Powering quantum tech and ‘aatmanirbharta’, an Israeli T&M firm is growing 250 per cent in India! How is a full-fledged R&D key to its business growth? Nikhil Mitaliya from Tabor Electronics uncovers their journey and innovations to EFY’s Nitisha Dubey and Nidhi Agarwal.
Q. How did Tabor Electronics start and grow?
A. Tabor Electronics began over 50 years ago in Israel as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) for the leading brands in the test and measurement (T&M) industry. In the 1970s, Tabor made a breakthrough by co-developing the first automatic frequency counters for Keithley. This partnership grew, and Tabor became a trusted OEM hardware designer. Then, in 2003, Tabor launched its own line of products and, by 2018, had fully transitioned to exclusively promoting solutions under the Tabor brand on a global scale. Today, the company offers a comprehensive portfolio of advanced signal sources, including radio frequency (RF), pulse, function, and arbitrary waveform generators/transceivers, as well as high-voltage amplifiers.
Q. Who are your primary customers or target audience?
A. Our major customer segments include the aerospace and defence industries. We are also involved in the quantum technology sector, developing indigenously quantum control electronics. Research institutions and startups working in quantum technologies, too, are vital to our clientele.
Q. How do you approach new customers in your target markets?
A. We proactively reach out to potential customers through our distributor and channel network, which helps us establish a presence nationwide and provide personalised solutions based on their specific needs. There is also a dedicated sales and marketing team for our business.
Q. Where are your development and manufacturing facilities located?
A. Our main hardware research and development (R&D) and manufacturing facilities are based in Israel. In 2023, we opened a development centre in Ahmedabad, India, supporting the Make-in-India initiative. It handles application development, field-programmable gate array (FPGA) bring-up, system validation, and assembly. Later in 2024, we started assembling and integrating in India. We have a base in Bengaluru too, with plans for further expansion.
Q. How many employees does Tabor Electronics have in India, and how are they distributed across different locations?
A. Tabor Electronics currently has a total of 10 engineers in its R&D division in India. Out of these, eight are based in Ahmedabad and two are located in the Bengaluru region.
Q. What is the primary focus of the Bengaluru centre?
A. The Bengaluru centre of Tabor Electronics primarily focuses on application development and commercial sales support. Our solutions are open-source principally, and we develop or customise them according to customer requirements as well.
Q. Can you elaborate on what is meant by ‘assembly’ and ‘Made-in-India’ in the context of Tabor Electronics’ operations?
A. At Tabor Electronics, we proudly support the Indian government’s ‘Make-in-India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives. In alignment with these visions, we have commenced local assembly and support for our advanced waveform generation technologies in India. Currently, hardware boards are imported from Tabor Electronics in Israel, while the remaining processes—including product assembly, calibration, final testing, and validation—are carried out at our Ahmedabad facility.
This localisation builds domestic capability in high-precision electronics and quantum technologies while promoting technology transfer, skill development, and innovation. By assembling and supporting products locally, we aim to create a self-reliant ecosystem for strategic sectors and strengthen India’s R&D and manufacturing leadership in next-generation technologies.
Q. Are there future plans for new development centres or facilities in India?
A. Yes, we are planning to expand further, particularly in areas like quantum technology. We are also involved in India’s National Quantum Mission and looking into partnerships and co-development opportunities. Additionally, we are exploring quantum artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) integration in our systems for applications such as electronic warfare and drone detection.
Q. What percentage of your R&D is focused on innovation versus improvement?
A. Approximately 60 per cent of our R&D focuses on new product development, especially in India. The rest is devoted to optimising and repurposing our existing platforms for different applications like semiconductor, wireless, and quantum systems.
Q. What are your most exciting current R&D projects?
A. We are developing systems that scale beyond 40 synchronised transmitter channels using peripheral component interconnect extensions for instrumentation (PXI)-based platforms. The goal is to maintain a worst-case latency of less than 300 picoseconds and approximately a clock-cycle delay across two chassis for beamforming and quantum applications.
