Interview with Ian Lockyer of ICOM UK
by Mark Jardine 4 Jul 2016 13:37 BST
4 July 2016
Ian Lockyer of ICOM UK © Mark Jardine
We spoke to Ian Lockyer of ICOM UK at their Head Office in Herne Bay, Kent about the company, marine radio, innovations in the sector and supporting sailing events.
Mark Jardine: Ian, first of all, could you tell me a bit of the history of ICOM?
Ian Lockyer: ICOM is a brand which is over 50 years old. It is a Japanese company started by a gentleman called Tokuzo Inoue, initially from his hobby of amateur radio. Over the years it has developed into a global company which owns companies across the world including those in the US, Germany and Australia. Where there hasn't been an ICOM-owned company a distributor has been set up.
Dave Stockley, our chairman, was the joint founder of ICOM UK. He started the company over 40 years ago as Thanet Electronics. 4 decades later, the company is still fundamentally a Stockley company; Dave is the chairman, his son, Robert (known as Bob) is the Managing Director and his other son, Andy, is on the Board of Directors. It is a full generational thing because his grandson, Callum, works in the stores - it very much feels like a family owned company.
ICOM is not just aimed at amateur radio - the manufacturer produces receivers/scanners, both leisure and high tech receivers, which are used in many government organizations, maritime products from leisure up to high-end commercial products. We are big in the commercial market which ranges from diverse sectors such retail, construction, security, facilities management, education... anywhere there is a commercial application with 2-way radio. ICOM also produce aviation radios and a lot of leisure pilots use our equipment. The quality is good and the returns are incredibly minimal. People love the fact that ICOM equipment is easy to use and doesn't go wrong.
We have been branching off into new technologies. We recently launched products aimed at the business sector, but we've also got some maritime applications, using IP technology utilizing the wireless LAN that a business or even a boat may have. There are some businesses where it is cost-prohibitive to use a 2-way system because you have to install extra equipment to support it or they might be unable to get a radio license for their business. All you need are system controllers and a decent wireless LAN network and you have a 2-way radio system utilizing new technology.
So, lots of fingers in many pies, lots of markets, and unlike many other manufacturers, we are a specialist radio manufacturer, not just in marine, commercial or the business radio market, but also amateur radio, receivers, avionics - there are no other manufacturers that provide as many types of approved systems in that manner.
Mark: All of the servicing for the radios is done in-house at ICOM UK. With 50 years of history, this must be a vast range of products that your engineers have to have knowledge in. How do you keep abreast of all this product range?
Ian: Our engineers and other support staff are incredibly talented and experienced. We have a very low turnover of staff - so many people in this building have been here for more than 25 years. I am a newcomer having been here 19 years! In that period you can pick up huge amounts of experience in dealing with all sorts of equipment and if there's someone who doesn't know how to answer a question or fix something, there is always going to be someone else who will know - it's a sharing pot of knowledge. If you had to tabulate it, we are probably looking at a thousand years of experience.
Mark: With this kind of customer support this must give you quite a lot of brand loyalty with your customers. Do you find that crosses over, say someone who has used your products in the marine market, do they then start also using them in the commercial market to do with their work and business life?
Ian: Yes, I will paint a picture of somebody successful; middle aged, who is interested in engineering, who likes his toys - that person may be a successful business person. That person may own a boat, he may own a plane, he may actually be licensed as a radio amateur. At some point, he is going to encounter or experience the ICOM brand and because the brand is a quality brand we tend to find most people will stick to that brand and become brand advocates, which is very positive because they are not just happy themselves using our equipment but they tell their friends which makes my job easy!
Mark: What would you regard as the biggest innovation in marine radio in the last decade?
Ian: I suppose most people go down the route of buoyancy, but I'll probably take this question back maybe 10 years earlier - I would say waterproofing. There was a time when radios weren't as waterproof as they are today. If you are going out to sea, if you have a kayak or if you're a power boater, you don't want water in your equipment and the fact that waterproofing has improved across the board makes any sort of equipment usable in situations where it is a matter of life and death. There are a lot of other innovations, but I would have to say waterproofing is the biggest one.
Mark: Also, you make a lot of products with SSB, this can be seen as a niche application but what would you regard as the benefits of SSB for sailors?
Ian: SSB is not the most straightforward of technologies to set up and we always recommend you use an approved technical dealer, who is experienced enough to install it and knows all the pitfalls, but once it has all been set up people love the economy of it. The fact that they can communicate across the pond, the fact they can feel inclusive in group calling and other people who may be partaking in a race like the ARC - you get a community. I think when you are out at sea, community plays an important role. The technical aspects, the power to actually speak to another human being over many, many nautical miles - you can't beat it.
Mark: Looking forwards, what would you regard as the next innovation in marine radio?
Ian: One of the things I do like about our products is that you can go to any device and instantly drive it. It's straightforward, it looks good and it works. Some of our fixed radios have integrated GPS, and that's a bonus for consumers as you don't have to fit an external GPS on their vessel. The next thing might be integration with Bluetooth devices such as headsets - we'll see.
Mark: ICOM UK sponsor several events such as Ramsgate Week and Cowes Week. What benefits do you see from that and why do you engage with the event organisers?
Ian: It's important to support and participate in events. Since I've been here, to understand our customer base it's important that I take part in events. I've also gained my RYA Certificates in various aspects of sailing and power boating.
We mainly support events with equipment - the event organisers come to us and utilize our experience and knowledge. We have a set of marine radios which events use for their support vessels and that's one way we can help and it has worked out very well and it tends to lead to other things such as supplying prizes.
Mark: If a customer is looking for a marine radio, why choose ICOM?
Ian: I think that over time the recognition of the ICOM brand has been connected with a number of traits; quality, reliability and ease of use.
Mark: Ian, thank you very much for your time.
Ian: Many thanks for visiting.
icomuk.co.uk