Today we begin a regular biweekly survey of significant business and job developments of interest to West Orange County communities. This biweekly series will appear on every other Monday, alternating with our long running Orange County residential real estate Updates. This series will focus on, for the most part, local companies which are moving forward, even in these difficult economic times. Whether you are a senior level executive, an artist, salesperson, a contractor, or a customer service representative, your business opportunities will more likely be successful with companies which are ahead of the curve. If you are looking for a job, have a professional service to offer, or business-to-business products for sale, the progressive companies referenced in this series could be good places to start.

The Boeing Company
With major operations in Seal Beach, Long Beach, El Segundo, Huntington Beach, and Anaheim, The Boeing Company is probably the largest employer in the area. As such, there is a continuous stream of significant announcements coming from this firm. Below, we summarize some of the most interesting.

Boeing builds satellites at its El Segundo based Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems. Headed up by Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager, this Boeing unit produces the Wideband Global SATCOM (WGS) satellites for the Department of Defense. . WGS is the DOD's highest-capacity communications satellite and provides assured, high-data-rate connectivity to U.S. warfighters and their allies around the world.
Boeing is currently under contract to build six WGS satellites for the Air Force. WGS-1 was put into operation over the Pacific Ocean in April 2008 and WGS-2 entered service over the Middle East in August 2009. WGS-3 is scheduled for launch later this year.

Each year, the Department of Defense and the National Defense Industry Association recognize up to five defense programs that have demonstrated superior systems engineering practices that result in outstanding program performance. Boeing and the U.S. Air Force recently received one of the DOD "Top 5" excellence award for systems engineering on the WGS program.

Meanwhile, in Huntington Beach, and also in Huntsville Alabama, a Boeing team celebrated another successful ballistic missile interception. Boeing played a key role in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force's second successful test of the sea-based Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense weapon system. During the test, a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IA, guided by a Boeing-built kinetic warhead sensor, engaged and destroyed a medium-range ballistic missile target more than 100 miles above the Pacific Ocean.

Boeing builds and integrates the SM-3 kinetic warhead's guidance assembly, and integrates and tests the avionics, guidance-and-control software and ejection subsystem, at their Huntington Beach and Huntsville facilities.

Then, at Boeing’s Anaheim facility, Boeing Strategic Missile Systems, another milestone was reached. This Orange County Boeing unit recently delivered upgraded cryptography devices to Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Air Force for the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) system. The devices provide additional communications security between the missile system's launch control centers and launch facilities.
The new devices are part of the ICBM Cryptography Upgrade (ICU) program for ICBM missile wings at Air Force bases F.E. Warren in Wyoming, Malmstrom in Montana and Minot in North Dakota. Boeing designed, developed and delivered the replacement units and supporting technical data, trainers, support equipment, and code processing system modifications.

Finally, for this biweekly update, Boeing’s Long Beach unit received an $84 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for additional upgrades of the B-1 bomber fleet's avionics software. The award continues a software-sustainment program that has continually updated and improved the B-1's operational capabilities since the aircraft entered service in 1989.

This new contract authorizes Boeing to start work on Sustainment Block 16 (SB 16). Each software sustainment block includes changes to navigation; weapon delivery; radar; electrical multiplexing; communication/navigation management system software; and controls and displays. Boeing engineers in Long Beach and Oklahoma City deliver the latest avionics software once a year for the Air Force's fleet of 66 B-1s. SB 14 is in flight test at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., and will be delivered to the Air Force in 2011. SB 15 will be delivered in 2012, and design and development work for SB 16 will begin immediately.

OK, enough about Boeing and all the great things they are doing for our national defense. Just to show how broadminded we are here at OC180NEWS.com, and how interesting and diverse our local economy is, the next business item is about as different from Boeing as one might imagine—but, it is still home here in West Orange county.

