RACAL ACOUSTICS LTD

Racal Acoustics have made audio communications in harsh conditions into an exact science; delivering the innovative solutions that today's professional communicators demand all the way from advanced battlefield telephone networks to lightweight noise reducing headsets

In 1978, as part of the Racal Group, the company was merged with Amplivox, a privately owned hearing aid company, adding complementary specialist expertise to our existing hearing protection, electro-acoustics and military communications capability. The synergy derived from this merger led to a ‘Centre of Excellence’ in audio engineering and earned the company a worldwide reputation for its quality and innovative new designs, with particular emphasis on environmental, durability and EMC considerations. In June 2000, Thomson-CSF acquired Racal and in December 2000 renamed the group of companies Thales Defence Limited. Both companies, in their own right, were internationally renowned and their combined expertise created a formidable global leader in air and ground-based intercommunications, telephone systems and ancillaries for both the military and civil market sectors. In March 2004, Thales announced the sale of the Acoustics Division to J.F Lehman and Company, which resulted in the reforming of Racal Acoustics. Following very successful sales growth and profit, the company ownership again changed when ECI Partners, the UK mid-market acquisition specialist, backed a management buy-out in July 2005. In December of 2008, Racal Acoustics was acquired by Esterline Corporation and became part of its Communications Systems platform. Over the past five years, Racal Acoustics has undergone significant business process engineering to reflect the shifts and trends in the military market. This included the overhaul of manufacturing and supply chain activities, the establishment of marketing and product management roles, the integration of ‘lean manufacturing’ techniques and a culture of continual improvement, all of which the company believes are necessary for success in the modern military marketplace.