Q. Are you building quantum computers? What is your role in quantum technologies?
A. We are not building quantum computers entirely alone, but we play a critical role in quantum control electronics. For example, we contributed to the development of a 5-qubit superconducting quantum computer in the US, in partnership with QuantWare (quantum chip) and FormFactor (cryogenics). Our contribution involved generating control pulses and integrating the system. In India, we work in quantum computing, sensing, and materials—installing control systems and collaborating with institutions for material research. In addition to this, we are also closely working with one of the pioneering Israeli startups, to whom we have provided 40-qubit quantum control electronics.
Q. What do you mean by quantum materials, and can you provide examples?
A. Quantum materials are those that demonstrate quantum mechanical properties more effectively. One example is niobium titanium nitride, which is excellent for cryogenic environments and is used in quantum chips, amplifiers, and photon detectors. We collaborate with institutions such as C-MET (Pune), IISER Mohali and Bhopal, as well as IITs in Gandhinagar, BHU, and Delhi, to research such materials.
Q. How are these quantum materials developed and tested?
A. We use simulation and device-level experimentation. Materials with promising superconducting or quantum properties are tested in resonant cavities and devices, such as travelling-wave parametric amplifiers (TWPAs). We measure their RF noise performance and cryogenic behaviour to determine their viability in quantum systems.
Q. How was your last fiscal year, and what are your growth plans for the next two years?
A. Last year was slower due to elections and internal restructuring. However, we have experienced rapid growth; over 400 per cent from FY2022 to FY2023, and are currently growing at a 250 per cent pace. Our focus is to double our sales and R&D capabilities within the next two years.
Q. What are your current marketing strategies to grow the company?
A. Our strategy includes reaching out to defence integrators and showcasing our technical strengths. We also work toward Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) registration to support service exports and expand domestic recognition.
Q. What sets Tabor apart from the competition?
A. The priority, which lies in niche product specialisation. While many customers are loyal to well-known brands like Keysight, Rohde and Schwarz, or Tektronix, Tabor offers unique products, particularly our arbitrary waveform transceivers, that currently have no direct competition. In such areas, Tabor is prioritised due to our depth of expertise in signal generation, especially in multi-channel, phase-coherent systems.
Q. Any secrets for Tabor’s success that you can share with our readers?
A. We focus on designing common hardware architectures that can be repurposed across different verticals, such as aerospace, wireless, and quantum. This modularity reduces cost and speeds up time-to-market. We also integrate with platforms like Python or MATLAB to reduce software investment and ensure compatibility with existing systems.
Q. How do you ensure compliance with global testing and calibration standards?
A. We follow procedures from our equivalent of the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-accredited labs in Israel and work with accredited partners in India. Calibration is traceable to standard instruments, ensuring compliance with international standards even when performed locally.
Q. What are the biggest engineering challenges you face at high frequencies (such as 40GHz)?
A. Designing RF-boards at 40 GHz involves challenges such as RF board integration, signal spurs, and amplitude drops. Simulations often differ from real-world performance. We have faced issues with frequency locking, phase noise, and connector limitations. Fine-tuning each component and improving feedback loops are essential steps we follow.
Q. How do you handle synchronisation challenges with external instruments in test setups?
A. Our instruments support clock in/out and standard references (10MHz, 100MHz), but challenges arise when synchronising with high-speed clocks (such as approximately 3.3GHz). Component quality, especially connectors and cables, often causes issues. We now rigorously validate all external hardware before integration.
Q. Are you adapting to trends like remote testing and digital twins?
A. We are actively developing server-based remote testing capabilities. While digital twins and cloud-based testing are future possibilities, they are not yet part of our short-term roadmap. We are, however, building infrastructure for remote connectivity and diagnostics.
Q. Do you provide customer support and training?
A. Yes, we offer training beyond standard instrument use, including system-level design and integration. Our goal is to ensure customers can maximise the value of their equipment.
Q. What do you look for when hiring engineers, especially in electromagnetic (EM) design?
A. We prioritise candidates with strong fundamentals in RF, EM theory, and digital logic. Understanding principles like ground planes, track radiation, and floating-point computation is essential. Proficiency in Verilog or VHDL is necessary for FPGA development. We value logical problem-solving over rote language proficiency.
Q. Are you planning to expand your team or enter new partnerships?
A. Yes, we are actively looking to partner with teams and individuals experienced in 40GHz RF design. We evaluate potential partners based on past project success, team expertise, and alignment with our technology goals.
