Rakon
Rakon is a New Zealand technology company specializing in quartz-based frequency-control products for communications, navigation and positioning systems.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Rakon is a New Zealand frequency-control technology company founded by Warren Robinson in 1967. Its origins lay in a practical supply problem faced by Robinson while operating Marlin Electronics, a marine-radio business. Radios required multiple quartz crystals for different transmitting and receiving frequencies, but the only domestic source was the New Zealand Post Office, whose delivery times could extend for months. Robinson sold Marlin Electronics and established Rakon Industries to manufacture crystals locally. After initially producing in a garage, the company moved into dedicated premises, began exporting to Australia and Southeast Asia, and opened a second manufacturing operation in Singapore in 1972. The company experienced a major strategic challenge in the late 1970s and early 1980s when frequency synthesis reduced the number of quartz crystals required in radio equipment. The resulting contraction of the conventional crystal market forced Rakon to seek higher-value applications. During the 1980s, under the management of Warren Robinson's son Brent Robinson, Rakon developed expertise in temperature-compensated crystal oscillators, or TCXOs. These devices provided more stable frequency references across changing temperatures and were increasingly important in cellular telecommunications. By the late 1980s, Rakon was supplying TCXOs to NEC Australia's Melbourne factory. Rakon entered the GPS frequency-reference market in 1991. GPS and related positioning systems became the company's central growth area, and by the mid-2000s Rakon stated that it held more than half of the autonomous GPS market. The company announced plans for a New Zealand public listing in early 2006 and issued its initial public offering prospectus in April of that year. International expansion accelerated in 2007, when Rakon acquired the frequency-control products division of C-MAC Microtechnology. The transaction added manufacturing facilities in the United Kingdom and France and broadened the company's portfolio beyond GPS-oriented products. The acquired operations brought expertise in oven-controlled crystal oscillators, voltage-controlled crystal oscillators, lower-performance commodity products and the Pluto application-specific integrated circuit. Rakon subsequently established joint ventures connected with telecommunications infrastructure, research commercialisation, and quartz-crystal supply. It also opened a joint-venture facility in Chengdu, China, in 2011, although the company later exited its 80 percent interest in that operation. From 2012 through 2014, Rakon faced declining revenue and margins and recorded a series of losses. The period included a substantial asset write-down and criticism from the New Zealand Shareholders Association concerning board accountability. The New Zealand Exchange also fined the company after it failed to maintain continuous disclosure in relation to the sale of its Chengdu stake. Rakon returned to a small profit in November 2015, although revenue remained below the levels achieved before the global financial crisis. Rakon has supplied frequency-control components to commercial communications, satellite-navigation and positioning markets, while also facing public controversy over alleged military applications. Media reports and peace groups associated some Rakon components with weapons systems. The company has acknowledged that some products may enter military applications but has maintained that its products were not specifically designed for military use and that it generally lacked visibility into customers' final systems. In 2006, New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade cleared Rakon products for export, stating that they were unlikely to have been specifically designed for military use. Rakon's brand is therefore associated with highly specialised electronic timing and frequency-reference technology rather than consumer products.
History
Rakon began on 4 April 1967, when Warren Robinson established Rakon Industries after encountering shortages and long delivery times for quartz crystals used in marine radios. Robinson had previously run Marlin Electronics, a marine-radio manufacturer. Because New Zealand's Post Office was then the principal domestic source of crystals, the inability to obtain components quickly constrained radio production. Robinson obtained permission to import crystal-manufacturing equipment and began making crystals in a garage for the local radio market. By 1971, Rakon had moved into dedicated premises and employed more than 30 people. It was exporting to Australia and Southeast Asia, and in 1972 Robinson established a second plant in Singapore to serve Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan. The business later confronted a structural decline in its original market. The spread of frequency synthesis in radio equipment reduced the number of crystals needed for each radio, causing the conventional crystal market to contract sharply. Around 1980, Brent Robinson joined the company as managing director and took responsibility for the crystal operation while Warren Robinson concentrated on other business interests, including Rakon Computers. Rakon's recovery depended on moving from basic crystal manufacture toward engineered oscillator products. In the mid-1980s, Brent Robinson encountered temperature-compensated crystal oscillators, which were then largely made in Japan and were particularly relevant to cellular telephones. Rakon developed its own production methods to increase volume, reduce