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Pye Telecom and Pye Sports & Social Club, St Andrews Road, Cambridge
With thanks and acknowledgements for all Pye Telecom information to Richard Howes
Copyright © Richard Howes for Pye Telecom material acknowledged
Pye Telecom
Pye Telecom
Pye Telecommunications Ltd grew from 20 staff in 1945 to more than 2500 and became the largest and most profitable part of the Pye Group of companies over the next 70+ years.
Pye Telecommunications Ltd grew from 20 staff in 1945 to more than 2500 and became the largest and most profitable part of the Pye Group of companies over the next 70+ years.
Pye Telecom
Pye Telecom
Corporate Identities
Corporate Identities
over the years
over the years
over the years
1944-1947 Telecoms Division of Pye Ltd
1944-1947 Telecoms Division of Pye Ltd
1947–1986 Pye Telecom Ltd
1947–1986 Pye Telecom Ltd
1986–1992 PRCS
1986–1992 PRCS
1992–1996 Philips Telecom PMR
1992–1996 Philips Telecom PMR
1996–2002 Simoco International
1996–2002 Simoco International
2002–today Team Simoco
2002–today Team Simoco
2002–today Sepura PLC
2002–today Sepura PLC
Some of the things Pye Telecom did ...
Some of the things Pye Telecom did ...
• Radio systems and networks
• Radio systems and networks
• HF VHF and UHF radio transmitters and receivers
• HF VHF and UHF radio transmitters and receivers
• VHF UHF and microwave link equipment
• VHF UHF and microwave link equipment
• Sales, via own sales force, dealers and agents
• Sales, via own sales force, dealers and agents
• Installation, commissioning & maintenance worldwide
• Installation, commissioning & maintenance worldwide
• Systems, Service and Spares divisions
• Systems, Service and Spares divisions
Newmarket Road mobile radio production lines
How big was Pye Telecom?
How big was Pye Telecom?
Grew from 20 to 1500 employees in first 10 years.
Grew from 20 to 1500 employees in first 10 years.
2500 UK employees in 1985 and 3500 worldwide in 1997.
2500 UK employees in 1985 and 3500 worldwide in 1997.
Contributed 60% of Pye profits.
Contributed 60% of Pye profits.
85% of the UK radio communications market.
85% of the UK radio communications market.
Responsible for 60% of all radio communications exports from the UK.
Responsible for 60% of all radio communications exports from the UK.
Cambridge from 1947
Haverhill from 1956
Cambridge from 1979
Main Company Locations
Main Company Locations
UK production in Cambridge, Haverhill, Airdrie, Dublin.
UK production in Cambridge, Haverhill, Airdrie, Dublin.
Secondary production in Cambridge, Leiston.
Secondary production in Cambridge, Leiston.
Sales offices, distributors and agents in 93 countries.
Sales offices, distributors and agents in 93 countries.
Overseas Pye production in India, Australia.
Overseas Pye production in India, Australia.
Later, design and production in Australia, France, Spain, Germany, Denmark, India, UK.
Later, design and production in Australia, France, Spain, Germany, Denmark, India, UK.
First in many fields
First in many fields
UK mobile radiotelephone – 1946
UK mobile radiotelephone – 1946
UK marine business radio – 1946.
UK marine business radio – 1946.
Instrument Landing System – 1946
Instrument Landing System – 1946
Dash mounted radiotelephone – 1948
Dash mounted radiotelephone – 1948
Marine radiotelephone – 1948
Marine radiotelephone – 1948
Radiotelephone up Mount Everest – 1953
Radiotelephone up Mount Everest – 1953
Worlds longest VHF radio link - 1955-1957
Worlds longest VHF radio link - 1955-1957
UK car-phone system – 1960
UK car-phone system – 1960
Transistorised radiotelephones – 1962
Transistorised radiotelephones – 1962
UHF handheld portable – 1964
UHF handheld portable – 1964
Electronic telephone exchange PABX – 1966
Electronic telephone exchange PABX – 1966
All semi-conductor radiotelephone – 1967
All semi-conductor radiotelephone – 1967
Transatlantic tropo-scatter system -1955
Transatlantic tropo-scatter system -1955
Moon-bounce communication
Moon-bounce communication
UK analogue trunking systems
UK analogue trunking systems
Tetra mobiles and portables
Tetra mobiles and portables
Radio staff in Pye Labs
Radio Tower and Hut
Where did Pye Telecom begin?
Where did Pye Telecom begin?
1945
1945
Pye Ltd engineering staff who had worked on Army radio equipment during WW2 transferred from Pye Labs to form a separate mobile radio team.
Pye Ltd engineering staff who had worked on Army radio equipment during WW2 transferred from Pye Labs to form a separate mobile radio team.
How did Pye Telecom sell?
How did Pye Telecom sell?
Own dedicated UK sales force, organised by professional market sectors:
Own dedicated UK sales force, organised by professional market sectors:
• Police & Fire
• Home Office
• Fuel & Power
• Water Authorities
• Transportation
• Business & Industry
• Others
In addition there were overseas sales teams
In addition there were overseas sales teams
Pye exhibition vehicle
What happened next?
What happened next?
In 1986, Philips amalgamated all its mobile radio activities worldwide into one business unit – Philips Radio Communications Systems (PRCS).
In 1986, Philips amalgamated all its mobile radio activities worldwide into one business unit – Philips Radio Communications Systems (PRCS).
Cambridge was made the Corporate Headquarters.
Cambridge was made the Corporate Headquarters.
PRCS became a £200M group with 3500 staff.
PRCS became a £200M group with 3500 staff.
PRCS had design & supply centres in Cambridge, Paris, Copenhagen, Melbourne, Dublin, Nuremburg, Bilbao, plus Indelec, Brazil
PRCS had design & supply centres in Cambridge, Paris, Copenhagen, Melbourne, Dublin, Nuremburg, Bilbao, plus Indelec, Brazil
In 1996 Philips Electronics UK sold the PRCS Group to a Private Equity company, Cinven.
In 1996 Philips Electronics UK sold the PRCS Group to a Private Equity company, Cinven.
The group was re-named Simoco International Ltd
The group was re-named Simoco International Ltd
(Systems Integration Mobile Communication).
(Systems Integration Mobile Communication).
After owning Simoco International for five years, in 2002, Cinven wished to sell its investment in the Company but no buyer was found for the entire worldwide group.
After owning Simoco International for five years, in 2002, Cinven wished to sell its investment in the Company but no buyer was found for the entire worldwide group.
Simoco was broken up and some parts were sold, some parts closed down.
Simoco was broken up and some parts were sold, some parts closed down.
Today, Team Simoco operates the Radio Systems business.
Today, Team Simoco operates the Radio Systems business.
Sepura PLC operates the Tetra digital radio product business.
Sepura PLC operates the Tetra digital radio product business.
Ian McKenzie, MD Simoco International
Team Simoco Radio Systems & Service Depot, Huntingdon
Sepura digital portable radio product
For more information on Pye Telecom ...
For more information on Pye Telecom ...
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