Affliction Clothing
Affliction Holdings LLC is headquartered in Seal Beach and markets clothing and accessories under the Affliction label. Located just a hop, skip and a jump from where The Boeing Company assembles the giant cargo military C-17 jet plane, Affliction calls themselves “the premier lifestyle brand for men and women who live life on the edge”. Affliction markets their line as “a mainstay for the most elite athletes, best rock bands, A-list celebrities and the fashion conscious, Affliction's ability to set the bar high in fashion is evident in its collection's indulgence of style and design, focus on quality, and its trademark series of divinely executed, dark and powerful themes.”

Affliction recently signed three licensing agreements for the production and distribution of new items for their brands.

Bagstage Accessories, based in New York with design studios in Florence, Italy, will develop Affliction Women's non-leather handbags, Affliction Black Premium leather handbags, Affliction men's travel bags and wallets. The company will employ leather, coated canvas and distressed materials to create the product, utilizing signature hardware, embroidery, studs and hand stitching for embellishment. The product will be available in major department stores, specialty chains and boutiques in March 2010.

Evolution Footwear will develop boots, sandals, athletic and sport casual shoes, utilizing quality full grain and suede leathers. Advanced construction techniques will be employed to offer the hand finishing details and innovative printing techniques characterized by Affliction. Embellishments will include antique metal studs, embroidery, graffiti treatments and hand-sewn details. The footwear will be available in major department stores, specialty chains and boutiques in spring 2010, with limited product due to hit stores this holiday season.

August Accessories has signed a domestic license agreement for men's and women's belts, hats, watches, scarves and gloves. All product designs will reflect Affliction's artistic direction and uncompromising quality.
Stainless steel and leather watches operating on Japanese movement will be accented with studs, stones, beads, charms and Swarovski crystals to create true red carpet style. Belts of leather, web and chain will be enhanced with rock-inspired embellishments. Hats and beanies available in styles from casual to club wear will feature flocking, leather strapping, studs and embroidery and cold weather accessories including gloves and scarves will offer the same fashion forward style that defines Affliction. The products will be available in better department and specialty stores in fall 2009.

Clean Energy Fuels Corp.
Also of Seal Beach is Clean Energy Fuels Corp, which recently was awarded a 10 year contract by the City of Los Angeles to design, build, and operate a new public access CNG fueling station at Ontario International Airport (ONT) to serve growing fleets of CNG-fueled airport courtesy shuttle buses, taxicabs and shuttle vans.

CNG fuel requirements at the new Clean Energy/ONT station are expected to top 800,000 gallons each year at full build-out. ONT provides courtesy shuttle service between the airline terminals, daily parking lots, and the Consolidated Rental Car Facility (RCF). Plans call for the conversion of the entire fleet of airport shuttle buses to CNG power in 2011. In addition, the airport has mandated that all permitted taxicab operators convert 100 percent of their cabs to alternative fuel in the next two years. The new Clean Energy station, located near the RCF, will also be accessible 24/7 to CNG-powered vehicles operating in surrounding communities.

MagTek
At their Seal Beach headquarters, MagTek manufactures electronic devices and systems for the reliable issuance, reading, transmission and security of cards, checks, PINs and other identification documents. Its products include secure card readers, check scanners, PIN Pads and distributed credential issuing systems. If you have swiped your debit card at a financial institution or market, you have probably used a MagTek device.

MagTek and Secure Check Cashing, Inc., a leader in biometric check cashing solutions, recently announced an integration effort which successfully pairs the MagTek
Excella™ MDX Check Scanner with Secure Check Cashing’s high performance software solution to increase check processing efficiency and reduce deployment costs. The MagTek Excella MDX reads all check MICR data for the check cashing software and has drastically reduced the time necessary to process each transaction. The dual-sided scanner offers a cost-effective option to implement PC-based electronic check processing applications. After the check is read, the check image is saved in the Secure Check Cashing software and if that customer is an electronic deposit customer, the images can be securely sent through the electronic deposit check service supported by the Excella MDX.