cost and improve performance. By the end of the decade, it was supplying TCXOs to NEC Australia's Melbourne facility. In 1991, the company began supplying frequency references to the GPS industry, which became a major strategic focus. The company pursued international growth and public-market access during the 2000s. Rakon claimed a market share of more than 50 percent in autonomous GPS in 2006 and announced a New Zealand listing that year. In March 2007, it acquired C-MAC Microtechnology's frequency-control products division. The purchase gave Rakon operations in Europe, including factories in the United Kingdom and France, and added products such as OCXOs, VCXOs, commodity frequency-control devices and the Pluto ASIC. In 2008, Rakon formed a joint venture with Centum Electronics for high-value telecommunications infrastructure products and for commercialising research from Rakon France. It also partnered with Timemaker in a venture intended to integrate quartz-crystal supply. Rakon opened a joint-venture facility in Chengdu in 2011, but the investment did not meet expectations and the company sold its 80 percent interest in July 2013. The 2012–2014 period was difficult: revenue and margins declined, the company recorded losses, and a large asset write-down led to criticism of the board. The New Zealand Shareholders Association publicly sought the departure of chairman Bryan Mogridge and director Darren Robinson. The NZX separately imposed a fine after finding that Rakon had not maintained continuous disclosure in connection with the Chengdu transaction. Rakon returned to a small profit in late 2015, though at a much lower revenue base than before the global financial crisis. Rakon also became the subject of controversy over possible military end uses. Reports from 2005 and 2006 linked its frequency-control products to systems described as smart bombs and missiles, while peace groups criticized the company's alleged involvement in supplies connected with attacks in the Middle East. Rakon stated that its products were not designed specifically for military use and that it generally could not determine the ultimate applications selected by customers. New Zealand's foreign ministry concluded in 2006 that the products were unlikely to have been specifically designed for military use and cleared their export. The controversy nevertheless remained part of the company's public history.
- 2015
Return to profit
[1]Rakon returned to a small profit after several years of losses.
- 2013
Chengdu stake sold and disclosure dispute follows
[1]Rakon exited its 80 percent Chengdu interest and was fined by the NZX over related continuous-disclosure shortcomings.
- 2011
Chengdu joint venture opens
[1]Rakon opened a joint-venture facility in Chengdu, China.
- 2007
C-MAC division acquired
[1]The acquisition expanded Rakon's European presence and product portfolio.
- 2006
Public-listing process begins
[1]Rakon announced plans to list on the New Zealand Exchange and issued its IPO prospectus.
- 1991
Entry into GPS
[1]Rakon began supplying frequency references for GPS applications.
- 1980
Brent Robinson joins management
[1]Brent Robinson became managing director as the company confronted the contraction of the traditional crystal market.
- 1972
Singapore manufacturing plant opens
[1]A second plant was established in Singapore to serve Southeast Asian markets.
- 1971
Dedicated manufacturing and exports
[1]Rakon moved into its own premises, employed more than 30 staff and began exporting crystals to Australia and Southeast Asia.
- 1967
Rakon Industries is founded
[1]Warren Robinson founded the company and began manufacturing quartz crystals for New Zealand radio producers.
Products and positioning
A specialist supplier of precision frequency-control and timing components for telecommunications, GPS, navigation, wireless infrastructure and other demanding electronic systems.
Frequency-control components · 1967
Quartz crystals
Quartz crystals were Rakon's original product and supplied the frequency references required by marine radios and other radio equipment. The company initially manufactured crystals for the New Zealand market before expanding exports to Australia and Southeast Asia. The market later contracted as frequency synthesis reduced the number of crystals needed in radio designs, prompting Rakon to move toward more integrated and temperature-stable oscillator products.
Temperature-compensated oscillators
TCXO
Temperature-compensated crystal oscillators became a central part of Rakon's strategy during the 1980s. TCXOs are designed to maintain a more stable frequency across temperature changes than ordinary crystal references, making them useful in cellular phones, wireless equipment and positioning systems. Rakon's supply relationship with NEC Australia helped establish this product area as the company's principal operating focus by the end of the decade.
Oven-controlled oscillators · 2007
OCXO
Oven-controlled crystal oscillators use a controlled thermal environment to provide highly stable frequency references. Rakon added OCXO capability through the expansion of its product range and the acquisition of C-MAC Microtechnology's frequency-control division. These products serve demanding communications and infrastructure applications where timing stability is more important than the low cost of a basic crystal.
Voltage-controlled oscillators · 2007
VCXO
Voltage-controlled crystal oscillators allow the output frequency to be adjusted through an applied control voltage. Rakon's VCXO offering was added to the broader portfolio obtained and developed through its international expansion, supporting wireless communications and other electronic systems that require tunable but stable frequency references.
