbus plane will be the largest commercial airliner on the market when it goes into service in 2006, with seating capacity for 555 passengers and two levels, said Mr. Menard.
“Honeywell has an exclusive with Airbus S.A.S., so we will be delivering our systems on Airbus and their planes will have Internet access and video capability,” Mr. Hansen said.
The company also signed an agreement with educational institutions in Canada and India to deliver high-speed digital video system that will educate students in remote areas where there is a shortage of teachers and geographical or economic barriers, he said.
Additionally, EMS is developing a high-speed data system for the Ukraine’s financial system, he added.
The company was founded in 1968 by John E. Pippin, formerly vice president of research at Scientific-Atlanta Inc.
For more information, contact Anne Wainscott-Sargent by email pr@ems-t.com.