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Fine-tuning the future

Security technology company, Radio Data Communications, has announced significant improvements to take the company forward during the next decade. These include new appointments, an even greater emphasis on research, new products and improved manufacturing facilities.

The changes were recently spelled out by RDC managing director, Mike Andreka, who made it clear that continuity was high on the company's agenda.

Lee-Ann, Mike, Eileen and Brent Andreka

"RDC is a family business that has enjoyed solid success for 26 years. The time has come to implement a succession plan that will ensure the continued smooth running of the company as well as push our technology and services to even greater heights," he said. "To begin with, we are introducing a revised company structure that will allow us to gain maximum benefit from the strengths of each individual."

The 'new look' RDC will see Mike devoting more of his time over the next few years purely to research and development. As the founder of the company and the driving force behind its technology, he sees this as a logical move. "My passion has always been the continuous development of our products. I will now be able to focus 100% on this."

Taking over some of Mike's responsibilities will be his son, Brent, who has been deeply involved with RDC since its inception. After helping to assemble products on the factory floor, he founded an advertising agency, Andreka Jefferson, and has played a major role in assisting sales and marketing director, Lee-Ann Andreka, with RDC's branding and marketing for 12 years. This has allowed him to gain in-depth knowledge of the company's products and customers. The advertising agency will continue to operate under the leadership of Brent's wife Pamela who has 13 years' experience in the business, and the newly appointed creative director, Paul Vinagre.

Lee-Ann continues to play an increasingly important role at RDC. Her insights and decision-making skills have become extremely valuable on a management level. RDC's remarkable growth, despite a downward industry trend, is a tribute to her tremendous success at the company.

Financial director, Eileen Andreka, keeps tight control over a company faced with the fast moving pace of technological development. "I love my job and working with the management and staff at RDC," says Eileen. Nothing would please me more than to be involved in RDC for many years to come."

Brent sees his appointment as part of an almost seamless process. "My father and I have been working together for more than 25 years. We discuss technological innovations, ongoing operational issues, marketing solutions etc. The new management structure will allow each of us to offer more value to the company - in my case, manufacturing and operations, and in his case, new product development."

Innovation has largely defined RDC since 1978, with Mike and his team designing groundbreaking technology that has become today's industry standard. The RDC transmitter, for example, was the first to send a signal in under one second and was the world's first microprocessor-based alarm transmitter. RDC went on to develop the X-20 system, and the multi-user system that allows many security companies to share one radio frequency.

The new RDC TX 6900 transmitter

Today, development continues unabated. The company launched two new transmitter models in October featuring many new features unique to RDC, and more product and network improvements are in the pipeline. Mike is ably assisted by Gary Schoombie, his expert partner with many years of design experience.

RDC recently increased its manufacturing capacity by adding a fifth surface mounting machine. Capable of producing one PC board every minute, the machine will help the company satisfy the increasing demand for its transmitters. Part of this demand has been fuelled by the fact that RDC does not charge a monthly frequency rental on each transmitter, saving security companies thousands of rands and allowing affordable network expansion.

Thandi Sibeko and Theo Roux with the new surface mounting machine

RDC is equally renowned for its popular value-added services, and these will continue to be offered. They include a 24-hour technical support service, free training courses and a frequency management department that takes care of all licensing administration.

Mike Andreka is clearly upbeat about the changes at RDC, and especially delighted with the restructuring plan. "Brent is quite simply the right man for the job. He has always had a passion for our family business, and brings a broad knowledge to the position. Most importantly, Brent has the energy of a young man! Just as important, he is freeing my time so that I may put my experience to the best use - on continually improving our product line-up and maintaining our leadership position."

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