CHAMPAIGN, Ill.—Cobalt Digital is expanding its openGear product offering with the announcement that it has acquired the IP and manufacturing rights to multiple Ward-Beck openGear cards.

The Ward-Beck products being integrated into the Cobalt lineup include analog audio and video distribution amplifiers, audio analog-to-digital/digital-to-analog converters and single card rear modules in numerous three-pin terminal block configurations.

“We’ve always held Ward-Beck in the highest esteem and have respected the integrity of the company and quality of its equipment," said Chris Shaw, Cobalt executive vice president of Sales and Marketing. “We are honored that Kevin Lyver and his team have passed the mantle to Cobalt to keep these modules viable and available in the marketplace. We are delighted to add them to the Cobalt family of products and be able to serve an extended marketplace.”

Ward-Beck ceased operations on Jan. 31, but the company will provide support and assistance during the transition period, according to the Cobalt announcement.

For more information, visit www.cobaltdigital.com.  

SCARBOROUGH, Ontario—Audio equipment manufacturer Ward-Beck Systems will cease manufacturing at the end of January, it announced on its Facebook page.

“Since its founding in 1967 by Ron Ward and Rodger Beck, through the transition to Colleen and Eugene Johnson in 1993, and the succession and partnership changes promoting Kevin Lyver as president and CEO in 2016, we are extremely proud to have been suppliers of choice to broadcasters, audio production houses, film sound studios and sound professionals around the globe,” the announcement states.

The Canadian company, based in Scarborough, Ontario, said its lease will end at the end of February.

“We can continue to supply products which are in stock. We also have an inventory of equipment that is available for sale, and intellectual property which may be of interest to folks in the industry.”

The company expressed thanks for the “many caring individuals” in its circle, including “our families, our staff, our clients, our suppliers, our friends and collaborators.”

Reached by email, owner Eugene Johnson added, “The broadcast industry has been good to us, we are grateful and have no regrets.”

The current WBS product line includes audio networking and routing, metering, impedance matching transformers and related devices.

Questions about stock or IP available for sale can be emailed to sales@ward-beck.com. The company said the website, www.ward-beck.com will remain active.

MUNICH & TORONTO—Ward-Beck Systems, a Toronto-based provider of broadcast equipment, has announced that it has added Ravenna/AES67 connectivity to some of its products. Among the company’s set of products that now come with Ravenna/AES67 connectivity include the AMS2-N two-channel monitor, AMS8-N eight channel monitor, 32ME-N dual 16 channel network converter with metering, and MLC8-N eight channel converter with metering and level control.

Ravenna is a technology for real-time distribution of audio and other media content in an IP-based network. The Ravenna technology was developed by Munich-based R&D company ALC NetworX.

Ward-Beck joins a group of other companies that are part of what ALC NetworX calls the Ravenna community. Other members include 2wcom, Calrec, GatesAir, Lawo, Linear Acoustic, Riedel, Sennheiser and more.