GROUND-BASED OPERATIONAL SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (G-BOSS) AWARD
Friday, January 27, 2012
Sechan Electronics, Inc. received a $16.2 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to design and build electronics for the Marine Corps. The five-year contract is for a maximum quantity of 350 Electronic Payload Interface Boxes (EPIB) to support the Marines' Ground-Based Operational Surveillance Systems (G-BOSS). These systems include multiple variants from a portable backpack configuration to a version that includes tower-mounted sensors on a trailer to detect movement at great distances alerting military personnel of potential threats. The EPIB consists of various COTS assemblies along with a custom power supply, custom backplane, and software controllable/resettable circuit breakers. The design effort includes structural and thermal analyses to ensure operation during various rugged environments encountered by the Marines.
The initial contract option of $1.15 million is for the design and development effort along with 16 initial production units. Upon successful completion of qualification testing, Sechan expects another order in the fourth quarter of 2012 for further production.
FACILITY EXPANSION PHASE I COMPLETED ON SCHEDULE
Monday, January 23, 2012
On January 3, 2012, Sechan Electronics, Inc. occupied 22,000-square feet of its Phase 1 expansion plans. The new space was designed to update offices for the engineering, quality assurance, and various administrative departments. It also frees up existing space for renovation during Phase II. Demolition of older spaces for 
renovation has already begun and the company is on target to complete all three phases by May 2012. The investment in this facility upgrade (along with on-going manufacturing capital equipment expenditures) demonstrates Sechan’s confidence in its long-term growth plans in the highly complex defense technology sector. The 50% expansion of engineering and administrative personnel will be possible at the conclusion of this effort.
Benchmark Construction of Brownstown, Pa. (www.benchmarkgc.com) is the general contractor for the effort. Schedule commitments for completing Phase I work by the end of 2011 were met despite the wettest building season on record with more than 72-inches of rainfall in 2011.
Sechan plans an open house for friends and family after all construction and renovation work is completed later in 2012.
SECHAN CERTIFIED TO AS9100:2009 (REVISION C) QUALITY STANDARD
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
In November 2011, Lloyds Register Quality Assurance (LRQA) completed auditing Sechan’s Quality Management System (QMS). Sechan was successfully certified to AS9100:2009, Revision C (from AS9100 Revision B, 2004 version). During the audit,Sechan provided objective evidence that the company is in compliance with this upgraded standard, receiving two Best Practice designations.
The updated certificate indicating the revision upgrade was recently received in January 2012. A copy of the current Sechan AS9100 registration is available on the company’s website. Sechan also has a CMMI Level 3 Rating (design system), which was also successfully completed during the renewal appraisal in November.
The auditors stated that they found Sechan employees to be professional, engaged, and passionate about their work, which they attributed to Sechan being a 100% Employee Owned ESOP Company. A follow-up site visit is performed by LRQA every six months as part of the continuing surveillance. Sechan continually strives to stay compliant, to demonstrate the company’s ability to perform within the aerospace and defense market.
COOPERATIVE ENGAGEMENT CAPABILITIES (CEC) AWARD
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sechan Electronics, Inc., Lititz, Pa., is being awarded a $64,207,078 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for signal data processor – Sierra (SDP-S) production units and engineering support services in support of the Cooperative Engagement Capabilities (CEC) program. The SDP-S incorporates the Sierra II cryptographic chip to meet cryptographic modernization requirements and uses commercial-off-the-shelf components to provide an open architecture CEC system. The SDP-S provides the core of the CEC system providing the processing capability for sensor track fusion. The SDP-S assemblies are used on CEC shipboard, airborne and land mobile platforms to provide a composite network picture. Concurrently, the company is being issued the initial firm-fixed-price delivery order in the amount $13,765,500 for 84 SDP-S assemblies. Work will be performed in Lititz, Pa., and is expected to be completed by October 2016. This contract combines purchases for the Navy and multiple partner countries.
SECHAN ANNOUNCES BUILDING EXPANSION
Friday, July 22, 2011
Sechan Electronics, Inc. broke ground on a 22,000-square foot addition to its location at 525 Furnace Hills Pike in Lititz.
The company continues to see opportunity in the electronic defense sector and requires space to accommodate future personnel. The $3M project includes meeting and office space for approximately 90 professional employees who are relocating within the existing facility. Separately, 12,000-square feet of the existing facility will be extensively renovated beginning in 2012.
Dave Williams, President, indicated “despite the current economy the company continues to see long-term growth opportunities and is positioning the facility to accommodate that growth, and provide an inviting work environment for its staff. In addition, the renovation portion of the project will upgrade certain existing manufacturing and office spaces to match the new construction.” The company celebrated the event with ice cream sundaes all day long, an especially welcome treat in the current heat wave.
As the company continues to grow, Sechan is selectively hiring to add to its current standing of 245 employees. Sechan anticipates hiring and training new employees for precision assembly and soldering, as well as various staff and professional positions for the company’s quality, engineering, and business development departments.
Benchmark Construction Company of Brownstown, Pa. has worked with Sechan to develop all phases from concept through construction which will begin July 2011.
Founded in 1984, Sechan Electronics, Inc. is a 100% employee-owned small business dedicated to the design and manufacture of high-technology electronic assemblies and complex systems. Products manufactured at this site extend from hand-held radios to missile launch systems and from UAV guidance to security systems. Recently Sechan Electronics was named Employee Owned Company of the Year by the PA, NJ, and DE Chapters of The ESOP Association.
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