San Diego, CA, March 9, 2006 -- It appears it takes more than staying
on top of the competition to keep your position as a world leading manufacturer
of current monitoring systems. SonTek should know -- as it is trying to maintain
a market stronghold with an unexpected surge in demand for one of its flagship
products, the Argonaut-MD.
"Yes, it sounds a bit cliché, but it's a problem most businesses would love
to have", admits Chris Ward, Global Business Development Manager.
Ward says the popularity of the MD is evident, with over a 100% increase in
system sales in 2005, with the same sales trend spilling over into the second
quarter of 2006. The Argonaut-MD is a small, light, 3-D, vector-averaging
current meter capable of measuring water motion at a "single point" almost
anywhere in the ocean. Recent improvements to the product include the following.
- A high-sensitivity transducer
- Superior recorder capacity
- Improved diagnostic capability
- Solid-state compass/tilt sensor
Ward confirms NOAA recently invested in 120 Argonaut-MDs and international
inquiries rise daily.
While part of this demand may have to do with an increase in oceanic
monitoring programs over the past few years, Ward says an even greater factor is
a customer appetite for sophisticated technology -- that is fast, simple, and
accurate -- and that SonTek has had to aggressively evolve with expectations of
customers.
"We are in a prime position to observe changes within the industry, and in
many ways, we can take the credit for being in the drivers seat", says Ward. "If
we're seeing this kind of positive growth that can only mean good things for
ocean current and global climate research", Ward concluded.
For more information, contact:
Christina Delfin
+1-858-546-8327
cdelfin@sontek.com