Navigation and positioning components · 1991
GPS frequency references
Rakon began supplying frequency references to the GPS industry in 1991 and subsequently focused much of its commercial development on autonomous GPS applications. These components provide the stable timing and frequency basis needed by satellite-navigation receivers and related positioning equipment. The GPS market was a major source of Rakon's growth before the company broadened its exposure to other telecommunications and wireless applications.
Application-specific integrated circuit · 2007
Pluto ASIC
The Pluto ASIC was included in the product range associated with Rakon's acquisition of the C-MAC frequency-control division. It represented an expansion beyond discrete crystal and oscillator components into application-specific semiconductor technology for frequency-control and communications-related uses.
Controversies
2013
Board criticism and NZX disclosure fine
After poor results and a 30 million New Zealand dollar asset write-down, the New Zealand Shareholders Association called for two directors to resign. The NZX also fined Rakon over continuous-disclosure failures relating to the sale of its Chengdu stake.
2006
Weapons-component controversy and export review
A New Zealand Herald investigation and subsequent activist campaigning alleged that Rakon products supplied to Rockwell could be incorporated into United States military weapons systems. New Zealand authorities concluded that the products were unlikely to have been specifically designed for military use and cleared their export.
2005
Allegations concerning military end uses
Media reports linked Rakon technology with smart bombs and missiles. Rakon disputed claims about its knowledge of final applications and said its products were not specifically designed for military use.
Marketing campaigns
- 2006Global Peace and Justice Auckland campaign
New Zealand
Global Peace and Justice Auckland called on the New Zealand government to close what it described as an export-control loophole involving Rakon components allegedly entering Israeli weapons systems.
Outcome. New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade later cleared the products for export, stating that they were unlikely to have been specifically designed for military use.
Brand decisions
2013
Exit Chengdu operationStrategyBackground
The Chengdu investment had not delivered the expected results amid a broader deterioration in Rakon's revenue and margins.
Action taken
Rakon sold or otherwise exited its 80 percent interest in the Chengdu factory.
Aftermath
The transaction became the subject of an NZX continuous-disclosure fine and formed part of wider scrutiny of management and board performance.
Asset write-down. 30 million New Zealand dollars (2013)
2011
Invest in Chengdu manufacturing joint ventureStrategyBackground
Rakon sought additional manufacturing capacity and access to the Chinese market.
Action taken
The company opened Rakon Crystal Chengdu with a joint-venture structure and an 80 percent Rakon interest.
Aftermath
The investment was unsuccessful and Rakon exited its stake in July 2013.
2007
Acquire C-MAC frequency-control divisionM&ABackground
Rakon wanted a European operating base, broader product capabilities and less dependence on GPS.
Action taken
Rakon acquired C-MAC Microtechnology's frequency-control products division, including operations in the United Kingdom and France.
Aftermath
The company added OCXO, VCXO, commodity products and the Pluto ASIC to its portfolio and gained exposure to wider wireless-communications markets.
2006
Pursue public-market fundingStrategyBackground
Rakon sought to support its growth as an international frequency-control supplier.
Action taken
The company announced a New Zealand Exchange listing and released an IPO prospectus in April.
Aftermath
Rakon became a publicly traded New Zealand technology company, although the current status of that listing requires verification.
1991
Enter the GPS frequency-reference marketStrategyBackground
Rakon was seeking growth markets for precision frequency-control products.
Action taken
The company began supplying frequency references for GPS equipment.
Aftermath
GPS became a major focus and was associated with substantial market share claims in autonomous GPS during the 2000s.
1980
Shift toward higher-value oscillator productsStrategyBackground
Frequency synthesis sharply reduced demand for the basic quartz crystals that had formed Rakon's original business.
Action taken
Under Brent Robinson, Rakon developed manufacturing capability for temperature-compensated crystal oscillators and focused on cellular and communications applications.
Aftermath
TCXOs became a central product category and helped reposition Rakon away from the shrinking conventional-crystal market.
Recent events
Rakon upgrades FY2022 earnings guidance[2]
Rakon announced higher underlying EBITDA guidance for FY2022, now expecting $39 million–$44 million, compared with its previous guidance of $27 million–$32 million.
Rakon announces appointment of Steven Tucker to its board[2]
Rakon announced Steven Tucker’s appointment as an independent non-executive director, effective 1 October 2021.
Sources2 sources
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