Drew Marine acquires Iridium specialist NAL Research

MARCH 4, 2016 — Whippany, NJ, headquartered Drew Marine has acquired Iridium tracking and communications equipment designer and manufacturer NAL Research.

NAL will team up with Drew Marine’s ACR Electronics, Inc., whose product lines include a range of 406 MHz distress beacons including EPIRBs, personal locator beacons, and ARTEX ELTs, search and rescue transponders (SARTs), rescue strobe lights, searchlights, VHF radios and survival accessories. 

The acquisition allows Drew Marine to expand its footprint into the Iridium tracking and communication product offering.  NAL brings an experienced research and development team that specialize in Iridium satellite modems and tracking terminals from design through integration for the defense, research and commercial sectors.

“At Drew Marine, we look for energetic, entrepreneurial brands with technology adjacencies that can grow within our existing portfolio, and that’s what we feel we have in NAL Research,” said Len Gelosa, Drew Marine’s Chief Executive Officer.  “The addition of NAL provides Drew Marine with an engineering and technology leadership position in the satellite tracking, communication and Search and Rescue landscape.”

An Iridium value added manufacturer and reseller, NAL products focus on assets tracking, search and rescue, remote sensing and command/control of both ground and airborne platforms.  

NAL’s President, Dr. Ngoc Hoang said, “This is an exciting time to join ACR and Drew Marine.  Together we can open more doors and bring more products to market by focusing on our core capabilities.”  

NAL will continue to operate as usual from its Virginia based headquarters, with Dr. Ngoc Hoang continuing as President.