Attendees of the tour of the Radio Frequency Systems (RFS) plant in Meriden, Connecticut got very positive reviews from the New England Chapter.

The Oct. 25 tour saw some 50 chapter members and guests see the operations up close of RFS, which is a global designer and manufacturer of total-package solutions for wireless and broadcast infrastructure. The tour started with a half hour presentation on the markets that the company serves, followed by the tour.

The opening main presentation was delivered by RFS product line managers. They provided a brief overview of RFS’ history, key markets, and telecom growth. The tour stopped at four stations that collectively covered manufacturing of coaxial cables, fiber optic assemblies, fiber/power hybrid cables, broadcast antennas, and microwave antennas. At each station, a subject matter expert explained what their department did. RFS had samples on hand for show and tell in each area. Attendees were randomly split up into groups of 10-15 and rotated through the stations, spending about 15 minutes in each area of the factory.

After the tour concluded, everyone regrouped down the road at River: A Waterfront Restaurant & Bar for what proved to be enjoyable dinner experience just steps away from the Connecticut River.

One attendee who especially enjoyed the event was LeeAnn Chen, strategic marketing director for AlphaGary. “As a newcomer to the wire and cable field, this is a great way to get firsthand and live experience, with great networking opportunity,” she said, adding that RFS did a superb job preparing the tour. “I was touched by everyone’s passion and expertise on their subjects!” Finally, she said that the dinner-reception that followed was also memorable. “The mist over the Connecticut river was an added touch to the evening!”