Tait Communications

Tait Communications is a multinational radio communications company with headquarters based in Christchurch, New Zealand. The company has offices in 17 countries and employs 869 staff (2011). Tait develops voice and data radio technologies, exporting about 95% of products from its Christchurch manufacturing base.[2] Customers include London Buses,[3] Country Fire Authority[4] and Basin Electric Power Cooperative.[5] Competitors include Motorola, Harris Corporation, E.F. Johnson Company, Raytheon, HYT, Selex and EMC spa.

Tait Communications
TypeTrust Structure
IndustryTechnology
Founded1969
Headquarters
Christchurch
,
New Zealand
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Yoram Benit [1]
ProductsTwo-way radios
Network Systems
Public Safety solutions
Utility solutions
Urban Transport solutions
Number of employees
869 (Worldwide 2011)
WebsiteTait Communications

History

Tait Limited (trading as Tait Communications and formerly known as Tait Electronics Ltd) was founded in 1969 by New Zealand electronics innovator and businessman Sir Angus Tait, KNZM, OBE. The company's founding staff of 12 radio technologists[2] produced the first generation of all-transistor mobile radios in New Zealand.[6]

  • In 1973, Tait released the Mini-phone series of mobile radios, which were adopted as the industry standard in New Zealand.[6]
  • In 1979, Tait launched a range of portable radios and base stations, exporting over 25% of its production. The first wholly owned subsidiary was opened in Huntingdon, UK.
  • In 1982, Tait opened facilities in Houston, United States.
  • In 1988, Tait opened facilities in Brisbane, Australia.
  • In the mid-1980s Tait moved into developing trunking technology. Substantial investment followed in a broad range of trunked products and TaitNet systems based on the open MPT 1327 standard.
  • In 1990, the T800 series of modular base station and repeater equipment was on the market. The T700 series also appeared.
  • In 1992, the T2000 series of mobile radios was released.
  • In 1993, additional offshore subsidiaries were opened and the T3000 series of hand-portables and the Quasi-Sync base station/repeater systems were introduced.
  • In 1994, the first in a series of mobile data despatch products for use with the T2000 radios was launched.
  • In 1996, the T3000 Series II, an enhanced version of the portable series, went to market.
  • In 1997, Tait's T2000 range was updated with the launch of the T2000 Series II.
  • In 1998, Tait released the Orca series of portable radios. Additional base-station and system enhancements followed, including the T1810 single-site trunked channel controller, before the release of Tait's portable radio range, the Tait Orca 5000.
  • In 2003, the release of the 8000 tier of base stations and mobiles replaced the T800 base station and T2000 mobile.
  • In May 2005, Tait launched P25 (Project 25) products based on open standards and open interfaces.
  • In 2008, the TP8100 replaced the Orca portable radio.
  • In 2010, Tait opened facilities in Vienna, Austria.[7]
  • In 2011, Tait opened facilities in Melbourne, Australia[8] and expanded in Beijing, China. (Office in Beijing has been shut down)[9]
  • In 2012, Tait Electronics Ltd changed its name to Tait Limited.
  • In 2014 the regional office in Huntingdon UK was closed and opened office in Milton, Cambridge UK [10]

Technologies and solutions

Corporate affairs

CEO
  • Alan Martyn Gall - General Manager Nov 1992 to Jan 1998
  • Warren Francis Rickard - Chief Executive - Jan 1998 to May 2001
  • David Michael Chick - Managing Director - Jun 2001 to Jun 2009 [11]
  • Frank Owen was the CEO of Tait Communications from March 2009 until April 2014. Previously he was the CEO at privately owned Australian company GPC Electronics.[12] In April 2014, David Wade has been appointed as the acting CEO until a replacement for Frank Owen was found.
  • Garry Diack was CEO from September 2014 until June 2021, after having been a director of the board since July 2014.[13][14]
  • Yoram Benit was made Interim CEO in June 2021, before being confirmed by the board as CEO in January 2022.[15]

Structure

Sir Angus Tait (founder) established a trust structure for the company to be held in. The company is owned by three trusts: the Contel Charitable Trust, The Tait Foundation, and the Lady Tait Charitable Trust. Tait is financially independent and audited annually by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Corporate recognition

Tait Communications has received the following awards:

  • Canterbury Champion Supreme Award (2003)

Tait partners with the following associations and groups in their industry:

Offices by location
  • Australia – Brisbane, Melbourne
  • Austria – Vienna
  • Brazil - Sao Paulo
  • France - Paris
  • New Zealand – Christchurch
  • Singapore
  • UK - Milton - [10]
  • USA – Houston
  • Locations information via Tait website

References
  1. "New chief exec for Tait Communications". Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  2. "Sir Angus McMillan Tait, 1919-2007". Archived from the original on 25 May 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  3. "NZ radios keep London buses moving. - Australasian Business Intelligence". Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  4. Heather, Ben (6 July 2010). "Tait wins firefighting deal". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  5. "404 Page – Urgent Comms". Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  6. "CANZ Tait Communications Ltd" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 May 2010.
  7. "Tait opens new Vienna office | PressReleasePoint". Archived from the original on 9 November 2010. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  8. "Global technology company Tait Radio expands its operations in Victoria - News - Invest Victoria, Melbourne, Australia". Archived from the original on 26 March 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  9. "Tait expands in China with new facility". Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
  10. "Contact our Europe, Middle East and Africa Team- Tait Communications". 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 25 June 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
  11. "Tait Communications Ltd". Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  12. http://nz.linkedin.com/pub/frank-owen/6/835/3b6
  13. "Our structure - Tait Communications". 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 13 June 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  14. https://www.linkedin.com/in/garrydiack
  15. "New Chief Exec for Tait Communications". Archived from the original on 24 January 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  16. "NZi3 Partnerships". Archived from the original on 26 January 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  17. "Digital Mobile Radio Association | Supporting over 15 Million users worldwide". Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
  18. "UITP - International Association of Public Transport". Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2011.

Further reading
  • The Best is Yet to Come, Tait Radio Communications, by Dave Wilson, et al., 2004
  • Radio Fidelity – The Story of Angus Tait and an Industry Sparked by Loyalty, by Virginia Green. ISBN 978-0-476-01508-1
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